Rotary Piston Engine Coupling and Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rotary piston machines face issues with unstable joint constructions, non-sealable workspaces, and complex adjustments for compression ratio, limiting their effectiveness and versatility.
Innovation Solution
The design features identical joints and coupling elements for both shafts to absorb high torque, with a sealable working space created by an annular space and sealing elements, allowing for adjustable compression ratio and control times through a control shaft without affecting the position of the input or output shafts, enabling simple structure and versatile use as a motor, compressor, or pump.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If complex joint construction with inner joints and articulated arms is used, then torque transmission is achieved, but joint stability and reliability deteriorate due to weak inner joints and unstable articulated arms
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the problematic inner joint and articulated arm from the joint construction. Instead of using a complex joint with nested components, the patent employs a simplified design where the piston rod is directly connected to the piston, removing the unstable inner joint while maintaining torque transmission capability through the connecting rod mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint construction is segmented into distinct functional components: the piston rod connects to the piston at one end, while the connecting rod connects to the piston rod and the crankshaft at other ends. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, improving overall joint stability while maintaining power transmission.
2Device complexity
If no sealing elements are used in the working space, then structural simplicity is maintained, but the working chamber cannot be sealable leading to loss of compression effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses flexible sealing elements in the form of rings that can deform to conform to the piston and cylinder bore surfaces. These sealing rings are mounted on the piston and create effective seals without requiring complex multi-component sealing systems, thus maintaining structural simplicity while achieving reliable sealing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the angle between motor axis and output shaft is adjusted to change compression, then compression ratio is variable, but device complexity increases due to additional adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the connecting rod length adjustable rather than fixed, allowing the compression ratio to be varied by changing the effective length of the connecting rod. This dynamic adjustment capability is achieved through a simple mechanism that modifies the geometric parameters of the existing components rather than adding complex angle-adjustment mechanisms between the motor axis and output shaft.
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 configuration enhances joint stability, increases effectiveness, and allows for variable use, including hydrogen operation, with improved torque transmission and adjustable compression, while maintaining a fixed position of the machine components.
Implementation Method 1
The sealing element seals the gap in the annular space through which the pistons are connected to the shafts via connecting elements
Implementation Method 2
a sealable working space is created by an annular space, two pistons with rings and an entrained sealing element
Data Source
Figure 1a~1d
Figure 2a~2d
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
The application relates to a rotary piston engine in which at least two pairs of diametrically opposed pistons are rotatably mounted about a rotational axis. The rotational axes of the piston pairs are collinear and connected by a coupling device that causes the piston pairs to perform a superimposed relative motion to each other during circular motion. This is achieved by two cranked coupling pieces that connect the hollow shaft and the inner shaft to another shaft. The position of this input or output shaft, or control shaft, allows both the compression ratio and the valve timing to be changed during operation. Sealable working chambers are created by an annular space, two pistons, and a sealing element, each carried along with the piston. The sealing elements move on guide tracks that rotate alongside the annular space surface.