SIDE SEAL FOR ROTARY COMBUSTION ENGINE

摘要

A side seal for a rotary combustion engine includes an elastomeric biasing ring and an L-shaped sealing annulus which has an axial support sleeve loosely retained within a groove formed in the engine rotor and a radial sealing flange engaging the sidewalls of the engine working chamber. The biasing ring is compressively retained within the groove and serves in conjunction with fluid pressure in the engine crankcase to bias the sealing flange into operative contact with the sidewalls. A spiral groove formed in the sealing flange functions upon planetary motion of the rotor to generate hydrodynamic forces which oppose fluid leakage toward the working chamber. The spiral groove is defined by a multiple turn buttress thread which additionally functions as a helical wiping blade for sweeping the sidewalls during the radial component of rotor movement to mechanically direct the fluid toward the crankcase.