Propulsion unit with rotary engine

Abstract

The invention can be used in transport. A propulsion unit consists of a rotary engine and an air compressor that is rotatable thereby. The rotary engine has a housing with air inlet ports, and a casing for the release of exhaust gases. A shaft passes through the centre of the casing and has a central channel for supplying fuel and an annular channel for supplying compressed air. Hollow actuating arms are connected to the annular channel and to combustion chambers equipped with covers that have rocking levers and an electromagnet. The combustion chambers have spark plugs, electric air valves, and injectors. An impeller rotates on bearings and has three types of vanes for generating additional torque, evacuating exhaust gases and cooling parts that are subject to heating. The impeller and the shaft are synchronized by gears. An electronic control unit controls electrical actuating devices via switching devices. The invention addresses the technical problem of improving the operating efficiency of a rotary engine and reducing the toxicity of exhaust gases.

Description

[0001] Rotary engine power plant

[0002] The invention relates to mechanical engineering (motor engineering) and can be used in transport.

[0003] Rotary engines began to be invented and built in the early 20th century.

[0004] More advanced rotary engine designs are now emerging.

[0005] The "Rotary Explosive Engine" is known. This engine has symmetrically arranged combustion chambers with exhaust valves and nozzles that are connected to the drive shaft, a complex system of inlet and outlet valves and a power supply system. [1]

[0006] The disadvantages of this engine are that:

[0007] - its mechanical valve system takes up a lot of useful energy and cannot operate effectively at high speeds due to the inertia of the valves, which perform a reciprocating motion.

[0008] - exhaust valve stems pass through combustion chambers and operate under high pressure and high temperature, which inevitably leads to seal failure, gas breakthrough, loss of power and engine failure. Therefore, only valve plates are located in the combustion chambers of modern engines. Also, the absence of a gas exhaust system and combustion chamber cooling: leads to engine failure.

[0009] The "Rotary-vane internal combustion engine" is known. This engine has an annular working chamber with blade rotors, dividing its internal volume into cavities isolated from each other, as well as a mechanism for periodically changing the speed of the blade rotors, which is located inside the annular working chamber. The drive shaft is installed with an eccentricity relative to the central axis and eccentric gears are fixed to it, each of which engages with the internal gears of the ellipsoid-shaped blade rotors, installed at 90 degrees to each other. The annular working chamber has an input and output window and a spark plug is installed in it. [2]

[0010] The blade rotors rotate at a periodically changing speed, thereby providing suction and compression of the fuel mixture in the interblade space and the release of exhaust gases at the end of the working cycle.

[0011] The disadvantages of this engine are the difficulty of providing lateral and end seals of the rotor blades, the low load on the gears when transmitting torque to the engine shaft, the lack of a lubrication and cooling system, and all this will lead to a rapid breakdown of this engine, combustion of the fuel mixture is carried out in a variable volume with falling pressure in the combustion chamber and therefore a large percentage of fuel does not burn and is released into the atmosphere,

[0012] Known is "Engine and its operating methods" in the housing of which are placed two synchronized shafts on which two sections of two interacting (contacting) rotors are installed, located in one plane in separate compression and power housings, closed by insulating plates. The rotation of the shafts is synchronized by engaging identical gears installed at the ends of the shafts. The housings and plates have openings for the passage of shafts, fastening screws and channels for the passage of air, oil and exhaust gases.

[0013] The interacting (touching) rotors have the same diameter, but one has a piston blade, and the second rotor has a recess into which the piston blade fits. Accordingly, the diameter of the opening in the housing where the rotor with the recess rotates is close to the rotor diameter, and the diameter of the other opening in the housing is two times the length of the piston blade, and thus chambers are formed in front of the piston blades and behind them. The rotors with recesses cover the chambers, ensuring their tightness. When the rotors rotate, the blades in the compression housing perform suction and compression of air. Compressed air flows through a special channel from the compression housing into the power housing into the combustion chamber formed behind the blades. The power housing is equipped with a spark plug, a fuel injector and has an exhaust channel. The blades in the power housing create a torque during combustion of the fuel mixture and remove the exhaust gases of the previous working cycle. [3]

[0014] The disadvantages of this engine are that:

[0015] - combustion of the fuel mixture occurs in an increasing volume of the combustion chamber and a drop in pressure, which does not ensure its complete combustion and produces a high level of harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

[0016] - the use of large-sized seals of different types (end, side), requiring very precise fitting of parts and their lubrication, reduces the reliability and service life of the engine,

[0017] - useful power is spent on overcoming the friction forces of the seals.

[0018] Known is the "Rotary engine with a cam-controlled rotor" patent US 9810068 B2, applicant Liquid Piston Company.

[0019] The triangular body of this engine has a working cavity in the form of three connected semicircular working chambers. Sealing elements are installed at their convergence points (ridges), and combustion chambers with spark plugs and fuel injectors are made at the tops of the working chambers. In the covers of the body, on one side and on the other, there are windows for air intake and for gas exhaust.

[0020] A shaft with an eccentric passes through the engine housing. An elliptical (cyclodic) two-cam rotor with an offset toothed hole with tight engagement of teeth is mounted on the eccentric. The rotor has an inlet channel and an outlet. When rotating, the rotor moves along a given trajectory (hypochondria).

[0021] When the rotor rotates and the inlet opening of the engine housing and the inlet channel of the rotor coincide, when the top (cam) of the rotor passes through the working chamber, air is admitted (sucked) into this chamber. The second top (cam) compresses the air in the chamber, then fuel is injected into the combustion chamber and a spark from the spark plug ignites the fuel and the resulting high pressure rotates the rotor, which transmits torque to the shaft. When the outlet opening of the rotor together with the second top (cam) of the rotor enters this working chamber, gases are released. This working process occurs sequentially in each working chamber and three working processes occur during one revolution of the shaft. [4]

[0022] The disadvantages of this engine are that:

[0023] - the sealing elements rise and fall as the rotor cams pass over them, like “jumping”, and at high speeds they cannot ensure complete sealing of the chamber and the gas pressure in the chamber will decrease, and accordingly the engine efficiency will decrease,

[0024] - useful engine power will be spent on overcoming the frictional resistance of the sealing elements against the rotor walls; lubrication of the seal contacts may or may not be provided depending on the adopted engine design; if yes, then there will be more harmful emissions; if not, then there will be increased wear of the parts,

[0025] - when transmitting torque from the eccentric gear of the rotor to the shaft gear, large loads arise on the gears, this leads to their rapid wear and breakage, especially in the absence or insufficiency of their lubrication. - in the engine, three complete working cycles occur per revolution (for comparison, in a 4-stroke engine - one cycle per two revolutions) and, accordingly, the combustion time of the fuel mixture is very short and therefore some of the fuel will not have time to burn, and this reduces the efficiency of the engine.

[0026] - the power of this engine is provided by its high speed (it has a small lever for applying the gas pressure force), which leads to rapid wear of engine parts and its low service life.

[0027] The "Power plant with a discrete-action reactive-rotor engine" is known. This is the closest version of a rotary engine. The engine consists of a guide casing for exhaust gases with a side inlet window and a bell for exhaust gases, through which a shaft passes, in which an internal channel for fuel and an external annular channel for compressed air are made. Fuel and air are supplied through a special end flange that has a sliding fit on the shaft and remains stationary when the shaft rotates. Two drive levers with combustion chambers at the ends, equipped with spark plugs and closing covers, are installed on the shaft. A plate with controls and an impeller rotating under the action of exhaust gases on an independent bearing are also installed in the casing and ensure their removal. In the drive levers for creating a fuel mixture in the combustion chambers, FUEL and air channels are made, equipped with electric valves.Compressed air is supplied by a compressor driven by the motor shaft.[5].

[0028] The disadvantages of this engine are that:

[0029] - the torque is created by the reactive force when opening the chamber covers, and as is known according to the theory of reactive motion, this requires appropriate nozzles, which are not present in this engine and there is no effective pushing force and torque. - the outflow of gases from the chambers cannot sufficiently rotate the impeller and create a second significant torque since there are no structural parts necessary for this.

[0030] The claimed invention does not have these disadvantages. The technical task of the proposed invention, using simple design solutions, is to ensure high efficiency of the rotary engine and low toxicity of exhaust gases.

[0031] The power plant consists of a rotary engine and an air compressor rotated by it. The main rotating elements of the rotary engine are located in a casing 1, which has a bell 3 for the release of exhaust gases and windows 2a and 2b on both sides for the intake of cooling air and the passage of structural elements of the engine.

[0032] A shaft 14 passes through the center of the casing and is mounted on support bearings 15a and 15b. The shaft consists of a solid and a hollow part. In the hollow part of the shaft, a central axial channel for fuel 14a and an annular channel for compressed air 14b are made. Hollow drive levers 6 communicating with the annular channel 14b are rigidly connected to the shaft. At the ends of the drive levers 6, combustion chambers 4 are installed, which are equipped with covers 5 with rocker arms 12 installed on axles 13, spark plugs 9, solenoid valves 7 for air intake and injectors 8. Fuel and air can be supplied through an end fixed intake device 1188, which is connected through sealing rings 19a, 19b with the possibility of radial sliding and is secured on the shaft with a locking nut 20. Fuel is supplied to channel 14a through fitting 16 and exits channel 14a through fitting 16a and then through a flexible hose is supplied to the fuel injection injector 8.Compressed air enters channel 14b through tube 17 and enters hollow drive levers 6 and then into combustion chambers 4.

[0033] Above the combustion chambers 4, the impeller 10 rotates, which has three types of blades 11, 11a and 1 1b. Blades of type 1 1 are intended to maintain the working pressure in the combustion chamber 4 during the working stroke (after combustion of the fuel mixture) with the cover 5 open, to ensure the rotation of the impeller and to create a second torque. Blades of type 11a are intended to remove the products of fuel combustion and cooling, and blades of type 1 16 are intended to cool the walls of the combustion chambers with the flow of intake air.

[0034] The impeller 10 is rigidly connected to the housing 21 for bearings 22, on which it rotates, and the gear 28 is rigidly fixed to it.

[0035] On shaft 14 gear 23 is rigidly fixed which through toothed belt 25 transmits rotation to synchronizing shaft: 26 which is rigidly connected with gear 24, equal to gear 23 and gear 27, equal to gear 28 and having engagement with it. Thus impeller 10 rotates synchronously with shaft 14 and transmits its rotating moment to shaft 14.

[0036] The actuators present in the engine - electromagnets 33, combustion chamber cover opening 5, air solenoid valves 7, fuel injection injectors 8, spark plugs 9, fuel electric pump 36 - are controlled by an electronic control unit 35, which receives electric power from a generator 34 with a drive from shaft 14. The transmission of electric pulses to the actuators is carried out via wires (not shown) from a switching device 32, which is mounted on a rotating drive lever 6 by means of a bracket 29 and which receives electric pulses from a fixed disk switch 31, connected to a control unit 35.

[0037] The engine working cycle is as follows: compressor 30 driven by shaft 14 supplies compressed air to combustion chamber 4, injector 8 injects fuel and spark plug 9 produces a spark and ignites the fuel mixture, which burns at a constant volume with an optimal duration. This condition ensures complete combustion of fuel and the maximum possible gas pressure in the combustion chamber. Then cover 5 of combustion chamber 4 opens and gases are ejected - the working stroke. Gases enter impeller 10 and pass through channels between blades of type 11, which, according to their design features, are intended to maintain working pressure in the combustion chamber, so that the pressure on the rear wall of combustion chamber 4 creates the maximum possible torque on shaft 14 and creates pressure on blades 1 1 and a reactive force when exiting the channels, creating a torque of impeller 10.

[0038] Electronic control of the working process can provide the required frequency, i.e. it can occur in half a shaft revolution or in one shaft revolution, etc. And also set the duration of intake, combustion and exhaust.

[0039] Thus, the advantage of the presented invention is that this rotary engine can provide high efficiency and low toxicity of exhaust gases. It also has a simple design that can ensure its high reliability and low production costs.

[0040] Brief description of explanatory drawings.

[0041] Figure 1 schematically shows the design and arrangement of the main parts of a rotary engine in a frontal projection: a casing 1 with an inlet window 2a and a bell 3; hollow drive levers 6 connected to a shaft 14 having channels for supplying fuel 14a, supplying compressed air 14b and combustion chambers 4 equipped with air inlet solenoid valves 7, fuel injection injectors 8 and covers 5 with rocker arms 12 - opened by electromagnets 33; an impeller 10 with blades of types 11, 11a and 11b; a nozzle 16a for supplying fuel to injectors 8.

[0042] Figure 2 schematically shows in a side section along plane A-A the structure and interaction of the parts of a rotary engine: a casing 1 with windows 2a, 2b for air intake; a shaft 14 with channels 14a, 14b and an outlet fuel nozzle 16a, mounted on bearing supports 15a, 15b with a fixed end inlet device 18, connected through sealing rings 19a, 19b by means of a nut 20 and having an inlet tube 17 for compressed air supplied from an air compressor 30 and a nozzle 16 for the intake of fuel supplied by a fuel pump 36; a hollow drive lever 6 connected to a shaft 14 and to combustion chambers 4 equipped with covers 5 with rocker arms 12, mounted on an axis 13 and opened by an electromagnet 33, spark plugs 9, air intake solenoid valves 7 and fuel intake injectors 8; a gear 23 mounted on a shaft 14, transmitting rotation by means of a toothed belt 25 to a gear 24 mounted on a synchronizing shaft 26;gear 27, meshing with gear 28, rigidly mounted on housing 21, connected to impeller 10, having blades of type 11, 11a and 11b; electronic control unit 35 fed from generator 34 and controlling fuel electric pump 36 and other executive electric devices through fixed disk switch 31 and movable switching device 32, mounted on drive lever 6 by means of bracket 29.

[0043] Figure 3 shows combustion chamber 4 with open cover 5.

[0044] The invention can be used in transport.

[0045] List of information sources: 1. US 1287049 60 / 39.34 10.12. 1918. 2. RU 2257476 C 1 17.11.2003.

[0046] 3. US 7682139 B2 03 / 23 / 2010.

[0047] 4. US 9810068 B2 05 / 20 / 2016.

[0048] 5. MD 4390 C1 10.1 1.2014.

Claims

Invention formula The power plant consists of a rotary engine and an air compressor rotated by it, in which the rotary engine has: a casing 1 with windows 2a, 26 for air intake and a bell for gas outlet 3; a shaft 14 passing through the center of the casing 1, having a solid and a hollow part in which a central channel 14a is made for: fuel and an annular channel 146 for compressed air; a fixed end inlet device 18 through which fuel and compressed air enter; hollow drive levers 6 communicating with the annular channel 146; combustion chambers 4 rigidly fixed at the ends of the drive levers 6 equipped with covers 5 with rocker arms 12 opened by an electromagnet 33, spark plugs 9, air intake solenoid valves 7 and fuel intake injectors 8; nipple 16a, coming out of fuel drip 14a and providing fuel supply to injectors 8;impeller 10 rotating on independent bearings 22 and equipped with blades of type 11 for creating a second torque and maintaining the working pressure in combustion chamber 4, type H a for removing gases and cooling, type 116 for cooling the walls of combustion chambers 4; gear 23 rigidly mounted on shaft 14 and transmitting rotation by means of toothed belt 25 to gear 24; synchronizing shaft 26 rigidly connected to gears 24 and 27 which has engagement with gear 28 rigidly mounted on housing 21 connected to impeller 10 this ensures synchronization of rotation of shaft 14 and impeller 10; electronic control unit 35 fed from generator 34 and transmitting electrical pulses to all actuators of the engine through fixed disk commutator 31 and movable switching device 32.

Images