US 5,113,809 AGranted

Axial cylinder internal combustion engine having variable displacement

OwnerGeorge W. Ellenburginventor

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An axial cylinder variable displacement internal combustion engine. In a first embodiment, variable displacement is provided by a cylindrical sleeve that axially receives the hollow drive shaft of the engine. Plural helical slots are formed in the sleeve. Two of the helical slots slidingly receive opposite ends of a pin that carries a wobble plate and a third slot slidably receives a control pin secured to a control piston that reciprocates in response to changes in inlet manifold pressure. Displacement of the control piston thus effects rotation of the sleeve and a change in the angular and axial orientation of the wobble plate. In a second embodiment, a pair of hydraulically operated cylinders, also responsive to inlet manifold pressure, replace the slotted sleeve but perform the same function.

Claims11

Dependent claims

An axial cylinder variable displacement internal combustion engine, comprising:

a hollow, rotatably mounted drive shaft;
a wobble assembly including an inner wobble ring mounted for rotation and a non-rotatably mounted outer wobble ring;
said inner wobble ring being centrally apertured to axially receive said drive shaft;
said inner wobble ring being keyed to said drive shaft for conjoint rotation therewith;
said outer wobble ring being mounted in coplanar relation to said inner wobble ring;
annular low friction means for interconnecting said inner and outer wobble rings;
balanced anti-rotation means for preventing rotation of said outer wobble ring and for permitting wobbling motion of said inner wobble ring;
an odd number of cylinders having their respective axes of symmetry disposed in substantially parallel relation to said drive shaft;
a slidably mounted engine piston being disposed in each of said cylinders;
valve means associated with each of said cylinders for controlling operation of said engine;
a connecting rod interconnecting each of said pistons to said outer wobble ring;
each of said connecting rods having a first end swivelly connected to an associated piston and a second end swivelly connected to said outer wobble ring;
a cylindrical sleeve member axially receiving said drive shaft;
first, second, and third helical slots being formed in said sleeve member;
a first axially extending slot formed in said drive shaft;
a first linear in configuration pin member extending diametrically through said first axially extending slot and said first pin member having opposite ends fixedly secured in said inner wobble ring;
said first pin member opposite ends extending through said first and second helical slots;
a control piston that telescopically receives said drive shaft member and which abuts a preselected end of said cylindrical sleeve member;
hydraulic means for effecting axial travel of said control piston;
a second axially extending slot formed in said drive shaft;
a second pin member having opposite ends extending through said third helical slot;
said second pin member extending through said second axially extending slot;
whereby said second pin member is constrained to axial movement by said second axially extending slot, so that when said hydraulic means is activated, said second pin member travels in said third helical slot and rotates said sleeve member, and whereby said first pin member, being constrained to axial movement by said first axially extending slot, rides in said first and second helical slots when said sleeve member is rotated by said second pin member, said first pin member when riding in said first and second helical slots thereby changing the axial and angular position of the wobble ring assembly relative to said drive shaft.

20 more elements

An axial cylinder internal combustion engine, comprising:

a hollow, rotatably mounted drive shaft;
an inner wobble ring that is centrally apertured to axially receive said drive shaft;
said inner wobble ring being conjointly rotatable with said drive shaft;
an outer wobble ring coplanar with said inner wobble ring;
annular low friction means for interconnecting said inner and outer wobble rings;
anti-rotation means for preventing rotation of said outer wobble ring and for permitting wobbling motion of said inner and outer wobble rings;
an odd number of cylinders having their respective axes of symmetry disposed in substantially parallel relation to said drive shaft;
a slidably mounted piston being disposed in each of said cylinders;
valve means associated with each of said cylinders for controlling operation of said engine;
a connecting rod interconnecting each of said pistons to said outer wobble ring;
each of said connecting rods having a first end swivelly connected to an associated piston and a second end swivelly connected to said outer wobble ring;
an inner piston that is centrally apertured and that axially and slidably receives said drive shaft;
an outer piston that is centrally apertured and that telescopically receives said inner piston;
said inner and outer pistons being concentrically disposed with respect to one another and with respect to said drive shaft;
first hydraulic means, responsive to changes in inlet manifold pressure, for activating said inner piston;
second hydraulic means, responsive to changes in inlet manifold pressure, for activating said outer piston;
a first swivelly mounted, rigid, linear in configuration link member disposed in interconnecting relation to said inner wobble ring and said outer piston;
a second swivelly mounted, rigid, linear in configuration link member disposed in interconnecting relation to said inner wobble ring and said inner piston;
and
wobble ring mounting means permitting axial displacement of said inner wobble ring and hence of said outer wobble ring with respect to said drive shaft;
means for delivering to said inner and outer pistons an equal volume of fluid;
each piston of said inner and outer piston traveling axially a distance inversely proportional to its area when activated by said fluid;
whereby said inner and outer pistons travel unequal distances in response to equal amounts of activating fluid, said inner and outer pistons having preselected areas such that they have equal volumes when fully extended;
and
whereby relative motion between said inner and outer pistons changes the common angular disposition of said inner and outer wobble rings with respect to the axis of rotation of said drive shaft.

22 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/691,921Filed 26 Apr 1991
Granted: 19 May 1992
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

F02D 15/02
Varying compression ratio: by alteration or displacement of piston stroke
F01B 3/0002
Reciprocating-piston machines or engines with cylinder axes coaxial with, or parallel or inclined to, main shaft axis: having stationary cylinders
F01B 3/02
Reciprocating-piston machines or engines with cylinder axes coaxial with, or parallel or inclined to, main shaft axis: with wobble-plate
F01B 3/06
The piston motion being transmitted by curved surfaces: by multi-turn helical surfaces and automatic reversal