Abstract: Disclosed herein are several embodiments of rotors (gears) which utilize spherical involute curves to determine the surfaces of the lobes (teeth). In some embodiments the contact surfaces are radial projections of spherical involute surfaces. In other embodiments the contact surfaces have a root and/or tip of a spherical involute curve, but are barreled or otherwise curved to reduce the point stress on each rotor. The rotors may also be configured where torque transfer is provided at a first set of lobes (teeth) and backlash removal is provided on teeth radially opposed to the first set of lobes (teeth). As the apparatus rotates, the position of torque transfer remains substantially the same, as does backlash prevention/removal, but the teeth providing these operations vary. The rotors may also be used for fluid flow.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns an advanced nutating positive displacement device having a high power to mass ratio and low production cost. This device in one example forms an exemplary pump as will be discussed in detail. The examples disclosed herein are of the rotary positive displacement type, but in a class by themselves. The devices are formed by a nutating rotor having a face comprising lobes and valleys, and a fixed stator also having a face with lobes and valleys. The face of the rotor opposes and cooperates with the face of the stator. The opposing faces define chambers that change volume with rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an indexing system for a rotor assembly where in one example the indexing system regulates the rotational location of drive rotors. In one example the rotors are configured to rotate about a shaft.

Abstract: The disclosed finger seals are designed to be operational under rotational velocity or a stationary condition. The contact surface of the finger seals is inclined in an axial direction. The rotational velocity of the bore does not affect the hydrodynamic lift and the finger seals can operate at any rotational speed, unlike prior finger seal where the hydrodynamic lift is generated by rotational velocity. Each finger seal is pressure balanced. The pressure chambers on the two sides of each finger seal are connected through the finger cutouts. The finger seal design is such that the fingers lift and move away from the bore surface in radial direction. In one form, each finger seal is designed with the specific required length to allow sufficient surface area for the hydrodynamic force such that the finger seals would be lifted from the bore surface at the design pressure.

Abstract: An indexing system for a rotor assembly where the indexing system can regulate the rotational location of drive rotors that are configured to rotate about a shaft in one form.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a new multiphase pump with low recirculated volume. This device discloses novel inlet/outlet porting. One of the disclosed improvements is to port the inlet and outlet through the back of the rotors. In the model shown there is only one lobe on the first rotor, and two lobes on the second rotor. The double lobe rotor has the ports provided thru the back, in the lowest point on the buckets between the lobes. If there were more lobes on the two rotors, then the ports would normally be provided in the rotor with the higher number of lobes, preferably in the lowest point on each bucket. The single lobe rotor shown has voids formed in the outer circumference in order to balance the rotor—however, any rotor with more than one lobe may be naturally balanced and these holes may be unnecessary.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are several embodiments of rotors (gears) which utilize spherical involute curves to determine the surfaces of the lobes (teeth). In some embodiments the contact surfaces are radial projections of spherical involute surfaces. In other embodiments the contact surfaces have a root and/or tip of a spherical involute curve, but are barreled or otherwise curved to reduce the point stress on each rotor. The rotors may also be configured where torque transfer is provided at a first set of lobes (teeth) and backlash removal is provided on teeth radially opposed to the first set of lobes (teeth). As the apparatus rotates, the position of torque transfer remains substantially the same, as does backlash prevention/removal, but the teeth providing these operations vary. The rotors may also be used for fluid flow.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes the use of involute curves for use in energy conversion devices, as well as timing or indexing gears. Several different embodiments are shown using rotors of several examples of lobe numbers and shapes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are several embodiments for shroud arrangements to be used in rotary engines using a plurality of rotors within the shroud arrangement. At least one of the rotors is not fixed to the shroud.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a valveless multitube pulse detonation engine including: a plurality of detonation tubes, wherein each detonation tube comprises an independent discharge outlet, and the plurality of detonation tubes interconnected at a common air/fuel mixture intake port. In the disclosed engine, an air and fuel mixture is detonated in the detonation tubes simultaneously, and the common air/fuel mixture intake port minimizes back-pressure caused by detonating the air/fuel mixture by directing multiple reverse shock waves into one another and effectively using the back-pressures as reacting surfaces for one another and effectively reducing the effect of back flowing shock waves moving towards upstream. The detonation tubes may be non-linear, and may have independent discharges. The independent discharges may be coupled to an adapter nozzle terminating in a combined exhaust outlet.

Abstract: The disclosed finger seals are designed to be operational under rotational velocity or a stationary condition. The contact surface of the finger seals is inclined in an axial direction. This incline causes a convergent leakage path between the finger foot surface and the bore. Therefore, the leakage flow passing through this gap exerts hydrodynamic lift on the finger and lifts the finger from the bore surface at design pressure. Since the slope is in the axial direction, the rotational velocity of the bore does not affect the hydrodynamic lift and the finger seals can operate at any rotational speed, unlike prior finger seal where the hydrodynamic lift is generated by rotational velocity. Each finger seal is pressure balanced. The pressure chambers on the two sides of each finger seal are connected through the finger cutouts. The finger seal design is such that the fingers lift and move away from the bore surface in radial direction.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an efficient heat generation device where fuel is burnt in a pressure gain combustion process. The heat generating system has an inner combustion chamber that is housed in heat exchangers. The combustion chamber walls, in one form, include fluid conduits. While different fluids could be utilized, water is most common and the term water herein is intended to define water and all functional equivalents. The water conduits (tubes) may be multi-pass longitudinal, parallel to the combustor axis or they may be winded around the combustion chamber in a spiral fashion. The combustion products exiting the combustion chamber enter the outer liner where water tube bundles extract the heat of the combustion. One embodiment also utilizes an air preheating stage. Heated water and steam generated in the heat exchanger stages wrapped around the combustor enters the final heating stage where it passes through the flame accelerators in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a use of pulsed combustion to convert chemical energy to usable heat. For example, in boilers, heat is generated by burning fuel at burners and transferring the heat to water or other fluids, including air, through heat exchangers. In one form, these heated fluids may then be utilized to assist in removing oil from oil sand reservoirs.

Abstract: An indexing system for a rotor assembly where the indexing system can regulate the rotational location of drive rotors that are configured to rotate about a shaft in one form.

Abstract: The invention provides a wind energy converter comprising a wind actuated rotor assembly rotatably mounted around a horizontal axis on the top of a support tower, the rotor assembly comprising two axially aligned and spaced apart rotors, each rotor comprising a plurality of blades, wherein the blades of one of the rotors have a pitch opposite to the pitch of the blades of the other rotor whereby the rotors rotate in opposite directions.