Each A Working Member Patents (Class 418/35)
  • Patent number: 11761377
    Abstract: An energy transfer machine includes a piston and cylinder. The piston can have a rocking motion as it enters and exits the cylinder, for example due to one being on a rotor and the other on a stator. The piston and cylinder form a primary chamber, and as they move relative to each other can form a seal separating the primary chamber into first and second sub-chambers which then unseals before the piston exits the cylinder. The first sub-chamber may reach a maximum geometric compression ratio, for example for the purpose of compression ignition, before the unsealing of the sub-chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: 1159718 B.C. Ltd.
    Inventors: James Brent Klassen, Javier Peter Fernandez-Han
  • Patent number: 11428156
    Abstract: Rotary vane internal combustion engine comprises of two side-by-side rotors, placed in a cylindrical housing, wherein each rotor has at least two radial vanes rigidly attached to the rotor that form chambers for intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust. Each rotor alternately engages with a shaft by overrunning one-way clutches and is held from turning back, through the damper, mounted on a corresponding flywheel and forming a part of the flywheel assembly, which is rigidly attached on the shaft. The assembled rotors from the outside are rigidly closed by flanges on each of which is mounted at least one blade. The blades are positioned into formed cavities between the rotors and caps of the housing, thereby forming two cooling cavities through which coolant circulates around rotors through openings in the housing and through longitudinal grooves in the shaft. On the vanes are mounted cylindrical and conical seals, which remove the need for lubrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Inventor: Anatoli Stanetsky
  • Patent number: 10914173
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spherical working chamber and to two flat rotary pistons as internally turning, rotating pistons that are used to produce energy, which flat rotary pistons are driven by means of a descent of creeks, rivers or gray water and rainwater from high-rise buildings. Because of the even rotation of the output shaft of the flange-mounted transmission, an electrical generator can be connected. The energy converter plus generator can also be used as a mobile unit in emergency situations at waterfalls in order to generate electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Inventor: André Kroell
  • Patent number: 10400708
    Abstract: A Stirling-cycle apparatus is provided comprising a hermetically sealable housing; a first rotary displacement unit in fluid communication with a second rotary fluid displacement unit, each operably mounted in a separate, fluidly sealed portion within said housing and adapted to provide a cyclic change of at least one thermodynamic state parameter of a working fluid during use. Furthermore, each one of said first and second rotary displacement unit comprises a compressor mechanism, having a first compressor working chamber that is adapted to receive a first portion of said working fluid, and at least a second compressor working chamber that is adapted to receive a second portion of said working fluid, said first compressor working chamber comprises a first outlet port and said second compressor working chamber comprises a second outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: University of Northumbria
    Inventors: Khamidulla Mahkamov, Irina Makhkamova
  • Patent number: 9719350
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to apparatuses and methods involving an engine and/or motor having piston lobes that rotate with a drive shaft or shafts, which may be implemented with a toroidal-based engine housing. As may be implemented with some embodiments, an apparatus includes drive shafts having a common axis of rotation, with each drive shaft operable to rotate independently of the other drive shaft. The housing extends around the drive shafts, and defines a sidewall of a chamber having inlet and exhaust ports. Clutch bearings limit rotation of the drive shafts to a common rotational direction. One or more piston lobes are connected to each drive shaft, with each piston lobe being disposed within the chamber and operable to move circumferentially within the chamber about the axis of rotation, with the drive shaft to which it is coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Edward Alan Hicks
  • Publication number: 20150098851
    Abstract: Rotary expansible chamber (REC) devices having one or more working-fluid ports that are adjustable, for example, in size or location. In some embodiments, the variable port mechanisms can be used to control any one or more of a plurality of operating parameters of a REC device independently of one or more others of the operating parameters. In some embodiments, the REC devices can have a plurality of fluid volumes that change in size during rotation of the REC device, and that transition to a zero volume condition during the rotation of the REC device. Systems are also provided that can include one or more REC devices. Methods for controlling various aspects of REC devices, including methods of controlling one or more operating parameters, are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Aaron Feustel
  • Patent number: 8950377
    Abstract: A hybrid internal combustion engine (variants thereof) comprises a casing having an annular working chamber with intake, exhaust ports, and overflow channels; and two drive shafts coaxial with the working chamber; a stationary central gear wheel; an output shaft having an offset portion fixedly carrying a carrier and a planetary gear; connecting rods pivotally connecting the carrier and the arms of both drive shafts, wherein the overflow channels are adjacent to the working chamber and connect the compression and expansion sections thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Inventor: Yevgeniy Fedorovich Drachko
  • Patent number: 8646274
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a toroidal motor comprising a centrally located output shaft, a circular plate centrally and transversely affixed to the output shaft, a toroidal cylinder located in the same plane as and to the outside edge of the circular plate, pistons affixed to the outside edge of the circular plate and residing in the toroidal cylinder. A circular timing track may be used to time the action of a knife gate assembly which may be configured to induce a camming action in the knife gate assembly, rotating the knife gate into the toroidal cylinder, blocking the cylinder just behind a passing piston. Pressurized fluid may be introduced between the knife gate and the rear of the immediate downstream piston to cause a differential pressure to propel the piston through the toroidal cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Inventor: Marvin Wayne Hicks
  • Patent number: 8528506
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine including: a cylinder having a cylinder circumferential wall provided with a horizontal valve groove on its inner circumferential surface; a working shaft concentrically run through said cylinder and held so as to freely rotate; a rotor comprising a rotor base made up of a circular shell and a rotor blade standing in a radial direction of a rotor base surrounding wall; a shutoff valve to perform intermittent movements of insertion and returning between an outside of said cylinder and a cylinder space; and side ribs each having a longitudinal valve groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Inventor: Makoto Murata
  • Patent number: 8528505
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine including: a cylinder having a cylinder circumferential wall provided with a horizontal valve groove on its inner circumferential surface; a working shaft concentrically run through said cylinder and held so as to freely rotate; a rotor comprising a rotor base made up of a circular shell and a rotor blade standing in a radial direction of a rotor base surrounding wall; a shutoff valve to perform intermittent movements of insertion and returning between an outside of said cylinder and a cylinder space; and side ribs each having a longitudinal valve groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Inventor: Makoto Murata
  • Patent number: 8511277
    Abstract: A “TurboMotor” positive displacement rotary-piston machine comprises a casing having an annular working chamber and intake and exhaust ports, two drive shafts coaxial with the annular surface defining the working chamber and provided with rotary pistons on one end thereof and with arms on the other end thereof, a stationary central gear coaxial with the surface defining the working chamber and with the drive shafts, an output shaft concentric with the drive shafts and having an offset portion carrying a carrier and a planetary gear, the planetary gear being in mesh with the stationary central gear the carrier being pivotally connected to the arms of both drive shafts through the connecting rods. The annular working chamber of the casing communicates with the intake ports and exhaust ports and/or exit channels and entrance channels arranged sequentially and contiguously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Yevgeniy Fedorovich Drachko
  • Patent number: 8434449
    Abstract: Axially protruding, centrally cooled pistons rotate around a stationary primary rotation axis within a cylindrical piston chamber. The pistons are held on both of their axial ends by concentrically rotating crank disks as intertwined rotary assemblies. On the outside of each crank disk is hinged a driving piston that slides in a radial guide of two flywheels oppositely axially adjacent the piston chamber and crank disks. The flywheels rotate around an offset secondary rotation axis. As a result. The pistons are individually and oppositely alternately accelerated and decelerated. Volumes between them angularly expand and contract. Inlets and outlets are positioned along the piston chamber circumference in correspondence with expansion and contraction phases of the rotating volumes. A low number of moving parts, area sealed volumes, no valves, no dead volume, balanced mass forces, vibration free rotation and short force transmission paths provide for lightweight construction and high rotational speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Inventor: Johannes Peter Schneeberger
  • Patent number: 8210151
    Abstract: The inventive volume expansion rotary piston machine includes a body (1) with a circular working cavity which is provided with and intake and exhaust channels (18, 19) and in which bladed pistons (5, 6) are disposed on two coaxial shafts (2, 3). Said shafts have arms (4) which are connected, by means of connecting rods (10), to crankshafts with planet toothed wheels which are fastened to said crankshafts and are engaged with a fixed central toothed wheel (12). The volume expansion rotary piston machine comprises an output shaft (7) with an eccentric (8) on which a planet wheel (11) with a carrier (9) are rigidly connected and mounted, and which planet wheel is kinematically connected to the arms (4) of the two shafts (2, 3) by means of the connecting rods (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Inventor: Yevgeniy Fedorovich Drachko
  • Publication number: 20110100321
    Abstract: A rotary power device comprising: a toroidal cavity, an inclined power shaft, two rotors carrying pistons and two concentric Cardan joints. The Cardan joints interconnect the power shaft with the rotors. The power shaft and the two Cardan joints are disposed away from the toroidal cavity in order their dimensions, hence their strength are not limited by the geometry of the toroidal cavity. Variable displacement engines and variable capacity pumps are optional.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Manousos Pattakos, Argyro Pattakou, Emmanouel Pattakos
  • Patent number: 7909014
    Abstract: An oscillating piston engine comprises a housing in which at least one piston is arranged which can revolve in the housing about an axis of rotation which is fixed in relation to the housing, and which performs when revolving about the axis of rotation reciprocating pivoting movements about pivot axis extending perpendicularly to the axis of rotation between a first end position and a second end position, the at least one piston having a running element which runs, as the piston revolves about the axis of rotation, along at least one control cam which is configured in such a way that the pivoting movements of the at least one piston are derived from the revolving movement of the running element along the control cam. A second running element mounted to the piston and/or a negative-pressure source applying a negative pressure to the backside of the piston are provided for assisting the return of the piston from the first end position to the second end position of the pivoting movement of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventor: Herbert Huettlin
  • Patent number: 7909590
    Abstract: In a cat and mouse type apparatus for transforming volume variations of a plurality of chambers into a rotary motion of an axis, all of the driving mechanism is housed in a cylindric cavity coaxial with the driving axis, between the cylindric cavity, a smaller diameter inner coaxial cylinder and two discs perpendicular to the axis, a toroidal cavity in which are housed rotary pistons, each longitudinally traversed by an axis and having a circular sector in cross-section shape, the rotary pistons rotating to form cavities defined therebetween, also having a substantially circular shape in cross section, where the cavities cyclically change their volumes and an apparatus driving shaft is rotatively driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventor: Eliodoro Pomar
  • Publication number: 20110027113
    Abstract: Axially protruding, centrally cooled pistons rotate around a stationary rotation axis within a cylindrical main chamber. Hinged to each piston is a slider in a radial guide that is steadily rotating around another offset stationary rotation axis. As the pistons are individually accelerated and decelerated via the guides, sliders and hinges, rotating volumes between them angularly expand and contract. Inlets and outlets communicate fluid in correspondence with expansion and contraction phases of the rotating volumes. A low number of moving parts, area sealed volumes, no valves, substantially no dead volume, balanced mass forces, smooth rotation and short force transmission paths between opposing mass forces provide for lightweight construction and high rotational speeds. The sliders may be secondary pistons radial modulating secondary rotating volumes adjacent the main chamber for a dual stage thermodynamically efficient operation with intermittent fluid cooling or heating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventor: Johannes Peter Schneeberger
  • Patent number: 7866284
    Abstract: The invention relates to an oscillating piston engine comprising a housing that contains a first and at least a second piston, both of which can rotate about a fixed rotational axis in the housing and which when rotating about said axis execute counter-rotating displacements back and forth about a pivoting axis that runs perpendicular to the rotational axis through the centre of the housing. A working chamber is situated between opposing end faces of the first and at least second piston. The housing is provided with at least one gas exchange opening for admitting or discharging a gas into or from the working chamber. The pistons are arranged in such a way that the rotational axis runs through the working chamber. The pistons are mounted to slide in a piston cage, which is located in the housing, is concentric with the rotational axis, and rotates together with the pistons about said axis. The gas exchange opening is arranged eccentrically in relation to the rotational axis, on one end face of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Inventor: Herbert Huettlin
  • Patent number: 7866297
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine has two opposing rotary discs. Each rotary disc has a half-cylindrical chamber located around its perimeter. An outer casing encompasses both rotary discs. Intake and exhaust ports and necessary engine controls are formed in said outer casing. Pistons formed in each said disc. Half of said piston is connected permanently to one said rotary disc the other half of said piston slides in the half cylindrical chamber of the opposing said rotary disc. The pistons and cylindrical chambers develop varying volumes in each chamber, depending on the position of each disc and respective piston. These varying volumes perform different cycles common to four stroke piston engines. Mechanical devises allow the discs to rotate in only one direction. Mechanical devises allow the disc to engage output shaft in only one direction. From output shaft work can be derived.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Inventor: Ronald Francis Murawsky
  • Patent number: 7814882
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine including a working chamber assembly housing, intake and exhaust ports, a pair of piston assemblies each of which assemblies includes at least one pair of diametrically opposed pistons within the working chamber assembly housing rotatable about a rotational axis of said piston assemblies, means for interconnecting said first and second piston assemblies for variable speed rotation in the same direction during recurrent periods of rotation, wherein the piston having a piston head and a piston vessel, the piston head of one piston assembly received by the piston vessel of the other piton assembly to form a working chamber. The connecting means includes a pair of internal gears, a plurality of planetary gears and means for transmitting variable speed rotation, a main transmission gear set, and a pair of auxiliary means that is connected to the piston assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Inventor: Masami Sakita
  • Patent number: 7793635
    Abstract: The rotary piston type internal combustion engine (E1) comprises an output shaft (1), a rotor (2), a housing (4), an annular operation chamber (5) formed by the rotor and housing on at least one side of the rotor in the axial direction of the output shaft for constituting an intake operation chamber, a compression operation chamber, a combustion operation chamber, and an exhaust operation chamber, a pressuring/pressured member (6) provided to the rotor for partitioning the annular operation chamber, two operation chamber partitions (7, 8) provided to the housing for partitioning the annular operation chamber, biasing mechanisms for biasing the operation chamber partitions toward their respective advanced positions, an intake port (11), an exhaust port (12), and a fuel injector (14), wherein the pressuring/pressured member (6) is constituted by an arc-shaped partition having first and second inclined surfaces and the operation chamber partitions (7, 8) are each constituted by a reciprocating partition reciproc
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Okamura Yugen Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshio Okamura
  • Patent number: 7765963
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine usable for producing a rotational output, the internal combustion engine comprising: a casing; a cylinder defining a cylinder head and a combustion chamber extending from the cylinder head, the combustion chamber being substantially arc segment shaped and defining a chamber radius of curvature, the cylinder being mounted to the casing so as to be movable relatively thereto along a substantially annular path extending in a substantially concentric relationship relatively to the combustion chamber, the substantially annular path having a path radius of curvature substantially similar to the chamber radius of curvature; a piston, the piston being operatively coupled to the cylinder so as to be reciprocatingly movable within the combustion chamber, the piston being mounted to the casing so as to be movable relatively thereto along the substantially annular path; an output element operatively coupled to the cylinder and to the piston for producing the rotational output; and a unidirec
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Tardif
  • Publication number: 20090081061
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a peripherally pivoted oscillating vane machine (OVM). The OVM has been optimized for performance and efficiency. This has been accomplished by reducing loads on the drive mechanism and by employing de-phased motion of the peripherally pivoted vanes in conjunction with improved porting configurations as well as valve actuation and manufacture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: STEPHEN M. CHOMYSZAK, JEDD MARTIN, JAMES T. FERENTINOS, HAI-PING MA, FRANCISCO LEON
  • Publication number: 20090038581
    Abstract: The invention relates to an oscillating piston engine comprising a housing that contains a first and at least a second piston, both of which can rotate about a fixed rotational axis in the housing and which when rotating about said axis execute counter-rotating displacements back and forth about a pivoting axis that runs perpendicular to the rotational axis through the centre of the housing. A working chamber is situated between opposing end faces of the first and at least second piston. The housing is provided with at least one gas exchange opening for admitting or discharging a gas into or from the working chamber. The pistons are arranged in such a way that the rotational axis runs through the working chamber. The pistons are mounted to slide in a piston cage, which is located in the housing, is concentric with the rotational axis, and rotates together with the pistons about said axis. The gas exchange opening is arranged eccentrically in relation to the rotational axis, on one end face of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventor: Herbert Huettlin
  • Patent number: 7457115
    Abstract: A new type of device, useful as a fan among other applications, in which fluid flow is induced by providing within the device a chamber of constantly increasing volume and a chamber of constantly decreasing volume. Fluid moves through these chambers impelled by the rotation of a pair of members linked together for rotation about skewed axes. The members move within a chamber having a spherical surface, into which open ports for inward and outward fluid flow. The device may be used to assist in cooling components of an electronic system such as a computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Timothy Samuel Farrow
  • Patent number: 7441534
    Abstract: This rotary internal combustion engine has two rotatable vane type pistons mounted for axial rotation in a sealed casing. In an exemplary cycle, one piston is released to rotate at or prior to initiating combustion in the combustion space between the two pistons, while the other remains fixed. As the free piston rotates around to the position where the fixed piston is located, it drives exhaust from a prior cycle out of an exhaust outlet and then compresses air towards the combustion space. The roles of the pistons are reversed on the next cycle. Two units may be operated in tandem so that the power stroke of one unit provides power to help finalize the cycle of the other. Hydrogen is used as a preferred fuel, and water preferably serves as a lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Inventor: Douglas Bastian
  • Patent number: 7435064
    Abstract: The invention relates to an oscillating piston machine, comprising a housing which has an essentially spherical housing inner wall, four pistons which rotate together about an axis of rotation which is approximately in the center of the housing being arranged in the housing in which case, of the four pistons in each case two pistons which are approximately diametrically opposite one another with respect to the center of the housing form a rigid piston pair the two piston pairs being capable of pivoting to and fro in opposite directions about a common pivot axis (42) which runs approximately perpendicularly with respect to the axis (40) of rotation, the two piston pairs being arranged in criss-cross fashion with respect to the pivot axis (42) in such a way that in each case two pistons of the two piston pairs have their piston working faces opposite one another in order to form a working chamber between them, each piston pair having a bearing section for mounting the piston pair on the pivot axis and in each c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Inventor: Herbert Hüttlin
  • Patent number: 7347676
    Abstract: A system includes a rotary chamber and pistons that move in the same direction at varying and alternatively opposite velocities to each other inside a fixed structure. The chamber is rotatively formed by two rotary partial-chambers, each partial-chamber having a piston jointed thereto. The piston closes the associated partial-chamber and penetrates respectively by sliding into a hollow of the other partial-chamber, so as to create at least two compartments that alternatively vary in volume when driven by a mechanism of alternatively opposite variation of velocities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Inventor: Hugo Julio Kopelowicz
  • Patent number: 7258082
    Abstract: An oscillating-piston machine comprises a housing, in which a first and at least a second piston are arranged, which pistons can together revolve in the housing about an axis of rotation that is fixed with respect to the housing, and which pistons, as they revolve about the axis of rotation, execute oppositely directed reciprocating pivoting movements about a pivot axis running perpendicular to the axis of rotation and through the centre of the housing, the first piston having a first end face, and the at least second piston having a second end face facing the first end face, the end faces delimiting a working chamber, characterized in that the pistons are arranged in such a way that the axis of rotation runs through the working chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Inventor: Herbert Huettlin
  • Patent number: 7178502
    Abstract: A balanced rotary cycling machine suitable for use as an internal combustion engine, compressed gas or steam engine, compressor or pump is disclosed herein. The rotor assembly consists of four articulating pistons where the opposite pistons are inter-linked with each other by pivoted rods comprising a parallelogram mechanism and therefore eliminating a need for pivots between pistons. The rotor assembly rotates inside or outside of a circular or non-circular stator depending on the configuration chosen. A variety of mechanisms for shape deformation of four piston assembly during its rotating cycle is also disclosed herein, as well as detailed descriptions of preferred embodiments, including a four cycle internal combustion engine with circular stator, marine engine with polymer parts and a four cycle automobile rotary engine with conventional oil pan. In addition, a method of operation of external rotary combustion engine, employing a high-pressure compressor and an external combustion chamber, is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Inventor: Paul D. Okulov
  • Patent number: 7156068
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to dispense with the disadvantages of previous engines either fully or partially. This is achieved by two cylindrical parts which rotate into each other, respectively possessing a wing and which can rotate about an axis of different speeds. Similar to a four-stroke engine, the following occurs: induction of an air-fuel mixture, compression until self-ignition, creation of a working stroke and discharge of combustion gases. The variable inlet and outlet opening times are controlled according to a control bushing and a special stepper motor. The rotating wings are controlled by freewheeling and by unilaterally acting hydrodynamic brakes or secured against reversed rotation. In relation to the cylinder core, two functional variable work chambers arise for each disk discharge elements, which were not possible with the previously rigid engine structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Inventor: Galip Yüksel
  • Patent number: 6991441
    Abstract: An expansible chamber device includes a braking system with a set of cam surfaces on the piston assemblies and a set of movable members adapted to alternately engage first and second sets of cam surfaces to stop the rotation of first piston assembly while permitting second piston assembly to rotate freely. A pair of elongate pivotable members engage the piston assemblies on one end and engage a slidable member having an adjustable length on the other end. The slidable member and the pivotable members alternate between first and second positions in response to engagement with ramp and stop surfaces provided on the piston assemblies. The rotating piston synchronizing system includes a set of biasing springs to urge the pivotable members into a suitable position to permit the device to be started from an at rest condition. The adjustable length slidable member enables a variable compression ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Inventor: Eugene Bahniuk
  • Patent number: 6962137
    Abstract: Two-cycle, single vane impeller, hinged hub rotary engines are simple embodiments of a new class of engines. The 2-cycle, hinged hub rotary engines have dependently rotating impellers with, interdigitated, alternating hub sections, a hinge like rotation joint. These 2-cycle engines have expansion and exhaust cycles. The intake and compression cycles are performed by a synergistic air compressor (fan or piston type). Fuel and oxidizer (e.g. compressed air, from a synergistic air compressor,) are injected, to create combustion mixtures, and spontaneously ignited to start the expansion cycle in the minimized expansion sector(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Inventor: Joseph Dale Udy
  • Patent number: 6948473
    Abstract: Four-cycle rotary engines, with an even number of hinged-hub impeller vanes, utilize dependently rotating, joined, hinged-hub impellers, with interdigitated, alternating hub sections, on a shared, power output shaft, and electromagnetic fields, and timing of impeller release and capture, to provide real time compression ratio control, and to control the momentum of the rotating impellers, and mechanical clutches to transfer the rotation to the power shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Inventor: Joseph Dale Udy
  • Patent number: 6668787
    Abstract: There is provided an internal combustion engine (10) having a housing (11,12,13) and a rotor arrangement (21,22,34) which is mounted for oscillating rotary movement within the housing. The housing provides at least one compression chamber (14) and at least one associated compression chamber (30) and the rotor provides piston means (23, 36) for each chamber. The rotor also has internal passage means for effecting selective communication between the compression and combustion chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Inventor: Roy Masters
  • Publication number: 20030200951
    Abstract: Internal combustion engine and method in which pistons on different rotors move relative to each other to form chambers of variable volume in a toroidal cylinder. The pistons move in stepwise fashion, with the pistons on one rotor travelling a predetermined distance while the pistons on the other rotor remain substantially stationary. Fuel is drawn into a chamber as one of the pistons defining the chamber moves away from the other, and then compressed as the second piston moves toward the first. Combustion of the fuel drives the first piston away from the second, and the spent gases are then expelled from the chamber by the second piston moving again toward the first. An output shaft is connected to the rotors in such manner that the shaft rotates continuously while the rotors and pistons move in their stepwise fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventor: Ralph Gordon Morgado
  • Patent number: 6626643
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing predetermined quantities of a meat product, inc which the apparatus comprises a twin vane concentric pump with an inlet and an outlet circumferentially spaced from one another, and a pair of independently movable vanes. During operation, one of the vanes is positioned between the inlet and outlet to permit pressurization of meat chunks in a chamber communicating with an outlet opening. The other vane is advanced toward the outlet with the outlet valve closed until a predetermined pressure is reached, at which point the outlet valve is opened to dispense a predetermined quantity of meat product. Similar to single vane meat pumps, the disclosed twin vane pump is capable of handling large meat chunks while causing relatively little damage to the chunks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Handtmann Piereder Machinery Ltd.
    Inventor: Georg Staudenrausch
  • Publication number: 20030147761
    Abstract: Described here are the working chamber assembly of a rotary engine comprising the outer cover and first and second piston assemblies, each of which assemblies includes a piston hub to which coaxial piston shafts and at least one pair of diametrically opposite pistons are affixed; circular seal means housed along the crevice between the two piston assemblies, and along the crevices between the two piston assemblies and the outer cover; seal means housed along the convex outer ridge surface of each piston; and a lubricant oil delivery/recycling system to those seal means. Piston rings are provided with a centrifugal force containment mechanism to minimize the negative effect of centrifugal force on them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventor: Masami Sakita
  • Publication number: 20030138337
    Abstract: An expansible chamber device includes a rotating piston braking system and a rotating piston synchronizing system. The rotating piston braking system controls the motion of the expansible chamber device piston assemblies to cause intermittent rotation of the piston assemblies in the same direction during recurrent periods of rotation, with each of the piston assemblies being stopped between the periods of rotation. The braking system includes a set of cam surfaces on the piston assemblies and a set of movable members adapted to alternately engage the first and second set of cam surfaces to stop the rotation of first piston assembly while permitting second piston assembly to rotate freely. A pair of elongate pivotable members engage the piston assemblies on one end and engage a slidable member having an adjustable length on the other end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventor: Eugene Bahniuk
  • Patent number: 6457451
    Abstract: A rotary piston engine (20) is shown that includes a housing (22) having a toroidal working chamber with inlet (56) and exhaust (54) ports. First and second piston assemblies (30 and 32), each of which includes at least one pair of diametrically opposed pistons (30A and 30B, and 32A and 32B), are located in the working chamber. Piston assemblies (30 and 32) are connected to the engine output shaft through a differential (78) and two pairs of the Sakita gear sets (74 and 76), each of which gear sets includes a Sakita type 1 gear (74A and 76A) and a Sakita type 2 gear (74B and 76B). The piston assemblies rotate at variable speed, whereby pistons of the slower speed are trailing pistons during portions of the power and intake phases of engine operation. In one embodiment, one of the Sakita gears includes teeth in the form of rollers. Also, spark plugs embedded within piston assemblies (30 and 32) are accessible from outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Inventor: Masami Sakita
  • Patent number: 6341590
    Abstract: A rotary engine including a static toroidal cavity having an inlet port for introducing fuel and air to the cavity and an outlet port for exhausting products of combustion from the cavity. A first power train including a first output shaft and a second power train including a second output shaft are located partially within the cavity and able to rotate in the first direction. A plurality of pistons are positioned around a perimeter of the toroidal cavity and between the first and second power trains. The plurality of pistons are movable with respect to the cavity and include a first set of pistons connected to rotate with the first power train and a second set of pistons connected to rotate with the second power train. The plurality of pistons defining a plurality of chambers therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Inventors: René Manuel Barrera, René Alejandro Barrera
  • Patent number: 6321693
    Abstract: A reciprocating rotary piston system includes a cylinder (3) having an annular and hollow interior; a plurality of pistons (1A to 1D) of which first and second parties are formed to be disposed alternately on the same inner circumference of the cylinder, the first and second parties of the pistons reciprocating along a given arc at the same speed and in the opposite direction with respect to each other; a plurality of intake valves (4A to 4D) mounted at each point of the cylinder where the two adjacent pistons meet for controlling flow of a fluid introduced therein to from the outside; and a plurality of exhaust valves (5A to 5D) mounted at each point of the cylinder where the two adjacent pistons meet for controlling flow of a fluid forced out from the inside. The piston system is used for a hydraulic/pneumatic pump, a vacuum pump and an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Inventors: Chang Kyun Kim, Seung Kyun Kim
  • Patent number: 6257196
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine comprising a generally cylindrical shaped rotor housing, a pair of cylindrical shaped rotary discs having inner and outer concentric members and a plurality of spaced apart vanes connecting the inner and outer concentric members and extending axially outward therefrom, a pair of substantially flat stators mounted over the open ends of the rotor housing and an injection system. The rotary discs are structured for mating engagement with one another by inserting the vanes of each rotary disc into the chambers of the other rotary disc formed by the vanes and the inner and outer members, thereby forming an interlocked rotary disc assembly structured to rotate within the rotary housing. A plurality of spark plugs protrude through spaced apart mounting holes in one of the stators and into the combustion chambers. A plurality of spaced apart exhaust ports extend through the other stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Inventor: Alfredo Alvarado
  • Patent number: 6158987
    Abstract: A power unit for use as a pressure-fluid-operated motor and/or a pressure fluid pump, the power unit comprising a cylinder space, pistons movable in the cylinder space and channels for pressure fluid. The cylinder is annular and the pistons extend radially to the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder space and are arranged to rotate around the axis of the cylinder space. The power unit further comprises a transmission shaft and locking members for successively locking the pistons so that they cannot rotate with respect to the cylinder space. The pistons are alternately locked while pressure fluid is alternately supplied and discharged from chambers between the pistons so that the pistons are rotated in succession either to deliver power as a motor or pressurized fluid as a pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventor: Esko Raikamo
  • Patent number: 6132190
    Abstract: A rotary device for use in pumping applications or as an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The rotary device includes a cylinder and first and second axles that rotate within the cylinder. Each axle has a fin set with at least one fin subdividing the cylinder. A drive shaft has a first terminus coupled to the first axle by at least one universal joint and a second terminus coupled to the second axle by at least one universal joint. In one embodiment, the rotary device includes a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port formed in a wall of the cylinder. The fluid inlet port allows fluid to enter the cylinder, while the fluid outlet port allows fluid to exit the cylinder. In one embodiment, the rotary device includes a motor operable to rotate the drive shaft, thereby allowing fluid to be pumped into and out of the cylinder. In another embodiment, the rotary device includes an ignition source attached to the cylinder, the ignition source being operable to ignite a fuel within the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Inventor: Boris S. Tverskoy
  • Patent number: 6036461
    Abstract: An expansible chamber device includes a rotating piston braking system and a rotating piston synchronizing system. The rotating piston braking system controls the motion of the expansible chamber device piston assemblies to cause intermittent rotation of the piston assemblies in the same direction during recurrent periods of rotation, with each of the piston assemblies being stopped between the periods of rotation. The braking system includes a set of cam surfaces on the piston assemblies and a set of movable members adapted to alternately engage the first and second set of cam surfaces to stop the rotation of first piston assembly while permitting second piston assembly to rotate freely. A pair of elongate pivotable members engage the piston assemblies on one end and engage a slidable member on the other end. The slidable member and the pivotable members alternate between first and second positions in response to engagement with ramp and stop surfaces provided on the piston assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Bahniuk, Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene Bahniuk
  • Patent number: 5569027
    Abstract: A lobed rotor machine including an annular cylinder chamber having inlet and outlet openings, four working pistons movable in pairs in the cylinder chamber, two piston carriers for supporting respective pairs of the working cylinder and rotatable about a common machine axis and displaceable relative to each other, and guide channels formed inside of each of the two piston carriers and defining supply channels and return channels for communicating cooling medium to the pistons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Peter Pelz
    Inventors: Wilfried Ball, Peter Ronnberg, Peter Pelz
  • Patent number: 5484272
    Abstract: This application discloses an internal combustion engine comprising a hollow cylindrical body member, two pairs of vanes mounted in said body member for rotation coaxially therewith, whereby to divide the body member into four chambers, the vanes of each pair being diametrically opposite each other, and said pairs having limited rotatability with respect to each other, means permitting rotation of each pair of vanes in one direction only, a rotary power output member connected to each of said vane pairs to be driven thereby by either vane pair as it turns, and a coaxial, gearless, crankless phasing system, said body member having an inlet port for admitting an explosive air-gas mixture as each chamber reaches an angular position diametrically opposite to that at which said mixture was admitted thereto, said chamber having an exhaust port spaced angularly in front of said inlet port by a degree equal to the minimum angular extent of each of said chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Inventor: Clarence G. Horn
  • Patent number: 5429085
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine including a housing and two vanes mounted on concentric shafts for independent rotation in one direction within the housing in response to combustion within the housing. The engine further includes a ratchet assembly, including a ratchet housing associated with the concentric shafts to prevent rotation of the vanes within the housing in the opposite direction, and a converter assembly operative to convert the movement of the vanes into unidirectional rotation of an output shaft. In order to ensure steady state operation and provide control over the combustion ratio of the engine, a timing mechanism is provided to sense the relative position of the vanes at any given point in the engine cycle and rotate the vanes relative to the housing independently of the combustion induced rotation of the vanes within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Inventor: John E. Stauffer
  • Patent number: 5330333
    Abstract: An indexing rotary actuator is provided for unidirectionally rotating an output shaft through a specific angle per each indexing operation accurately without cumulative error. A pair of symmetrical housing members are mounted together to form an actuator housing. Within the actuator housing are formed a main piston chamber and a clutch piston chamber. Within the clutch piston chamber, a pair of piston mounting rings are mounted opposing each other, wherein a pair of respective main pistons within the main piston chamber are affixed to outer diametrical surfaces of the piston mounting rings. Furthermore, a pair of clutch pistons are provided within the clutch piston chamber slidably supported along the output shaft within the clutch piston chamber. The main pistons are air or fluid powered to be rotatable about the annular main piston chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Inventor: Greg Holmes