Abstract: The unitary spring clutch and actuator assembly has a spring clutch subassembly comprising a shaft for supporting two axially spaced input and output drums which are surrounded by a helically wound spring, one end of which is connected to a control sleeve or collar surrounding the spring. The collar has a stop element which coacts with the actuator subassembly to control rotation of the collar and hence engagement or disengagement of the spring from the input and output drums. The actuator subassembly includes a fixed frame for supporting an electro-magnetic control device which is adapted to engage and disengage from the stop element. The spring clutch and actuator subassemblies are secured together at one end portion of the shaft, which projects through an opening in the frame, and by a retaining member constructed and arranged to engage the tubular shaft and frame. A bearing is interposed between the shaft and frame to facilitate rotation of the shaft relative to the fixed frame.

Abstract: An oil seal construction for a rotary mechanism including a seal ring receivable in an annular groove in an end face of the rotor of said mechanism with the ring having a pair of radially-spaced annular surfaces for sealing engagement with the adjacent side housing and with a ring of elastomeric material disposed in said oil seal groove behind the seal ring and also including a metallic spring disposed behind the elastomeric ring such that the metallic spring forces act through the elastomeric ring to urge the seal ring outwardly of the rotor groove.

Abstract: In a variable pitch fan assembly having a plurality of fan blades mounted in a rotor for rotation about their longitudinal axes and a drive shaft for rotatively driving the rotor, the pitch varying mechanism has a planetary gear train connected to each fan blade to rotate the latter to change the pitch or angle of attack of the blades, actuator means for effecting bi-directional rotation of the planetary gear train and a no-back, bi-directional brake interposed between the actuator means and the planetary gear train to transmit pitch-changing rotation from the actuator means to the planetary gear train and lock the planetary gear train to the rotor and prevent transmission of blade torque loads to the actuator means during steady state operation when no blade pitch-change is being effected.

Abstract: The improved seal grid assembly 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, in combination with a non-rotating seal at the juncture of the housing lobes, a sealing means including a sealing surface movable between a retracted position where it is out of engagement with the peripheral wall and an extended position where it is in engagement with the peripheral wall of the housing cavity. A vent passage means is also provided in the rotor to communicate a space defined between the sealing means and rotor with the working chambers to conduct gaseous fluid which pressurizes said space so as to provide movement of the sealing surface of the associated seal means to the retracted position just prior to engagement with the non-rotating seal and to the extended position after such engagement with the non-rotating seals at each of the housing lobe junctures.

Abstract: The improved apex seal assembly for a rotary piston of multi-corner profile having a plurality of contiguous peripheral surfaces intersecting at apex portions comprises a seal blade means receivable in a radial slot in each apex portion and an intermediate seal pin means for each apex portion and disposed in and rotatable relative to a bore communicating with the slot. The intermediate seal pin means is so formed as to have a sealing edge portion. A spring is located to exert a force on the intermediate seal pin means offset from its longitudinal axis so as to urge the intermediate seal pin means to rotate in a direction to maintain the sealing edge portion thereof into engagement against the seal blade means regardless of the amount and changes in differential gas pressure across the seal blade means.

Abstract: A rotary combustion engine and method of operating said engine in which grooves are provided in the engine trochoid surface to permit any unburnt fuel at the trailing end of a working chamber of the engine to blow back into the following working chamber so as to reduce the hydrocarbons in the engine exhaust without any material adverse effect on engine performance.

Abstract: A supercharged rotary combustion engine which at low operating speeds and/or power functions as a spark-ignited, Otto cycle, engine which at higher speeds and/or power functions as a diesel engine.

Abstract: The adjustment means is for permitting field adjustment of wrap-down angle or engagement time for the spring of a normally disengaged, electro-magnetic spring clutch which comprises a helical spring which surrounds first and second drums and is in interference fit with the first drum and connected to a rotatable armature, the armature being rotationally arrested upon energization of an electro-magnetic coil to effect contraction of the helical spring into interference fit with the second drum. The adjustment means comprises a pin and slot lost motion interconnection between the armature and the first drum which functions to allow rotative movement of the first drum relative to the armature when the rotation of the armature is arrested to effect an engaged operative condition.

Abstract: A stratified charge rotary combustion engine having at least two fuel nozzles for discharging fuel into each working chamber after the charge therein has been substantially compressed, the fuel discharging from one nozzle being ignited as it discharges into an engine working chamber and the combustion flame produced by this ignition functioning as a pilot flame to ignite fuel discharging from a second nozzle mounted on a side wall of the engine housing.

Abstract: A rotary trochoidal compressor comprising a rotor mounted for planetary motion within a housing and in which the peripheral surface of the compressor rotor is substantially a hypotrochoid and the peripheral inner surface of the housing is the outer envelope of the rotor and in which a compressible layer is provided on the inner surface of the rotor housing for sealing against the rotor peripheral surface.

Abstract: A rotary trochoidal compressor comprising a rotor mounted for planetary motion within a housing and in which the periphery of the rotor is substantially a hypotrochoid and the peripheral inner surface of the housing is the outer envelope of the rotor and in which a radially movable or elastic seal means is provided in the housing at the hypotrochoid generating points and the intake and outlet ports are so disposed in the housing on opposite sides of each hypotrochoid generating point such that each working chamber closes to an intake port before it opens to an outlet port, the working chamber being formed between the seal means at the rotor nose portions or between seal means at a rotor nose portion and at a hypotrochoid generating point.

Abstract: A rotary trochoidal compressor comprising a rotor mounted for planetary motion within a housing and in which the periphery of the compressor rotor is substantially a hypotrochoid and the peripheral inner surface of the housing is the outer envelope of the rotor and in which labyrinth seal means is provided between the rotor and housing.

Abstract: The sealing grid is for a rotary piston mechanism having a multi-profile rotor forming apex portions, which rotor is supported for planetary rotary movement in a housing cavity. The sealing grid comprises an apex seal assembly carried in each of the apex portions of the rotor, which assembly includes an apex seal blade. Also forming part of the sealing grid are apex seal pins disposed in the opposite side faces of the rotor and at each of the apex portions. The grid additionally includes side gas seal strips carried in each of the opposite side faces of the rotor. One end portion of each side gas seal strip is disposed in abutment against an apex seal blade at one apex portion while the opposite end portion engages the apex seal pin located at an adjacent apex portion. The grid further includes a biasing means for each side gas seal strip for urging the associated side gas seal strip in an endwise direction and into abutment against the apex seal blade associated therewith.

Abstract: The improved system for liquid cooling of a rotor of a rotary piston mechanism applies to those types having two housing walls spaced apart by a trochoidal shaped peripheral wall to define a multi-lobed cavity within which a multi-cornered rotor is eccentrically supported for planetary movement, and in which the rotor has a hub portion and peripheral wall portions defining therebetween cooling spaces which communicate with the area exteriorly of the rotor through an opening adjacent each end of the hub portion. The improved rotor cooling system comprises a cooling liquid discharge nozzle disposed in at least one of the housing walls and connecting the discharge nozzle to a source of pressurized cooling liquid. The discharge nozzle is positioned so as to direct emitted cooling liquid into the adjacent rotor opening and the cooling spaces in the rotor.

Abstract: The improved combination of a rotary internal combustion engine and spark plug provides a bore in the engine housing extending from the exterior of the housing into communication with the rotor cavity defined by the housing. The bore has a threaded portion to receive the threaded shank portion of the spark plug and an annular shoulder extending in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the bore. The spark plug has a complementary annular shoulder portion extending in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the shoulder of the bore. The shoulder portion of the spark plug is so located as to engage the shoulder of the bore to thereby position the spark gap end of the spark plug relative to the rotor cavity. An annular channel means is provided adjacent the shoulder of the bore to provide an annular space into which is placed a gasket to prevent fluid leakage through the interstices between the bore and spark plug.

Abstract: The gear train speed changing transmission for transmitting rotation from an input member to an output member comprises planet gears carried at the distal end portion of the input member for planetary rotation and connected together for conjoined rotation about their respective axes, at least one of the planet gears being in mesh with a reaction gear and at least one planet gear being in mesh with a gear carried by the output member. The transmission also includes a coil spring brake means disposed to coact with the reaction gear to selectively prevent or permit rotation of the gear.In a more limited aspect of the invention the transmission has two or more gear trains interconnecting the input member with the output member and wherein each train includes a reaction gear and a brake means for selecting which gear train rotary transmission is to be effected.

Abstract: A rotary diesel engine in which the engine has seal means providing sealing cooperation between each working face of the engine rotor and the engine housing in the region of a lobe junction of the multi-lobe profile of said housing so that during compression, each working chamber is divided by said seal means into leading and trailing portions with the compression of the intake charge of said chamber being substantially confined to its said trailing portion whereby each working chamber compresses its charge to a substantially greater degree than would be the case in the absence of said seal means.

Abstract: The multi-pass heat exchanger comprises an open-ended shell for receiving a first fluid and at least one tube bank disposed in the shell and connected to pass a second fluid in indirect heat transfer with the first fluid. The tube bank may comprise one or more conduits each of which are of polygonal configuration in cross-section and have spaced rows of fins extending from the large sized surfaces of the conduits. Each of the conduits is formed into a flattened helical configuration consisting of substantially straight portions so arranged that alternate straight portions extend in substantial parallelism and having return bend portions interconnecting end-to-end next adjacent straight portions so that series flow of second fluid is provided through the straight portions.

Abstract: The dual-fuel feed system for a gas turbine engine, having a plurality of fuel nozzles arranged to effect admixture of air and fuel in a combustor of the engine for combustion of fuel, comprises a fuel feed conduit means communicating with each of the fuel nozzles and separate sources of different fuels and flow control means for alternating flow of fuel from one source or the other to the fuel nozzles.

Abstract: The improved fuel injection system is for a rotary internal combustion engine having a housing within which a rotor is disposed for planetary rotary motion and which defines with the housing a plurality of combustion chambers. The improved fuel injection systems has a positive displacement fuel pump, such as of the plunger and barrel type, which is connected to deliver fuel to a fuel nozzle located to emit fuel into the combustion chambers upon actuation of the plunger. An actuating means, such as multi-profile cam is supported for rotation at a speed proportionate to rotor speed and disposed to effect reciprocative movement of the plunger.