US2071719A - Internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 23, 1937. A. R. WURTELE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed May 9. 1934 !!l////////////l//ll//1 A TTORNEY kg-[VENTUR- Patented Feb. '23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE 20 Claims.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines of the Diesel type, andmore particularly to combination valve and fuel injection apparatus therefor.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel combination of valve, and f iel injection means for internal-combustion engines.

Another object of the invention-is to provide novel pump means for supplying a. solid fuel to the power cylinder of an internal-combustion engine, and novel means for actuating said pump means.

Still another object is to provide novel means for controlling the quantity of fuel supplied to the power cylinder of an internal-combustion engine during each power stroke of the therein.

A further objectis to provide novel valve and fuel injection mechanism for an internal-combustion' engine comprising only a small number of comparatively ruggedparts which may be compactly arranged whereby the engine as a whole is greatly simplified, its reliability is increased and installation, operating and maintenance costs are minimized.

A still further object is to provide novel unitary actuating means for an internal-combustionjengine valve and fuel injection mechanism, thereby reducing size and weight per horse-power output and minimizing the .number of moving parts, thus cutting down friction losses and the probability of break-down.

' The above and further objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing. It is to be expressly understood,'h'ow-' ever, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration, onlyand is not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for' this purpose to the appended claims. I

' In the drawing, wherein like reference characters refertolike parts throughout the several views; 4

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section and with parts broken away, illustrating a portion of an internal-combustion engine embodyingone form of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan, partly in section and with parts broken away, taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on l1ne 3--3 of Fig. 1 and having parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is aside elevation on a reduced scale piston illustrating one. form of cam construction which may be employed in carrying out the invention.

One embodiment of the novel valve and fuel injection apparatus comprehended by the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, by way of example, in combination with one cylinder of a two-cycle, port-scavenging exhaust valve-in-had, Dieselv type, internal-combustion engine. In the form shown, the latter comprises a power cylinder 5 and a piston 6 therein, said piston being connected in any suitable manner to the engine crank shaft 6a (Fig. 4) Preferably cylinder head I is cast integrally with the power cylinder and isprovided with a centrally disposed exhaust port 8 and a valve stem guide 9. A jacket l0 encompasses and is cast integrally with both the cylinder and cylinder head, forming a chamber ll through which a suitable cooling medium may be circulated, the

latter being introduced into said chamber at the lower portion thereof through an inlet (not shown) and conducted away through an outlet *pipe [2.

flow ofexhaust gases through port 8 and, as

illustrated, it comprises an enlarged convex head portion l3 and a hollow stem [4 which extends outwardly through a guide 9. Valve l3, I4 is adapted to be normally held in closed position by suitable yielding, means such as a plurality of springs l5 circumferentially disposed about' the valve stem and. interposed between cylinder head I and a flange or disc l6 threadedly mounted on the upper end of stem l4. Spindles l1, mounted on the cylinder head and slidably extending through openings in disc It, may be provided for positioning springs l5.

In view. of the intense heat'to which the exhaust valve is subjected during operation of the engine and'in view of the advantages obtained by injecting the fuel into the central portion of the combustion chamber, novel cooling means and fuel injection means are provided within valve l3,

l4, whereby the life of the valve is increased, the operation and construction of the engine is 'great 1y simplified, and eiiiciency enhanced. In the i1- communicates with power cylinder '5 through an opening 23 in valve head; l3. Member l.8'and nozzle 28 are adapted to be held against valve head l3 by a lock nut or sleeve 24 threaded into- 5 the upper end of valve stem' l4, the lower end of said sleeve engaging a shoulder 25 adjacent the upper end of member [8.

An annular cooling space or chamber'25 is thus formed within the valve'stem through which a in the illustrated embodiment of the invention being constituted by the engine fuel 'which is conducted to and from said chamber by means of flexible conduits 21 and 28. Preferably, fins 19 extend for amajor portion of the length of chamber 26 for the purpose of directing the flow of fluid thereth'rough in a manner to obtain maximum cooling effect. Fins l9, 'it will be noted, serve to give increased rigidity to the valve stem and to the upwardly and inwardly extending portion I 3a of the valve face. 7

Novel fuel injecting means are provided for supplying measured quantities of fuel from chamber 26 to the engine power cylinder at pre-determined intervals depending upon'the speed of the engine. For this purpose a partition 29 is provided intermediate the ends of cylinder member.

I8, thus forming an upper cylinder 38 and a lower cylinder 3| therein. Each of the latter cylinders is in communication with chamber 26 through radial openings 32 and 33, and the lower ends of said cylinders are in'communication with each other through a passage 34 in the walls of cylinder member l8. Within lower cylinder 3l is a; conical valve 35 carried by a piston 38 and adapted to engage a valve seat 3' I formed on nozzle 28 to thereby cut off communication between the fuel supply and the power cylinder through ori-' ,fice 22. Valve 35 is yieldingly ,maintained in 40 closed position by suitable resilient means such I as spring 38 interposed between valve piston 38.

and partition-29. The fuel pumping means consists of a plunger 39 adapted to be reciprocated within cylinder 38 by means to be hereinafter described. r

When the lower end of plunger 39 is above orifice 32, fuel from chamber 26 flows through the latter into pump cylinder 38.

On the downward stroke of plunger 39 fuel is expelled through orifice 32 until the same is covered by the plunger, whereupon aifi'uid pressure is exerted by-the fuel forced through passage 34 on the lower face of valve 35 suffici'ent to unseat the same against the pressure of spring 38, thereby permitting fuel to be pumped through nozzle orifice 22 into thepower cylinder. Spring 38 is of sufiicient strength to hold valve 35 on its seat until the desired in jection pressure-is built up in the fuel pump chamber by the downward movement of plunger 60 39 bey ond port 32. Cylinder 38, passage 34 and the space below valve 35 in cylinder 3| constitute an expansible fuel metering chamber. .The space above valve piston 38 is in communication with chamber 26 through radial port 33 and the fluid entering therethrough is effective to con-1 trol the unseating movement of valve 35, thereby insuring the quick resenting of the same when,

a proper fuel charge has been pumpeddnto the power cylinder. The quantity of fuel introduced 7 into the power cylinder on each stroke of piston 8 is" determined by the length of stroke of plunger 39 below port 322 It will be noted. that the entire fuel injector assembly may be readily re-.

moved and disassembled without removing valve 75 13,14 from the cylinder head.

cooling medium may be circulated, such medium Novel actuating means common to both valve l3, l4 and the fuel injection mechanism are provided for operating the same in proper sequence,

thereby reducing the number of moving parts and adding to the extreme simplicity of the engine. Such means are so constructed that the transmission of vertical movement to the plunger 39, 48 and valve I 3, l4 may be accomplished without subjecting the same to the undesirable side thrust such as is exerted on rocker 'arm actuated .valves now in common use. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the fuel'pump plunger is preferably formed in two parts, the lower portion 39 being secured as by means of a ball and socket joint to V tudinal movement between said shaft and block movement in said housing by means of splines 41 and set screws 48. The upper surface of follower block 42 is adapted to be held in engagement with the inner bifurcated end of rocker arm, 49 by means of a spring 58 interposed between said follower block and the upper end of valve stem l4,-

thus normally holdingfp lunger 39 in raised position. 3 j

It will be seen that downward movement of follower. block 42 by rocker arm 49 is first effective to actuate plunger 39, 48 and thereafter to open valve l3, l4 when the lower face ofthe follower block engages'the upper end of yalve stem l4.

The side thrust exterted by rocker arm 49 on follower block 42 due to the pivotafmounting of the former is completely absorbed by fixed guide 43; hence only the vertical component of force is 'exerted on plunger 39, 48 and valve I 3, l4.

Rocker arm 49 is pivotally mounted on a journal 5| supported at its ends in bearings in housing 48, said journal extending through a hub portion 52 intermediatethe ends of the rocker arm. A

pin 53 is adjustably secured adjacent the outer end of arm 49 and adapted to engagethe upper end of a push rod 54 the,lower end of which engages a cam follower 55 pivoted as at 56 on a frame member (not shown) 'of the engine. Member 55 is provided with a roller adapted to engage a rotatably mounted 'cam plate 51 which may, if desired, be drivably secured-to, or cast integrally with, crankshaft 8a of the engine.

- Rod 54 is yieldingly held in engagement with follower 55 and=the latter in turn with the surface of cam plate 51 by means of a spring 58 interposed between a flange member 59 on rod' 54 and-a bracket 68 secured to housing 48.-. Conn ter-clockw'ise rotation of rocker 4.9 -and hence the upward movement of followfblockfl may passages in block 12 are connected to chamber.

away (Fig. 1) so as not to interfere with the movement of arm 49.

It will be noted that the actual stroke of plunger 39, 40 is constant, the length of the same, as will hereinafter appear, depending upon the cam surfaces of cam plate 51. Novel means are accordingly provided for controlling the effective stroke of said plunger, i. e the length of its stroke in cylinder 39 below ports 32. Such means, in the form shown, consists of an enlarged portion 62 on the upper end of shaft 40, said enlarged portion being provided with longitudinally disposed gear teeth adapted to cooperate with a toothed sector 63. The latter is slidably supported on guide block 43 and is keyed to a vertical shaft 64 journaled in said block. The lower end of shaft 64 projects into a slot in the central portion of guide block 43'and is keyed to the inner end of an operating rod 65 which extends through a suitable opening in housing 46. Angular movement of operating rod 65 is thus adapted to transmit rotation through shaft 64, sector 63 and gear 62 to vertical shaft 40. Angular movement of the latter causes the same to move in a longitudinal direction relative to follower block 42 by" reason of screw threads 4|. Plunger 39, 4i! is thus raised or lowered depending upon the direction of rotation of shaft 40, thereby changing the effective pumping stroke. The stroke of the .becast with said cover for engaging the upper surface of sector 63. Fuel may be conducted to and from a storag tank (not shown) through conduits I9 and II respectively which extend throughblock 12 secured to the outer surface of housing 46. The

26 in valve stem I4 by means of suitable flexible connections 21 and 28 (Fig. 3). Although only a supply connection is required, an outlet conduit,

stroke, compressing the air in the combustionchamber of the power cylinder 5, cam 13 on disc 5I engages cam follower 55, thereby rotat-,

ing rocker arm ina clockwisedirection and moving, follower block- 42 and shaft 40 downwardly against the tension igspring 50. The combined effects of springs--15 plus the compression in cylinder 5 being considerably greater than that of spring 50, valve I3, I4 and hence fuel pump cylinder 30 remain stationary as plunger 39 moves downwardly. As heretofore pointed out, fuel is forced out through port 32 into chamber 26 until plunger39 covers said port.

Further downward moigement of the plunger exerts it pressure through the fuel in pump cylinder 39, passage 34 and the space below valve 35 which is effective to raise said valve" against the pressure of spring 38 and force fuel through noz- I zle orifice 22 into thepower cylinder. As soon as plunger 39 has reached the lower end of its stroke, determined by the maximum height of cam surface 13, valve 35 is again seated by the pressure of spring 38. Preferably, the maximum stroke of plunger 39 as thus determined by the cam is equal tothe distance between follower block 42 and the upper end of valvestem I4 when the same are in the positions illustrated in Fig. 1. x a

The fuel. thus injected into the power cylinder is ignited by the heat of compression of the combustion supporting medium therein and the piston is driven downwardly by the expandinggases. During the downward stroke of the power piston, follower block 42 and plunger 39 are maintained, because of the dwelli'of cam 13, in the positions to which the same are moved by said cam. As piston 6 nears the lower end of its stroke, it uncoversinlet ports (notshown) circumferentially arranged in the walls of the cylinder, connecting said cylinder with a source of compressed air. Slightly before the piston uncovers the inlet ports, cam surface 14 engages cam follower 55, whereby exhaust valve I3, I4 is opened against the pressure of springs I5, the motion being transmitted from rockerarm 49 through follower block 42 to the upper end of the valve stem. Y

The exhaust valve remains open untiljust prior to the closure of the inlt ports on the u'p-stroke of the engine piston, the closure of said valve being timed by the termination of cam surface 14. It will be noted thatthe compressed air entering the inlet ports will thus thoroughly scavenge the power cylinder while the exhaust valve isopen and superchargethe same for a short interval after said valveis closed.

As cam follower 55 leaves cam 14 permitting the exhaust valve to close, it engages the portion 15 of the cam disc, thereby also permitting follower block 42 and fuel pump plunger 39, to return, under the influence of spring 50, to the positions shown in Fig. l,- whereupon fuel pump cylinder 30 is again filled with fuel oil for another cycle of operation.-

If it is desired to reduce the speed of the engine, operating rod 65 is moved upwardly; as

seen in Fig. 2, thereby rotating shaft 40 in a clockwise direction and causing the same to move upwardly relative to follower block 42 by virtue ofthreads 4I. The effective, pumping stroke of plunger 39 below port 32 will thus be lessened and the quantity. of fuel pumped into the power cylinder will be decreased accordingly. The movement of operating rod 65 downwardly will be effective in like manner to increase. the charge injected'into the power cylinderand hence increase the speed of the engine. If it is desired to stop the engine, operating rod 65 is moved injection of fuel into the power cylinder.

There is thus provided novel valveand fuel injection apparatus for an internal-combustion engine together with novel means for actuating and controlling the-same. The novel combina 'tionof elements thus comprehended by this in-. vention greatly reduces the number of parts of the entire engine and renders the same compact and reliable. Unitary means are provided for operating the fuel injection mechanism. and'the only moving valves which are requiredin an engine oi the type illustrated, eliminating the additional rockerarms, push rods and cams heretofore employed. The necessity for a high pressure fuel pump remote from the power cylinders with the usual driving gear and attendant high pressure fuel lines, causing lag, inefliciency and unreliability, is obviated by the present invention. The parts are so constructed as to be readily assembled and disassembled by any ordinary mechanic and the compa'ct arrangement renders it possible to fully enclose substantially all of the moving parts, if desired, without unduly increasing the bulk of the engine. All of these features result in a safe, efi'icient engine having considerably less weight per horse-power output than Diesel-type engines heretofore produced.

Although only a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be expressly understood that the same is not limited thereto but that various changes-may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the novel combination tion therewith of means within said valve for in- .of elements shown is not limited to use on twocycle engines, but may be used in combination with those operating on a four-cycle principle. Also the cavity formed in the valve head illustrated may be converted into a {ire-combustion.

chamber of a suitable size by positioning an apertured plateacross the bell end of the valve, if

desired, Various other changes may also be madein the design and arrangement of parts illustrated as will now be apparent to ,those skilled in the art. Reference will be primarily had to the appended claims for a definition of l the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an internal-combustion engine provided with a power cylinder having a port, a valve for said port having an enlarged head portion and a hollow stem, and means for actuating said valve for opening and closing said port, the combinajecting fuel into said power cylinder comprising means forming a fuel chamber, a plunger adapted to exert pressure on. the fuel in said chamber, means for actuating said plunger when the valve is closed, valve means in said chamber controlling communication between the latter and said power cylinder and adapted to be unseated by the fluid pressure in said chamber, and yielding means resisting the unseating movement of said valve means. 1

2. In an internal-combustion engine provided with a power cylinder having a port therein and a valve for said porthaving an enlarged head portion and a hollow stem, the combination .therewith of fuel pumping means within said valve including a pump cylinder having communication with said power cylinder, a plunger reciprocable in said pump cylinder, valve means controlling communication between said cylinders adapted to' be unseated by fluid pressure established byrelative movement of said pump cylinder and plunger, and means exterior of said power cylinder for imparting movement to said plunger when the valve for the power cyl-.

fuel chamber, a plunger. reciprocable [in said. chamber, and valve means controlling communi-' cation between said chamber and said power cylinder adapted to be unseated by fluid pressure in said chamber, and means for varying the effective delivery stroke of said plunger including a longitudinally movable member, canimeans on said plunger adapted to cooperate with. said member, and means for relatively rotating said plunger and member whereupon said cam means becomes effective to impart relative longitudinal movement thereto.

4. In an internal-combustion engine provided with a power cylinder constituting a fuel combustion space and having a port and a valve for said \port, the combination with said valve of means for injecting measuredquantities of fuel into said cylinder comprising means forming an expansible chamber in said valve, means for supplying fuel to said chamberthrough a port in the walls thereof, a plunger reciprocable in said chamber and adapted to open and close said port, valve means controlling communication between said chamberand cylinder adapted to be unseated by fluid pressure after said plunger closes said port, and means for controlling the extent of the stroke of said plunger after closure of said port including cam means on said plunger adapted to impart longitudinal movement thereto when the same is rotated, and means for rotating said plunger.

5. In an internal-combustion engine provided with a power cylinder having a port, a valve for said port, and a source of fuel supply, the combination with said valve of means for injecting fuel from said source into said cylinder including means forming a metering chamber for said fuel in said valve, valve means controlling communication between said chamber and cylinder, a plunger operable in said chamber for varying the volume thereof, said plunger being adapted tov open and close communication between said source and said chamber and exert fluid pressure on said valve means for unseating the same when communication with said source is closed, and means for controlling the stroke of said plunger after the closure .of communication with said source including a longitudinally movable member, means for holding said member against rotation, cam "means .on said plunger adapted to cooperate with said member, and means for rotating said plunger to render the cam means operable to impart longitudinal movement to said plunger.

6. 'In an in'mrnal-combustion engine provided with a power cylinder having aport and-a valve for said port having an enlarged head portion and a hollow stem, the combination therewith of a-member'disposed within said valve to form an annular cooling space therein, an expansible chamber in said member, means for introducing a fuel into said chamber, a plunger operable for varying the volume of said chamber, valve means for controlling communication between said chamberand cylinder adapted to be unseated'by fluid pressure in said chamber, and means exterior of said valve for actuating said plunger. A

7. In an internal-combustion engine provided with a power cylinder having a port and a valve for said port, the combinatio with said valve of fuel pumping means there including a. fuel chamber having communication with the power cylinder and a plunger in said chamber, and common means exterior of said cylinder for successively actuating said plunger and valve.

8. In an internal-combustion engine provided witha power cylinder. having a .port, a valve for said port and yielding means normally seating said valve, the combination with said valve of fuel pumping means therein including a fuel chamher, a valve controlling communication between said chamber and said cylinder adapted to be unseated by fluid pressure in said chamber, and a plunger operable in said chamber, and common means exterior of said cylinder for successively actuating said plunger and first-named valve.

9. Inan internal-combustionengine provided with a power cylinder having a port and a valve for said port, the combination with said valve of fuel pumping means therein including a fuel chamber having communication with the power cylinder, and a plunger operable in said chamher, said valve having a cooling space surrounding said pumping means and being in communication with said chamben'and common means for actuating said plunger to pump fuel into said cylinder and subsequently to actuate said valve. 10. In an internal-combustion engine provided with a power cylinder having a port and a valve for said port having a cooling space therein, the combination with said valve of fuel pumping means therein including a fuel chamber having communication with the power cylinder and a plunger in said chamber, common means for successively actuating said plunger and valve, and means for varying the effective pumping stroke of. said plunger. I

v 11. In an internal-combustion engine provided with a power cylinder having a port and a hollow valve for said port, the combination with said valve of a member disposed in said valve to form an annular cooling space therein, flow directing means in said space, and pump means in said member for injecting fuel into said cylinder.

12. In an internal-combustion engine provided with a power cylinder having a port and a hollow valve for said port, the combination with said valve of a member disposed in said valve to form an annular cooling space therein, pump means in said member for injecting fuelinto said cylinder, and common means for successively actuating said pump means and said valve.

13. In an internal-combustion engine provided with a power cylinder having a port and a hollow valve for said port, the combination with said valve of a member-disposed in said valve to form an annular cooling space therein, pump means including a plunger in said member for injecting fuel into said cylinder, common means for succes'sively actuating said pump means and said valve, and means for positioning said plunger to vary the effective pumping stroke of the same.

14. In combination, a Hollow valve,"a seat""for said valve, yielding means for normally holding said valve on said seat, pump means in said valve,

and common means for successively actuating said pump means and said valve.

15. In an internal-combustion engine provided with a power cylinder having a port and a valve for said port having a cooling space therein, the combination with said valve of pump means within the valve including a cylinder having communication with a source of fuel through a port in the walls thereof, a plunger operable in said pump cylinder and adapted to control communimeans for moving said plunger longitudinally,

independently of said actuating means, for varying the effective pumping stroke of the, same.

17. In an internalecombustion engine provided with a powercylinder' having a port in the head thereof, a crank shaft, a piston in' said cylinder adapted to be operatively connected to saidcrank shaft, and a valve for said port having an enlarged head portion and a hollow stem, the combination with said valve of fuel pumping means therein, and common means for actuating said pump means and said valve including a pivoted rocker arm, cam means on said crank shaft, and. means interposed between said cam means and said rocker arm.

18; In apparatus of the class described, a valve havingan enlarged head portion and an elongated hollow stem, said valve head having an opening therein, a member within said valve stem having a passage therethrough in communication with said opening and having an outer diameter substantially less than the inner diameter of said stem, the lower endof said memher being adapted to engage a seat around said opening, a sleeve threaded into the upper end of said stem and adapted to engage said member to hold the latter in engagement with said seat, and a plunger reciprocable in said member.

19. In an internal-combustion engine provided with a power cylinder having a port and a valve for said port, the combination with said valve of fuel pumping means including a plunger within said valve, a fixed guide exterior of said valve, 2. member slidable in said guide and adapted to engage said plunger and valve, and means for reciprocating said member including a pivoted rocker arm to successively actuate said valve and plunger, whereby only a vertical force is exerted upon said valve and plunger.

20. In apparatus of the class described, a cylinder, a plunge; adapted to be reciprocated therein, said cylinder having a fluid inlet port adapted le in the; end of said second

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