Patent Grant
12006863
This invention relates to the field of internal combustion engines. More particularly, this invention relates to a rotary internal combustion engine.
Internal combustion engines (ICEs) tend to be extremely complex, with many different moving parts. This tends to make an ICE difficult to maintain. What is needed, therefore, is an ICE that tends to reduce issues such as this, at least in part.
The above and other needs are met by a rotary internal combustion engine (ICE) having a cover plate with an outer edge, a medial edge, and an inner edge, where the portion between the outer edge and the medial edge is a raised portion, and the portion between the medial edge and the inner edge is a thinner portion. The inner edge defines a bore through the cover plate. A stator plate includes an outer edge and an inner edge, where the inner edge defines a bore, where teeth are formed along the inner edge, and a primary cog is disposed in a position along the inner edge. The primary cog is larger than the teeth. A main rotor includes an outer edge, an inner edge that defines a bore, and a medial edge that forms a partially-circular cut-out in the main rotor. The cut-out does not extend to either a top or bottom surface of the main rotor, but does extend outwards to the outer edge of the main rotor. A gear rotor is disposed within the partially-circular cut-out in the main rotor, having an outer edge, and an inner edge that defines a bore. The outer edge includes teeth that are sized to engage the teeth of the stator ring. A base plate includes an outer edge, a medial edge, and an inner edge, where the portion between the outer edge and the medial edge is a thicker portion, and the portion between the medial edge and the inner edge is a recessed portion. The inner edge defines a bore. The base plate has inlet ports for receiving fuel and air and spark, where an ignition of the fuel and air by the spark creates a high pressure zone that drives the main rotor and the gear rotor rotationally within the stator ring, and an outlet port for exhausting spent fuel and air.
In various embodiments according to this aspect of the disclosure, aligning bores are disposed in the cover plate, stator ring, and base plate for receiving bolts therethrough and holding the ICE together. In some embodiments, the stator ring includes a main cog that forms a pressure seal between the stator ring and the main rotor. In some embodiments, the stator ring includes at least one secondary cog having a similar width to the main cog, but which does not form a pressure seal between the stator ring and the main rotor. In some embodiments, the gear rotor has a gap sized to receive the main cog and allow the gear rotor to rotate past the main cog. In some embodiments, a gap is disposed between the main rotor and the stator ring, the gap containing a high pressure zone in a clockwise portion from the main cog to the gear rotor, and the gap containing a low pressure zone in a counterclockwise portion from the main cog to the gear rotor.
Further advantages of the invention are apparent by reference to the detailed description when considered in conjunction with the figures, which are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, there are depicted all of the claimed elements of the various embodiments, although all claimed embodiments might not be depicted in a single drawing. Thus, it is appreciated that not all embodiments include all of the elements as depicted, and that some embodiments include different combinations of the depicted elements. It is further appreciated that the various elements can all have many different configurations, and are not limited to just the configuration of a given element as depicted. As indicated above, the elements of the drawings as depicted are not to scale, even with respect one to another, and relative size or thickness of one element cannot be determined by the aspect ratios of that element or with reference to any dimension of another element.
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Disposed in the raised portion of the base plate 500, but proximate the medial edge 504, are a series of ports 516, 518, 520, and 522. The ports 516, 518, 520, and 522 are in fluid communication with other portions of the ICE 600, not depicted, but with functions as are commonly known and understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art, and as briefly described hereinafter. The ports 516, 518, and 520 are disposed proximate one another, and in a position that is generally clockwise, as depicted, from the port 522. In various embodiments, port 516 is an air inlet port to the ICE 600, port 518 is a fuel inlet port to the ICE 600, such as for gasoline, and port 520 is a spark inlet port, such as from a spark plug that is fitted into the port 520.
Port 522 is disposed in a position that is generally separated from and counter-clockwise to, as depicted, the ports 516, 518, and 520. In various embodiments, port 522 is an exhaust outlet port from the ICE 600 for combusted gases.
With reference now to
The gear rotor 400 is disposed within the cut-out 306 of the main rotor 300, with the bore 310 of the main rotor 300 and the bore 406 of the gear rotor 400 aligned. A shaft of some type keeps the bore 310 of the main rotor 300 and the bore 406 of the gear rotor 400 aligned in a manner where the main rotor 300 and the gear rotor 400 are allowed to rotate in differing ways, one from another.
As depicted in
Not depicted is the cover plate 100, which is disposed on top of the assembly as depicted in
The ICE 600 operates by introducing compressed air through the port 516 and fuel through the port 518 into the gap 602 at a time when the gear rotor 400 is disposed clockwise from the ports 516, 518, and 520. At an appropriate time, a spark is introduced through the port 520 and into the air/fuel mixture in the gap 604, causing the air/fuel mixture to detonate and expand into a pressurized zone 604 of the gap 602/604. The gap 602 on the other side of the gear rotor 400 is a low-pressure zone 602. The pressurized zone 604 pushes the main rotor 300 in a clockwise direction relative to the stator ring 200 (with the gear rotor 400 rotating counterclockwise around the bore 406). Because the primary cog 212 creates a pressure seal against the main rotor 300, the pressurized zone 604 cannot leak counterclockwise past the primary cog 212 and into the low pressure zone 602.
The rotation of the gear rotor 400 relative to the stator ring 200 causes the main rotor 300 to rotate clockwise. A shaft (not depicted) connected to the main rotor 300, such as at the bore 312 of the main rotor 300, provides motive rotational power from the ICE 600.
As the gear rotor 400 rotates around the stator ring 200, it eventually passes by the exhaust port 522, where the expanded gases of the pressurized zone 604 are exhausted from the gap 602. As the gear rotor 400 passes the twelve-o'clock position on the stator ring 200 (in the embodiment as depicted), the primary cavity 408 of the gear rotor 400 engages the primary cog 212 of the stator ring 200, allowing the gear rotor 400 to travel past that position on the stator ring 200, all while maintaining the pressure seal. Depending upon the relative number of teeth and circumference on the gear rotor 400 and the stator ring 200, one or more secondary cogs 214 are placed around the inner circumference of the stator ring 200, so the high pressure zone 604 does not depressurize when the primary cavity 408 of the gear rotor 400 engages the stator ring 200. The process of introducing air, fuel, and spark through the ports 516, 518, and 520 then begins a new cycle of the ICE 600.
As used herein, the phrase “at least one of A, B, and C” means all possible combinations of none or multiple instances of each of A, B, and C, but at least one A, or one B, or one C. For example, and without limitation: Ax1, Ax2+Bx1, Cx2, Ax1+Bx1+Cx1, Ax7+Bx12+Cx113. It does not mean Ax0+Bx0+Cx0.
The foregoing description of embodiments for this invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide illustrations of the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.
This application claims priority on prior U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/587,870 filed 2023 Oct. 4, the entirety of the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20230243295 | Klassen | Aug 2023 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 101639390 | Jul 2016 | KR |
| WO-02063151 | Aug 2002 | WO |
| WO-2007124587 | Nov 2007 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63587870 | Oct 2023 | US |
