Oscillatory Rotary Engine Torque Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oscillatory rotary engines face challenges in achieving continuous combustion and efficient torque transfer due to non-actuation periods and high-frequency port openings, leading to vibration issues and increased size and weight from complex gear and crank mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
The oscillatory rotary engine employs a resilient coupler with elastic members, such as spiral springs, and a compact pawl and ratchet arrangement to stabilize torque transfer and control rotor directionality, utilizing a compression bypass port for the Atkinson combustion cycle to achieve a higher expansion ratio than compression ratio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If sophisticated gear and crank actuation mechanisms are used to induce oscillatory rotary movement, then the engine can achieve controlled piston motion, but the size and weight of the engine more than double
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex gear and crank actuation mechanisms from the engine design. Instead of using these sophisticated mechanisms to induce oscillatory rotary movement, the invention allows the rotors to rotate uniformly and superimposes oscillatory movement through a different mechanism (changing angular velocity of rotors), thereby reducing engine weight while maintaining controlled piston motion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by changing the angular velocity of the rotors to superimpose oscillatory movement on uniform rotation. This dynamic approach replaces static complex mechanical linkages with a more flexible velocity-control method, achieving the same piston control function with reduced weight
2Ease of operation
If sophisticated gear and crank actuation mechanisms are used to induce oscillatory rotary movement, then the engine can achieve controlled piston motion, but the size of the engine more than doubles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex gear and crank actuation mechanisms from the engine design. Instead of using these sophisticated mechanisms to induce oscillatory rotary movement, the invention allows the rotors to rotate uniformly and superimposes oscillatory movement through a different mechanism (changing angular velocity of rotors), thereby reducing engine size while maintaining controlled piston motion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by changing the angular velocity of the rotors to superimpose oscillatory movement on uniform rotation. This dynamic approach replaces static complex mechanical linkages with a more flexible velocity-control method, achieving the same piston control function with reduced size
3Device complexity
If two rotors are used with alternating chamber actuation, then the engine structure is simplified, but all chambers experience non-actuation periods causing coupling harmonics that require robust gears and flywheels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using at least three rotors with differently positioned pistons, creating local variations in chamber actuation patterns. This ensures that while one chamber may be in non-actuation period, other chambers are actively actuating, distributing the load and eliminating coupling harmonics without requiring robust gears and flywheels
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves continuity of useful action by ensuring that with three or more rotors, there is always at least one chamber in actuation phase. This continuous actuation across multiple chambers eliminates the non-actuation periods experienced by individual chambers in two-rotor designs, reducing coupling harmonics and improving reliability
4Power
If high frequency opening and closing ports are used, then the engine can achieve high power density, but large shock wave harmonics are produced making vibration tolerance a major limiting factor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by distributing port operations across multiple rotors and chambers. Instead of one port opening and closing at a time, multiple ports operate at different phases, localizing and distributing the shock waves to reduce overall vibration amplitude while maintaining high power density
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic action by coordinating the opening and closing of ports across multiple rotors in a phased manner. The periodic operations are staggered in time, creating a smoother overall vibration pattern that maintains high power density while reducing peak shock wave harmonics
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design simplifies torque transfer, reduces vibration, and enables continuous combustion by ensuring all chambers are in actuation at some point, resulting in a more compact and efficient engine.
Implementation Method 1
A resilient coupler connects the rotors to the output shaft. The resilient coupler may be a torsion spring, for example. The resilient coupler also may be integrally formed with the rotor in the form of a spiral cut extending through the rotor
Implementation Method 2
The resilient coupler may be a torsion spring, for example
Implementation Method 3
The disclosed oscillatory rotary engine may use the Atkinson combustion cycle by using a compression bypass port where part of the compression stroke does not compress the gas in the chamber
Data Source
AI summary
An oscillatory rotary engine comprising a toroidal housing having an intake port and an exhaust port. The housing supports an output shaft and a plurality of stacked rotors are disposed within the housing and coupled to the output shaft. Each rotor includes a plurality of pistons disposed in spaced relation to each other about a circumference of the rotor. A resilient coupler connects the rotors to the output shaft. Preferably, the coupler comprises a plurality of nested spiral cuts extending through the rotor. Each piston may include a pawl that is operative to engage ratchets located around the housing, thereby allowing rotation of each rotor in only one direction. The oscillatory rotary engine may further include a compression bypass port that is operative to relieve intake air pressure during compression, whereby the engine has a compression ratio that is less than its expansion ratio.