3D printed engine

[gbritnell]

A good friend who's into rare and unusual engines came up with this. It known as a toroidal swinging piston engine. He asked me if I could make a printed model of it for him. I made all the CAD models and printed them on my printer. The engineering behind it is it has a disc connected to the main shaft. Attached to this disc are 4 pistons. The main shaft drives a second disc with 4 pistons though an internal ring gear and scotch yoke setup. As the first ring and piston move the second ring and pistons oscillates to close the gap between pistons thereby creating combustion chambers and pushing out exhaust gasses and taking in a fresh air/fuel charge. It's like a 4 stroke operating principal but without valves. It fires 2 combustion chambers simultaneously and does this 4 times per revolution.
The engine was made around the early 1900's and is quite a mechanical and machining achievement for the time. Little is known of the manufacturer but has a carburetor from an early Indian motorcycle.

 

[gbritnell]

Remaining engine pictures

 

[lee webster]

I would like to see some design drawings for this engine. I can't get my head around the description. My fault, not yours!

 

[gbritnell]

Hi Lee,
I'll make an exploded view of the engine and post it.

 

[lee webster]

Thanks!
Are there any working vesions of this engine? Full size or model.

 

[gbritnell]

Some aspects of Solidworks I'm not familiar with so when I get into new areas I have to self teach with the aid of Youtube. Here are some screen shots of the engine.
Just the one that I took the dimensions from. I have searched quite a bit for toroidal engines and have found many versions but nothing like this one,.

 

[a41capt]

A good friend who's into rare and unusual engines came up with this. It known as a toroidal swinging piston engine. He asked me if I could make a printed model of it for him. I made all the CAD models and printed them on my printer. The engineering behind it is it has a disc connected to the main shaft. Attached to this disc are 4 pistons. The main shaft drives a second disc with 4 pistons though an internal ring gear and scotch yoke setup. As the first ring and piston move the second ring and pistons oscillates to close the gap between pistons thereby creating combustion chambers and pushing out exhaust gasses and taking in a fresh air/fuel charge. It's like a 4 stroke operating principal but without valves. It fires 2 combustion chambers simultaneously and does this 4 times per revolution.
The engine was made around the early 1900's and is quite a mechanical and machining achievement for the time. Little is known of the manufacturer but has a carburetor from an early Indian motorcycle.

Another beauty George! I’m still unpacking and reviewing your 3D printed Ford small block files and here you come with this gem, not to mention being stalled on my 3D printed Elmer’s #5!!!

John W

 

[Shopgeezer]

I would think that this engine would share the problem of tip seals with Wankel engines. The pistons have to seal against the engine case. The size of the piston head contact patch with the engine case is large and would produce a lot of drag. Their must be a seal or piston ring that does the actual compression work.

 

[gbritnell]

I would think that this engine would share the problem of tip seals with Wankel engines. The pistons have to seal against the engine case. The size of the piston head contact patch with the engine case is large and would produce a lot of drag. Their must be a seal or piston ring that does the actual compression work. There is also a circular wiper ring that seals the inner circumference

Each piston has spring-loaded wipers,top and bottom, which seal much like a piston ring would do. There is also a circular spring loaded wiper to seal the inner circumference. Quite an elaborate affair especially for the early teens.