March
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1,619,696 .
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E.>W. BOWEN
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MECHANISM FOR CONVERTING ROTARY MOTION INTO COMBINED
RECIPROCATING AND OSCILLATING MOTION AND VICE VERSA
‘
Filed Jan. 5, 1924
. 2 Sheets-Shoot 1
‘
March 1 , 1927.
E w‘ BOWEN
,
1,619,696
MECHANISM FOR CONVERTING ROTARY MOTION INTO COMBINED
RECIPROCATING AND OSCILLATING MOTION AND VICE VERSA
‘
Filed Jan. 5, 1924
2 Sheets-Shoot 2
>
1,619,696
UNITED STATES PATENT .oFF'ic-E.
Patented Mar. 1, 1927.
ERNEST WINDSOR‘BOWEN, 0F CI-IIS‘WICK, LONDON, ENGLAND.
MECHANISM FOR CONVERTING ROTARY MOTION :[N'IO eoivrernnn nnoirnoonrine
AND osoILLArIne MOTION AND vron VERSA.
Application ?led January 3, 1924, SeriaLN-o. 684,216, and in Great Britain January 18, 1923.
This invention is for improvements in or acterized by the fact that‘ the shaft is ar
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relating‘ to mechanism for converting rotary ranged to be itself adjustable longitudinally
motion about one axis into combined'recip~ of its axis and at right angles to the direc
rocating and oscillatory angular motion tion of reciprocation of the reciprocatory
about another axis, and vice versa, and. the
type of such mechanism to which the in
vention relates is that wherein a reciproca
tory member, such as a piston, plunger or
the like, operating in a cylinder is opera
member, in order to permit or effect-the
angular adjustment of the crank arm in re
lation to its shaft whereby the effective
throw of the crank can be varied.
Conveniently, a pin pivotally connected
tively connected, at a point situated to one at one end with the crank arm extends
side of its longitudinal axis, to one end of transversely through the reciprocatory mem
a link constituting a crank arm of a shaft
ber, and means is provided for adjusting
to which the other end of the crank arm the endwise position of the pin‘ in’ relation
is pivoted.
to said reciprocatory member.
An important object of the invention is
Otherfeatures of the invention will be
to provide an improved construction of described hereinafter and pointed out in the
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crank mechanism of the type referred to claims.
particularly adapted for use in internal
In order that the invention may be clearly
combustion engines, aircompressors, pumps understood reference will be made-by way
‘and the like. Another important object is of-example, to the accompanying'drawing
to ‘provide mechanism ofthe type described showing the invention applied-to an inter
comprising a crank shaft, .whereinzthe ef nal~combustion engine: ‘It is to ‘be under
fective throw or radius of the crank arm or stood however, that the invention is not
crank pin can be readily varied.
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limited to, the precise constructional details
Heretofore‘it has been proposed topro enumerated in the drawing:
.Vide an internal-combustion engine of the
Figure 1 is a plan view partlyin hori
horizontally opposed type in which “means zontal section, showing one form of hori
wereprovided for imparting an oscillating zontal, opposedpiston, two stroke cycle in
rotary movement about the longitudinal ternal-combustion. engine, comprising crank
axis of ‘the cylinder to one of two pistons mechanism‘ according. to the invention, and
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reciprocable-oppositely inthe cylinder, and’
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the
in one construction of such engines a crank crank shaft shown in Figure 1, but one.
arm pivoted to the shaft was. operatively larger scale, provided with meansfor mov
Co on
connected with therskirt of the one piston ing the shaft-in. the vdirection of its lon
by means of a self-aligning, ball-bearing gitudinal axis. ,
provided in an aperture inthe skirt.
In
this known construction,however, the piv
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90
tion showing a. slightly modified form of
otal connection of the crank arm with the construction of the crank mechanism.
shaft was situated within the skirt of the
Like reference letters designatelike parts
piston, so that the crank shaft necessarily in both views.
had some overhang andsthe-‘length of the
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F igure~3 is a detail view partly in sec
Referringtothe drawing, two working
crank arinwas limited by the radius of cylinders A, B, are mounted on a central
the skirt to which it was connected.
frame C. At the inner end of ‘each cylinder
According to an importa-nt'feature of this is a skirt A1, B1 directed towards one‘
invention there is provided mechanism of another and formed on thevframe C, which
the kind described characterized‘in that the skirts constitute each a pump chamberfor
point of connection of the crank arm with its allotted cylinder; A two-diameter piston
the reciprocatory member is situated on the D, E, is reciprocable in the cylinder A and
same side as that whereon theshaft is ‘dis pump chamber A1, and a 'two_diameter.pis
posed, for the purpose ‘of enabling the over ton F, G, is reciprocable in the cylinder B
hang of the crank shaft to be reduced to a and the pump chamber B1; These pistons
minimum.
are connected together. by a cylindrical
According to another important feature trunk H constituting a skirt commonto the
of the invention thecrank mechanism de twopump pistons E, G.‘ The pistons D,
scribed in the preceding paragraph is char F, constitute power pistons, and the pistons
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110
1,619,696
.2
E, G, constitute pump pistons. The cyl the pin P carries a washer P4 and a nut P5,
inders are water-jacketed as usual, as shown by which the pin is securely held in the tube
at J, and the frame C has an inspection H1. The washers P3, P4, have their inner
faces shaped to the outer periphery of the
A power shaft K that lies with its longi trunk H against- which they lie, and by
tudinal axis at right angles to the longi changing the washer P3 for another of a
tudinal axis of the cylinders is journalled di?erent thickness the distances of the bear
in a roller bearing M in the frame C in ing 0 from the longitudinal axis of the cylin
such a manner that it can be adjusted in ders can be varied. Thus the angle which
the direction of its length. On the end of the crank arm l‘l makes with the shaft in a
the shaft within the frame C but outside given position of the pistons can be varied.
Provision may also be made for‘ varying
the trunk H is mounted one end of a
U-shaped link N that can swing about an this angle by shifting the shaft K in the
As shown
axis lying transversely of the longitudinal direction of its longitudinal
axis of the shaft. The other end of this in Figure 2 this may be don by mounting
link N, which constitutes a crank arm, is a sleeve K1 free on the she it between two
pivotally connected by a self-aligning roller collars or flanges 1?, K“, and causing it to
plate C1 in its middle portion.
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beadng O to one end P1 of a wrist pin P engage byimea-ns of an external thread with
that is adjustably mounted in a tube H1 an internally thread-ed member C13 constitut
situated centrally in the trunk H and lying ing a nut fixed on the frame C. The two
along a diameter thereof, so that the longi members 1:11, C2 constitute worm gearing
tudinal. axis of the pin P intersects the longi~ which can be operated by a handle K5 on the
tudinal axis of-the cylinders at right angles. sleeve extendingto the outside of the nut C2
In the construction shown in Figures 1 and the part of the frame C enclosing it.
25 and 2 the'crank' arm or link N is connected
with an end lug on the power shaft K by a
transverse pin or bolt N1 whose axis lies
transversely of and intersects the longitudinal axis of the shaft K, but in many if
30 not in mosticases it will be found advanta
geous to offset the connecting lug and pin or
One arrangement of inlet, . exhaust and
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transfer ports will now be described, but it
is to be understood that any other conven
, ient arrangement of them may be used, par
ticularly any arangement analogous to that
adopted when a single sleeve valve is em
ployed which has a combined oscillatory and
bolt N1 with respect to the longitudinal axis reciprocatory movement about its longitudi
of the shaft K as shown in Figure 3, as
by this means the maximum accommodation
nal axis.
-
Each cylinder A, B, has at its pump cham
may be provided for the self-aligning bear ber end an inlet port A2, B2 respectively,
ing 0 in the crank arm N, and room for a which may be connected together by a fuel
large bearing area afforded even when the supply pipe, not shown, that leads to a car
burettor. Each cylinder A, B, is also pro
throw of the crank is small.
Furthermore the crank arm or link N can
also be made much stronger without increase
of weight by the offset described as a solid
part 01 can be left between the bifurcated
end and the bearing which not only
strengthens the crank arm but also relieves
vided with an exhaust port A3, B3 respective
ly, and a transfer port A“, B4 respectively,
which exhaust and transfer ports are situ
ated in their respective cylinders in substan
tially the same diametrical plane and nearer
the closed ends thereof than are the inlet
the pin N1 of the duty of counteracting any ports. The two exhaust ports A3, B3 may
tendency of the bifurcated end portion of be connected ‘together by an exhaust pipe,
the arm to open under load. Moreover the not shown, outside the cylinders, and the
weight of that part which is offset serves two transfer ports A“, B“ are connected to
to balance partly the other portion of the gether by a transfer conduit outside the
crank arm and if desired could be further cylinders.
The power piston D has a trans
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extended for balancing purposes. Another fer passage DI, and the power piston F has
advantage of the offset is that it reduces the a corresponding transfer passage. These
angularity of the crank arm with the power passages lead each from a rectangular trans
. fer port, such as D2 in the side of the piston
In general the amount of the o?set for near the piston head to a port such as D3 in
any given throw of crank would be con— the other side of the power piston where it
trolled by the bearing area required around adjoins the head of the pump piston, so that
shaft in all positions.
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the crank pin, the angularity, and the the transfer passage of each power piston
is always in communication with the allotted
weight to be balanced.
As clearly shown in Figure 2, the part P1 pump chamber. .7
Preferably the head of each. power piston
of the pin P surrounded by the spherical
bearing 0 terminates at its outer end in a has a hollow portion extending axially be
head]?2 and has at its inner end a shoulder yond its rings, the peripheral wall ofwhich
against which bears a distance piece P3 in hollow ‘portion is not circular but is shaped
the form of a washer. The other end of to providepockets or recesses for deflecting
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incoming compressed air towards the "head stroke engines, air compressors,;_puinpsl,~and
of the cylinder in which thepiston ‘works to 3 the like.
assist! in effecting good scavenging.
I claim :—
The operation ,of‘ the engine will now be
described.
It will-be assumed. that the pistons are. in
'the position shown inthe drawing, andsthat
a charge of fuel and ‘air has been compressed
.
_
1. In mechanism of the class described, a
cylinder, a reciprocatory member mounted
within-said cylinder, a ‘shaft. disposed later
.50.
ally of said cylinder, a crank arm. pivotally
connected to the shaft, a self-aligning hear
‘by the piston D in the cylinder A. Daring ing in said crank-arm,‘ a pin connecting the
tothe described crank mechanism each point bearing ~_with-the reciprocating member on; -‘
of each piston movesyin an elliptical path, the sameside of the member as that on which
‘and the transfer port D2 is still: in communi theshaft is-locatechand means whereby said
cation with. the transfer. port A‘, so that a shaft can‘ be adjusted longitudinally of its
charge is being supplied into‘ the working axis.
‘cylinder ‘B ‘through ‘the transfer port 13*
Iirniec-hanisnrofthe class described, a -5
which ‘has been opened by the piston 1*“. cylinder, a reciprocatory,member mounted
After the explosion has occurred and during v-wit-hinlsaidi cylinder, a shaft disposed later
the working stroke of the,,p1ston D, co
ally of said cylinder, a crankiarnirpivotaily
'munication between the transfer ports D2 connected at one‘end'tothexsaidwshaft, a
20 and A* is closed, then the‘ transfer port I)2 - spherical "bearing . in they other end of . the
communicates with‘ the inlet‘ port 1A2, so that crank arm, roller bearings within ,said
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a fresh charge is sucked into the: pump cham
spherical bearing-‘and apin ,journalled in
ber “A15 by the piston'iE'itherein. The pistons said roller bearings connecting the bearings
D, E are then nearly at the upper end of with the reciprocating member on the same
their stroke, in which position the exhaust side of the member as that on which the
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port A3 is opened, and then the transfer shaft is located.
port A4 owing to the rotation of the pistons,
3. In mechanism of the class described, a
so that a fresh charge is transferred into the cylinder, a reciprocatory member mounted
cylinder A from the pump chamber B1 by within said cylinder, a shaft disposed later
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way of the transfer port 13”‘. On the
ward stroke of the pistonsD, E, the
haust port A3 and the transfer port A‘*
closed and the communication between
transfer port D2 and inlet port A2 is cut
in
ex
are
the
off.
ally of said cylinder, a crank arm pivotally
connected at one end to the said shaft, a
spherical bearing in the other end of the
crank arm, roller bearings within said
spherical bearing, a pin journalled in said
The charge in the cylinder A is compressed roller bearings connecting the bearings with
while the exhaust port remains closed and the reciprocating member on the same side
the transfer port A4 is ?rst closed and then of the member as that on which the shaft is
in communication with the port D2, so that located, and means whereby said shaft can
the charge already sucked into the pump
chamber A1 is compressed and transferred
to the cylinder B during the latter part of
the working stroke of the piston F. A sim-v
ilar cycle of operations occurs in the cylin~
be adjusted longitudinally of its axis.
der B and pump chamber B1.
reciprocating element, a bearing member for
.
4:. In mechanism of the class described, a
reciprocating element arranged for move
ment in a right line, a power shaft arranged
with its axis at right angles to that of the
It will be apparent that in an engine con— said shaft, a ?xed member with which said
structed as described above the overhang of bearing member is threadedly connected,
the crank shaft can be reduced to a min means to turn said bearing member and
imum, the length of the crank arm is not therebylongitudinally adjust said shaft, a
limited to the radius of the said trunk as pin carried by said reciprocating member
would be the case if the crank arm were lo and a crank arm engaged by said pin and
cated inside the trunk, and the mechanism
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attached to said shaft.
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can be designed that the elliptical path along
5. In mechanism of the class described, a
which the centre of the self aligning bearing pair of opposed cylinders, a pair of opposed
moves can be varied in relation to its length. pistons mounted therein, a shaft disposed
In other words, the amount of oscillatory laterally of said cylinders, an offset connect~
rotary movement imparted to the pistons can ing lug on the end of the said shaft, a crank
be made small whereby the ports in the cylin~ arm connected to said opposed pistons and
dei's and pump chambers can conveniently on the same side as that where said shaft
be made of adequate area. Owing to the is located, and pivoted to the said offset lug,
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power shaft being adjustable axially, the and means whereby said shaft can be ad
size of the combustion space can be adjusted justed longitudinally of its axis.
conveniently.
6. Mechanism of the class described and
It will be appreciated that the invention is according to claim 5 including a connecting
applicable not only to two stroke cycle 'in member for said opposed pistons, a pin piv~
ternal-combustion engines, but also to f0ur~ otally connected at one end wih the crank
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1,619,696
arm and extending transversely through the on the said side as that where said shaft
said connecting member, and means to allow is located, and coupled to said shaft, and
for the endwise adjustment-of said pin in means whereby said shaft can be adjusted
longitudinally of its axis, embracing a worm
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relation to said pistons.
7. 1n mechanism of the class described,
a pair of opposed cylinders, a pair of op
posed pistons mounted therein, a shaft dis
posed laterally of said, cylinders, a crank
arm connected to said opposed pistons and
10 on the same side as that where said shaft
is located, and coupled to said shaft a con
necting member for said pistons, a pin eX
gearing whereof one member is free on said
shaft, and a second member fixed in rela
tion to said shaft with which said worm
gearing engages.
9. In mechanism of the class described, a
reciprocating element arranged for move
ment in a right line, a power shaft ar
ranged with its axis at right angles to that
tending transversely through the said con of the reciprocating element, a bearing mem
necting member, a self-aligning bearing for. ber for said shaft, a ?xed member with
the end of the crank arm remote from said which said bearing member is threadedly
shaft, carried by said pin, and adjustable connected, means to turn said bearing mem
in a direction at right angles to the direc ber and thereby longitudinally adjust said
tion of reciprocation.
8. Mechanism of the class described com
shaft, a pin carried by said reciprocating
member and a crank arm engaged by said
prising a pair of opposed cylinders, a air pin and attached to said shaft.
of opposed pistons mounted therein, a s aft ' In testimony whereof he has affixed his
disposed laterally of said cylinders, a crank signature.
E. XVINDSOR BOWE\T,
arm connected to said opposed pistons and
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