Abstract: The actuator assembly is a unitary structure comprising a self-braking rotary power unit and a spring clutch mounted on a frame and interconnected so that the spring clutch transmits the rotary driving force of the power unit to a load to thereby effect its movement in one direction, the power unit and spring clutch co-acting when the power unit is inoperative to hold the load in a selected position. An electro-magnetic device coacts with the spring clutch to cause the spring to disengage and allow the load to move in a direction opposite of the one direction.

Abstract: The rotary impact mechanism has a plurality of helical springs disposed adjacent to the outer peripheral surface of a rotary inertia member which springs are anchored at one end to the inertia member and at the opposite end to a rotary driving input member so that upon relative rotative movement between the input and inertia members the springs are loaded and thereafter function to rotatively drive the inertia member. The inertia member carries at least one pawl which is capable of engagement and disengagement from a driven, toothed, output member, the pawl impacting against a tooth of the output member to drive the latter when the inertia member is rotatively driven by the springs.

Abstract: The bar seal for use in a rotary mechanism and which is disposed for sliding movement in a groove and to sealingly engage a surface, has an elongated base structure of high wear resistance characteristic and a body portion of a material having a low coefficient of friction connected to the base structure to form a unitary assembly. The body portion is dimensioned to extend a substantial part of the length of the base structure and of a width to form opposite planar surfaces for contacting the walls of the groove.

Abstract: The improved rotor is for a rotary compressor or expansion engine of the type having a rotor supported for planetation in a multi-lobe housing cavity and comprises an endless band embracing the peripheral surface of the rotor, which band functions to continuously engage at the apex portions of the rotor, the peripheral surface of the housing cavity and thereby seal the working chambers from each other as the rotor rotates within the cavity.

Abstract: A multi-unit rotary combustion engine in which at light loads the engine can be operated on only some of the units with those units having side intake ports and with the other units having peripheral intake ports.

Abstract: The peening intensity test member is a factory assembled unit comprising a base structure having opposite faces and a test element secured to one of the faces of the base structure, the test element being removable from the base structure after peening for measurement of the amount of its deformation.The method of measuring the peening intensity comprises the steps of peening the exposed surface of the test element while secured to the base structure. Thereafter the test element is removed from the base structure and allowed to deform as a result of the compressive stress layer produced in the exposed surface of the test element by peening. The test element is then held on a surface of a measuring device so that a space is formed as a result of its deformation between the test element and the adjacent surface of the device. A fluid under a low pressure is metered to the space and the rate of leakage from the space is measured, such leakage rate being a function of the amount of deformation.

Abstract: A rotor for compressors, turbines or the like and having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced blades in which every other blade is modified so that the average natural frequency of said modified blades differs from that of the other blades by at least 4% but by no more than 15% so as to reduce the maximum amplitude of turbine blade vibration.

Abstract: The improved stratified charge fuel injection system for a rotary engine has a fuel nozzle for injecting fuel into each engine working chamber coacting with an igniter at a common recess opening into the engine working chambers to ignite the fuel discharging from the nozzle. The improvement comprises heat retention means for the common recess so that the walls thereof become relatively hot and thereby promotes evaporation of the fuel discharging from the fuel nozzle.

Abstract: The fluid-cooled rotary piston for a Wankel-type mechanism has a plurality of intersecting flank surfaces to form a multi-sided profile and a hub portion by which it is supported for rotation on a mainshaft. The rotary piston also has a closed-loop passageway for each flank surface extending in close spaced relation to the side faces of the rotor and the intersection of the flank surfaces. An inlet passage is provided for each closed-loop passageway to conduct to the latter, as the rotary piston rotates, pressurized cooling fluid from a source thereof. An outlet passage is provided for each closed-loop passageway to conduct heated cooling fluid from the latter to an area adjacent the hub portion. The outlet passage may be provided with a restricted flow area to insure that the associated closed-loop passageway is maintained full of cooling fluid.

Abstract: The multi-sectional driveshaft for a multi-unit rotary piston mechanism has a plurality of driveshaft sections of identical configuration, arrangted co-axially with the end portion of one section telescopically engaging the end portion of a next adjacent section. Each section comprises an elongated body having an axial bore therethrough and an eccentric portion between the opposite end portions of the elongated body. One end portion is of reduced size with a shoulder extending normal to the axial bore. The other end portion of each section has a portion of the axial bore adjacent thereto of a size and configuration complementary to the one end portion for receiving and engaging the one end portion of the next adjacent section.

Abstract: A rotary combustion engine having two fuel injection nozzles, both mounted in the rotor housing on the downstream side of a trochoid lobe junction in the region in which combustion takes place, with both nozzles discharging in a generally upstream direction and with a spark plug disposed adjacent to the upstream one of said nozzles.

Abstract: A rotary engine having a pair of fuel injection nozzles disposed adjacent to and on opposite sides of a lobe junction of the rotor housing in the combustion region and a spark plug is disposed adjacent to the fuel nozzle which is disposed on the downstream side of said junction.

Abstract: A rotary combustion engine in which at least a portion of each of the rotor working surfaces is covered by an insert to raise the operating temperatures of said surfaces.

Abstract: The improved sealing grid for a rotary internal combustion engine of the Wankel type comprises a transfer passage means intermittently communicating the space between the inner and outer seals with the working chamber in the exhaust phase, to pass spent combustion gas from the latter to said space and thereby intermittently pressurize the space behind the inner seal and thereby urge the latter into sealing contact with the adjacent wall.

Abstract: A rotary combustion engine having grooves in the engine side walls for bleeding off unburnt hydrocarbon gases from the trailing end of each working chamber during the late portion of its expansion stroke, these gases being bled through side housing grooves into the space between oil and gas seals on the sides of the rotor from which space the unburnt gases are returned to a working chamber during the intake stroke of said chamber.

Abstract: The built-up mainshaft has a plurality of eccentric elements secured to an elongated shaft element in end-to-end angular off-set relationship to each other. Each of the eccentric elements has integral cylindrical body and axially extending sleeve-like portions and an axially extending bore therethrough to receive therein the elongated shaft element. Each eccentric element is scored to render the cylindrical body portion thereof deformable in an inward direction toward the shaft element. A clamping means is provided for each eccentric element to coact with the scoring to effect deformation of the associated cylindrical body portion and secure the latter in torque transmitting relationship with the shaft element.

Abstract: A rotary engine in which the engine is provided with leakage grooves in its trochoid surface so that high pressure combustion gases from a working chamber in its expansion phase can flow back into a chamber at an initial portion of its compression phase so as to increase the resulting temperature and pressure of the compression phase sufficient for Diesel operation.

Abstract: A rotary combustion engine in which at least a portion of each of the rotor working surfaces is covered by an insert to raise the operating temperatures of said surfaces, the insert being secured to the rotor by a tongue and groove fit.

Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine having a variable rotary throttle valve in the engine intake passage immediately adjacent to the discharge end of said passage with the axis of the rotary valve being disposed substantially at right angles to the engine internal surface through which the discharge end of said passage opens.

Abstract: The sealing grid system for a rotary piston mechanism of the Wankel type comprises apex seal assemblies and a plurality of seal strips slidably disposed in recesses in at least one face of the rotary piston. Each of the recesses are formed at the juncture of the peripheral surface of the rotary piston and the surface of one of the rotary piston faces and extend to communicate with next adjacent apex seal slots. A groove is formed in the bottom of each of the recesses to receive a biasing member, V-shaped in cross-section, which functions to both urge the associated seal strip outwardly of the recess and to seal the interstices between the seal strip and its recess. Each of the seal strips is dimensioned in length to abut the next adjacent apex seal blades.