Rotary Wankel type engine
OwnerWilson A. Burtisinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rotary Wankel type engine system is disclosed, wherein the crankshaft is supported by a center main roller bearing. The rotor apexes are sealed by two piece apex seals and by side seals. The engine system further includes an oiling system which permits oil flow through the center bearing and through lubrication passages in the engine rotor to provide a means for cooling the engine rotor under high loading conditions. Riblets are defined in the combustion face of the rotor to promote aerodynamic lateral stratified charge control to minimize atomized fuel charge loss to surface wetting before ignition.
Claims14
In a rotary engine comprising at least one rotor having at least one apex, said rotor for rotation within a toroidal engine operating chamber defined by an engine housing, the rotor having at least one combustion-side rotor face, an improved rotor characterized by a plurality of aerodynamic riblets defined in said combustion-side rotor face extending laterally substantially in the direction of rotation, said riblets reducing rotor surface wetting and improving lateral directing of atomized fuel before ignition.
An improved rotary internal combustion engine, comprising:
- an engine housing defining a toroidal-shaped inner chamber;
- a crankshaft mounted for rotation within said housing;
- an engine rotor having three apexes mounted for rotation within said inner chamber and coupled to said crankshaft to impart rotational energy thereto, said rotor comprising a combustion-side face extending between first and second apexes;
- means for injecting atomized fuel into said inner chamber and drawing air into said chamber;
- means for selectively igniting the air-fuel mixture within said inner chamber;
- and
- a plurality of aerodynamic riblets defined in said rotor combustion-side face and extending laterally between said first and second rotor apexes, said riblets providing a means for accelerating the air-fuel mixture and directing the injected fuel laterally to provide improved stratified fuel charging before ignition of the fuel mixture.
An improved rotary internal combustion engine comprising an engine housing defining a toroidal-shaped inner chamber with a pair of spaced apart internally extending lobes, an output shaft supported for rotation within said housing, a rotor having three apexes mounted for rotation within said inner chamber and coupled to said output shaft for driving said output shaft, said rotor defining combustion faces extending between said apexes, a fuel injector for injecting fuel into said inner chamber in proximity to one of said lobes and having a pair of spray orifices each directed toward a respective side of said lobe, and a pair of spark plugs positioned on opposite sides of said fuel injector and on opposite sides of said one lobe for firing a charge therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.