Vane Patents (Class 123/231)
  • Patent number: 10436198
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved vacuum pump assembly for a motor vehicle comprising of a housing, a rotor, modified vane, a sealing ring, a cover, wherein, the modified vane containing a vane slider is having at least one oil vent or relief hole or slot, for the reduction of the exit port oil peak pressure, by channelizing oil supplies to the vane top and bottom face, thereby improving the seal-ability between the moving and stationary part of the pump; and the modified vane further having an oil vent control at the exit port, for maintaining oil pressure and reducing the exit port hydraulic pressure, leading to reduction in the opposite end vane slider tip load causing low friction between the pump housing, the vane and vane slider, and further channelizing the excess amount of oil to the vane top face which creates additional sealing between the vane and the housing, reducing the air leakage between the low pressure chamber and high pressure chamber inside the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Inventors: Kabir Bhandari, Rajesh Kumar Sahoo, Sumit Rajpal
  • Patent number: 10202894
    Abstract: An internal-combustion engine includes an engine housing having an interior space with an inner wall, which section-wise corresponds to a segment of a circular cylinder and a segment deviated from the circular cylinder, wherein a rotary disc is centrally rotatably mounted in the interior space around an axis, and an intake area, a compression area, an ignition area, a working area and an exhaust area are formed, wherein the rotary disc is a circular cylinder with two slots in the circumferential area, into each of which slots a sliding element is inserted, wherein each sliding element movable along the slot, and is moved along the slot on rotation of the rotary disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: MAIR'S—DREHSCHIEBENMOTOR, INC.
    Inventor: Georg Johann Mair
  • Patent number: 10018110
    Abstract: The inventive rotary engine comprises a cylindrical chamber inside a casing wherein there is a concentric rotatable power shaft and a rotatable asymmetric main wheel mounted eccentrically enough as such to avoid contact with the wall of cylindrical chamber. Additionally two bars traversing the main wheel radially further having a wiping contact with the cylindrical chamber wherein one bar is fixed with power shaft and other bar is hinged with said power shaft. A combustion process is in action within a demarcated combustion chamber whereby the combustion chamber rotatably travels from a bottom dead volume to a top dead volume and hence a power, generated during this path of rotational travel, is subsequently available for delivery at the concentric power shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Inventor: Fahim Mahmood
  • Patent number: 9822642
    Abstract: The disclosure provides rotary machines that include, in one embodiment, a rotatable shaft defining a central axis A, the shaft having a first end and a second end. The shaft can have an elongate first island disposed thereon. The first island can have a body with a volume generally defined between front and rear surfaces that are spaced apart. The front and rear surfaces can lie in a plane parallel to a radial axis R. The perimeters of the front and rear surfaces can define a curved perimeter surface therebetween. The disclosure further provides embodiments having stationary islands and casings that rotate about the island.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Lumenium LLC
    Inventors: William Anderson, Trent Lukaczyk, William Lukaczyk, Riccardo Meldolesi, Clive B. Lacy
  • Patent number: 9528433
    Abstract: In my proposed invention two bars of same length and width named as prime mover and follower are incorporated within an eccentric wheel. The follower bar-end is pivoted with power shaft while prime mover bar-end is fixed with said power shaft at the center of the inner circular chamber. Prime mover rotates the eccentric wheel and that wheel rotates the follower by the hinged joints and this assembly rotation creates compressed volume and expanded volume alternatively within inner circular chamber and a spark in air-fuel mixture after compression stage creates combustion. This principle of engine operation also includes different sealing types and outward opening type cam assembly. In conventional reciprocating engine lots of power is lost because of change of direction of piston motion. This problem can be overcome by my proposed engine design which will lead to a higher efficiency in automobile and power generation sector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Inventor: Fahim Mahmood
  • Patent number: 8833338
    Abstract: The invention comprises a rotary engine method and apparatus configured with a lip seal. A lip seal restricts fuel flow from a fuel compartment to a non-fuel compartment and/or fuel flow between fuel chambers, such as between a reference expansion chamber and any of an engine: rotor, vane, housing, and/or a leading or trailing expansion chamber. In separate states, high pressure and low pressure force sealing movement of the lip seal, respectively. The lip seal is optionally used in combination with a cap seal to form a dynamic seal. The dynamic seals ability to track a noncircular path are particularly beneficial for use in a rotary engine having an offset rotor and with a non-circular inner rotary engine compartment having engine wall cut-outs and/or build-ups. The dynamic sealing forces further provide cap sealing forces over a range of temperatures, pressures, fuel flow rates, varying loads, and operating engine rotation rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Inventor: Merton W. Pekrul
  • Patent number: 8689765
    Abstract: The invention comprises a rotary engine method and apparatus configured with a cap seal. A cap seal restricts fuel flow from a fuel compartment to a non-fuel compartment and/or fuel flow between fuel chambers, such as between a reference expansion chamber and any of an engine: rotor, vane, housing, and/or a leading or trailing expansion chamber. Means for providing cap sealing force to seal the cap against a rotary engine housing element comprise one or more of: a spring force, a magnetic force, a deformable seal force, and a fuel force. The dynamic caps ability to track a noncircular path are particularly beneficial for use in a rotary engine having an offset rotor and with a non-circular inner rotary engine compartment having engine wall cut-outs and/or build-ups. The dynamic sealing forces further provide cap sealing forces over a range of temperatures, pressures, fuel flow rates, and operating engine rotation rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Inventor: Merton W. Pekrul
  • Patent number: 8683975
    Abstract: A positive displacement rotary system may include a main rotor and a slotted rotor. The main rotor can include an interior cavity and a fixed vane (or blade) that is attached to the peripheral and side walls of that cavity. The slotted rotor is positioned within the main rotor interior and includes a slot for the main rotor blade. The main and slotted rotors rotate about parallel axes that are offset from one another. As the rotors turn, separate chambers are formed between the blade and an inter-rotor seal, with the inter-rotor seal located at or near a rolling contact between the outer surface of the slotted rotor and an inner perimeter wall of the main rotor cavity. The separate chambers contract and expand as the rotors rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventor: Joseph F. Tinney
  • Patent number: 8534259
    Abstract: A central-axis rotary piston internal combustion engine has a rotor housing closed off by housing covers, has an outer rotor which rotates in the rotor housing with uniform speed, and has an inner rotor which rotates in the interior of the outer rotor with non-uniform speed. The outer rotor has three inwardly pointing pistons rigidly connected to one another and arranged at uniform angular intervals from one another. The inner rotor has a corresponding number of radially outwardly pointing mating pistons which are rigidly connected to one another and which engage between in each case two pistons of the outer rotor so as to delimit in each case two working chambers. Each working chamber is assigned a combustion chamber and each combustion chamber communicates via a control window with stationary inlet and outlet openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Reyhani Design United Services GmbH
    Inventors: Dietrich Eckhardt, Huschmand Sabet
  • Patent number: 8225767
    Abstract: A positive displacement rotary system may include a main rotor and a slotted rotor. The main rotor can include an interior cavity and a fixed vane (or blade) that is attached to the peripheral and side walls of that cavity. The slotted rotor is positioned within the main rotor interior and includes a slot for the main rotor blade. The main and slotted rotors rotate about parallel axes that are offset from one another. As the rotors turn, separate chambers are formed between the blade and an inter-rotor seal, with the inter-rotor seal located at or near a rolling contact between the outer surface of the slotted rotor and an inner perimeter wall of the main rotor cavity. The separate chambers contract and expand as the rotors rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Inventor: Joseph F. Tinney
  • Patent number: 7793516
    Abstract: The problems of prior compressor structures relying upon conventional check valves are obviated by using, instead, flow control passages which operate to control flow while avoiding mechanical moving elements which may become problematical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Timothy Samuel Farrow, Albert Vincent Makley
  • Patent number: 7707987
    Abstract: A hydrogen G-cycle rotary vane internal combustion engine has a sodium vapor chamber transferring excess combustion heat into combustion chambers. An active water cooling system captures heat from the engine housing stator, rotor, and sliding vanes and transfers it back into the combustion cycle by premixing it with hydrogen to reduce peak combustion temperature and with an early an late stage combustion chamber injection to help transfer heat from the sodium vapor chamber, to control chamber temperature, and to increase chamber vapor pressure. A combustion chamber sealing system includes axial seals between the rotor and the stator, vane face seals, and toggling split vane seals between the outer perimeters of the sliding vanes and the stator. Sliding vanes reciprocate laterally in and out of the rotor assisted by a vane belting system. A thermal barrier coating minimizes heat transfer and thermal deformation. Solid lubricants provide high temperature lubrication and durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Prime Mover International, LLC
    Inventor: Barry R. Guthrie
  • Patent number: 7556015
    Abstract: A rotary device for an engine includes a stator and a rotor concentric with and rotatable about an axis with respect to the stator. The rotor and the stator cooperate to provide a working chamber. A plurality of vanes are supported for radial movement on one of the stator and the rotor. Fluid is taken into the working chamber through an intake port and exhausted from the working chamber through an exhaust port. A biasing device biases each of the vanes to seal against one of the stator and the rotor. An actuator moves each of the vanes radially against the biasing device to a retracted position to vary a thermodynamic cycle of the rotary device as the rotor rotates with respect to the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Inventor: Gilbert S. Staffend
  • Publication number: 20090025677
    Abstract: A combustion engine comprising a mainly cylindrical housing (5) provided with means for supplying an air-fuel mixture to a number of combustion chambers (3), provided on the outside of said housing, with a shaft (2) rotating in said housing and means (9) for exhausting flue-gas. Inside said housing (5) said shaft (2) is provided with a number of vanes (1) being fixed to said shaft and extending along said shaft and in radial direction of it, each of said vanes along an edge end of it and near the wall (7) of said housing (5), being provided with an edge element (6) extending from said edge end and along the wall (7) of said housing (5), said element ending at a distance from the adjacent vane (1). Said combustion chambers (3) is provided with an inlet valve (10) for controlling the supply of air-fuel mixture and of ignition means (11) for said mixture and of a discharge channel (12) for flue-gas extending through the wall (7) of said housing (5) and debouching into the interior of said housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventor: Hendrikus Peter van der Waal
  • Publication number: 20080035104
    Abstract: An improved rotary engine that involves sealing the engine with double spigot seals and redesigning the cam so that the engine duplicates every 10 degrees rather than the 18 degrees of the most relevant prior art. The first part of the cam separates the intake from the exhaust and has a close tolerance fit that prevents the exhaust from containing the air/fuel mixture. In the compression/power area of the cam, a gap is created that allows the transfer of the air/fuel mixture to be moved into firing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventor: James McCann
  • Patent number: 7185625
    Abstract: The rotary piston power system includes a housing having a drum and a cover rotatably mounted on the drum. The drum has high pressure and low pressure ports defined in its peripheral wall and a central separator wall having arcuate end faces and a pair of semicylindrical recesses defined in opposing sidewalls. A pair of pistons are rotatably mounted on axles on opposite sides of the separator wall and fit closely between the separator wall and the peripheral wall. Each piston has a plurality of radially disposed cylindrical recesses defining slots in the piston's peripheral wall. The cover has a plurality of radially disposed vanes extending into the drum defining a number of cylinders or chambers double the number of recesses defined in a single piston. An input/output shaft extends from the opposite side of the cover for coupling to a prime mover or to a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Inventors: Shilai Guan, Yanyan Zhang
  • Patent number: 7128045
    Abstract: The invention relates to a combustion engine (1) having a housing (2) with a chamber (3). A rotor (4) is arranged herein which is provided with a number of vanes (5A, 5B, 6A, 6B) which divide the chamber into a number of compartments (3A, 3B, 3C, 3D). Each of the compartments is intended for performing at least one of the following functions: a) drawing in and/or compressing gas required for the combustion; b) bringing the fuel to combustion; c) producing work; and d) discharging combustion gases. A first pair of vanes (5A, 5B) is mounted rotatably on a first rotation axis (5). A second pair of vanes (6A, 6B) is mounted rotatably on a second rotation axis (6). The rotation axes are arranged eccentrically in the chamber (3). The rotary engine has the characteristic that the vanes in each pair (5A, 5B; 6A, 6B) are rotatable independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Inventor: Johannes Roelofs
  • Patent number: 7117841
    Abstract: K. Engine (KE) is rotary internal combustion engine, combination Reciprocating Engine (RE) and Gas Turbine (GT) comprising coaxially separate piston rotary compressor and turbine having housings with annular channels, outside combustion chambers (CH) unified with rotary valve mechanisms, staggered partitions dividing the annular channels for separate cylinders or freely passing the pistons; control means governing the partitions allow operational adjustment displacement volume KE without a brake effect; separate CHs secure ideal combustion in constant volume, unrestricted analog of advance of an ignition and forced ventilation; combined Otto- Brighton cycle and simple design provide high efficiency and reliability, great fuel economy, small sound and pollution; optimal work diapason KE is wider of both GT and RE; weight and size KE led to RE of the same displacement volume is 10 times less but more power and torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Inventor: Georgi Joseph Kernes
  • Patent number: 7080623
    Abstract: An axial vane rotary device includes members defining an outer wing and an inner wing, both of which are affixed to the rotor for rotation therewith. The outer wing defines a surface that carries the radially outer ends of the vanes for axial movement thereon. The outer wing forms a seal between the radially outer end of the vanes and the inner face of the annular outer wall of the stator. In addition frictional wear of the vanes is substantially reduced by elimination of sliding contact between the radially outer ends of the vanes and the stationary annular outer wall of the stator. The inner wing axially slidably carries the radially inner ends of the vanes. In this manner, excessive wear on the radially outer and radially inner ends of the vanes is substantially reduced since the only frictional wear experienced by the ends of the vanes is due to the axial movement of the vanes in the rotor slots. Leakage between the inner housing and the rotor is essentially eliminated by the inner wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Advanced Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Badgley
  • Patent number: 7077098
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine has a hollow stator with inner surface formed by two concentric cylindrical surfaces, which fluently transit one into the other via ramp surfaces, and a cylindrical rotor, having the same radius as smaller concentric surface of the stator. The rotor has vanes that move radially within the rotor tightly contouring the inner surface of the stator during rotor rotation. The cavities within the stator where its inner radius equals that of the rotor constitute combustion chambers, which connect to the variable-volume working chambers formed by outer surface of the rotor, inner surface of the stator with bigger radius and the side of the vane via valve-controlled orifices ending in the areas of the stator ramp surfaces. During rotor rotation the vanes provide compression of fuel mixture into combustion chambers and accept the energy of expanding gasses following fuel mixture ignition in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Inventor: Yaroslav M. Shuba
  • Patent number: 7073477
    Abstract: A rotary engine is provided with solid vanes which extend through the rotor and engage opposing interior wall portions of the stator housing. A series of grooves in the interior wall permit the expanding exhaust gases to by-pass the minimal surface area of vanes proximate to the combustion chamber to engage the larger surface area of a vane which is protruding more significantly from the rotor. This robust rotary engine is preferably made of cast iron, having internal portions coated with ceramic so that it readily can operate at temperatures exceeding 850° F. The heat energy is utilized to obtain maximum productive work rather than being discarded as a waste product as is typical with most state of the art power plants, resulting in an efficiency rating exceeding 60%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Inventor: Raymond W. Gorski
  • Patent number: 6877476
    Abstract: An apparatus that can be utilized as an internal combustion engine, a compressor, a pump or the like has an indexer which defines a plurality of slots. A pinwheel has a plurality of pins which, when the pinwheel and the indexer are rotated, engaged a respective slot to form a compression chamber. As rotation of these two components continues, each pin sequentially engages a slot to continuously form compression chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Indexica, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ross Bradsen
  • Publication number: 20040231635
    Abstract: A rotary engine having a housing and a first and second intersecting cavity disposed therein is described. A rotor is mounted for rotation in the first cavity, and the housing and the rotor define an annular chamber between the rotor and the walls of the first cavity. The rotor includes a piston extending from the rotor into the annular chamber. A first valve, mounted for rotation in the second cavity includes a recess sized to receive the piston during a rotation of the rotor. At least one passage extends between the second cavity and the annular chamber. The passage includes an open portion formed in the cylindrical wall surface of the second cavity and an enclosed portion extending through the housing and connecting the open portion of the passage to the annular chamber at a point downstream of the second cavity with respect to the direction of rotation of the valve. The open portion of the passage extends for at least 20 degrees around the circumference of the wall surface of the second cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventor: Grant G. Gehman
  • Patent number: 6672274
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine has a housing and a working wheel mounted rotatably in the housing. At least one working piston is provided on the working wheel for taking in and compressing air or a fuel-air mixture and for converting gas pressure resulting from combustion of the fuel-air mixture into mechanical energy. A counter wheel with a working piston recess is provided. A combustion chamber for combusting a fuel-air mixture is formed in operation continuously anew between working piston, working wheel, counter wheel, and housing. First air vanes form spokes of the working wheel and take in the fuel-air mixture or the air through the working wheel for pre-compression of air or of a fuel-air mixture. The wheel is pulley-shaped and has an annular channel extending in a circumferential direction. The working piston is arranged fixedly in the annular channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventor: Hubert Winterpacht
  • Patent number: 6539913
    Abstract: The present invention provides an internal combustion engine and a method of manufacturing the internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine comprises a housing, a first rotor, first and second impellers and a compression cam. In a preferred embodiment, the housing has a first inner surface defining a first cavity therein, the first rotor is journalled for rotation within the first cavity and is situated to define compression and exhaust cavities on opposing sides therein, first and second impellers located in, and slidable with respect to, first and second opposing radial apertures in the first rotor, and the compression cam is fixedly coupled to the housing. The compression cam has a working surface portion that corresponds to a profile of the inner surface to force the first and second impellers to contact the inner surface and a dead surface portion that departs from the profile to allow the first and second impellers to withdraw from the inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventor: William P. Gardiner
  • Publication number: 20030000496
    Abstract: A rotary engine utilizes an expansion chamber and crescent piston to capture the energy of expanding combustion gases through out substantially all of each revolution of the piston. The rotary engine uses a crescent piston, the movement of which is guided by the combined action of a hub having a saddle supporting the piston and a can track. The invention burns fuel in a separate combustion chamber charged from a coaxially mounted compressor and controlled by a pass gate sentry valve. The rotary engine of the invention is cooled by an internal coolant injection system. The coolant solution may contain a alkaline reagent to react with and neutralize acidic components of the combustion gases which would otherwise remain in the exhaust and contribute to air pollution. The rotary engine of the present invention is adaptable to compression ignition fuels and spark ignition fuels. The invention may be constructed of conventional metallic materials as well as composites and ceramics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventor: Cordell R. Moe
  • Patent number: 6467450
    Abstract: A radial Combustion motor is provided that includes a compression section, or a combustion section, or both. Each of the combustion section and the compression section includes a cylindrical rotor that rotates in a cylindrical chamber. An inner wall of each chamber includes multiple ridges such that a rotor, when positioned in the rotor's respective chamber, divides the chamber into multiple sub-chambers in conjunction with each of the multiple ridges. Each rotor includes multiple sealing blade slots that each extend the length of the rotor and that each slidably receive one of multiple sealing blades. Rotation of each rotor causes the sealing blades disposed in the sealing blades slots of the rotor to slide outward until an outer edge of each sealing blade slidably engages the inner wall of the associated chamber and to remain engaged with the inner wall for so long as the rotor rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Paguer, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Esteban Arce
  • Patent number: 6247443
    Abstract: An internal combustion rotary engine (1) comprises an engine casing (300) in which is rotatably mounted a cylindrical rotor assembly (2) co-axially fixed to a drive shaft (6). The rotor (3) receives a plurality of reciprocating vanes (9, 10, 11) in a staggered and radial arrangement. These vanes (9, 10, 11) are connected to cam axels (13, 14, 15) which in turn impart and control their reciprocating movements through a slidable engagement with cam pathways. The reciprocating movements of the vanes define the working chambers of the engine as the rotor rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Inventor: Joseph Pelleja
  • Patent number: 6070565
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine apparatus has an engine housing having a chamber therein having a base along with intake and exhaust ports and a cover attached thereto. A rotor is rotatably mounted in the engine housing chamber which rotor has a rotor support portion extending from each end thereof and rotatably mounted between the housing base and the cover plate. The rotor has a plurality of vane slots therein and a vane control shaft is mounted at a predetermined fixed position within the center portion of the rotor and has two end portions, one of which is fixedly attached to the engine housing camber base and at least two vane position control portions positioned between the end portions. A plurality of vanes are slidably mounted in the rotor plurality of vane control slots for rotation with the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Inventor: Jack K. Miniere
  • Patent number: 5571244
    Abstract: A rotary engine includes a cylindrical rotor having four spaced apart vanes therein mounted in a stator housing having an oblong perimeter casing which defines generally crescent shaped, diametrically opposite first and second working chambers in which the rotor vanes travel. Inlet and outlet ports are disposed at respective ends of the working chambers, and a flow chamber is joined to the casing between the working chambers. The vanes have tip apertures supplied with pressurized fluid to provide bearings with the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignees: David C. Andres, Robert W. Burnett, Kathleen C. Barry
    Inventor: David C. Andres
  • Patent number: 5509388
    Abstract: A rotary engine includes a cylindrical rotor having four spaced apart vanes therein mounted in a stator housing having an oblong perimeter casing which defines generally crescent shaped, diametrically opposite first and second working chambers in which the rotor vanes travel. Inlet and outlet ports are disposed at respective ends of the working chambers, and a flow chamber is joined to the casing between the working chambers. The flow chamber temporarily stores compressed fluid from the first working chamber and discharges it into the second working chamber wherein combustion takes place for rotating the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignees: Robert W. Burnett, Kathleen C. Barry
    Inventor: David C Andres
  • Patent number: 5072705
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine of the rotary type has a pair of connected pistons and provides increased power and fuel economy. The fuel combustion chamber includes a single-acting air inlet valve and a double-acting outlet valve. The oil cooling system delivers air through each of the pistons whereby the oil is recirculated after cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Inventor: Kenneth Overman
  • Patent number: 4854279
    Abstract: A three chamber continuous combustion engine is a rotary vane, concentric rotor type of internal combustion engine having a burner assembly, three crescent shaped static chambers serving as compressor, expander and oil pump; and six dynamic chambers defined by the three intersecting blades slidably inserted in the rotor slots, carrying combustion media through the continuous combustion cycle consisting of intake, compression, air storage, continuous combustion, expansion, decompression and exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Inventor: Cornelio L. Seno
  • Patent number: 4817567
    Abstract: A rotary piston engine having a pear-shaped piston with convex sides is mounted for rotation within a housing whose internal cross-section presents a symmetrical oval shape which is slightly constricted in the middle. The annulus between the piston and the housing is subdivided into intake, compression, expansion and exhaust chambers by four spring loaded vanes. A compression vane and a counter-piston vane are mounted on opposite sides of an external combustion chamber and their movements are coordinated to seal the combustion chamber with respect to the exhaust chamber and the intake chamber during compression and combustion. An engine separation vane, mounted for reciprocal movement and sliding engagement against the piston, separates the intake and exhaust chambers. A vane carried by the piston bears against the housing bore and subdivides each chamber in turn as the piston rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Inventor: Ronald C. Wilks
  • Patent number: 4741308
    Abstract: A rotor (30) is formed to include a plurality of recesses (42, 44), each of which engages a portion of a rotary piston (36, 38). The remaining portions of the rotary pistons (36, 38) project radially outwardly from the periphery of the rotor (30) to a position contiguous the inner surface of a peripheral stator wall (14). The peripheral stator wall (14) includes a plurality of endwardly projecting lobes (156, 158). The lobes (156, 158) are elongated axially of the engine and present convex surfaces of circular curvature which conform in size and shape to concave pockets (46, 48) formed in side portions of the rotary pistons (36, 38). During rotation of the rotary assembly the piston pockets (46, 48) move into and then out from a meshing engagement with the lobes (156, 158). One of the lobes (156) carries an igniter (154). An explosive lean mixture (168) is drawn into the side pocket (46) of a piston (36) as the piston ( 36) moves past an inlet opening (150).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1988
    Inventor: Michael S. Ballinger
  • Patent number: 4548560
    Abstract: A seal system in a rotary engine includes apex seals held against an inner peripheral wall surface of a rotor housing, seal rings disposed between the apex seals and a side wall surface of the rotor housing, seal rings disposed between sliding plates mounted on a rotor and the side housing member, a split seal ring disposed between the side housing member and the rotor, and an air seal unit for supplying a flow of compressed air across a clearance between the rotor and the rotor housing to prevent gas leakage between compression and combustion stroke chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1985
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Kanao
  • Patent number: 4401070
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a rotor and a vane extending slidably through the rotor in a transverse direction for rotation therewith. The vane has opposite ends extendable beyond the rotor. A stator has a hollow, cylindrical interior. The rotor is rotatably received within the interior. The stator has opposite side walls with circumferentially extending depressions therein. The depressions are shaped to slidably receive the ends of the vane in sealing contact. The depressions of the opposite walls are staggered, causing transverse reciprocation of the vane as the rotor is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1983
    Inventor: James L. McCann
  • Patent number: 4399654
    Abstract: A power plant including a vane type engine having fuel compression means and a gas expansion means. Air or an air-fuel mixture compressed by the vanes in the compression means is fed to a free piston combustion member where burning takes place and gases are returned to the gas expansion means of the engine to drive the power shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1983
    Inventor: Constant V. David
  • Patent number: 4178902
    Abstract: A rotor mounted in a housing forms a first compression chamber and a second expansion chamber with the housing. A third collection chamber formed in the housing between the first and second chambers collects compressed fluid or gas from the first chamber and feeds it to the second chamber for ignition. The rotor has three equi-angularly spaced wiper arms mounted on the circumference for engaging with the inner surface of the housing, and forces the gas into the collection chamber, and receives the impact of the force released by the ignition of the gas or fluid to thereby drive the rotor and a mainshaft attached to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1979
    Inventor: Thomas Ganley