US 4,057,374 AGranted

Rotary internal combustion engine with uniformly rotating pistons cooperating with reaction elements having a varying speed of rotation and oscillating motion

OwnerFrederick W. Seyboldinventor

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Abstract

A rotary internal combustion engine comprising a stationary, water cooled housing having a large cylindrical bore in which a hollow cylinder with end walls rotates at a uniform speed. On said cylinder a pair of wedge-shaped pistons is mounted diametrically opposed to a similar pair of reactor elements carried by a multiple-splined shaft, said reactor elements and said pistons forming a combustion chamber whereby a gas and air mixture is compressed prior to ignition, whereupon said reactor element moves several degrees oppositely to the uniformly rotating piston while expansion is taking place. This short reverse rotation of the reactor element is derived from a gear mechanism which provides a short period of reverse rotation and a longer period of rotation in the same direction as the piston, but at a higher speed, whereby the burned gases will be exhausted as the reactor element approaches its mating piston and/or compresses the intake mixture of gas and air between the other pair of piston and reactor element before a second ignition takes place during one revolution of the cylinder.

A rotary internal combustion engine comprising in combination:

a. a first housing having a circular bore, exhaust and intake ports, water cooling cavities and ignition means,
b. two side frames supporting said housing,
c. a hollow cylindrical rotor rotatable in said circular bore, two diametrically opposed wedge-shaped pistons integral with said rotor, and axial, helical slots adjacent to said pistons,
d. side walls on said rotor with first and second hubs thereon for mounting snap-ring bearings held in said side frames, said first hub being serrated
e. a first spur gear mounted on said serrated hub,
f. a multiple-splined shaft journalled in said first and second hubs, one end of said shaft being threaded to receive adjustable locking means, the other, longer serrated end of said shaft mounting a second spur gear,
g. a reactor element having two diametrically opposed, wedge-shaped means integral with a long hub, said hub being splined and mounted on said multiple-splined shaft, and grooves in said reactor elements to receive seals,
h. a second and larger housing, said first housing and side frames being bolted thereto,
i. a drive shaft supported on a first ball bearing held on one side frame and a second ball bearing supported on said second housing,
j. a large flywheel and a pinion being secured on said drive shaft,
k. a stud secured in one side frame on which an idler gear is rotatably mounted, said idler gear meshing with the pinion on said drive shaft and said first spur gear,
l. a compound gear mounted on ball bearings supported on said flywheel, said compound gear comprising a third spur gear and a first elliptic gear,
m. a second elliptic gear secured to said second housing and mating with said first elliptic gear,
n. a second wide-faced pinion free to turn on said drive shaft and mating with said second and third spur gears,
o. whereby, after ignition, the expanding gas causes the reactor element at first to turn in a direction opposite to that of the piston and to exert a useful driving force on the piston as well as on the reactor element.

12 more elements

Abstract

Claims8