A four-stroke, spark-ignition, petrol - hydrogen fuelled toroidal engine with a unidirectional drive system having a double planetary gear set

Abstract

The present invention relates to a petrol-hydrogen fuelled toroidal engine with four strokes, spark ignition and a special gear transmission system. The invention provides an engine comprising piston counterparts (10) in a toroidal cylinder extending around a shaft (6), a piston carrier ring (11) having movable piston pairs (16) that can move within this cylinder, a unidirectional transmission assembly that transfers the oscillation of the piston pairs (16) to the shaft (6) in the form of a rotational movement in one direction, tabs (17) and tab grooves (17) that engage each other for sealing and bearing the piston carrier ring (11).

Description

[0001] A FOUR-STROKE, SPARK-IGNITION, PETROL - HYDROGEN FUELLED TOROIDAL ENGINE WITH A UNIDIRECTIONAL DRIVE SYSTEM HAVING A DOUBLE PLANETARY GEAR SET

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a petrol-hydrogen fuelled toroidal engine with four strokes, spark ignition and a special gear transmission system.

[0004] Prior Art

[0005] Conventional internal combustion engines are commonly in the form of in-line pistons, V Type, W Type, X Type and opposed piston engines. In these types of engines, the pistons move linearly in a cylinder and the motion is converted into rotational motion by a crank connecting rod mechanism. Side forces in the crank connecting rod mechanism cause wear, overheating and friction losses.

[0006] In the document numbered TR201722012B, a diesel engine configuration with blades is described. There are also bearings to convert the oscillating motion of the blades into unidirectional circular motion.

[0007] In the document numbered CN101566093A, a two-stroke internal combustion engine with reciprocating cylinders is described. Each cylinder has a pair of opposed pistons, all connected to a common central crankshaft. The inboard pistons of each cylinder are connected to the crankshaft by push rods, while the outboard pistons are connected to the crankshaft by pull rods. Each reciprocating cylinder also contains an integral sweep pump to provide positive suction pressure. This configuration creates a low-profile compact engine in which the free mass forces can be balanced. The engine configuration also allows asymmetric timing of the intake and exhaust ports through angular positioning of the shaft ends on the crankshaft. It includes sweep ports, fuel injector, combustion chamber, combustion chamber, planetary gear, exhaust port, lugs suitable for rotating around the bearing in an interference fit and spark plug to initiate ignition.

[0008] In the document numbered CA2533496A1, a self-lubricating toroidal internal combustion engine consisting of two concentric engine rings is described. Intake valves are mounted on both faces of the first set of pistons and exhaust valves are mounted on both faces of the second set of pistons. The intake valve pistons are mounted on one of the engine rings and the exhaust valve pistons on the other engine ring. The combustion forces on the piston faces force the two concentric engine rings to rotate in opposite directions. The inlet valve piston and the adjacent exhaust valve piston sweep the same chamber volume at different strokes of the engine cycle. The outer engine ring includes the inner engine ring, intake valve piston, exhaust valve piston, combustion chamber and air cooling system.

[0009] In the document numbered W02005083246A1, it is mentioned that a new internal combustion engine comprises an air intake, an air compressor, a combustion chamber, a shuttle valve disposed between an air compressor and the combustion chamber, a crankshaft connected to the air compressor for operation of a fuel supplier connected to the air compressor and to the combustion chamber for supplying a fuel / air mixture to a combustion chamber. The turbine piston is coaxially connected to the crankshaft. The turbine piston seals the combustion chamber and opens to be driven by a force generated by the combustion of the combustion chamber.

[0010] In the document numbered RU2611704C2, a toroidal (rotary) internal combustion engine with one or more pistons mechanically connected to each other is described. The reciprocating movements of the pistons are transmitted to the loading tube shaft. The shaft is connected to right and left ratchet gears which transfer the load to two counter-rotating output shafts arranged coaxially.

[0011] In the document numbered US2007131182A1, a new internal combustion engine is described. It comprises an air inlet, a first compressor, a second compressor coupled to the first compressor, a compressor transfer valve. A toroidal piston moves in a circular bearing and passes over the transfer valve. The valve, toroidal piston and seat form a temporary combustion chamber which expands as the piston moves in the annular seat. Compressed air and fuel are introduced into the temporary combustion chamber and ignited to release chemical energy and force the turbine piston to move faster in the annular housing. The first compressor is rotatably connected to a crankshaft. This allows efficient utilisation of the energy released from the combustion of the fuel-air mixture.

[0012] In the document numbered US2007068481A1, there is mentioned an internal combustion rotary engine comprising a cover having an inlet and an outlet, and a rotatable rotor centrally mounted within the clamshell region. The rotor comprises a plurality of pockets positioned around its periphery, the rotor being further connected to a rotor shaft. Each rotatable elliptical body is coupled to respective planetary gears, and each respective planetary gear is meshed with a centrally located fixed sun gear.

[0013] In the document numbered RU2754184C1, mention is made of a rotary internal combustion engine comprising a gearbox, a common shaft toroid walls, two rotors with blades, cam gear units. It is mentioned that when the engine is operated using a liquid cooling system, it can be equipped with a cooling jacket for the toroid walls of the engine.

[0014] In the document numbered CN114922723 A, a toroidal one-cylinder engine is described. The engine output is transferred to a central shaft by a ratchet bearing. The blades, which are piston analogues, move with the help of rings around the bearing.

[0015] Brief Description of the Invention

[0016] The object of the present invention is to develop an internal combustion engine without a crankshaft and piston rods. By this means, not only the weight and volume of the engine components can be saved, but also the vibrations encountered during the conversion of linear piston motion into rotary motion, losses and wear due to lateral forces and the friction caused by these forces can be eliminated.

[0017] Another object of the present invention is the development of an engine capable of providing higher power output in a smaller volume.

[0018] A further object of the present invention is the development of an engine which improves the sealing of toroidal engines.

[0019] A further object of the present invention is to develop an engine which can be configured to run on different fuels, in particular an engine which is suitable for the use of hydrogen fuels with high efficiency.

[0020] A further object of the present invention is to develop an engine which can be easily integrated into existing cooling, fuelling, lubrication, starting and especially transmission systems. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0021] The engine realized in order the achieve the objects of this invention is shown in the attached figures.

[0022] Figure-1 External view of an engine according to the invention.

[0023] Figure-2 Internal view of an engine according to the invention with the first cover removed.

[0024] Figure-3 View of the piston carrier ring of an engine according to the invention.

[0025] Figure-4 View of the piston liner of an engine according to the invention.

[0026] Figure-5 Interior view of the second cover of an engine according to the invention.

[0027] Figure-6 Sectional view of the cover shown in Figure 5.

[0028] Figure-7 View of a one-way transmission assembly of an engine according to the invention.

[0029] Figure-8 Schematic view of the duty cycle of an engine according to the invention.

[0030] The parts in the figures are numbered individually, and the corresponding descriptions are given below.

[0031] I. First cover

[0032] 3. Stud hole

[0033] 4. Intake air valve seat

[0034] 6. Shaft

[0035] 8. Exhaust valve seat

[0036] 9. Second cover

[0037] 10. Piston counterpart

[0038] I I . Piston carrier ring

[0039] 12. Cooling jacket

[0040] 15. Injector hole

[0041] 16. Piston pair

[0042] 17. Tab

[0043] 18. Ring gear

[0044] 19. Small planetary gear

[0045] 20. Large planetary gear

[0046] 21. Ratchet mechanism 22. Sun gear

[0047] 23. Piston pair connecting leg

[0048] 24. Piston liner

[0049] A. Suction stroke

[0050] B. Compression stroke

[0051] C. Work-expansion stroke

[0052] D. Exhaust stroke

[0053] The engine according to the invention essentially comprises a shaft (6), a first cover (1) and a second cover (9) defining a cylinder having a toroidal shape extending around the shaft (6) between their opposing surfaces, piston counterparts (10) connected to the second cover (9) inside the cylinder, a piston carrier ring (11) having movable piston pairs (16) which are rotatable around the shaft (6) and remain in the cylinder, piston pair connecting legs (23) connecting the piston heads forming each piston pair (16) to each other and to the piston carrier ring (11), a unidirectional transmission assembly which transfers the oscillating movement of the piston pairs (16) around the shaft (6) to the shaft (6) in the form of a rotational movement in one direction,

[0054] - tabs (17) and tab grooves which are mutually positioned on the piston carrier ring (11) and the first cover (1) and on the piston carrier ring (11) and the second cover (9) so as to engage with each other, which bear and seal the piston carrier ring (11) on the first cover (1) and the second cover (9).

[0055] There are also piston liners (24) (jackets) connected to both sides of the piston counterparts (10), extending along the surfaces of the first cover (1) and the second cover (9) and defining combustion chambers in the cylinder. The piston liners (24) can be adapted to extend through the range of motion of the piston pairs (16) in accordance with the targeted design parameters of the engine according to the invention, and allow control of friction within the cylinder and heat transfer to the cylinder. The piston liners (24) can be replaced following frictional wear. Oil applied to the tabs (17) and tab grooves provides lubrication and sealing. The oil can also assist in cooling.

[0056] Instead of or in addition to the tabs (17) and the tab grooves, the piston carrier ring (11) may be provided with slides on which the piston carrier ring (11) can be moved.

[0057] The piston carrier ring (11) may also be provided with piston carrier ring (11) grooves and / or bearing races, which provide movement of the piston carrier ring (11) and support sealing. These are preferably lubricated with high-temperature resistant grease.

[0058] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the unidirectional transmission assembly comprises a planetary gear set and a ratchet mechanism (21). The ratchet mechanism (21) is located on the shaft (6). The planetary gear set is located between the piston carrier ring (11) and the ratchet mechanism (21). The planetary gear train has two separate gear trains, each consisting of a ring gear (18) on the inner surface of the piston carrier ring (11), a sun gear (22) on the outer surface of the ratchet mechanism (21) and planetary gears between them. Preferably, one of these gear trains comprises a plurality of even number of small planetary gears (19) located between the respective ring gear (18) and the respective sun gear (22) and a plurality of odd number of large planetary gears (20) located between the respective ring gear (18) and the respective sun gear (22). These gear trains transfer the oscillating movement of the piston carrier ring (11) and the piston carrier ring (11) connected thereto to the ratchet mechanism (21) in opposite directions, and the ratchet mechanism (21) transfers the movement in one direction only to the shaft (6). Thus, both components of the oscillating movement in both directions can be transferred to the shaft (6) in the form of a rotational movement in one direction, and the engine according to the invention provides a regular output from the shaft (6).

[0059] An exemplary application of the invention in a four-stroke, spark-ignition, petrol-hydrogen fuelled engine is described below.

[0060] The first cover (1) and the second cover (9) also contain cooling jackets (12) for circulating cooling water. The covers are joined together by studs which are threaded through the opposing stud holes (3). The stud holes (3) are also provided with sealing gaskets. The first cover (1) also contains the ignition and heating plugs and the holes for their connection. Fuel injectors are also connected to the engine through the injector holes (15) on the first cover (1). Spark plugs and fuel injectors are preferably eight in number. The intake air valve seats (4), where the valves that allow the sweeping and filling air obtained from the turbo and mechanical blowers (air pump) to be delivered to the cylinder, and the exhaust valve seats (8), where the exhaust valves that allow the combustion products to be discharged out of the cylinder, are also located on the first cover (1). The second cover (9) is preferably provided with four piston counterparts (10) positioned at 90 degree angles.

[0061] On the piston carrier ring (11) are preferably four piston pairs (16) positioned at 90 degree angles. In the cylinder, the volumes between the piston pairs (16) and the piston counterparts (10) form 8 combustion chambers. As a result of the simultaneous explosion in the two combustion chambers, the power generated by the work expansion stroke is synchronously transferred to the unidirectional transmission assembly and the shaft (1), respectively, by means of the piston carrier ring (11) to which the piston pairs (16) are connected.

[0062] The shaft (6) is the component that provides the engine output, that is, the drive. Depending on the application of the engine, the shaft (6) can be connected directly to a load such as a wheel or propeller, to a drive train or to a converter including an alternator.

[0063] The ratchet mechanism (21) ensures that the movement is converted into one-way movement on the shaft (6) by means of the holes belonging to the ratchet pawls, the springs and the pawls located in these holes. The ratchet mechanism (21) is idle in the other direction. A one-way bearing can also be used instead of the ratchet mechanism (21).

[0064] The planetary gear set preferably comprises 8 large planetary gears (20) and 16 small planetary gears (19) in pairs. Together with the ratchet mechanism (21), the oscillating movement in both directions is transmitted to the shaft (1) in one direction.

[0065] For the initial movement of the engine, there is also a starter motor to cause the piston pairs (16) to oscillate and to be switched off when started.

[0066] During operation of the engine according to the invention, an explosion occurs simultaneously in two combustion chambers. All four piston pairs (16) perform the workexpansion movement in the same direction as a result of combustion. This creates a significant power and the associated rotational torque. As in conventional engines with four strokes, the intake, compression, expansion and exhaust strokes (A, B, C, D) are carried out sequentially. Meanwhile, the piston pairs (16) and the piston carrier ring (11) to which they are connected perform a continuous oscillating movement. High compression ratios can be obtained with the inventive engine. During the oscillations of the piston pairs (16), there are dead spaces between the positions they reach in the cylinder and their piston counterparts (10). In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, if the dead volumes are 4 degrees, the compression ratio is 26:4=6.5. If the dead volume is 1 degree, the compression ratio is 26: 1=26. In case of sudden loss of pressure, engine dampers can also be added to prevent the piston pairs (16) from hitting the piston counterparts (10). The stroke of the piston carrier ring (11) is also 26 degrees. Compared to conventional four-stroke engines, the engine of the invention operates at very high speeds. In order to ensure that the filling air is supplied at the right time and in the right quantity and that the exhaust gas is cleaned completely, a twin-turbo system can be used, one with exhaust gas drive and the other with a shaft (6) turret.

[0067] In conventional engines, instead of piston rods or connecting rods and connecting rods used to perform transmission and to convert the linear motion of the pistons into rotational motion, in the engine according to the invention, the rotational moment is directly transferred to the shaft (6) by means of a one-way transmission assembly. Thus, with the invention, wear, overheating and friction losses caused by side forces in the crank connecting rod mechanism are prevented.

[0068] The engine according to the invention has a light, compact and simple structure thanks to its ability to be manufactured with a small number of components and provides flexibility in terms of area of use.

[0069] The engine according to the invention also prevents the loss of efficiency due to the inertia of the flywheel in conventional engines in strokes where no power is generated, and the vibration and noise that occur when the engine is at low speeds that cannot be effectively supported by the flywheel.

[0070] The engine according to the invention retains all the advantages of four-stroke engines. The entire working cycle is completed in four strokes of the piston pairs (16) and the entire cylinder cavity is utilised in this cycle. As described above, high compression ratios can also be achieved. Thanks to these features, the inventive engine can provide high efficiency with hydrogen. Although the invention has been described above with petrol-hydrogen fuelled four-stroke engines, engines according to the invention suitable for use with different types and / or different fuels can also be implemented.

[0071] Engines according to the invention can be used as main engines in the automotive industry, aircraft industry, ship industry and other transport areas where conventional internal combustion engines (petrol and diesel engines) are generally used, as well as in generators and compressors as drive engines. It can be used as a drive engine in all small and large industrial and agricultural tools and machines where conventional internal combustion engines are used.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A toroidal engine characterized by comprising a shaft (6), a first cover (1) and a second cover (9) defining a cylinder having a toroidal shape extending around the shaft (6) between their opposing surfaces, piston counterparts (10) connected to the second cover (9) inside the cylinder, a piston carrier ring (11) having movable piston pairs (16) which are rotatable around the shaft (6) and remain in the cylinder, piston pair connecting legs (23) connecting the piston heads forming each piston pair (16) to each other and to the piston carrier ring (11), a unidirectional transmission assembly which transfers the oscillating movement of the piston pairs (16) around the shaft (6) to the shaft (6) in the form of a rotational movement in one direction,- tabs (17) and tab grooves which are mutually positioned on the piston carrier ring (11) and the first cover (1) and on the piston carrier ring (11) and the second cover (9) so as to engage with each other, which bear and seal the piston carrier ring (11) on the first cover (1) and the second cover (9).

2. An engine according to claim 1, characterized by comprising piston liners (24) connected to both sides of the piston counterparts (10), extending along the surfaces of the first cover (1) and the second cover (9) and defining combustion chambers in the cylinder.

3. An engine according to claim 1, characterized by comprising a ratchet mechanism (21) located on the shaft (6), a planetary gear set located between the piston carrier ring (11) and the ratchet mechanism (21), with two separate gear trains each having o a ring gear (18) on the inner surface of the piston carrier ring (11), o a sun gear (22) on the outer surface of the ratchet mechanism (21) and o planetary gears between the ring gears (18) and the sun gears (22).

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