U.S. patent application number 09/753732 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-04 for internal-combustion engine instructional kit.
Invention is credited to Schiefele, Walter P..
Application Number | 20020083917 09/753732 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25031895 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020083917 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schiefele, Walter P. |
July 4, 2002 |
Internal-combustion engine instructional kit
Abstract
The invention is an apparatus consisting of a set of parts that
can be assembled into a variety of internal-combustion engine
analogs. The set of parts comprises a set of platform parts that
can be assembled into a platform having a platform rotary axis and
a platform reference axis normal to the platform rotary axis and a
set of driver parts that can be assembled with a set of platform
parts into a driver assembly supported by the platform. The driver
assembly comprises one or more drivers, each driver containing a
first driver point and a second driver point. The first driver
point travels back and forth along a driver line segment while the
second driver point travels in a driver circle around a
driver-assembly rotary axis.
Inventors: |
Schiefele, Walter P.;
(Sebastian, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Robert E. Malm
16624 Pequeno Place
Pacific Palisades
CA
90272
US
|
Family ID: |
25031895 |
Appl. No.: |
09/753732 |
Filed: |
January 2, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
123/250 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09B 25/02 20130101;
F02B 75/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
123/250 |
International
Class: |
F02B 019/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Apparatus consisting of a set of parts that can be assembled
into a variety of internal-combustion engine analogs, the set of
parts comprising: a set of platform parts that can be assembled
into a platform having a platform rotary axis and a platform
reference axis normal to the platform rotary axis, a set of driver
parts that can be assembled with a set of platform parts into a
driver assembly supported by the platform, the driver assembly
comprising one or more drivers, each driver containing a first
driver point and a second driver point, the first driver point
traveling back and forth along a driver line segment, the second
driver point traveling in a driver circle around a driver-assembly
rotary axis as the first driver point travels back and forth along
the driver line segment, the orientation of the driver being
described by a driver reference axis normal to the driver-assembly
rotary axis and parallel to the driver line segment, the
driver-assembly assembly rotary axis being collinear with the
platform rotary axis, the driver reference axis of each driver
being at any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to
the platform reference axis.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a driver comprises: a
reciprocating-motion generator that causes a first driver point
contained in the reciprocating-motion generator to travel back and
forth along a driver line segment.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the reciprocating-motion
generator comprises: a solenoid having a cavity; a plunger
constrained to move rectilinearly into and out of the cavity of the
solenoid.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the application of power to the
reciprocating-motion generator causes a first driver point to
travel in one direction along a driver line segment and the removal
of power allowing the first driver point to travel in the opposite
direction along the driver line segment, the reciprocating-motion
generator comprising: a distributor that applies power to the
linear motion generator while a second driver point is within a
specified range on a driver circle.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the distributor comprises: a
switch assembly comprising a switch for one or more
reciprocating-motion generators, power being applied to a
reciprocating-motion generator when the associated switch is
activated; a rotor that revolves through a 360-degree angle as a
second driver point traverses a driver circle, the rotor activating
a switch while the second driver point is within a specified range
on the driver circle.
6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the reciprocating-motion
generator comprises: a power source which supplies power to the
reciprocating-motion generator.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a driver comprises: a
reciprocating-to-rotary motion converter that causes the second
driver point to travel around the driver circle when the first
driver point travels back and forth along the driver line
segment.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein a reciprocating-to-rotary
motion converter comprises: a connecting rod having a first end and
a second end, the first end being pivotably attached to a first
driver point; a crankpin that is rotatably attached to the second
end of the connecting rod at a second driver point, the crankpin
containing the second driver point.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the driver assembly comprises:
a driver connector that enables two adjacent drivers to be linked
together.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the driver connector has an
axis that is collinear with the driver-assembly rotary axis when
attached to adjacent drivers in a driver assembly, the driver
connector having a plurality of holes with axes parallel to and
passing through points on a circle concentric with the axis of the
driver connector.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the cross sections of the
holes are polygons.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a driver assembly comprises:
two endpins, one end of an endpin being attached to the second
driver point of the driver in the end position of a driver
assembly, the other end of the endpin being rotatably attached to
the platform.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein a driver assembly comprises:
two endpin connectors, an endpin connector enabling the attachment
of an endpin to a driver.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the endpin connector has an
axis that is collinear with the driver-assembly rotary axis when
attached to an end driver in a driver assembly, the endpin
connector having a plurality of holes with axes parallel to and
passing through points on a circle concentric with the axis of the
endpin connector, the endpin connector having a hole with an axis
collinear with the axis of the endpin connector.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the cross sections of the
holes are polygons.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a driver assembly comprises: a
flywheel that is attachable to the reciprocating driver assembly
such that the flywheel will rotate in synchronism with the second
driver points of the drivers in the reciprocating driver
assembly.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the platform comprises: a
baseplate; a first endplate that is attachable to the baseplate,
the first endplate being normal to the baseplate when the first
endplate is attached to the baseplate; a second endplate that is
attachable to the baseplate, the second endplate being normal to
the baseplate and parallel to the first endplate when the first and
second endplates are attached to the baseplate.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the platform comprises: one
or more crossplates that are attachable to the first and second
endplates when the first and second endplates are attached to the
baseplate, one or more drivers being attachable to a cross
plate.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein a driver is attachable to a
crossplate with the driver line segment aligned with the normal to
the crossplate.
20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein a crossplate is attachable to
the first and second endplates at any one of a plurality of angles,
the angle of a crossplate being the angle between the normal to the
cross plate and the platform reference axis
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] (Not applicable)
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT
[0002] (Not applicable)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This invention relates generally to instructional model kits
that consist of parts that can be assembled by a user into an
operational machine that serves to illustrate the operating
principles of the machine. More specifically, this invention
pertains to instructional model kits that are focused on the
principles of operation of internal-combustion engines.
[0004] An internal-combustion engine is an engine that employs the
reciprocating motion of one or more pistons in cylinders. Such
engines are the predominant source of power for motorized ground
transport and yet the principles of operation of such engines are a
mystery to most people. As a teaching tool, there is no substitute
for an operating model. Unfortunately, the complexity of the
internal-combustion engine, typically involving the controlled
combustion of carbon-based gaseous fuels, does not lend itself to
an illustration of operating principles by a model. Thus, a
student, wishing to learn about internal-combustion engines, never
has the opportunity of observing the motions and interactions of
the parts of such engines as the engines operate.
[0005] The present invention helps to satisfy this instructional
need by providing an instructional model kit based on an analog of
an internal-combustion engine.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The invention is an apparatus consisting of a set of parts
that can be assembled into a variety of internal-combustion engine
analogs. The set of parts comprises a set of platform parts that
can be assembled into a platform having a platform rotary axis and
a platform reference axis normal to the platform rotary axis and a
set of driver parts that can be assembled with a set of platform
parts into a driver assembly supported by the platform. The driver
assembly comprises one or more drivers, each driver containing a
first driver point and a second driver point. The first driver
point travels back and forth along a driver line segment while the
second driver point travels in a driver circle around a
driver-assembly rotary axis. The orientation of the driver is
described by a driver reference axis normal to the driver-assembly
rotary axis and parallel to the driver line segment. The
driver-assembly rotary axis is collinear with the platform rotary
axis. The driver reference axis of each driver is at any one of a
plurality of angular positions relative to the platform reference
axis.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a side view of a 1-cylinder internal-combustion
engine analog assembled from the internal-combustion engine
instructional kit.
[0008] FIG. 2 is an end view of the 1-cylinder internal-combustion
engine analog of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a front view of a connecting rod.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a side view of the connecting rod of FIG. 3.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a solenoid with a
plunger poised to enter the solenoid.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of combination crankpin/endpin
connector.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of combination
crankpin/endpin.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a side view of a 4-cylinder inline-configuration
internal-combustion engine analog assembled from the
internal-combustion engine instructional kit.
[0015] FIG. 9 is a top view of a distributor based on 45-degree
angular timing.
[0016] FIG. 10 is a side view of the distributor of FIG. 9.
[0017] FIG. 11 is an electrical schematic for the distributor of
FIG. 9.
[0018] FIG. 12 is a side view of a 6-cylinder V-type
internal-combustion engine analog assembled from the
internal-combustion engine instructional kit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] The internal-combustion engine instructional kit that is the
subject matter of this invention is a set of parts from which an
operating analog of an internal-combustion engine can be assembled.
Various configurations of an internal-combustion engine can be
assembled from the same set of parts. The options available include
engines with any number of cylinders of practical interest and
cylinder configurations that include inline, opposed, and
V-type.
[0020] The assembled engine model is an electrical analog of an
internal-combustion engine with electrical energy substituted for
the chemical energy of gasoline, propane, natural gas, or diesel
fuel that are the typical fuels used for internal-combustion
engines. The analog of the internal-combustion engine piston and
cylinder is a solenoid and plunger, the plunger traveling in and
out of the solenoid. Just as the combustion of gas in an
internal-combustion engine cylinder causes the piston to slide away
from the combustion region, the application of power to a solenoid
causes the plunger to slide into the solenoid.
[0021] The instructional kit assembled as 1-cylinder engine analog
1 is shown in side view in FIG. 1 and in end view in FIG. 2. The
1-cylinder engine analog 1 consists of platform 3 and driver
assembly 5.
[0022] Platform 3 consists of three essential elements: endpin
supports 7 and 9 and solenoid support 11 that attaches to the
endpin supports. In addition, baseplate 13, a non-essential
element, is provided in this embodiment of the invention for
structural rigidity. Baseplate 13 is non-essential in that the
necessary structural rigidity of platform 3 can be achieved by the
appropriate design of endpin supports 7 and 9 and solenoid support
11 through the use of interlocking and bracing techniques described
in readily-available mechanical design handbooks.
[0023] In order to realize the educational benefits of the
invention, it must be possible to easily assemble and disassemble
the parts. For this reason, reversible fasteners are used in
attaching solenoid support 11 to endpin supports 7 and 9. If
platform 3 is made of aluminum or steel, machine screws and tapped
holes might be used. If platform 3 is made of plastic, nuts and
bolts might be used or the plastic parts can be designed to have
mating features that snap together into a rigid structure.
[0024] To avoid the time-consuming nature of using screw-type
fasteners to assemble an engine analog, one can use trunk-type
fasteners in which a loop is hooked over a catch and then secured
by means of a toggle linkage.
[0025] Endpin supports 7, 9 have endpin holes 15, 17 which can
accept endpin bearings 19, 21 which can in turn accept endpins 23,
25. The axes of endpin holes 15, 17 are collinear and establish the
platform rotary axis after the platform 3 is assembled. The axes of
endpins 23, 25 are collinear and establish the driver-assembly
rotary axis when the driver assembly 5 is assembled. The platform
rotary axis and the driver-assembly rotary axis are collinear when
engine analog 1 is assembled.
[0026] The solenoid support 11 is shown attached to inline surface
27 of endpin support 7 and to the corresponding surface of endpin
support 9 in FIGS. 1 and 2. The normal to inline surface 27 of
endpin support 7 that passes through the axis of the endpin hole 15
(or the similarly defined normal for endpin support 9) is called
the platform reference axis.
[0027] The assembly of a 10-cylinder engine analog in a "V"
configuration (V10 configuration) requires two solenoid supports
attached to V10 surfaces 28, 30 of endpin support 7 and to
corresponding surfaces of endpin support 9. The normals to V-8
surfaces 28, 30 make angles of 36 degrees with respect to the
platform reference axis and 72 degrees with respect to each other.
Five solenoids are attached to each of the two solenoid
supports.
[0028] The assembly of an 8-cylinder engine analog in a "V"
configuration (V8 configuration) requires two solenoid supports
attached to V8 surfaces 29, 31 of endpin support 7 and to
corresponding surfaces of endpin support 9. The normals to V-8
surfaces 29, 31 make angles of 45 degrees with respect to the
platform reference axis and 90 degrees with respect to each other.
Four solenoids are attached to each of the two solenoid
supports.
[0029] The assembly of a 6-cylinder engine analog in a "V"
configuration (V6 configuration) requires two solenoid supports
attached to V6 surfaces 33, 35 of endpin support 7 and to
corresponding surfaces of endpin support 9. The normals to V6
surfaces 33, 35 make angles of 60 degrees with respect to the
platform reference axis and 120 degrees with respect to each other.
Three solenoids are attached to each of the two solenoid
supports.
[0030] The assembly of a 4-cylinder engine analog in an opposed
configuration requires two solenoid supports attached to opposed
surfaces 37, 39 of endpin support 7 and to corresponding surfaces
of endpin support 9. The normals to opposed surfaces 37, 39 make
angles of 90 degrees with respect to the platform reference axis
and 180 degrees with respect to each other. Two solenoids are
attached to each of the two solenoid supports.
[0031] The 1-cylinder engine analog 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2
includes driver assembly 5 consisting of driver 41, endpins 23, 25,
endpin connectors 43, 45, flywheel 47, and distributor 49.
[0032] Driver 41 includes solenoid 51 and plunger 53 that is free
to slide in and out of the solenoid. A more detailed view of
solenoid 51 and plunger 53, poised to enter the solenoid, is shown
in FIG. 5. Solenoid 51 comprises wire coil 101 which surrounds
cylindrical region 103. When electrical power is applied to wire
coil 101, a magnetic field is created in region 103 which attracts
plunger 53 which is made, either wholly or in part, of a magnetic
material. The attractive force on plunger 53 exerted by the
magnetic field of wire coil 101 causes plunger 53 to move into
region 103. Plunger 53 is constrained to remain in region 103 until
power is removed from wire coil 101 and the magnetic field
disappears. With power removed from wire coil 101, plunger 53 will
remain within region 103 until an external force applied to plunger
53 causes plunger 53 to move out of region 103.
[0033] The solenoid-plunger configuration shown in FIG. 5 is only
one of a number of possible configurations that might be used in
implementing this invention. For example, if region 103 were to be
open at both ends, the application of electrical power to wire coil
101 would cause plunger 53 to enter region 103 at which time the
application of power would be discontinued. The momentum of plunger
53 would carry the plunger out of region 103 at the lower end at
which time power would once again be applied to wire coil 101.
Plunger 53 would then reverse direction and be pulled into the
solenoid. Application of power would again be discontinued and the
momentum of the plunger would carry the plunger out of region 103
at the top end and once again occupy the position shown in FIG. 5.
Thus, with this approach, power would be applied twice per cycle in
moving plunger through its rectilinear motion cycle.
[0034] A somewhat similar result can be achieved with plunger 53
being a permanent magnet. Application of power of a particular
polarity would then pull plunger 53 into region 103 and the
reversal of polarity would push plunger 53 out.
[0035] The combination of solenoid 51 and plunger 53 together with
a means for applying electrical power to the solenoid is a
mechanism for generating rectilinear motion just as the combination
of a cylinder and piston together with a means for bringing about
internal combustion in the cylinder of an internal-combustion
engine is such a mechanism.
[0036] Driver 41 also includes connecting rod 55, crankpin bearing
57, and crankpin 59. Connecting rod 55 is shown in more detail in
FIGS. 3 and 4. One end 109 of connecting rod 55 is dimensioned to
fit within slot 105 of plunger 53 (FIG. 5) and permit the alignment
of hole 111 in end 109 of connecting rod 55 with hole 107 in
plunger 53. Thus, the design of plunger 53 and connecting rod 55
facilitate the pivotable attachment of the connecting rod to the
plunger by means of a pin extending through holes 107 and 111.
[0037] The other end 113 of connecting rod 55 provides a means for
clamping bearing 57 in a fixed position relative to connecting rod
55. Bearing 57 provides the means for rotatably attaching crankpin
59 to connecting rod 55. The crankpin 59 axis of rotation is the
axis within crankpin 59 that is collinear with the axis of bearing
57.
[0038] Just as a connecting rod and crankpin in an
internal-combustion engine converts the reciprocating motion of a
piston into rotary motion of a crankpin, connecting rod 55 and
crankpin 59 convert the reciprocating motion of plunger 53 into
rotary motion of the crankpin.
[0039] The conversion of the reciprocating motion of plunger 53
into rotary motion of the axis of crankpin 59 assumes that the axis
of crankpin 59 is constrained to rotate about the driver-assembly
rotary axis which corresponds to the axis of rotation of endpins 23
and 25. This constraint is a result of the connection of crankpin
59 to endpins 23, 25 by means of endpin connectors 43, 45.
[0040] A combination connector 115 that can serve either as an
endpin connector or a crankpin connector (discussed below) is shown
in FIG. 6. The combination connector 115 comprises a cylindrical
connector body 117 having a plurality of square holes: namely
center hole 119, reference hole 121, 90-degree hole 123, and
120-degree hole 125. The axis of center hole 119 is collinear with
the axis of connector body 117 while holes 121, 123, 125 have axes
on a circle concentric with the axis of connector body 117.
[0041] Endpins and crankpins can share a common design 127
consisting of cylindrical crankpin/endpin body 129 and square ends
131, 133. The only difference between endpins and crankpins is the
length of crankpin/endpin body 129. Endpins of various lengths are
included in the parts kit so that a variety of engine
configurations can be assembled within the same platform. Crankpins
can all be of the same length although they too can be of various
lengths to permit the assembled driver assemblies to be as compact
as possible.
[0042] An endpin connector utilizes the center hole 119 and one of
the offset holes 121, 123, 125 to connect an endpin to a crankpin.
The endpin is introduced into the center hole 119 and the crankpin
is introduced into one of the offset holes 121, 123, 125. For
maximum rigidity of the endpin-connector-crankpin assembly, the
lengths of the square ends 131, 133 should be the same as the
length of the connector body 117.
[0043] Separate endpin connectors and crankpin connectors can be
substituted for the combination connector 115. The endpin connector
would have only the center hole 119 and one of the offset holes
121, 123, 125. The crankpin connector would have only the offset
holes 121, 123, 125.
[0044] Combination connector 115 provides for the connection of
crankpins with angular displacements of 90 degrees and 120 degrees
or multiples thereof. Combination or crankpin connectors permitting
other angular displacements and enabling the assembly of an even
more diverse range of internal-combustion engine analogs could, of
course, be provided in an engine instructional kit.
[0045] The axis of rotation of crankpin 59 travels around a
complete circle each time plunger 53 performs a complete in-and-out
cycle with respect to solenoid 51 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Let us
assume that the crankpin of a first driver has its square end in
reference hole 121 of crankpin connector 115 (see FIG. 6). Let us
also assume that the crankpin of a second driver is connected to
the crankpin of the first driver by having its square end in
90-degree hole 123 of the same crankpin connector 115. As the
crankpins of the first and second drivers rotate about the platform
rotary axis, the rotation of the crankpin of the second driver will
either be advanced or delayed by one-quarter cycle relative to the
crankpin of the first driver, depending on the orientation of the
crankpin connector 115. The one-quarter cycle advance or delay
results from the 90-degree angular displacement of holes 121 and
123.
[0046] Similarly, if the crankpin of a first driver has its square
end in reference hole 121 of crankpin connector 115 and the
crankpin of a second driver is connected to the crankpin of the
first driver by having its square end in 120-degree hole 125 of the
same crankpin connector 115, then the rotation of the crankpin of
the second driver will either be advanced or delayed by one-third
cycle relative to the crankpin of the first driver, depending on
the orientation of the crankpin connector 115. The one-third cycle
advance or delay results from the 120-degree angular displacement
of offset holes 121 and 125.
[0047] Driver assembly 5 also includes endpin 23 which is connected
through endpin connector 43 to crankpin 59 and endpin 25 which is
connected through endpin connector 45 to crankpin 59. The
combination of crankpins, crankpin connectors, and endpins
correspond to the crankshaft of an internal-combustion engine. The
conversion of the rectilinear motion of plungers into the rotary
motion of crankpins is manifested in the rotary motion of the
endpins which provide the output power of the engine.
[0048] The torque applied by the solenoids through the plungers to
the endpins is intermittent. In order to provide a reasonably-level
power output from the endpins, driver assembly 5 includes flywheel
47 which provides a means for storing energy at power maximums and
supplying energy at power minimums as the power available from the
rectilinear motion of the plungers goes through peaks and
valleys.
[0049] Driver assembly 5 also includes distributor 49 (FIG. 1)
which controls the application of power to solenoid 51.
[0050] The instructional kit assembled as a 4-cylinder inline
engine analog 151 is shown in FIG. 8. The 4-cylinder inline engine
analog 151 consists of a platform 153 and driver assembly 155. The
platform 153 is the same as platform 1 described above with
reference to FIGS. I and 2. The driver assembly 155 consists of
four drivers 157, 159, 161, 163 mounted on solenoid support 165.
Each driver 157, 159, 161, 163 is essentially a duplicate of driver
41 of FIG. 1.
[0051] Endpin 181 is connected to driver 157 by inserting endpin
181 into center hole 119 and crankpin 167 into reference hole 121
with endpin connector 185 having the orientation of combination
connector 115 (FIG. 6) rotated clockwise about center hole 119 by
180 degrees.
[0052] Driver 157 can be connected to driver 159 by inserting
crankpin 167 into reference hole 121 and crankpin 169 into
90-degree hole 123 with crankpin connector 175 having the
orientation of combination connector 115 (FIG. 6) rotated clockwise
about center hole 119 by 180 degrees.
[0053] Driver 159 can be connected to driver 161 by inserting
crankpin 169 into reference hole 121 and crankpin 171 into
90-degree hole 123 with crankpin connector 175 having the
orientation of combination connector 115 (FIG. 6) rotated
counterclockwise about center hole 119 by 90 degrees.
[0054] Driver 161 can be connected to driver 163 by inserting
crankpin 171 into reference hole 121 and crankpin 173 into
90-degree hole 123 with crankpin connector 175 having the
orientation of combination connector 115 (FIG. 6).
[0055] Driver 163 is connected to endpin 183 by inserting crankpin
173 into 90-degree hole 123 and endpin 183 into center hole 119
with endpin connector 187 having the orientation of combination
connector 115 (FIG. 6).
[0056] End and side views of distributor 189 (which is suitable for
1-cylinder, 2-cylinder. 4-cylinder, and 8-cylinder engine analogs)
are shown respectively in FIGS. 9 and 10. Mounting plate 191 having
a circular opening 192 attaches to an endpin support in such a way
that the circular opening is concentric with the platform rotary
axis. Eight microswitches exemplified by microswitch 193 are
mounted at intervals of 45 degrees around the circular opening 192
of the mounting plate 191. A cam 195 mounts to endpin 197 of a
driver assembly. As endpin 197 rotates, cam 195 sequentially causes
each microswitch to close and then open during a 45-degree angle of
rotation of the endpin 197. Each microswitch, exemplified by
microswitch 193, is electrically connected to a jack, exemplified
by jack 199, to which a mating plug, electrically connectable to a
solenoid, can be connected. Receptacle 201 provides the means for
introducing the electrical power needed to power an engine
analog.
[0057] The electrical schematic for distributor 189 is shown in
FIG. 11. The solenoid wire coils which can be connected to the
distributor are represented by the inductance symbols and the
microswitches are represented by the switch symbols. The diodes
provide the means for dissipating the energy stored in a wire coil
when a switch opens.
[0058] A 6-cylinder inline engine analog is similar to the
4-cylinder inline engine analog except for requiring 2 additional
drivers and a distributor like the one shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 with
six microswitches (rather than eight) spaced uniformly around the
circular opening 192.
[0059] A 6-cylinder V-type engine analog 203 consisting of drivers
205, 207, 209 attached to V6 surface 35, FIG. 2, and drivers 211,
213, 215 attached to V6 surface 33, FIG. 2, is shown in FIG. 12.
Connecting rods 217, 219 share the same crankpin 221, connecting
rods 223, 225 share the same crankpin 227, and connecting rods 229,
231 share the same crankpin 233.
[0060] Endpin 239 is connected to crankpin 221 by inserting endpin
239 into center hole 119 and crankpin 221 into reference hole 121
with endpin connector 243 having the orientation of combination
connector 115 (FIG. 6) rotated clockwise about center hole 119 by
30 degrees.
[0061] Crankpin 221 is connected to crankpin 227 by inserting
crankpin 221 into reference hole 121 and crankpin 227 into
120-degree hole 125 with crankpin connector 235 having the
orientation of combination connector 115 (FIG. 6) rotated clockwise
about center hole 119 by 30 degrees.
[0062] Crankpin 227 is connected to crankpin 233 by inserting
crankpin 227 into reference hole 121 and crankpin 233 into
120-degree hole 125 with crankpin connector 237 having the
orientation of combination connector 115 (FIG. 6) rotated
counterclockwise about center hole 119 by 90 degrees.
[0063] Crankpin 233 is connected to endpin 241 by inserting
crankpin 233 into 120-degree hole 120 and endpin 241 into center
hole 119 with endpin connector 245 having the orientation of
combination connector 115 (FIG. 6) rotated counterclockwise about
center hole 119 by 90 degrees.
[0064] The distributor 247 is like the one shown in FIGS. 9 and 10
except for having six rather than eight microswitches mounted at
equal angular intervals around the circular opening 192.
[0065] An 8-cylinder V-type engine analog is similar in
configuration to a 6-cylinder V-type except that the V8 surfaces
29, 31 (FIG. 2) are used instead of the V6 surfaces 33, 35 for
mounting the two solenoid supports 11 and the eight-microswitch
distributor shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is used instead of the
six-microswitch distributor that is used in the 6-cylinder V-type
analog.
[0066] A 10-cylinder V-type engine analog is similar in
configuration to an 8-cylinder V-type except that the V10 surfaces
28, 30 (FIG. 2) are used instead of the V8 surfaces 29, 31 for
mounting the two solenoid supports 11 and the distributor is like
the one shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 except for having 10 rather than
eight microswitches mounted at equal angular intervals around the
circular opening 192.
[0067] The reciprocating engine assembly kit described herein
includes parts from which engine analogs can be assembled
corresponding to internal combustion engines of an arbitrary number
of cylinders and a variety of cylinder configurations including
inline, opposed, and V-type. The kit as described herein enables
the assembly of V-type engine analogs with 3N solenoids positioned
along each solenoid support 11 attached to V6 surfaces 33 and 35
(FIG. 2) where N takes on integer values and the normals to the two
solenoid supports 11 have an angular displacement of 120
degrees.
[0068] The kit also enables the assembly of V-type engine analogs
with 4N solenoids positioned along each solenoid support 11
attached to V8 surfaces 29 and 31 (FIG. 2) where the normals to the
two solenoid supports 11 have an angular displacement of 90
degrees.
[0069] The kit also enables the assembly of V-type engine analogs
with 5N solenoids positioned along each solenoid support 11
attached to V10 surfaces 28, 30 (FIG. 2) where the normals to the
two solenoid supports 11 have an angular displacement of 72
degrees.
[0070] The kit could also be provided with parts that would enable
the assembly of radial engine analogs. Such a kit would include
regular-polygon-shaped endpin supports 7, 9 (FIGS. 1 and 2) with
the number of sides equal to the number of solenoids to be used in
the radial engine analog.
[0071] The combination of a cylinder, piston, valving, and
combustion igniting apparatus in an internal-combustion engine
constitutes a reciprocating-motion generator. A connecting rod in
combination with a crankpin constrained to rotate about an axis
constitutes a reciprocating-to-rotary motion converter that
converts the reciprocating motion of the piston into rotary motion
of the crankpin.
[0072] This invention provides the means for illustrating and
understanding the operating principles of internal-combustion
engines by providing simple analogs for reciprocating-motion
generators and reciprocating-to-rotary motion converters that can
be assembled into operating analogs of internal-combustion engines
by students. What constitutes "simple" analogs are analogs that can
easily and safely be handled by children and teenagers in a
living-room environment.
[0073] The analog of an internal-combustion engine
reciprocating-motion generator presented herein is the combination
of a solenoid and plunger which is a particularly simple analog of
the reciprocating-motion generators of internal-combustion engines.
However, the claims to this invention are intended to include any
and all analogs of a reciprocating-motion generator. For example,
one might use force generation mechanisms other than those
associated with converting the potential energy of a plunger in the
magnetic field of a solenoid into plunger kinetic energy. For
another example, the potential energy stored in a compressed spring
could be converted into kinetic energy of a plunger. For still
another possibility, the potential energy of compressed air could
be converted into kinetic energy of a plunger.
[0074] Still another possible analog of an internal-combustion
engine reciprocating-motion generator is an electric motor coupled
to a rotary-to-reciprocating motion converter.
[0075] The analog of an internal-combustion engine
reciprocating-to-rotary motion converter disclosed herein (i.e.
connecting rod-crankpin) is almost identical in structure to the
reciprocating-to-rotary motion converter typically used in
internal-combustion engines. There are numerous mechanisms that
convert reciprocating motion to rotary motion that have been
described in compendiums of mechanical devices and many of these
could serve as analogs of internal-combustion engine
reciprocating-to-rotary motion converters.
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