Rotary internal combustion engine
US4319551A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 7, 1980 |
| Grant date | Mar 16, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 7, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T10/12
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A rotary internal combustion engine has as its principal components (in one embodiment): a drive shaft; two annular carrying walls, each supporting at least two arcuate pistons, the carrying walls being mounted upon the drive shaft through inner one way clutches such that the pistons of the two carrying walls are interdigitated; an annular housing connected to the outer edges of each of the carrying walls through outer one way clutches; and two endplates supporting the carrying walls. The pistons divide an operating chamber defined by the drive shaft, the two carrying walls, and the annular housing into four isolated volumes which function as the work chambers of the engine. The intake, ignition and exhaust needs of each work chamber are supplied through ports in the carrying walls which communicate with grooves and commutator strips in the endplates. The clutches are aligned so that when any two adjacent pistons are forced apart (as by combustion in the work chamber formed by the two pistons), the carrying wall supporting one of the pistons locks against the housing and releases the drive shaft, while the carrying wall supporting the other piston locks against the drive shaft and …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.