DRAIN RECYCLE SYSTEM FOR TWO-CYCLE ENGINE

TITLE DRAIN RECYCLE SYSTEM FOR TWO-CYCLE ENGINE INVENTOR Robert K. Turner BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to internal combustion engines and, more particularly, to two-cycle internal combustion engines employing crankcase scavenging and wherein liquid drains accumulate in the crankcase.

Crankcase scavenged, two-cycle internal combus¬ tion engines commonly experience an accumulation of fuel and lubricant, or so-called "drains", in the low point or sump of the engine crankcase. The desirability of re¬ cycling or returning the drains to the engine for ultimate combustion has been known for some time. Such recycling is particularly important for avoiding the pollution problem associated with outboard motors when the drains are wasted overboard into the water by being dumped into the exhaust system.

Examples of prior drain arrangements are dis¬ closed in the following U.S. patents:

Upton 2,717,584 issued September 13, 1955 Goggi 3,128,748 issued April 14, 1964 Heidner 3,132,635 issued May 12, 1964 Goggi 3,170,449 issued February 23, 1965 Goggi 3,528,395 issued September 15, 1970 Brown 3,709,202 issued January 9, 1973 Brown 3,703,149 issued May 1, 1973 Schultz 3,762,380 issued October 2, 1973 Sullivan et al 3,800,753 issued April 2, 1974 &1 Re snick et al 3,805,751 issued April 23, 1974 Turner et al 3,859,967 issued January 14, 1975 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a two-cycle internal com¬ bustion engine including a generally closed crankcase having an area in which drains collect, a cylinder extending from the crankcase, a piston reciprocally movable in the cylinder whereby there is alternately developed in the crankcase a low pressure condition as the piston approaches top dead center and a high pressure condition as the piston approaches bottom dead center, an intake port in the cylinder for admitting a fuel-lubricant mixture thereinto when the piston is adjacent bottom dead center, an exhaust port in the cylinder for exhausting combustion products therefrom as the piston approaches bottom dead center, an inlet port located in the cylinder intermediate the intake port and the exhaust port, conduit means connected in communication with the drains collecting area and with the inlet port, and check valve means in the conduit means for permitting flow from the drains collecting area during a high pressure condition in the crankcase and for preventing flow to the drains collecting area during a low pressure condition in the crankcase, whereby the drains are recirculated from the drains collecting area into the cylinder through the inlet port in response to cyclical variation of pressure in the crankcase and in the cylinder.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the conduit means includes a first conduit or passage communi¬ cating between the drains collecting area in the crankcase C — 1083484 and an upper "bearing rotatably supporting the crankshaft and a second conduit or passage communicating between the upper bearing and the inlet port so that the recirculating drains flow in contact and lubricate the upper bearing enroute to the cylinder. In one embodiment, one-way check valve means is provided in the first conduit or passage for permitting flow from the drains collecting area to the upper bearing and for preventing flow from the upper bearing to the drains collecting area.

In the preferred construction in accordance with the invention, the crankshaft is arranged vertically and the drains collecting area comprises an annular collector ring or sump located in the crankcase adjacent and coakially with the crankshaft and the inlet of the first conduit or passage is connected in liquid communication with the sump, either directly to the sump, to a cavity in which the lower crankshaft bearing is received and which communicates with the sump, or to both the sump and the lower crankshaft bearing cavity.

In a multiple cylinder engine, an inlet port is provided in one of the cylinders intermediate the fuel intake port and the exhaust port thereof and this inlet port is connected by a conduit means in communication with a drains collecting area in each of the crankcases. The conduit means includes a first conduit or passage com¬ municating with the inlet port and with the drains collect¬ ing area of the crankcase associated with the cylinder including the inlet port and a second conduit or passage communicating with the first conduit or passage and with the drains collecting area of the crankcase or crankcases associated with the other cylinder or cylinders. One-way check valve means are provided in each of the conduit or passages for permitting flow from the respective drains collecting area toward the inlet port when a positive pressure condition exists in the associated crankcase during the compression stroke of the associated piston and for preventing reverse flow into the drains collecting area when a reduced pressure exists in the associated crankcase during the compression stroke of the associated piston.

One of the principal features of the invention is the provision of a means in a two-cycle internal combus¬ tion engine for effectively recycling the drains accumulated in the crankcase to a cylinder for ultimate combustion.

Another principal feature of the invention is the provision of a two-cycle, internal combustion engine including means for pumping drains from a drains collecting area in the crankcase to a cylinder for combustion therein in response to the pressure variations occurring in the crankcase and in the cylinder during reciprocation of the piston.

Still another principal feature of the invention is the provision of a two-cycle internal combustion engine as described in the previous paragraph including means arranged to provide lubrication of an upper bearing rotatably supporting the crankshaft by the drains being recycled or recirculated to the cylinder.

Other features and advantages of the embodiments of the invention will become apparent upon reviewing the following detailed description, the drawing and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRMTOTG Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view, partially in section, of a single cylinder, two-cycle internal combus¬ tion engine embodying various of the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view, partially in section, of an alternately acting, two-cylinder, two-cycle internal combustion engine embodying various of the features of the invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of an alternate arrangement for connecting the drains passage of the upper cylinder of the engine in Fig. 1 with the drains collecting area.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawing. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.

Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purposes of des¬ cription and should not be regarded as limiting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Illustrated in Fig. 1 is a single cylinder, two- cycle internal combustion engine 10 including an engine block 12 defining a cylinder 14 which has one or more exhaust ports 16 and an intake port 18 and a crankcase 20.

Reciprocally movable in the cylinder 14 is a piston 22 connected to a crankshaft 24 by a connecting rod 26.

The intake port 18 comprises the terminus of a transfer passage 28 which communicates with the crankcase and through which fuel is supplied to the cylinder 14 for combustion. A fuel-lubricant-air mixture is introduced into the crankcase 20 through a carburetor (not shown) and a reed valve (not shown). This mixture is periodically pumped from the crankcase 20 into the cylinder 14 through the transfer passage 28 in a normal manner, i.e., when the intake port 18 is open and the pressure inside the crankcase is increased due to the approach of the piston 22 to bottom dead center.

The crankshaft 24 is supported for rotation within the crankcase 20 by an upper bearing 30 and a lower bearing 32 vertically spaced from the upper bearing 30.

Provided in the crankcase 20 is suitable means defining an area in which drains collect. In the specific construction illustrated, the crankshaft 24 is vertically ' arranged and an annular collector ring or sump 33 is pro¬ vided in the bottom portion of the crankcase 20 adjacent and coaxially with the crankshaft 24.

The drains which accumulate in the sump 33 are pumped therefrom and recirculated to the cylinder 14 for ultimate combustion, preferably after first flowing in contact with the upper bearing 30. Provided for this purpose is a first conduit or passage 34 connected in liquid communication with the sump 33 and with the upper bearing 30 and a second conduit or passage 36 connected in communication with the upper bearing 30 and with an inlet port 38 provided in the cylinder 14 at a location between the intake port 18 and the exhaust port 16. Thus, the crankcase 20 is closed except for the connection to the transfer passage 28, for communication through the reed valve, and for communication through the first passage 34.

Located in the first passage 34 is a suitable one-way check valve means, such as a ball check valve 39, which operates to permit flow of the accumulated drains from the sump 33 when a positive pressure exists in the crankcase 20 and to prevent reverse flow of the drains from the upper bearing 30 to the sump 33 when a low pressure condition exists in the crankcase 20.

The accumulated drains are recirculated to the cylinder 14 by a combined pumping action and a sucking action. That is, a positive pressure is created in the crankcase 20 as the piston 22 approaches bottom dead center during the downstroke or expansion stroke of the piston.

This positive pressure forces the drains accumulated in the sump 33 through the check valve 39 and the first passage 34 in the direction of the arrow 40. Simultaneously, while the piston 22 is approaching bottom dead center and after the exhaust port 16 has opened and before the intake port 18 is opened, a negative pressure exists in the cylinder 14. This negative pressure condition is communi- cated through the inlet port 38 to the second passage 36 and to the first passage 34, thereby tending to suck or withdraw the drains therefrom into the cylinder 14.

After the inlet port 38 has been closed by the piston 22, the negative pressure created in the crankcase 20 causes closure of the check valve 39, thereby preventing the return flow to the crankcase 20 of any drains remaining in the first passage 34 downstream of the check valve 39, in the area of the upper bearing 30, and in the second passage 36.

The inlet of the first passage 34 can be connected in communication with a cavity 42 provided in the engine block 12 for receiving the lower crankshaft bearing 32 (either to the bottom portion of the bearing cavity 42 as shown by the solid lines or to the upper portion of the bearing cavity), or connected in direct communication with the sump 33 as shown by the dashed lines, or connected in communication with both the bearing cavity 42 and the sump 33.

In the first case, the bearing cavity 42 is connected in communication with the sump 33, either by the tolerance between the crankshaft 24 and the engine block -22- or by a separate port (not shown), so as to permit the drains accumulated in the sump 33 to flow or drain into the bearing cavity 42 and lubricate the lower bearing 32 prior to being recirculated to the cylinder 14. In the second case, the sump 33 can be arranged to prevent leakage of the accumulated drains therefrom, such as by providing a seal (not shown) between the sump 33 and the lower bear¬ ing 42, and the drains are recirculated directly from the sump 33. In the last case, a portion of the accumulated drains flows or drains into the bearing cavity 42 to lubricate the lower bearing 32 prior to being recirculated and the other portion is recirculated directly from the sump 33.

To insure adequate lubrication of the upper bearing by the recirculating drains without causing an undue restriction to flow, an annular plenum chamber 44 surrounding the upper bearing 30 preferably is provided in the engine block 12 as shown. The recirculating drains flowing through the plenum chamber 44 contact and lubricate the upper bearing enroute to the second passage 36.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, the multiple cylinder engine includes a conventional engine block 52 defining two cylinders 54 and 56, two respectively associated crankcases 58 and 60, a crankshaft 62 extending 1083484 through the crankcases, separate pistons 64 and 66 recip¬ rocally movable in the respective cylinders 54 and 56, and separate connecting rods 68 and 70 respectively con¬ necting the pistons 64 and 66 to the crankshaft 62 in a manner to effect opposite action of the pistons. Each of the cylinders 54 and 56 has one or more exhaust ports 72 and an intake port 74 which is the terminus of a transfer passage 76 which serves the same function as a transfer passage 28 described above.

The crankshaft 62 is supported for rotation within the crankcases 58 and 60 by vertically spaced upper bearing 76, intermediate bearing 78, and lower bearing 80.

Drains which accumulate in the crankcases 58 and 60 are collected in respective sumps 82 and 84 which are arranged in the same manner as the sump 33 in Fig. 1.

These drains are recycled or recirculated from the sumps 82 and 84 to the upper cylinder 54 for ultimate combustion, preferably after first flowing in contact with the upper bearing 76. Provided for this purpose is a first conduit or passage 86 which is connected in liquid communication with the sump 82 and with the upper bearing 76, a second conduit or passage 88 which is connected in liquid communica¬ tion with the sump 84 and with the first passage 86, and a third conduit or passage 90 which is connected in communi- cation with the upper bearing 76 and with an intake port 92 provided in the upper cylinder 54 at a location between the intake port 74 and the exhaust port 72 thereof.

Located in the first and second passages 86 and 88 are suitable one-way check valve means, such as ball check valves 94 and 96, which operate to permit flow of the drains from the respective sumps 82 and 84 when a positive pressure condition exists in the associated crank- case and to prevent reverse flow of the drains into the respective sumps 82 and 84 when a low pressure condition exists in the associated crankcase.

The inlet portions of the first and second passages 86 and 88 can be connected in communication with the respective sumps 82 and 84 as shown by the solid lines, or connected in communication with respective cavities 98 and 100 provided in the engine block 52 for receiving the intermediate bearing 78 and the lower bearing 80 as shown by the dashed lines, or connected in communication with both the respective sumps 82 and 84 and the respective bearing cavities 98 and 100 in the same general manner as described above.

Drains accumulated in the sumps 82 and 84 are recirculated to the upper cylinder 54 by a combined pump¬ ing action in each of the crankcases 58 and 60 and a suction action in the upper cylinder 54. That is, as the upper piston 64 approaches bottom dead center during the down stroke or expansion stroke, the positive pressure created in the upper crankcase 58 forces the drains accumulated in the sump 82 and/or the intermediate bearing cavity 98 through the check valve 94 and through the first passage 86 toward the upper main bearing 76 in the direction of the arrow 102. As described above, a negative pressure is simultaneously created in the upper cylinder 54 and this negative pressure is communicated through the inlet port 92 to the third passage 90 and to the first passage 86 during the time interval the inlet port 92 is open, thereby tending to suck or withdraw the drains previously delivered to the first passage 86, the upper bearing 76 and the third passage 90 into the upper cylinder 54.

At the same time, the oppositely acting lower piston 66 is moving toward top dead center, creating a low pressure condition in the lower crankcase 60. The check valve 96 closes to prevent the flow of drains from the sump 82 into the sump 84 and/or the bearing cavity 100.

When the upper piston 64 subsequently moves toward top dead center and the lower piston 66 subsequently moves toward bottom dead center, the positive pressure created in the lower crankcase 60 forces the drains accum- ulated in the sump 84 and/or the lower bearing cavity 100 through the check valve 96, through the second passage 88 in the direction of the arrow 104 and through the check valve 94 toward the upper main bearing 76. Since the inlet port 92 is closed during most of this cycle, some of the drains delivered to the first passage 86, the upper bearing 7 6 and the third passage 90 will not enter the cylinder 54 until the subsequent expansion stroke of the upper piston 64.

Suitable means are provided for preventing the drains being pumped through the second passage 88 during the expansion stroke of the lower piston 66 from flowing into the sump 82 and/or the intermediate bearing cavity 98. In the construction in Fig. 2, such means comprises providing the inlet portions 106 and 108 of the first passage 86 with a restricted portion which has cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the first passage 86.

These restricted portions are sized to provide a flow resistance which is substantially higher than the flow resistance of the first passage 86, thereby minimizing the flow of drains from the second passage 88 into the sump 82 and/or the intermediate bearing cavity 98. To minimize flow of drains from the sump 82 into the second passage 88 during the expansion stroke of the upper piston 64, the outlet portion 110 of the second passage 88 connected in communication with the first passage 86 can be provided with a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the first passage 86.

As with the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, an annular plenum chamber 112 surrounding the upper'bearing 76 preferably is provided in the engine block 52 so as to insure adequate lubrication of the upper bearing 76 by the recirculating drains without causing an undue restriction to flow.

In the alternate arrangement illustrated in Fig. 3, a suitable one-way check valve means, such as a ball valve 114, is provided in the inlet portion 116 of the first passage 86 connected in communication with the sump 82 The check valve 114 operates to permit flow of drains from the sump 82 into the first passage 86 during the expansion stroke of the upper piston 64 and to prevent flow from the second passage 88, via the outlet portion 110, into the sump 82 during the expansion stroke of the lower piston 66 and the compression stroke of the upper piston 64.

While the embodiments illustrated in Fig. 2 and 3 have been described with respect to a two-cylinder engine, it is obvious that the same principles can be applied to any multiple cylinder engine having a sequential firing order.

Various of the features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

13- The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A two-cycle internal combustion engine including a generally closed crankcase having an area in which drains collect, a cylinder extending from said crankcase, a piston reciprocally movable in said cylinder whereby there is alternately developed in said crankcase a low pressure condition as said piston approaches top dead center and a high pressure condition as said piston approaches bottom dead center, an intake port in said cylinder for admitting a fuel-lubricant mixture thereinto when said piston is adjacent bottom dead center, an exhaust port in said cylinder for exhausting combustion products therefrom as said piston approaches bottom dead center, an inlet port located in said cylinder intermediate said intake port and said exhaust port, conduit means connected in communication with said drains collecting area and with said inlet port, and check valve means in said conduit means for permitting flow from said drains collecting area during a high pressure condition in said crankcase and for preventing flow to said drains collecting area during a low pressure condition in said crankcase, whereby the drains are recirculated from said drains collecting area into said cylinder through said inlet port in response to cyclical variation of pressure in said crankcase and in said cylinder.