With Compression, Combustion, And Expansion In A Single Variable Volume Patents (Class 123/241)
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Patent number: 6325038Abstract: A rotary displacement device which can be a spherical internal combustion engine, comprising a housing having a generally spherical cavity therein; a displacement member with generally spherical inner and outer configurations mounted within the cavity in the housing; and a drive mechanism including a drive shaft with a nutating member mounted thereto at a spherically shaped mounting portion positioned within the inner spherical configuration of the displacement member. The drive mechanism, displacemnent member and spherical cavity all share a common, fixed, center point. The displacement member travles in an arc within the cavity such that the axis of the arc passes through the center point. The displacement member drives the nutating member through a defined movement path which path passes through the center point. The nutating member drives the drive shaft in a rotational path the axis of which passes through the common center point.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2000Date of Patent: December 4, 2001Assignee: Spherical Propulsion, LLCInventor: James A. Millett
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Publication number: 20010043876Abstract: A rotary machine in which plural, non-cylindrical rotors are provided for rotation within partially overlapping cylindrical bores, formed within a machine housing. Each rotor each said rotor has a curved outer surface formed of a plurality of contiguous mutually tangential curved portions.* The rotors are eccentrically mounted for synchronized, same directional rotation, within their respective bores, and each is arranged to alternately provide intake and exhaustion of working gaseous fluids, such that each rotor is continually either admitting or exhausting a working gas. The machine is constructed such that the rotors are cylindrical, each being of internally balanced form. The rotors do not touch each other or any portion of the machine casing at any time, while being positioned so as to define minimal gaps therebetween. A high rotational speed may be developed, thereby obviating the need for seals entirely, and thus further increasing the available speed, and thus the work efficiency of the machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2001Publication date: November 22, 2001Inventor: Dan Mekler
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Patent number: 6305345Abstract: An oscillatory scissor type rotary engine having two rotors wherein first and second rotor drive mechanisms are located on first and second opposite sides of the engine respectively, each rotor drive mechanisms including a carrier bowl that is rigidly fixed to an output shaft passing through the two hollow rotor drive shafts and mounted in bearings thus obviating the need for a separate drive mechanism support structure. By evenly spreading the load between all meshed gears through the provision of shock-absorbent members in the connecting rod heads, and of an increased number of symmetrically positioned planetary crank-and-pinion units on each side of the engine, and by evening out the impact loading through the use of drive components as flywheels, the resultant design is made simple, reliable, durable and dynamically balanced.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2000Date of Patent: October 23, 2001Inventor: Vladimir K. Bakhtine
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Patent number: 6250278Abstract: A rotary machine in which plural, cylindrical rotors are provided for rotation within partially overlapping cylindrical bores, formed within a machine housing. The rotors are eccentrically mounted for synchronized, same directional rotation, within their respective bores, and each is arranged to alternately provide intake and exhaustion of working gaseous fluids, such that each rotor is continually either admitting or exhausting a working gas. The machine is constructed such that the rotors are cylindrical, each being of internally balanced form. The rotors do not touch each other or any portion of the machine casing at any time, while being positioned so as to define minimal gaps therebetween. A high rotational speed may be developed, thereby obviating the need for seals entirely, and thus further increasing the available speed, and thus the work efficiency of the machine.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 1998Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Inventor: Dan Mekler
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Patent number: 6250279Abstract: An internal combustion engine with an interior annular surface. A rotary piston mount rotates within an engine block interior space. Several spherical pistons are urged radially outwardly from the rotary piston mount by an urging means, and move in a radial reciprocating motion within the rotary piston mount. A gas-producing means produces an expanding gas. The gas drives the spherical pistons and the rotary piston mount rotationally along the interior annular surface of the engine block.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2000Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Inventor: Steven Zack
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Patent number: 6174460Abstract: The present invention is an improved method for producing synthesis gas from gaseous raw hydrocarbons. The method includes combustion of a mixture of raw hydrocarbons and air at ∝=0.5-0.8. The hydrocarbons are oxidized during the compression stroke of a piston in the cylinder of a modified internal combustion engine. The resulting products are expanded and cooled during the movement of the piston toward the bottom dead center. The products containing the synthesis gas are then expelled from the reaction volume when the piston moves toward the top dead center. A new portion of the working mixture is supplied when the piston moves back to the bottom dead center. The mixture of raw hydrocarbons with air is preheated to 200-450° C. before being fed into the cylinders of the modified internal combustion engine. The mixture is compressed until self-ignition takes place. A temperature of 1300-2300° C. is maintained over a time period of 10−2-10−3 s.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1998Date of Patent: January 16, 2001Assignees: Experimentalny Komplex “Novye Energeticheskie Tekhnologii” (EK “Net”) Obiedinennogo Instituta Vysokikh Temperatur Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Institut Neftekhimicheskogo Sinteza Rossiiskoi Akademii NaukInventors: Vladimir Robertovich Grunvald, Jury Lvovich Dolinsky, Semen Evseevich Piskunov, Lev Solomonovich Tolchinsky, Nikolai Alfredovich Plate, July Abramovich Kolbanovsky
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Patent number: 6164263Abstract: While most rotary engines use the principle of volume variation between a curve and a moving cord of fixed length, this new engine concept uses a four degrees of freedom X, Y, .theta., .PHI. rotor, confined inside an internal housing contour, and does not require a central shaft or support. The invention is an assembly of four carriages supporting the pivots of four pivoting blades forming a variable-shape rotor. This rotor rolls just like a roller bearing on the surface of an housing internal contour wall shaped like a skating rink. During the rotation, the rotor pivoting blades align alternatively in a lozenge and a square configuration. All ports are radial in the housing and/or axial on the lateral side covers. Since the compression and expansion strokes start and end simultaneously, an ignition flame transfer slot is used to maintain a continuous combustion while four strokes are completed in every rotation.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1997Date of Patent: December 26, 2000Inventors: Roxan Saint-Hilaire, Ylian Saint-Hilaire, Gilles Saint-Hilaire, Francoise Saint-Hilaire
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Patent number: 6009847Abstract: An oscillating-piston engine comprises a housing in which multiple pistons are each arranged pivotably about a piston axis parallel to a central housing axis and are movable together in a revolution direction about said housing axis. It is proposed to arrange, centrally in said housing, a cam piece which is immovable with respect to said housing, there being configured, on the sides of said pistons facing said cam piece, running surfaces which, as said pistons revolve along an outer contour of said cam piece, are guided in constant contact therewith.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 1999Date of Patent: January 4, 2000Inventor: Herbert Huttlin
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Patent number: 5474043Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a ring-shaped stator with a plurality of thin slits. A rotor, having a plurality of helicotoroidal troughs formed on its inner surface, encloses the stator. A planar vane wheel, having a plurality of radially extending vanes, is resident in each of the thin slits, with the vanes communicating with the respective helicotoroidal troughs. Rotation of the rotor imparts rotation to the vane wheels. The interaction of the stator, troughs, and vanes produces a plurality of sequential intake, compression, combustion, expansion, and exhaust chambers.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 1994Date of Patent: December 12, 1995Assignee: Mallen Research Ltd. PartnershipInventor: Brian D. Mallen
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Patent number: 5419292Abstract: Four elements (9a, 9b, 11a, 11b) are mutually articulated as a parallelogram deformable according to four parallel axes (A1, . . . A4). A crank (31) causes a circular motion of a first co-ordination axis (K1) connected to one (9a) of the elements. Another element (11b) is articulated to the frame along a second co-ordination axis (K2). A variable volume chamber (17) is defined between the cylindrical surfaces (S1, . . . S4) whose axes (C1, . . . C4) intersect the longitudinal axes (Da, Db) of the first elements (9a, 9b). Distribution orifices (19, 21) are selectively open and obturated by the elements as a function of the angular position of the crank (31). A sparking-plug is provided. Each first element (9a, 9b) carries two cylindrical convex surfaces (S1, S2; S3, S4) the rigidely interconnected. Each cylindrical surface is in dynamic sealing relationship with a cylindrical surface belonging to the other element and whose axis (C1, . . .Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 1994Date of Patent: May 30, 1995Inventor: Roumen Antonov
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Patent number: 5404849Abstract: An engine includes an engine block containing a spherical compartment with an equatorial zone removed to create an annular gap, a ring member slidably encircling the annular gap having an outer surface and having an opening to permit the passage of combustion gases which periodically aligns with a port in the engine block, a hinge pin mounted within the ring member and extending through the center point of the sphere, first and second divider members, each having a connecting end and a free end, the connecting end of which includes a tube section which surrounds the hinge pin, and the free end of which is directed toward, abuts and conforms to the sphere surface which, together, separate the sphere into two combustion chambers having variable volumes, such that as one combustion chamber expands the other combustion chamber correspondingly contacts, a slot in the surface of the free end of each divider member extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hinge pin, a fulcrum member projecting from the sphType: GrantFiled: March 3, 1993Date of Patent: April 11, 1995Inventor: John W. Fenton
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Patent number: 5345905Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprising a housing having a peripheral wall with a cylindrical internal surface and side walls defining a chamber, a rotor disposed within said chamber and having a central shaft extending through at least one of the side walls, said rotor having at least one recess in its periphery, at least one pivotally mounted piston disposed in each of said recesses and having a pivotal end and a movable end defining collapsible chambers above and below the piston, a cam track carried on the inside of at least one of the side walls and followers operably interconnecting the cam track and the movable end of the said piston, the improvement which includes an ambient air intake port opening into the peripheral wall of the housing, an exhaust port disposed in the peripheral wall of the housing, at least one combustion chamber disposed in the peripheral wall of the housing, a fuel injector in communication with the combustion chamber and compressed air transfer duets valves and passageways dispType: GrantFiled: August 3, 1993Date of Patent: September 13, 1994Inventor: Daniel J. Edwards
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Patent number: 5336067Abstract: In a nutating spherical engine, improvements for increasing the seal between the rotor and the engine head comprise the provisions of a pair of minor cusps disposed on the rotor which as seen in plan view are diametrically opposed and at right angles to the major cusps of the rotor. The engine may include a rotor guide including a cam and cam follower which cause the rotor to undergo the same nutational rotation as that caused by the interaction of the rotor and cylinder head. The rotor and cylinder head may be coupled by a ball and socket, and the ball may contain a simple coupling for the drive shaft of the engine. The cam, cam follower and coupling of the engine are easily located as they are not in direct communication with the working chambers of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 1993Date of Patent: August 9, 1994Inventor: Leon Lim
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Patent number: 5301637Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for producing a rotary motion force by means of an internal combustion engine, rotary-reciprocal type, consisting of a housing, a rotor and a shaft combined with a rotor's guiding system, fuel intake system and an ignition system. This internal combustion engine has many uses which are commonly known but this apparatus may also be used as a compressor, as a pump, as an engine powered by an expanding heating liquid or gas or a combination of the above.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 1992Date of Patent: April 12, 1994Inventor: David H. Blount
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Patent number: 5271364Abstract: An engine of the internal combustion type having a plurality of cooperating adjacent parallel rotors of elliptical cross section having hollow interior flow passages communicating thru hollow supporting shafts forming a combustion chamber having a varying volume which depends upon the rotational position of the rotors. Each rotor has a second flow passage opening thru its interior surface communicating thru to slots at one apex of its major axis so as to provide valving for the combustion changer.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 1992Date of Patent: December 21, 1993Inventor: Duane P. Snyder
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Patent number: 5261365Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprising a housing having a peripheral wall with a cylindrical internal surface and side walls defining a chamber, a rotor disposed within said chamber and having a central shaft extending through at least one of the side walls, said rotor having at least one recess in its periphery, at least one pivotally mounted piston disposed in each of said recesses and having a pivotal end and a movable end defining collapsible chambers above and below the piston, a cam track carried on the inside of at least one of the side walls and followers operably interconnecting the cam track and the movable end of the said piston, the improvement which includes an ambient air intake port opening into the peripheral wall of the housing, an exhaust port disposed in the peripheral wall of the housing, at least one combustion chamber disposed in the peripheral wall of the housing, a fuel injector in communication with the combustion chamber and compressed air transfer ducts valves and passageways dispType: GrantFiled: March 17, 1993Date of Patent: November 16, 1993Inventor: Daniel J. Edwards
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Patent number: 5251593Abstract: A liquid ring machine comprises an outer drum having a cylindrical outer wall 1 surrounding a central axis 2, a vaned rotor 3 rotatable within the drum about an axis 4 which is parallel to, but offset from, the central axis 2 of the drum, and a liquid disposed within the drum such that, when the rotor 3 rotates at a sufficient speed, the liquid forms a rotating ring 5 adjacent the outer wall 1 of the drum. The ends of the vanes 6 on the rotor are maintained in contact with the liquid during such rotation so that a series of chambers 8 is formed between the vanes 6 of the rotor 3. The chambers 8 are bounded at the outer periphery by the liquid ring 5 and vary in volume in dependence on the angular orientation of the rotor 3 in view of the offset between the axis 4 of rotation of the rotor and the central axis 2 of the drum. An inlet 23 and an outlet 25 are provided by means of which a working fluid is introduced into, and discharged from, each of the chambers 8 at appropriate angular positions of the rotor 3.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 1991Date of Patent: October 12, 1993Inventor: John R. Pedersen
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Patent number: 5156115Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for producing a rotary motion force by means of an internal combustion engine, rotary-reciprocal type, consisting of a housing, a rotor and a shaft combined with a rotor's guiding system, fuel intake system and an ignition system. This internal combustion engine has many uses which are commonly known but this apparatus may also be used as a compressor, as a pump, as an engine powered by an expanding heating liquid or gas or a combination of the above.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 1992Date of Patent: October 20, 1992Inventor: David H. Blount
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Patent number: 5152257Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for producing a rotary motion force by means of an internal combustion engine, rotary-reciprocal type, consisting of a housing, a rotor and a shaft combined with a rotor's guiding system, fuel intake system and an ignition system. This internal combustion engine has many uses which are commonly known but this apparatus may also be used as a compressor, as a pump, as an engine powered by an expanding heating liquid or gas or a combination of the above.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 1990Date of Patent: October 6, 1992Inventor: David H. Blount
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Patent number: 5147193Abstract: The power conversion machine includes a housing which defines a spherical cavity as well as a stator which is secured within the housing on a first axis. The stator is provided with an annular groove which is disposed on an angle to the axis of the stator while an annular guide member is slidably mounted in the groove for rotation about the stator axis. A first rotor part is secured to a shaft which is rotatably mounted on the stator and carries a pair of pistons which define ball shaped segments within the cavity of the housing. A second rotor part having a second pair of pistons defining a pair of ball shaped segments within the cavity is disposed on a second axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation. Pins are used to secure the second rotor part to the annular guide member for rocking of the second rotor part about the second axis during rotation of the two rotor parts about the axis of rotation.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 1991Date of Patent: September 15, 1992Assignee: 3D International A/SInventor: Thor Larsen
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Patent number: 5036809Abstract: A circular rotary engine comprises a housing having spaced concentric cylindrical walls defining an annulus therebetween with intake and exhaust ports through the sides of the walls and a cylindrical rotary piston ring having multiple symmetrically undulating surfaces on both ends and coaxial interior and exterior gears for shaft drive which rotates within the annulus while reciprocating between end ring members positioned within the annulus and secured at each end of the interior and exterior walls.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 1989Date of Patent: August 6, 1991Assignee: Cir-Com Development Corp.Inventor: William A. Goodman
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Patent number: 5033429Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a pair of stationary housings of generally triangular configuration with sidewalls of each housing converging into one end of the opposite ends of a common output shaft, a compression chamber being disposed in each sidewall of a housing at the intersection of adjacent sidewalls; and a plurality of elongated connecting rods are mounted in each housing for rotation about a common axis of rotation, the rods disposed at pretermined angles to one another and each rod having a vane at an outer free end, the movement of one of the connecting rods parallel to one of the sidewalls in each housing causing rotation of the vane on another of the connecting rods into one of the compression chambers whereupon ignition of a fuel/air mixture in that chamber will impart movement of the other rod toward the next chamber in succession as it rotates the vane on the one rod through another chamber, and the successive, alternate firing of compression chambers in each housing causing rotation ofType: GrantFiled: January 11, 1990Date of Patent: July 23, 1991Inventor: James L. Groves
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Patent number: 4815432Abstract: A piston rotor and a chamber partitioning rotor are continuously rotated unidirectionally about fixed rotational axes intersecting at an acute angle within a spherical chamber enclosed by a housing. Simultaneous rotation of the rotors and relative angular movement therebetween occurs because of a pivotal joint interconnecting such rotors at the intersection of the rotational axes coinciding with the geometric center of the spherical chamber. Pressure cavities formed between the rotors within the spherical chamber are volumetrically varied in response to the relative movement of the rotors. For internal combustion engine operation, port controlling dome segments within the chamber are rotated at a reduction drive ratio to the chamber partitioning rotor through planetary gearing.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 1988Date of Patent: March 28, 1989Inventor: Michael Sutton
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Patent number: 4721079Abstract: The present rotary engine has a frame with facing, endless spherical surfaces between which combustion chambers move through contraction and expansion cycles. Rotors forming opposite sides of the combustion chambers rotate on an angled, nonrotatable shaft through which a straight power shaft passes. Ring gears on the hubs of the rotors drive gears fastened to the power shaft. The engine is air cooled with air deflected into an interior chamber for subsequent use as combustion air. Air is also deflected into hollow wall segments forming opposite sides of the combustion chambers and into hollow cross vanes forming the other opposite sides of the combustion chambers. The wall segments and cross vanes include sealing mechanisms. The present engine is simple in design and provides a high power to weight ratio.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1986Date of Patent: January 26, 1988Inventor: Orphey A. Lien
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Patent number: 4688522Abstract: A fluid power transfer device includes a pair of rotors and vanes mounted for rotation in a hollow housing having an equatorial plane wherein conical faces of the rotors rollingly engage each other to form a line contact and wherein a hinge pin which hingedly connects the vanes is constrained to rotate in the equatorial plane of the housing by two pairs of guide shoes. The guide shoes are slidably received within grooves formed on the inner surface of the housing and each of the hinged vanes in slidably received and connected to its guide shoes within its respective rotor. The conical faces and the housing cooperate to define a working chamber which is divided into working compartments by the hinged vanes and the line contact. The rotors transfer power between their respective shafts and an operating fluid introduced into one of the working compartments. A fuel system is also disclosed for use with the device when operated as an engine.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 1986Date of Patent: August 25, 1987Inventor: Harold A. McMaster
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Patent number: 4677950Abstract: Mechanical apparatus for compressing, expanding or otherwise working a fluid. The apparatus includes a rotor rotatably mounted in a housing. The rotor has an interior and rotor ports through which a working fluid flows into the rotor interior. Two or more cam structures are rotatably mounted within the rotor interior. A working volume is defined between interior surfaces of the rotor and adjacent cams. The cams are maintained in a desired orientation by a synchronizer. Apparatus according to the invention are useful as engines, compressors and in other fluid working applications.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 1986Date of Patent: July 7, 1987Inventor: Norm Buske
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Patent number: 4589388Abstract: A vane support ring is mounted within a housing to rotate about its axis and support vanes which pivot about diameters of the vane support ring and divide the interior of the housing into two chambers. Drive shafts, pivotally attached to the vanes, extend through drive shaft apertures formed through the housing to coordinate pivotation of the vanes to rotation of the vane support ring so that the two chambers increase and decrease in volume with rotation of the vane support ring. Gases are introduced into the chambers via an inlet port and discharged from the chambers via an exhaust port that are opened and closed in coordination with vane support ring rotation by poppet valves and a cam ring geared to the vane support ring and extending about the poppet valves or, alternatively, by a slotted valve ring extending circularly about the housing and geared to the vane support ring. A spark plug or fuel injector mounted on the housing provides a combusting fuel in each chamber at minimum chamber volume.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 1985Date of Patent: May 20, 1986Inventor: John W. Fenton
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Patent number: 4567867Abstract: A rotary engine including a housing having a special planetary curved surface opening and including a drive shaft interconnected with a belt by a plurality of drive rollers. Chambers are formed between rotating planetary rollers which move within the opening and the belt. The belt has segmented lobes formed thereon which are moved about the drive rollers to compress the fluid in the chambers cyclically to perform work. An internal combustion rotary engine is disclosed in which a spark plug is secured to the housing at the point in the cycle where maximum pressure is developed in the chambers.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 1984Date of Patent: February 4, 1986Inventor: Ronald S. Eisenhour
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Patent number: 4562802Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprising at least one flexible cylinder or semicylinder (chamber) formed from (a) at least one flexible, rectangular sheet attached to a rotor, which in turn is connected to a rotatable shaft, and (b) a pair of parallel end plates contacting the sheet's end surfaces and the engine's housing, which plates contain inlet and exhaust ports (valves) for gases and/or liquids, fuel injectors and spark- or glowplugs as well, and the cylinder's volume is periodically varied by at least one roller contacting the flexible sheet's curved surface at radial distances smaller and up to the rotor's (or chamber's) radius, thereby forcing the gases out, or into the flexible cylinder or semicylinder via the ports, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 1983Date of Patent: January 7, 1986Inventor: Theodore O. Groeger
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Patent number: 4434757Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine comprises a stator having an enclosed chamber defined by a pair of opposing side walls and a peripheral wall extending therebetween. A rotor in the chamber is rotatable by a shaft extending between the side walls. The rotor has at least one arm projecting radially from the shaft and a rotator member pivotally mounted on the end of the arm by a pivot pin. The rotator member has a working surface which spans between the side walls and has leading and trailing surfaces in contact with the peripheral wall, thereby defining a combustion chamber. Air is introduced into the chamber by at least one outlet passage which is rotatable within the chamber and opens radially, with respect to the shaft, into the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1980Date of Patent: March 6, 1984Inventor: Hamilton Walker
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Patent number: 4373484Abstract: A stator enclosure bounded by two side plates confines three fixed blocks and rotor components comprising an internal ring eccentrically disposed about a centrally positioned power delivery shaft which emerges from said enclosure, an outer floating ring which encompasses said blocks, and three identical and equidistantly spaced elliptic plates adapted to rotate about their centers. Rotation of said elliptic plates achieves tangential rolling contact with said internal and outer rings to form three chambers whose volumes vary with rotational displacement of said rotor components. Ports associated with said side plates enable gases to enter and exit said three chambers.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1980Date of Patent: February 15, 1983Inventor: Daniel E. Boehling
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Patent number: 4354462Abstract: The internal combustion engine of the invention has a stationary cylindrical casing with inlet and outlet openings for fuel and air supply and for exhausting. Between two cover plates, a ring structure and a rotor enclosed thereby are arranged for rotation about different but parallel and stationary axes. The ring structure comprises a number of arcuate members between which an equal number of swinging fulcrum slides are held. Vanes extending through the fulcrum slides define an inner group of chambers between the ring structure and the rotor to whose periphery the vanes are joined by swivel bearings, and an outer group of chambers between the ring structure and the casing wall. A flow connection is provided from the outer group serving as charging and boosting chambers to the inner group in which compression, ignition and exhaustion take place.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 1979Date of Patent: October 19, 1982Inventors: Jurgen Kuechler, Reinhold Gabler, deceased, by Inge Funk nee Gabler, legal representative
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Patent number: 4274374Abstract: A rotor chamber and cooperating lubricant passages are defined within an engine housing having a plurality of heat-transfer fins on the exterior surface thereof. A rotor having fluid passages therein is rotatably disposed within the chamber on a shaft, and a pair of lever wheels is rotatably supported within recessed chambers provided in the rotor. Rotatable combustion chambers are defined between adjacent lever arms, and the end of each lever arm engages arm-receiving recesses disposed about the rotor chamber periphery. Cooling and exhaust fans are coaxially supported on the rotor shaft to draw cooling air over the engine casing and to extract exhaust gases from the engine, respectively. The tip and sides of each lever arm are provided with pivotal sealing elements biased into contact with the surfaces of the recessed chambers to provide sealing forces proportional to the pressure of the combustion gases.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 1979Date of Patent: June 23, 1981Inventor: Choong G. Lee
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Patent number: 4266516Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a rotary engine having an annular housing with at least three internal walls equiangularly disposed about a central axis. At least two sliding pistons are disposed within the housing and in sliding contact with the walls. Two rotating valving assemblies enclose the opposite sides of the sliding pistons so that as the pistons slide, intake and compression chambers are formed. The valving assemblies sequentially provide the charge and exhaust of the engine. The sliding pistons are coupled to a central shaft and provide torque for the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 1979Date of Patent: May 12, 1981Inventor: Robert Hakner
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Patent number: 4144866Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a rotary engine having an annular housing and a plurality of walls disposed around the interior of the housing with adjacent walls joined by rounded corners. A plurality of sliding pistons are disposed within the interior of the housing spaced apart from one another and connected radially to a drive shaft extending through the interior of the housing along the central axis thereof. The sliding pistons having face portions adapted to slide adjacent the inner surfaces of the walls are disposed radially outward of the drive shaft. End plates disposed at opposite sides of the housing and intersecting the central axis thereof enclose the opposite sides of each sliding piston which extend to adjacent the inner surfaces thereof. The sliding pistons are guided around the plurality of walls and rounded corners of the housing chamber by cams attached to the end plates.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 1977Date of Patent: March 20, 1979Inventor: Robert Hakner
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Patent number: 4144865Abstract: This invention relates to a fluid displacement apparatus and, more particularly, to fluid displacement apparatus which, with suitable modifications, can be used as a pump, compressor, pneumatic or hydraulic motor or as an internal combustion engine. The fluid displacement apparatus includes a body having a chamber defined therein. At least a portion of the inner surface of such chamber is in the form of a concave segment. Partition means are sealingly engaged with said chamber and define an enclosed space therewith. A baffle extends through said partition means in sealing engagement therewith and is movable relative thereto. The baffle has a peripheral edge shaped to sealingly engage said inner surface of said chamber in relatively movable relation thereto such that said baffle is capable of sweeping motion to and fro relative to said chamber whereby to vary the volumes of the regions located between said inner surface and said partition on the opposing sides of said baffle.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 1977Date of Patent: March 20, 1979Inventor: Leon A. Konopeskas