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: 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.

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.