| 摘要 |
A rotary internal combustion engine has two vane-bearing members (14, 20) which rotate in a common cylinder with varying relative velocities so that chambers defined between the vanes (10, 12, 22, 24) vary in volume. In order to vary the volume of the chambers, both members rotate with alternate and out-of-phase accelerations and decelerations. This variable-speed rotation is converted to steady speed rotation of an output shaft (54, 183) by a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism accommodates the accelerations and decelerations of the vane-bearing members with respect to the output shaft at least in part by the action of a member of circular cross-section which rotates about a centre other than its own geometric centre. In one arrangement, the member of circular cross-section is a transmission pin (171, 173) rotating with one of two face-to-face rotary units (163, 165, 167, 169) which rotate about offset parallel axes, and it slides in a slot (175, 177) in the other rotary unit. In another arrangement the member of circular cross-section is a circular gear (36, 37) mounted eccentrically on a first shaft (34) and meshing with another circular gear (38, 39) mounted eccentrically on a second shaft (40). The second shaft (40) also bears a third circular gear (56, 57) mounted concentrically and meshing with a fourth circular gear (58, 59) mounted concentrically on a third shaft (54). The second shaft (40) can change its position but is constrained to move over an arc centred on the axis of the third shaft (54). The second shaft (40) may be constrained by being mounted slidably in an arcuate slot (50, 51) or by the action of means (61, 63, 70) mounted on the third and fourth circular gears and holding them in meshing contact. The need for meshing elliptical gears is avoided. |
