Nonparallel Axes Patents (Class 123/233)
  • Patent number: 9714605
    Abstract: A rotary machine is provided which includes a chamber. The chamber includes an island having an island outer surface. The outer surface is an elongated convex shape. The island includes a crankshaft port. The chamber includes a front-plate attached to a front surface of the island. A concave shaped contour is included, which is biased toward the island outer surface and which rotates with respect to the island. A working volume is defined between an inner surface of the contour and the outer island surface. At least one front-plate engaging bearing is provided, which extends from a front surface of the movable contour and over a guide edge of the front-plate. The front-plate engaging bearing engages the guide edge during a combustion cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Lumenium LLC
    Inventors: Joseph B. Wooldridge, William R. Anderson, Michael W. Roach
  • Patent number: 8151759
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes an engine having a torodial piston chamber, at least one piston positioned in the torodial piston chamber, and at least one engine valve positioned to interact with the torodial piston chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Wright Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: Michael D. Wright
  • Patent number: 8136503
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine of two perpendicular, toroidal cylinders intersecting at two junctions with each cylinder containing one piston filling half of its volume. The pistons are 180 degrees out of phase; each alternately occluding one intersection or the other. Each piston completes a full power, exhaust, intake, and compression stroke in one revolution. Endplates of 45 degrees allow the combustion chamber junction to be permanently filled and sealed at all times; first by one piston, then by the tips of both pistons as the complementary-angled endplates tangentially slide past one another, and then by the other piston. Compressed gases are shunted into the crossing cylinder's combustion chamber. Both pistons orbit continuously, one-way. Airflow is also one-way. Each piston is mounted to a sealed, 360-degree, counterbalanced ring gear. One ring gear is positioned centrally and the other peripherally to prevent interference. These maintain coordination between the pistons and provide output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventor: Craig Louis Althen
  • 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: 7650871
    Abstract: A rotary device for use with compressible fluids comprises a first rotation element mounted to rotate about a first axis and a casing having a surface enclosing at least a part of the first rotation element. An elongate cavity of varying cross sectional area is defined between a surface of the first rotation element and the casing surface. The rotary device also comprises a number of second rotation elements mounted to rotate about respective second axes. Each second rotation element is mounted to project through the casing surface and cooperate with the first rotation element surface to divide the cavity into adjacent working portions. At least one on the Working portions defines a closed volume for a part of a cycle of the device. As the first and second rotation elements rotate, the volumes of the working portions vary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Turnstile Technology Limited
    Inventor: Richard See
  • Patent number: 7644695
    Abstract: A rotary machine which can be either a pump or an internal combustion engine has a housing enclosing a plurality of rotor spindles lying on the surface of an imaginary cone for driving an output shaft positioned at the vertex of the imaginary cone. The spindles have a beveled gear on one end and engaging an output shaft and a conical bearing on the other end. Angled eccentric rotors are mounted to each spindle shaped to maintain tangential sliding contact with two adjacent rotors to form a compression or combustion chamber. A spherical version of a compressor or an engine uses a plurality of rotary pistons each of which is eccentrically mounted and forms a spherical segment. Each rotary piston is mounted for tangential sliding contact with at least two other rotary pistons to form a displacement chamber therebetween. The rotary pistons use a generally “tear drop” shape. A rotary pump has a housing having a manifold for distributing intake and exhaust air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Searchmont LLC.
    Inventor: Lee S. Chadwick
  • Patent number: 7625193
    Abstract: A rotary machine including: a housing; a plurality of rotor spindles aligned along three orthogonal axes; rotor blades on the rotor spindles and arranged relative to each other so that each rotor blade is in tangential sliding contact with at least two other rotor blades and forming a plurality of working chambers each having a volume which changes as the rotor spindles rotate; a gear system including a plurality of internal bevel gears on the ends of the plurality of rotor spindles and for synchronizing rotation of the rotor spindles during operation; and a central valve mechanism with the rotor spindles extending radially outward therefrom and around which the rotor blades are arranged, wherein the central valve mechanism controls flow of a fluid to at least some of the working chambers formed by the rotary blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Searchmont LLC.
    Inventor: Lee S. Chadwick
  • Patent number: 7341041
    Abstract: A novel rotary engine of the kind having a toroidal cylinder and a set of pistons on a rotating circular piston assembly provides instantaneous adjustment of the displacement volume of the engine by varying the intake and expansion stroke length on the circular path of the pistons through the opening and closing of valves into the engine cylinder under the control of an engine management system responsive to the speed/load conditions of the engine and the throttle position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: VGT Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Rudolf R. Pekau
  • Patent number: 7305963
    Abstract: This is simple and efficient rotary machine that can be implemented as compressor, pump, motor and mainly as internal combustion engine. The engine comprises a housing, a rotor(s) with a radial blade(s), a chamber(s) swept by the blade(s), an intersecting planar valve(s) with slot, and a combustion chamber. Blades and slots have matching shapes that allow the traversal of the blades through the slots with negligible loss of air/gases. After traversing the slot, the blade aspires air into one side of the chamber while compresses air on the other side. Fuel is injected in the compressed stream in its way to the combustion chamber, where it is ignited. In a double-rotor implementation, combustion gases are then introduced in the second rotor chamber, just after its blade has traversed the corresponding slot. One side of this blade is pushed by the expansion while the other expels gases from the previous stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Inventor: Juan Zak
  • Patent number: 7059294
    Abstract: An engine is disclosed including at least one piston which is positioned within a toroidal piston chamber. A method of operating an engine is disclosed wherein a piston is advanced in a toroidal piston chamber past a first valve and the first valve is closed to form a first ignition chamber area located within the piston chamber between the first valve and the rear side of the piston. A second valve is closed ahead of the piston to form a first exhaust removal chamber area located within the piston chamber between the second valve and the front side of the piston, the exhaust removal chamber including exhaust gases from a preceding ignition which occurred in the first ignition chamber area. A fuel mixture is introduced into the first ignition chamber area and ignited thereby advancing the piston further along the toroidal piston chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Wright Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: Michael D. Wright
  • Patent number: 6119649
    Abstract: An engine with one or more ring cylinders of round cross-section is disclosed. In each ring cylinder are provided at least two rotary pistons whose cross-sections match that of the ring cylinder, the pistons being mounted on the circumference of a rotary disc which is mounted on a shaft and incapable of rotating. Each cylinder is provided with disc cams in the form of rotary valves which protrude at their peripheral areas through slots which extend transversely in relation to the course of the ring cylinders. Rotary valves engage in overflow channels and in the ring cylinder between an intake compression chamber and an expansion chamber. The rotary valves engage in the ring cylinder between an expansion chamber and an intake compression chamber. The rotary valve grooves are so arranged as to clear the ring cylinder for the rotary pistons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Inventor: Anton Raab
  • Patent number: 4620515
    Abstract: A rotary mechanism for handling fluids constructed as an internal combustion engine (diesel or otherwise), has a rotor internally cylindrically recessed from one end to receive, in close fitting, sealing relationship, a stationary cylindrical support for a plurality, usually a pair, of rotary blades. The rotor is provided internally with a corresponding plurality of cavities helically oriented to receive portions of the respective blades which enter and pass through the respective cavities for compressing or propelling the particular fluid concerned. Inflow and outflow ports for the fluid are variously arranged in either the stationary cylindrical blade support or the rotor or both depending again upon the particular nature of the mechanism. Various arrangements are provided for maintaining blade and rotor rotation in synchronism. The mechanism may be used in various ways in conjunction with other mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1986
    Inventor: Alvaro Marin A.
  • Patent number: 4558669
    Abstract: An improved seal apparatus for a rotary machine including a rotary internal combustion engine. The machine generally comprises a rotor rotatably disposed in a circular working section in a hollow machine housing, a divider valve, and for an internal combustion engine a compression-expansion valve being rotatably secured in the housing and in sealing engagement with the rotor to divide the working space in the housing into an intake space and an exhaust space. The rotor of the machine has a piston formed thereon and the improved seal apparatus includes a plurality of seal bars in recesses between recessed connecting runners in the piston perimeter surface and urged into sealing relation with the inner wall of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1985
    Assignees: Vida M. Kemp, Phillis J. Carter, Ruth E. Kemp, Allan E. Kemp
    Inventor: Gail W. Kemp
  • Patent number: 4167933
    Abstract: The present invention teaches a novel internal combustion engine wherein a unique structural means of transmitting combustion-generated forces and motion is incorporated. A journalled rotor assembly having combustion cavities in each of opposing faces thereof receives a combustible fluid. A main cam carried by an output shaft which is integral with the rotor assembly drives intermittent-motion cams carried on transfer shafts. Transfer plates integral with the transfer shafts and captively movable within housings rotate into and out of the combustion cavities so as to define the variable working volumes of each cavity. With each of the firings, the rotor is caused to spin in a direction opposite with respect to the relative rotational direction of the respective transfer plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1979
    Inventor: Bertram Slanhoff