GB1205584A - Oscillating vane machines - Google Patents

Abstract

1,205,584. Oscillating-piston machines. EHRLICH ENG. Ltd. Feb.20, 1968 [Feb.20, 1967; Feb.21, 1967; July 26, 1967] Nos.8011/67, 8310/67 and 34358/67. Heading F1F. An oscillating vane machine comprising a casing, two coaxial shafts mounted in said casing for rotary oscillation relative to said casing, a pair of diametrically opposite vanes provided on each said shaft and mounted for oscillation therewith, the vanes of each shaft projecting beyond an end thereof and over an end of the respective other shaft and being disposed between the two vanes of said other shaft to define within said casing four working chambers, all the vanes being mutually similar, double seal members adjacent the edges of each vane disposed in sealing contact with the casing to define an interseal space to which oil under pressure is supplied and means inter-connecting said shafts for synchronous but opposite rotary oscillation. Described as an I.C. engine operating on a four-stroke cycle, a water cooled casing comprising a substantially cylindrical casing 41, Fig.1 fitted with a liner 42 and closed at it ends by endplates 43, 44 includes working spaces 62, 63, 64, 65, Fig. 2 formed between adjacent pistons of pistons 50, 51, 52, 53. The pistons 50, 51 are formed as a diametral opposite pair on a rotor 47 and the pistons 52, 53 as a diametral opposite pair on a rotor 48. The pistons extending across the width of the casing 41 are sealed with respect to its cylindrical surface by a channel-shaped sealing member 91 loaded by leaf-spring 92 and with respect to the end-plates 43, 44 by either a pair of curved sealing pieces 95, Fig.5, or a pair of curved sealing pieces 99 which at their ends abut the channels 91 and sealing rings 93. The rotors 47, 48, supported in the end-plates 43, 44 by bearings 45, 46 and between over lapping tubular portions 47<SP>1</SP>, 48<SP>1</SP> thereof by a bearing 49 extend outwardly of the end-plates for connection by levers 54. 55 and connecting rods 56, 57 to a crank-shaft 58 so that on rotation of the crank-shaft the pistons oscillate with an amplitude of 45 degrees. The pistons 50, 51 about a vertical mean position and the pistons 52, 53 about a horizontal mean position such that the working spaces 62, 63, 64, 65 alternately expand and contract. Each of the working spaces is provided with an inlet valve and an exhaust valve (exhaust valves 66 shown) and a sparkplug 74. The valves are actuated from a timing shaft 77 which passes through tubular bosses 47<SP>11</SP> , 48<SP>11</SP> of the rotors, is driven by sprockets 78, 79 at half crank-shaft speed and coupled to a distributer 80 for the plugs 74. Cams 75, 76 secured to the timing shafts actuate the valves through push-rods and rocker arms. The crank-shaft 58 has at one end a belt pulley 81 to drive a fan and dynamo and at its other end is secured to a flywheel 82 of a clutch assembly 83. A pump 85 driven from the crankshaft, sucks up oil from the engine sump 84 and delivers it at pressure to lubricate the crank-shaft bearings and the bearings 45, 46, 49, cool the rotors 47, 48 and seal the spaces between the limbs of the channel sealing members 91 and between the pairs of curved sealing pieces 95. Instead of a carburetter and spark-plugs the engine may include fuel-injectors. The poppet valves may be replaced by rotary sleeve valves and by suitable redesign of the cams the engine may operate as a two-stroke engine either of the carburetter-induction type or fuel-injection type using external charging means. Two of the working spaces may operate as pumps to provide a combined engine and pump or alternatively the crank-shaft may be driven by external power so that the machine can operate as a pump or compressor.