Transfer Means In Rotor Patents (Class 123/235)
  • Patent number: 10876469
    Abstract: An engine includes a housing defining an annular bore and a piston assembly disposed within the annular bore. The engine includes at least one valve configured to oscillate between a first position within the annular bore to allow the piston assembly to travel from a first location proximate to the at least one valve to a second location distal to the at least one valve and a second position to define a combustion chamber relative to the piston assembly at the second location. The engine includes an exhaust gas port disposed in fluid communication with the combustion chamber and a fuel distribution assembly configured to mix fuel from a fuel source and air from an air source into a fuel and air mixture at a location external to the combustion chamber and to deliver the fuel and air mixture to the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: WB Development Company, LLC
    Inventor: Walter T. Bonin
  • Patent number: 10662774
    Abstract: Prime movers are provided that can include: a pair of cylindrical members about a center rod, a fixed member about the center rod between the pair of cylindrical members; wherein the pair of cylindrical members rotate with the center rod in relation to the fixed member; a housing extending between the cylindrical members; and a plurality of chambers between the opposing bases of the cylindrical members and the fixed member. Methods for rotating members in relation to a fixed member are also provided. The methods can include rotating a pair of cylindrical members in relation to a fixed member about a center rod along a shared axis within a housing extending between the pair of cylindrical members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Regi U.S., Inc.
    Inventors: John Robertson, Paul Porter
  • Patent number: 10443383
    Abstract: An apparatus including a first piston member rotatable about a first rotational axis and a rotor with a first chamber and pivotable about a second rotational axis. The first piston member extends across the first chamber. The rotor and first piston member are rotatable around the first rotational axis, and the rotor is pivotable about the second rotational axis to permit a relative pivoting motion between the rotor and the first piston member linked to the rotor rotating about the first rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: FETU LIMITED
    Inventor: Jonathan Paul Fenton
  • Patent number: 9945231
    Abstract: The invention specifies a hydraulic vane-type machine (1) having a stator (2) and having a rotor (3) which has multiple vanes (4), each of which vanes is radially displaceable in a guide (5) in the rotor (3), bears against an inner circumference (6) of the stator (2), and, together with the rotor (3), the stator (2) and in each case one side wall (7) at each axial end of the rotor (3), delimits working chambers whose volumes vary in the event of a rotation of the rotor (3) relative to the stator (2). It is sought to obtain a certain degree of freedom for the design of the inner circumference. For this purpose, it is provided that each vane (4) has, on its radially inner side, an abutment surface (17) which bears radially at the outside against a cam disk (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Erik Haugaard, Hans Christian Petersen
  • Patent number: 9850835
    Abstract: A guided-vane rotary internal combustion engine including a plurality of working chambers which are separated from one another by way of vane assemblies which rotate with a rotor assembly about an axis employs a rotor assembly having a plurality of sectors wherein each sector is associated with a corresponding working chamber and a plurality of spark plugs wherein each spark plug is mounted within a corresponding sector for igniting an air/fuel mixture contained within a corresponding working chamber. A rotor disk is mounted upon the rotor assembly for rotation therewith and acts as a distributor through which energizing charges are conducted to the spark plugs. In addition, a controller is utilized for selectively activating or de-activating the working chambers of the engine upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: BRM Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Arnold J. Beal
  • Patent number: 9546594
    Abstract: A guided-vane rotary internal combustion engine including a plurality of working chambers which are separated from one another by way of vane assemblies which rotate with a rotor assembly about an axis employs a rotor assembly having a plurality of sectors wherein each sector is associated with a corresponding working chamber and a plurality of spark plugs wherein each spark plug is mounted within a corresponding sector for igniting an air/fuel mixture contained within a corresponding working chamber. A rotor disk is mounted upon the rotor assembly for rotation therewith and acts as a distributor through which energizing charges are conducted to the spark plugs. In addition, a controller is utilized for selectively activating or de-activating the working chambers of the engine upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: BRM Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Arnold J. Beal
  • Patent number: 9475377
    Abstract: A hybrid electric rotary engine is provided having a pair of rotors separated by a divider and configured for rotation in opposite directions, a timing gear engaged between the inner faces of the rotors, and at least one pair of slanted rotor openings in the rim of each rotor for alignment with at least one pair of slanted divider openings to form a pair of combustion chambers in communication with at least one pair of exhaust chambers for venting of exhaust and to provide rotational thrust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Inventor: William A. Ellis
  • Patent number: 9057322
    Abstract: A rotary engine rotary engine according to the present invention comprises a main housing assembly and a rotor assembly rotatably supported within the housing. The rotor assembly has two rotors, an intake/compression rotor rotatably disposed within the intake/compression housing, and a power/exhaust rotor rotatably disposed within the power/exhaust housing. The rotors have N number of apexes and sides, wherein N is an integer greater than 2. A rotating chamber is formed between each side of the each rotor and the inner wall of the respective housing. The stages of the thermodynamic cycle of the engine occur within these chambers. For example, if the rotors have three sides, the rotors will have a triangular-like shape with three apexes. The apexes form the outermost radial part of the rotors which engage the inner wall of the respective housing bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Inventor: Jose Lopez Cruz
  • 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: 8613270
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine includes an outer housing and an inner housing and an enclosure defined therebetween. At least one of the outer and inner housings is rotatable relative to the other and at least two barriers are disposed in the enclosure and divide the enclosure into a combustion chamber and an exhaust chamber. At least one barrier is rotatable relative to at least one other barrier and at least one barrier comprises a retractable barrier mounted along a pivot axis and is pivotable between an extended position and a retracted position. An intake port, exhaust port, and ignition source are also provided. A method of combusting a fuel comprises rotating a drive member to expand a combustion chamber and substantially isolate the combustion chamber from an exhaust chamber, and introducing and combusting a combustion fluid and a fuel in the combustion chamber as the combustion chamber is expanding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Inventor: Scott Hudson
  • Patent number: 8539930
    Abstract: A combustion apparatus having a housing including an inner surface that defines at least one chamber, a rotor, a rotor shaft, an intake shaft, an exhaust shaft, and a gearing mechanism. The chamber includes an intake valve port and an exhaust valve port, and the rotor shaft is coupled to a gear at one end and has at least two opposing flat surfaces received by an opening in the rotor. The intake and exhaust shafts are geared to the rotor shaft and have at least one opening each that is aligned with the intake and the exhaust valve ports. A gearing mechanism selectively controls the duration in which the openings are aligned with the ports. Two or more rotors may be utilized to produce more power and reduce vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventor: David DuSell Gray
  • Patent number: 8347848
    Abstract: An engine having a rotor including at least one slot and at least one combustion chamber used to form a cavity is provided. The engine also includes at least one vane rollably disposed in the slot, and a block for receiving the rotor, and having a first quadrant including an inlet port, a second quadrant, a third quadrant, and a fourth quadrant having an outlet port. The vane moves through the first quadrant, drawing air into the block and the cavity. The vane then moves through the second quadrant, compressing the air. The vane then moves through the third quadrant, combusting the air, and forcing the rotor to rotate. The vane then moves through the fourth quadrant, forcing the air out of the outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Vengeance Power Inc.
    Inventors: Tony Sleiman, Andre Laba, Jessie Laba
  • Patent number: 8286609
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine includes an outer housing and an inner housing and an enclosure defined therebetween. At least one of the outer and inner housings is rotatable relative to the other and at least two barriers are disposed in the enclosure and divide the enclosure into a combustion chamber and an exhaust chamber. At least one barrier is rotatable relative to at least one other barrier and at least one barrier comprises a retractable barrier mounted along a pivot axis and is pivotable between an extended position and a retracted position. An intake port, exhaust port, and ignition source are also provided. A method of combusting a fuel comprises rotating a drive member to expand a combustion chamber and substantially isolate the combustion chamber from an exhaust chamber, and introducing and combusting a combustion fluid and a fuel in the combustion chamber as the combustion chamber is expanding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Inventor: Scott Hudson
  • 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: 7958862
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of combustion engines and more specifically to a rotary positive displacement combustor engine. The device employs a scroll compressor and a scroll expander with an orbital shaft displaced between the compressor and expander supplying a means and link for compressing fluids within the scroll compressor and disposing the fluid within the scroll expander within which an ignition source is placed at strategic points within a pair of first isolated zones of the orbiting scroll expander generating a highly efficient process for capturing mechanical and thermal energy from combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: SECCO2 Engines, Inc.
    Inventors: Preston Henry Carter, Kenney Ray Spence
  • 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: 7762228
    Abstract: The rotary-piston machine consists of two operating units. The first one comprises a horizontal operating cylinder (1) with cylindrical shaft (5), connected to the main shaft (4) and sealed with rings to the walls of the cylinder (1). The shaft (5) has a first friction element (9) pressed against the internal wall of the cylinder (1). The second unit comprises a cylindrical body (15) mounted to the main shaft (4) with a firmly connected to its circumference inner ring (16) of a bearing with an outer ring (17) provided of an articulated joint (18) connected to a frame (19) that is connected to a valve (13) which press a second friction element (14) to the shaft (5). Both units move in synchronization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Inventor: Lyubcho Kirilov Georgiev
  • Patent number: 7588432
    Abstract: A pump includes a case, a rotor, and a partition member. The case has a hollow inside defined by an inner wall surface thereof and includes a suction inlet through which fluid is sucked in the hollow and an exhaust outlet through which the fluid is ejected from the hollow. The rotor is rotatable in the hollow. The partition member is supported with respect to the rotor in the direction across the rotor such that two ends make constant contact with the inner wall surface defining the hollow, and is rotatable with the rotor. When the rotor is rotated, the partition member slides in the direction across the rotor and expands and shrinks in the same direction, thereby the two ends of the partition member make constant contact with the inner wall surface of the case. Accordingly, the fluid is sucked through the suction inlet in the hollow and the sucked fluid is ejected through the exhaust outlet from the hollow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Takagi, Yasuhiro Shimizu, Susumu Kuzuya, Tsugio Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20090148327
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of combustion engines and more specifically to a rotary positive displacement combustor engine. The device employs a scroll compressor and a scroll expander with an orbital shaft displaced between the compressor and expander supplying a means and link for compressing fluids within the scroll compressor and disposing the fluid within the scroll expander within which an ignition source is placed at strategic points within a pair of first isolated zones of the orbiting scroll expander generating a highly efficient process for capturing mechanical and thermal energy from combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Preston Henry Carter, Kenney Ray Spence
  • Patent number: 7231894
    Abstract: A rotary displacement machine includes a casing having a circular cylindrical internal surface and a rotor disposed in the chamber mounted to orbit about a chamber axis, with the rotor having a circular cylindrical external surface. A vane member is mounted on the casing and pivotable about a pivot axis parallel to the chamber axis. The vane member has a passage way communicating between the exterior of the casing and the operating chamber. A linkage connects the vane member to the rotor so as to keep a tip face of the vane member in sealing contact with an external surface of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: E.A. Technical Services Limited
    Inventor: Ronald William Driver
  • Patent number: 7192263
    Abstract: The pump is provided with a housing 31, a rotor 40, and a separating member 50. Rotor 40 and separating member 50 are rotated within housing 40. Separating member 50 separates the cavity of housing 31 into a divided space 77a, a divided space 7b and a divided space 77c. A curved face 42 having a larger radius of curvature than rotor 40 is formed in a limited circumferential angular region at an outer peripheral surface of rotor 40. A space 43 is maintained between the curved face 42 and housing 31 even when the curved face 42 is closest to the inner face of housing 31. The space 43 forms a passage between an inlet port and an outlet port. When rotor 40 is rotated, there is a smaller degree of change in the resistance in the passage 43, and rotor 40 rotates smoothly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Osamu Takagi
  • 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: 6959685
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine has a shaft, a compression chamber, an ignition chamber, a center wall, a first rotor, and a second rotor. The shaft is fixed to the rotors while being rotatably mounted to the compression and ignition chambers. The compression chamber has an oval shaped chamber wall and receives fuel and compresses the fuel. The ignition chamber has an oval shaped chamber wall and receives compressed fuel from the compression chamber and combusts the compressed fuel. The center wall is located between the compression chamber and ignition chamber and allows passage of compressed fuel from the compression chamber to the ignition chamber. The first rotor has a circular perimeter surface and is rotatably received within the compression chamber. The second rotor has a circular perimeter surface and is rotatably received within the ignition chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Inventors: Herman R. Person, Henry M. Person
  • Publication number: 20040182356
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine has a shaft, a compression chamber, an ignition chamber, a center wall, a first rotor, and a second rotor. The shaft is fixed to the rotors while being rotatably mounted to the compression and ignition chambers. The compression chamber has an oval shaped chamber wall and receives fuel and compresses the fuel. The ignition chamber has an oval shaped chamber wall and receives compressed fuel from the compression chamber and combusts the compressed fuel. The center wall is located between the compression chamber and ignition chamber and allows passage of compressed fuel from the compression chamber to the ignition chamber. The first rotor has a circular perimeter surface and is rotatably received within the compression chamber. The second rotor has a circular perimeter surface and is rotatably received within the ignition chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventors: Herman R. Person, Henry M. Person
  • Patent number: 6766783
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine has a shaft, a compression chamber, an ignition chamber, a center wall, a first rotor, and a second rotor. The shaft is fixed to the rotors while being rotatably mounted to the compression and ignition chambers. The compression chamber has an oval shaped chamber wall and receives fuel and compresses the fuel. The ignition chamber has an oval shaped chamber wall and receives compressed fuel from the compression chamber and combusts the compressed fuel. The center wall is located between the compression chamber and ignition chamber and allows passage of compressed fuel from the compression chamber to the ignition chamber. The first rotor has a circular perimeter surface and is rotatably received within the compression chamber. The second rotor has a circular perimeter surface and is rotatably received within the ignition chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Inventors: Herman R. Person, Henry M. Person
  • Patent number: 6729864
    Abstract: A stator (1) has a circular cylindrical internal surface (3) delimiting an operating chamber. A rotor (4) is mounted so as to be rotatable about the axis (8) of the internal surface (3) and has a cylindrical external surface (11), with one generatrix (13) adjacent to the internal surface (3), a diametrically opposite generatrix being spaced from the internal surface. A sealing member (17), projecting through a slot in the stator (1) into the operating chamber and being movable substantially radially, has an axial length substantially equal to that of the rotor (4). The sealing member (17) is connected to the rotor (4) by a linkage which causes the radially inner end of the sealing member to closely follow the external surface (3). A shutter disc (6) at one end of the rotor (4) covers a port (14), in particular an inlet port, in the stator (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: E. A. Technical Services Limited
    Inventor: Ann Margaret Eley
  • Patent number: 6729295
    Abstract: A rotary piston engine having at least two rotary pistons formed as gearwheels mounted in a rotatable fashion on mutually perpendicular axes in a housing that provides a closed seal for the pistons on both faces as well as around their circumferences, is at one point in a sliding, mutually sealing engagement of gear, teeth with each other. The two rotary pistons have different diameters and the teeth forming the individual pistons make contact at an angle of 45° in each case and have slightly helical flanks. The tooth spaces forming a carburetion chamber, a compression chamber and a working chamber have an inside contour precisely matching the shape of the teeth. Each of the internal and external teeth are assigned through-flow bores where each through-flow bores opens into an outlet on a circular surface area of the rotary pistons which lie opposite to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: DIRO Konstruktions GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hubert Tomczyk
  • Patent number: 6684847
    Abstract: A family of sliding vane rotary power devices provides an internal combustion engine, a pump, a compressor, a fluid-driven motor, an expander device, a fluid-driven pump, a compressor or a throttling device. All of these devices have a rotor assembly with a number of vanes equally spaced about the rotor dividing the rotor chamber into discrete cavities. As the rotor turns, the vanes follow the wall contour of the rotor chamber so that the cavities rotate with the rotor and expand and contract as the rotor turns. Various combinations of smooth wall contours and rotational arrangements are provided in different devices in order to cause an appropriate number of expansions and contractions of a cavity during the course of a rotation. Various devices in the family of devices differ both in the shape of the rotor chamber and in the configuration of an internal stator member about which the rotor assembly turns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventor: Osama Al-Hawaj
  • Publication number: 20040011321
    Abstract: A family of sliding vane rotary power devices provides two and four-phase internal combustion engines, as well as serving as pumps and compressors. All of these devices have an improved donut shaped rotor assembly having an integrated axial pump portion, an end shaft, a plurality of radial-directed passages and an equal plurality of sliding vanes in respective slots that are medially guided by cam followers moving in a pair of cam grooves The devices include an axial pump portion that acts as a supercharger for the four-phase internal combustion engine, a scavenger for the two-phase internal combustion engine, and as an axial pressure inducer when operating as a pump or compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventor: Osama M. Al Hawaj
  • Patent number: 6543406
    Abstract: The invention relates to a 4-phase rotary piston combustion engine. The embodiment of the engine consists of the engine body (1) where the main cylinder (2) is located; the piston (4) which revolves in the main cylinder and a cylindrical piston body is a fixed shaft (5). Thus the shaft functions as the driving shaft of the engine. The engine is operated by two valves (6, 9) which either open or close the space existing between the main cylinder surface and the piston body. The rotation of the piston is achieved when the gas mixture compressed into explosion volume is closed in between both the valves (6, 9) in such a way that also the piston stays between the valves. When the piston moves towards the valves in front (9) it pushes the combustion gas from the front side of the piston to its back side through a groove (13) located in the surface of the main cylinder. When the combustion gas has moved to the back side of the piston, the explosion takes place and the valve in front of the piston opens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Inventor: Jukka Kalevi Pohjola
  • Publication number: 20020014218
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a rotary combustion motor and method of operation. The rotary combustion engine has a large rotor and two smaller rotors that intersect therewith to form combustion chambers between the large rotor and the two smaller rotors. Gears control the timing between each of the rotors and give one rotation output. Blocks may be stacked and connected together to give additional output, each block containing a large rotor and two smaller rotors. The small rotors are crescent shaped, stacked, and connected together on each side of the large rotors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventor: Kevin R. Beal
  • Patent number: 6082324
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rotary internal combustion engine of which all operations are circular motions and therefore energy consumed for mechanical transmission is reduced and power output is continuous and stable. The rotary internal combustion engine mainly includes an intake-compression chamber, an exhaust-power chamber, and a combustion chamber that has an intake port and an exhaust to communicate with the intake-compression chamber and the exhaust-power chamber, respectively. Two pairs of rotors and rotational valve plates are separately provided in the intake-compression chamber and the exhaust-power chamber to mount around a power output shaft extending through the two chambers, so that the rotors, the valve plates, and the power output shaft rotate synchronously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Inventor: Nien-Tzu Liu
  • Patent number: 6079386
    Abstract: A rotary machine has two rotors (16,18) mounted for rotation on parallel axes, each in one of two intersecting cylindrical chambers (12,14). The rotor (16) has a hub (24) and a flap (26) extending radially from the hub into close proximity with, but not into contact with, the cylindrical wall of chamber (14). The rotor (18) has a hub and a radial recess (30) which accommodates the flap (26) as the rotors rotate. The rotors are linked to one another so that they rotate at the same angular speed but in opposite angular directions. The flap (26) divides the chamber (14) into two volumes, one either side of the flap. Working fluid is introduced through the first rotor and passes along a radial passage through the rotor to direct incoming working fluid from one side of the flap. into a volume on one side of the rotor. The working fluid can be provided from an external combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Tried Applied Technolog Limited
    Inventors: Alan George Barker, Iain Robert Warner
  • Patent number: 5415135
    Abstract: An rotary internal combustion engine consisting of a rotatable cylinder made up of fuel charge and multiple working segments rotating in unison. The fuel charge and working segments each contain a plurality of radially arranged cylinders open at both ends and a spherical piston in and freely movable within each of the cylinders. A stationary cam surrounds the cylinder having cam surfaces to contact the spherical pistons within each of the cylinders causing each piston in its respective cylinder to reciprocate as the cylinder rotates. A stationary core is located within and enclosed by the rotatable cylinder for supplying and carrying away working fluid into and from the cylinders as well as igniting and delivering fuel charge to the working segments. An alternative embodiment consists of a sealing arrangement between the pistons and cylinders utilizing rings with pressure balancing to reduce friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Inventor: Thomas W. Dale
  • Patent number: 5293850
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprising a scroll compressor unit having a pair of scrolls interfitted to each other to define a compression chamber therebetween and a scroll expansion unit having a pair of scrolls interfitted to each other to define an expansion chamber therebetween. The compressor chamber is communicated to the compression chamber through a check valve, and a burning unit for detonating a fuel together with a working fluid in the expansion chamber to expand it thereby driving the scroll expansion unit. The scroll compressor unit and the scroll expansion unit are interconnected by an interconnecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Nishida
  • Patent number: 5235945
    Abstract: The power and compressor units of an internal combustion rotary engine system utilize a rotor assembly, concentrically mounted on a stationary distributor core member, for rotation about an axis eccentric to the central axis of a cylindrical cavity that provides the working chamber of the unit. Three vanes are disposed in the body of the rotor assembly for slidable movement in a radial direction, which engage the cylindrical surface disposed eccentrically thereabout so as to define chambers of dynamically increasing and decreasing volume as the rotor assembly operates. The core member functions as a valve, permitting or preventing the flow of air into the compartments defined by the vanes in a sequence that is timed to establish air introduction, compression, combustion (in the power unit) and exhaust phases of the operating cycle. In certain embodiments, the surface that cooperates with the vanes may be provided by a shell that is also mounted for rotation within the engine block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Inventor: George Testea
  • Patent number: 5094205
    Abstract: A scroll-type engine includes an orbiting member situated inside the interior volume of the engine to define a compression chamber and an expansion chamber. The orbiting member includes an aperture for transferring an air and fuel mixture from the compression chamber to the expansion chamber. A spiral wrap found on a first stator of the engine provides a valve for controlling flow through the aperture in response to movement of the orbiting member relative to the first stator. A drive post is coupled to the first stator for rotation about its longitudinal axis. A drive pin formed on the orbiting member engages the drive post to rotate the drive post about its longitudinal axis in response to movement of the orbiting member relative to the first stator. The engine also includes a mechanism for converting rotational movement of the drive post to rotational movement of a crank shaft of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Inventor: James C. Billheimer
  • Patent number: 4677949
    Abstract: A scroll type fluid displacement apparatus wherein a pair of cooperating fluid compression scrolls discharge compressed air to a pair of cooperating fluid expansion scrolls which contain combustion of expanding fluid to drive the apparatus, the scrolls having their axes extending longitudinally of each other, and a carrier between the scroll pairs and carrying the adjacent scroll of each pair for movement relative to its mating scroll, the scrolls of one pair extending outwardly in one angular direction and the scrolls of the other pair extending outwardly in the other angular direction when viewed in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Inventor: Robert K. Youtie
  • Patent number: 4662329
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine is disclosed in which radially mounted pistons are used to provide compression and ignition, and expansion occurs in a separate rotor having hollow vanes which are driven during the expansion portion of the cycle. The vanes utilize a moment arm which is very large producing a large torque output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Inventor: Earl G. Roggenburk
  • Patent number: 4657009
    Abstract: A rotary engine including a compressor, an external pressure vessel, an internal pressure vessel defining a combustion chamber, and a fuel nozzle opening into the combustion chamber. Both compressed air and fuel are pumped into the fuel nozzle. Water is sprayed into the compressed air prior to entering the nozzle. Compressed air and water are directed between the interior and exterior pressure vessels so that the water cools the walls of the interior vessel and is turned to compressed steam. A mixture of steam, compressed air and fuel is formed at the fuel nozzle and is directed into the combustion chamber where it is ignited by an ignitor to produce a high temperature high pressure gas. The high temperature high pressure gas is directed into a dynamic rotor cylinder where its pressure eccentrically rotates a dynamic rotor which is in turn coupled to an output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1987
    Inventor: Sheng T. Zen
  • Patent number: 4638776
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine has adjacent circular compression and combustion rotors fixed to a shaft and each having a radial vane sliding on an inner surface of a surrounding eccentric circular chamber, and an arcuate transfer passage communicating between the chambers through an intermediate wall via slots in the rotors adjacent the vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Assignee: Matt Biljanic
    Inventor: William Crittenden
  • Patent number: 4476826
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine having a stationary casing, and a rotor mounted for rotation about an axis eccentric to the casing forming a crescent shaped compression chamber and a separate crescent shaped expansion chamber. Intake and exhaust ports in the casing respectively communicate with the compression and expansion chambers and first and second vanes angularly spaced apart on the rotor slidably engage the walls of the respective compression and expansion chambers. A rotary transfer valve is provided on the rotor intermediate the first and second vanes to alternately communicate with the compression and expansion chambers. The charge of combustible mixture is ignited while in the transfer valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Assignee: William R. and Zella B. Stephens Trust
    Inventor: William R. Stephens
  • Patent number: 4422419
    Abstract: A prime mover which is constituted by a compressor casing having a combustion gas inlet, a compressor rotor rotatably mounted in the compressor casing and having at least one vane movable radially of the rotor and resiliently sealingly engaged with the inside surface of the wall of the compressor casing for forming a compression chamber therein, a prime mover casing adjacent the compressor casing and having an exhaust outlet therein and a spark plug mounted thereon, a prime mover rotor rotatably mounted in the prime mover casing and having at least one vane movable radially of the rotor and resiliently sealingly engaged with the inside surface of the wall of the prime mover casing for forming a combustion chamber therein, the rotors being connected for causing them to rotate together, and a passage opened and closed by the rotation of the rotors for passing compressed combustion gas from the compressor casing to the prime mover casing at predetermined intervals for being ignited by the spark plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1983
    Inventor: Soei Umeda
  • Patent number: 4212282
    Abstract: A rotary pump or motor has a rotor with no relatively movable parts and has the valving incorporated in the housing with the valving actuated by cams on the rotor. The air or gas flow through the pump or motor is by way of passages in the rotor on opposite sides of a piston on the rotor, this piston fitting in an annular groove in the housing.This type of pump or motor device is utilized in a hot gas engine in which two or more devices functioning as pumps in series supply compressed air to a burner and two or more similar devices functioning as motors receive hot gas under pressure from the burner to be driven by this gas and in turn driving the pumps for operation as a hot gas engine. The rotors of all the pumps and motors are incorporated in a single rotor with a burner construction also in the rotor between the pump rotor elements and the motor rotor elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1980
    Inventor: Agaton P. Apanovitch