U.S. Patent: 6019073 - Double ended piston engine

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United States Patent	*6,019,073*
Sanderson	February 1, 2000

Double ended piston engine

Abstract

The invention is a piston engine which has a plurality of cylinders, each cylinder having two ends in a first embodiment, and single ended in another embodiment, each end having a spark plug and inlet and exhaust valves. A distibutor is used for controlling the timing of firing the spark plugs and cams for controlling the operation of the inlet and exhaust valves. In each cylinder is a double ended piston. A transition arm is connected to each double ended piston by connecting shafts which extend into a central opening in each double ended piston. An adjustable flywheel is connected by a drive arm to the transition arm. Output from the engine is through an output shaft connected to the flywheel.

Inventors:	Sanderson; Robert A. (Denton, TX)
Assignee:	R. Sanderson Management, Inc. (Denton, TX)
Appl. No.:	929042
Filed:	September 15, 1997

Intern'l Class: F02B 075/18

Field of Search: 123/56.1,61 R,61 V,63,48 B,78 R,48 R,78 F

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Freudenstein, "Kinematic Structure of Mechanisms for Fixed and Variable-Stroke Axial-Piston Reciprocating Machines", Journal of Mechanisms, Transmissions, and Automation in Design, vol . 106, pp. 355-363, 1984.
Freudenstein, "Development of an Optimum Variable-Stroke Internal-Combustion Engine Mechanism From the Viewpoint . . . ", Journal of Mechanisms, Transmissions, and Automation in Design, vol. 105, pp. 259-266, 1984.

Primary Examiner: Kamen; Noah P.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fish & Richardson P.C.

Claims

What is claimed:

1. A piston engine, comprising:

a plurality of cylinders, each cylinder having an axis parallel to the axis of the other cylinders, each cylinder having two ends, and each end having a spark plug and inlet and exhaust valves;

a distributor for controlling the timing of the spark plugs and cam shafts for the operation of the inlet and exhaust valves;

a plurality of double ended pistons, one double ended piston in each cylinder;

a transition arm having a connecting shaft for each double ended piston, each connecting shaft extending into a central opening in each double ended piston;

a movable flywheel to adjust the compression ratio of the engine;

a drive arm connected to the transition arm and to said flywheel; and

a drive shaft connected to said flywheel, the axis of said drive shaft being parallel to the axis of said cylinders.

2. The engine according to claim 1, wherein said drive arm extends into an opening in said flywheel adjacent to the periphery of the flywheel.

3. The engine according to claim 2, wherein said drive arm extends into a sleeve bearing located in a bushing.

4. the engine according to claim 1, wherein there are four cylinders, including four double ended pistons forming an eight cylinder engine.

5. the engine according to claim 1, including a universal joint connecting said transition arm to a support.

6. the engine according to claim 1, wherein said transition arm is connected to a universal joint which permits the transition arm to move with linear motion produced by the pistons and with a circular motion produced by the drive arm connected to the flywheel.

7. The engine according to claim 1, including a first pulley connected to a drive gear, a timing belt and a second pulley connected to a distributor.

8. The engine according to claim 7, including an pump driven by said drive gear.

9. The engine according to claim 1, wherein said drive arm moves into and out of said flywheel when the flywheel is moved to adjust the engine compression.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to piston engines, and more particularly to an engine that has double ended pistons connected to a universal joint for converting linear motion of the pistons to rotary motion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most piston driven engines have pistons that are attached to offset portions of a crankshaft such that as the pistons are moved in a reciprocal direction transverse to the axis of the crankshaft, the crankshaft will rotate.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,709, defines an engine with a double ended piston that is attached to a crankshaft with an off set portion. A 8lever attached between the piston and the crankshaft is restrained in a fulcrum regulator to provide the rotating motion to the crankshaft.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,011,842, defines a four cylinder piston engine that utilizes two double ended pistons connected to a T-shaped connecting member that causes a crankshaft to rotate. The T-shaped connecting member is attached at each of the T-cross arm to a double ended piston. A centrally located point on the T-cross arm is rotatably attached to a fixed point, and the bottom of the T is rotatably attached to a crank pin which is connected to the crankshaft by a crankthrow which includes a counter weight.

In each of the above examples, double ended pistons are used that drive a crankshaft that has an axis transverse to the axis of the pistons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a piston engine which has a plurality of cylinders, each cylinder having two ends, each end having a spark plug and inlet and exhaust valves. A distributor is used for controlling the timing and operation of the inlet and exhaust valves. In each cylinder is a double ended piston. A transition arm is connected to each double ended piston by connecting shafts which extends into a central opening in each double ended piston. An adjustable flywheel is connected by a drive arm to the transition arm. Output from the engine is through an output shaft connected to the flywheel. The axis of the output shaft is parallel to the axis of each of the cylinders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are side view of a simplified illustration of a four cylinder engine of the present invention;

FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are a top views of the engine of FIG. 1 showing the pistons and flywheel in four different positions;

FIG. 7 is a top view, partially in cross-section of an eight cylinder engine of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view in cross-section of the engine of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a right end view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a side view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a left end view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a partial top view of the engine of FIG. 7 showing the pistons, drive member and flywheel in a high compression position;

FIG. 13 is a partial top view of the engine of FIG. 7 showing the pistons, drive member and flywheel in a low compression position;

FIG. 14 is a top view of a piston;

FIG. 15 is a side view of a piston showing the drive member in two positions;

FIG. 16 shows the bearing interface of the drive member and the piston;

FIG. 17 is an air driven engine/pump embodiment;

FIG. 18 illustrates the air valve in a first position;

FIGS. 18a, 18b and 18c are cross-sectional view of three cross-sections of the air valve shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 19 illustrates the air valve in a second position;

FIGS. 19a, 19b and 19c are cross-sectional view of three cross-sections of the air valve shown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 20 shows an embodiment with slanted cylinders; and

FIG. 21 shows an embodiment with single ended pistons.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of a four piston engine 10 of the present invention. Engine 10 has two cylinders 11 (FIG. 3) and 12. Each cylinder 11 and 12 house a double ended piston. Each double ended piston is connected to transition arm 13 which is connected to flywheel 15 by shaft 14. Transition arm 13 is connected to support 19 by a universal joint mechanism, including shaft 18, which allows transition arm 13 to move up and down and shaft 17 which allows transition arm 13 to move side to side. FIG. 1 shows flywheel 15 in a position with shaft 14 at the top of wheel 15.

FIG. 2 shows engine 10 with flywheel 15 rotated so that shaft 14 is at the bottom of flywheel 15. Transition arm 13 has pivoted downward on shaft 18.

FIGS, 3-6 show a top view of the pictorial representation, showing the transition arm 13 in four positions and shaft moving flywheel 15 in 90.degree. increments. FIG. 3 shows flywheel 15 with shaft 14 in the position as illustrated in FIG. 3a. When piston 1 fires and moves toward the middle of cylinder 11, transition arm 13 will pivot on universal joint 16 rotating flywheel 15 to the position shown in FIG. 2. Shaft 14 will be in the position shown in FIG. 4a. When piston 4 is fired, transition arm 13 will move to the position shown in FIG. 5. Flywheel 15 and shaft 14 will be in the position shown in FIG. 5a. Next, piston 2 will fire and transition arm 13 will be moved to the position shown in FIG. 6. Flywheel 15 and shaft 14 will be in the position shown in FIG. 6a. When piston 3 is fired, transition arm 13 and flywheel 15 will return to the original position shown in FIGS. 3 and 3a.

When the pistons fire, transition arm will be moved back and forth with the movement of the pistons. Since transition arm 13 is connected to universal joint 16 and to flywheel 15 through shaft 14, flywheel 15 rotates translating the linear motion of the pistons to a rotational motion.

FIG. 7 shows (in partial cross-section) a top view of an embodiment of a four double piston, eight cylinder engine 30 according to the present invention. There are actually only four cylinders, but with a double piston in each cylinder, the engine is equivalent to a eight cylinder engine. Two cylinders 31 and 46 are shown. Cylinder 31 has double ended piston 32,33 with piston rings 32a and 33a, respectively. Pistons 32,33 are connected to a transition arm 60 (FIG. 8) by piston arm 54a extending into opening 55a in piston 32,33 and sleeve bearing 55. Similarly piston 47,49, in cylinder 46 is connected by piston arm 54b to transition arm 60,

Each end of cylinder 31 has inlet and outlet valves controlled by a rocker arms and a spark plug. Piston end 32 has rocker arms 35a and 35b and spark plug 44, and piston end 33 has rocker arms 34a and 34b, and spark plug 41. Each piston has associated with it a set of valves, rocker arms and a spark plug. Timing for firing the spark plugs and opening and closing the inlet and exhaust values is controlled by a timing belt 51 which is connected to pulley 50a. Pulley 50a is attached to a gear 64 by shaft 63 (FIG. 8) turned by output shaft 53 powered by flywheel 69. Belt 50a also turns pulley 50b and gear 39 connected to distributor 38. Gear 39 also turns gear 40. Gears 39 and 40 are attached to cam shaft 75 (FIG. 8) which in turn activate push rods that are attached to the rocker arms 34, 35 and other rocker arms not illustrated.

Exhaust manifolds 48 and 56 as shown attached to cylinders 46 and 31 respectively. Each exhaust manifold is attached to four exhaust ports.

FIG. 8 is a side view of engine 30, with one side removed, and taken through section 8--8 of FIG. 7. Transition arm 60 is mounted on support 70 by pin 72 which allows transition arm to move up and down (as viewed in FIG. 8) and pin 71 which allows transition arm 60 to move from side to side. Since transition arm 60 can move up and down while moving side to side, then shaft 61 can drive flywheel 69 in a circular path. The four connecting piston arms (piston arms 54b and 54d shown in FIG. 8) are driven by the four double end pistons in an oscillator motion around pin 71. The end of shaft 61 in flywheel 69 causes transition arm to move up and down as the connection arms move back and forth. Flywheel 69 has gear teeth 69a around one side which may be used for turning the flywheel with a starter motor 100 (FIG. 11) to start the engine.

The rotation of flywheel 69 and drive shaft 68 connected thereto, turns gear 65 which in turn turns gears 64 and 66. Gear 64 is attached to shaft 63 which turns pulley 50a. Pulley 50a is attached to belt 51. Belt 51 turns pulley 50b and gears 39 and 40 (FIG. 7). Cam shaft 75 has cams 88--91 on one end and cams 84--87 on the other end. Cams 88 and 90 actuate push rods 76 and 77, respectively. Cams 89 and 91 actuate push rods 93 and 94, respectively. Cams 84 and 86 activate push rods 95 and 96, respectively, and cams 85 and 87 actuate push rods 78 and 79, respectively. Push rods 77,76, 93,94, 95, 96 and 78,79 are for opening and closing the intake and exhaust valves of the cylinders above the pistons. The left side of the engine, which has been cutaway, contains an identical, but opposite valve drive mechanism.

Gear 66 turned by gear 65 on drive shaft 68 turns pump 67, which may be, for example, a water pump used in the engine cooling system (not illustrated), or an oil pump.

FIG. 9 is a rear view of engine 30 showing the relative positions of the cylinders and double ended pistons. Piston 32,33 is shown in dashed lines with valves 35c and 35d located under lifter arms 35a and 35b, respectively. Belt 51 and pulley 50b are shown under distributor 38. Transition arm 60 and two, 54c and 54d, of the four piston arms 54a, 54b, 54c and 54d are shown in the pistons 32-33, 32a-33a, 47-49 and 47a-49a.

FIG. 10 is a side view of engine 30 showing the exhaust manifold 56, intake manifold 56a and carburetor 56c. Pulleys 50a and 50b with timing belt 51 are also shown.

FIG. 11 is a front end view of engine 30 showing the relative positions of the cylinders and double ended pistons 32-33, 32a-33a, 47-49 and 47a-49a with the four piston arms 54a, 54b, 54c and 54d positioned in the pistons. Pump 67 is shown below shaft 53, and pulley 50a and timing belt 51 are shown at the top of engine 30. Starter 100 is shown with gear 101 engaging the gear teeth 69a on flywheel 69.

A feature of the invention is that the compression ratio for the engine can be changed while the engine is running. The end of arm 61 mounted in flywheel 69 travels in a circle at the point where arm 61 enters flywheel 69. Referring to FIG. 13, the end of arm 61 is in a sleeve bearing ball bushing assembly 81. The stroke of the pistons is controlled by arm 61. Arm 61 forms an angle, for example about 15.degree., with shaft 53. By moving flywheel 69 on shaft 53 to the right or left, as viewed in FIG. 13, the angle of arm 61 can be changed, changing the stroke of the pistons, changing the compression ratio. The position of flywheel 69 is changed by turning nut 104 on threads 105. Nut 104 is keyed to shaft 53 by thrust bearing 106a held in place by ring 106b. In the position shown in FIG. 12, flywheel 69 has been moved to the right, extending the stroke of the pistons.

FIG. 12 shows flywheel moved to the right increasing the stroke of the pistons, providing a higher compression ratio. Nut 105 has been screwed to the right, moving shaft 53 and flywheel 69 to the right. Arm 61 extends further into bushing assembly 80 and out the back of flywheel 69.

FIG. 13 shows flywheel moved to the left reducing the stroke of the pistons, providing a lower compression ratio. Nut 105 has been screwed to the left, moving shaft 53 and flywheel 69 to the left. Arm 61 extends less into bushing assembly 80.

The piston arms on the transition arm are inserted into sleeve bearings in a bushing in piston. FIG. 14 shows a double piston 110 having piston rings 111 on one end of the double piston and piston rings 112 on the other end of the double piston. A slot 113 is in the side of the piston. The location the sleeve bearing is shown at 114.

FIG. 15 shows a piston arm 116 extending into piston 110 through slot 116 into sleeve bearing 117 in bushing 115. Piston arm 116 is shown in a second position at 116a. The two pistons arms 116 and 116a show the movement limits of piston arm 116 during operation of the engine.

FIG. 16 shows piston arm 116 in sleeve bearing 117. Sleeve bearing 117 is in pivot pin 115. Piston arm 116 can freely rotate in sleeve bearing 117 and the assembly of piston arm 116, Sleeve bearing 117 and pivot pin 115 and sleeve bearings 118a and 118b rotate in piston 110, and piston arm 116 can moved axially with the axis of sleeve bearing 117 to allow for the linear motion of double ended piston 110, and the motion of a transition arm to which piston arm 116 is attached.

FIG. 17 shows how the four cylinder engine 10 in FIG. 1 may be configured as an air motor using a four way rotary valve 123 on the output shaft 122. Each of cylinders 1, 2, 3 and 4 are connected by hoses 131, 132, 133, and 144, respectively, to rotary valve 123. Air inlet port 124 is used to supply air to run engine 120. Air is sequentially supplied to each of the pistons 1a, 2a, 3a dn 4a, to move the pistons back and forth in the cylinders. Air is exhausted from the cylinders out exhaust port 136. Transition arm 126, attached to the pistons by connecting pins 127 and 128 are moved as described with references to FIGS. 1-6 to turn flywheel 129 and output shaft 22.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of rotary valve 123 in the position when pressurized air or gas is being applied to cylinder 1 thorough inlet port 124, annular channel 125, channel 126, channel 130, and air hose 131. Rotary valve 123 is made up of a plurality of channels in housing 123 and output shaft 122. The pressurized air entering cylinder 1 causes piston 1a, 3a to move to the right (as viewed in FIG. 18). Exhaust air is forced out of cylinder 3 through line 133 into chamber 134, though passageway 135 and out exhaust outlet 136.

FIGS. 18a, 18b and 18c are cross-sectional view of valve 23 showing the air passages of the valves at three positions along valve 23 when positioned as shown in FIG. 18

FIG. 19 shows rotary valve 123 rotated 180.degree. when pressurized air is applied to cylinder 3, reversing the direction of piston 1a, 3a. Pressurized air is applied to inlet port 124, through annular chamber 125, passage way 126, chamber 134 and air line 133 to cylinder 3. This in turn causes air in cylinder 1 to be exhausted through line 131, chamber 130, line 135, annular chamber 137 and out exhaust port 136. Shaft 122 will have rotated 360.degree. turning counter clockwise when piston 1a, 3a complete it stroke to the left.

Only piston 1a, 3a have been illustrated to show the operation of the air engine and valve 123 relative to the piston motion. The operation of piston 2a, 4a is identical in function except that its 360.degree. cycle starts at 90.degree. shaft rotation and reverses at 270.degree. and completes its cycle back at 90.degree.. A power stroke occurs at every 90.degree. of rotation.

FIGS. 19a, 19b and 19c are cross-sectional views of valve 123 showing the air passages of the valves at three positions along valve 123 when positioned as shown in FIG. 19.

The principle of operation which operates the air engine of FIG. 17 can be reversed, and engine 120 of FIG. 17 can be used as an air or gas compressor or pump. By rotating engine 10 clockwise by applying rotary power to shaft 122, exhaust port 136 will draw in air into the cylinders and port 124 will supply air which may be used to drive, for example air tool, or be stored in an air tank.

In the above embodiments, the cylinders have been illustrated as being parallel to each other. However, the cylinders need not be parallel. FIG. 20 shows an embodiment similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1-6, with cylinders 150 and 151 not parallel to each other. Universal joint 160 permits the piston arms 152 and 153 to be at an angle other than 90.degree. to the drive arm 154. Even with the cylinders not parallel to each other the engines are functionally the same.

Still another modification may be made to the engine 10 of FIGS. 1-6. This embodiment, pictorially shown in FIG. 21, may have single ended pistons. Piston 1a and 2a are connected to universal joint 170 by drive arms 171 and 172, and to flywheel 173 by drive arm 174. The basic difference is the number of strokes of pistons 1a and 2a to rotate flywheel 173 360.degree..

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Intern'l Class:	F02B 075/18
Field of Search:	123/56.1,61 R,61 V,63,48 B,78 R,48 R,78 F