Abstract: A throttle loss recovery turbine and supercharger device (10) comprises a housing (12) having a movable intake port (36) and a separately movable exhaust port (38). An outer drum is rotatably placed within the housing. An inner drum (24) is rotatably disposed within the housing, and within an inside diameter of the outer drum (18). The inner drum has an axis of rotation (30) eccentric to an axis of rotation of the outer drum, defining a variable volume annular space (26) therebetween. The inner and outer drum are configured to rotate within the housing at a 1:1 ratio with one another, and the intake and exhaust ports are each in air flow communication with some portion of the annular space. A number of vanes (20) are each interposed radially between the inner and outer drums. Each vane is pivotably attached at one end (22) to the outer drum, and is attached at an opposite end to the inner drum. At least one drum is coupled to an engine crankshaft.

Abstract: A rotary vane combustion engine is provided that has a plurality of vane cells. This rotary vane combustion engine includes a rotor having a plurality of vanes; a stator enclosing the rotor to form a plurality of vane cells between the plurality of vanes; one or more intake ports for providing intake charge to the vane cells; one or more exhaust ports for removing exhaust gas from one of the vane cells; and a variable bandwidth fuel-air source connected to at least one of the intake ports for providing a discrete band of mixed fuel and air having a desired axial width to each of the plurality of vane cells. By providing a discrete band of fuel and air to each of the vane cells, this rotary vane combustion engine will allow the machine or engine to run at lower power without requiring it to run a vacuum to lower the density of mixed fuel and air. As a result, vacuum pumping losses can be substantially eliminated and the machine or engine can operate more efficiently.

Abstract: A rotary vane combustion engine is provided that uses a hot wall combustion insert to provide the heat for combusting a fuel-air charge. The rotary vane combustion engine includes a rotor having a plurality of vanes, a stator enclosing the rotor to form a plurality of vane cells between the plurality of vanes, one or more intake ports for providing intake gas to the vane cells, a fuel source for mixing fuel with the intake gas to form a fuel-air charge having a fuel-to-air equivalence ratio, a hot wall combustion insert with an exposed surface provided on the stator for igniting the fuel-air charge during a combustion cycle and producing an exhaust gas, and one or more exhaust ports for removing the exhaust gas from one of the vane cells. The hot wall combustion insert provides the heat to combust the fuel-air charge, and operates on the gas over a wide area, rather than only at a point or a given line of contact.

Abstract: In a spark ignition (SI) turbine engine, the combustible fuel-air mixture is compressed by volume displacement and accelerated at high velocity into the ignition source, to reduce the combustion time relative to conventional SI engines, lowering the lean fuel-air mixture flammability limit. Increased process velocity reduces the time exposure of the compressed fuel-air mixture to combustion, permitting near adiabatic operation without pre-ignition. Reducing the time exposure of the combustible gases to high combustion temperatures may reduce emission of oxides of nitrogen. The best power combustion velocity may be maintained throughout the fuel-air mixture range. Lean fuel-air mixture operation may result in fuel savings without a corresponding loss of power, and may reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The high speed operation may provide a quieter engine. An expander or a turbine may recover some of the exhaust energy loss associated with near adiabatic combustion.

Abstract: A rotary engine including a drive element rotatably disposed within an open interior of a drive chamber, the drive chamber having an interior wall structure which defines the open interior including a fuel intake region, a combustion region, an exhaust region, and a fluid intake region therein. The engine further includes a plurality of combustion chambers disposed about a periphery of the drive element and movable with the drive element relative to the drive chamber.

Abstract: A rotary vane pumping machine includes a stator and rotor in relative rotation. The rotor has a plurality of radial vanes slots and each one of a corresponding plurality of vanes slides within a radial vane slot of the rotor. Each pair of adjacent vanes defines a vane cell. A rotary scavenging disk is disposed along the stator circumference, and is sized such that the rotary scavenging disk extends into the vane cell. An outer circumferential edge of the rotary scavenging disk is in sealing proximity with an outer circumferential edge of the rotor and recesses within the rotary scavenging disk mesh and seal with the extending and retracting vanes.

Abstract: A rotary engine is disclosed having a rotor and rotor housing for mounting therewithin said rotor for rotation within an inner wall of the rotor housing, a gap between the rotor and the inner wall of the rotor housing defining an engine compartment. A plurality of telescopic sealing blades which can elongate and shorten with respect to the rotor are attached, respectively at positions substantially equally spaced on the circumference of said rotor so that the sealing blades elastically contact to the inner wall of the rotor housing, the sealing blades sliding along the inner wall of the rotor housing during the rotation of the rotor and separating the engine room in an airtight manner so that the suction of fuel gas, its succeeding compression and the exhaust of burnt gas are carried out. The engine has a compression chamber and an expansion chamber, defined by two adjacent sealing blades, respectively.

Abstract: A method for reducing the exhaust pollution emissions in a two-stroke sliding vane internal combustion engine. First, fresh air is inducted into a vane cell, and fuel is injected into the cell at an ultra-lean fuel-air equivalence ratio less than about 0.65. The fuel is injected at a location such that a circumferential distance at mid-cell-height to the stator site at the onset of combustion is at least about 4 times a vane cell height at intake. The ultra-lean fuel-air combination is then compressed and thoroughly premixed prior to combustion to a dimensionless concentration fluctuation fraction below about 0.25. The ultra-lean, thoroughly premixed fuel-air combination is then combusted. The combusted fuel-air combination is purged after an expansion cycle. The premixing step prior to combustion may use inclined airfoils within the intake duct to produce counter-rotating mixing vortices.

Abstract: A rotary engine consisting of a slightly oblong casing (10) housing a circular shaped rotor (12). Attached to the rotor are separating vanes (14) that slide in and out of the rotor to create separate chambers within the engine. Additionally, the rotor houses inlet valves (16) and exhaust valves (18) which draw in and expel the fuel/air mixture, respectively. The rotor houses the means for manipulating the valves.

Abstract: A method for reducing the exhaust pollution emissions in a two-stroke sliding vane internal combustion engine. First, fresh air is inducted into a vane cell, and fuel is injected into the cell at an ultra-lean fuel-air equivalence ratio less than about 0.65. The fuel is injected at a location such that a circumferential distance at mid-cell-height to the stator site at the onset of combustion is at least about 4 times a vane cell height at intake. The ultra-lean fuel-air combination is then compressed and thoroughly premixed prior to combustion to a dimensionless concentration fluctuation fraction below about 0.25. The ultra-lean, thoroughly premixed fuel-air combination is then combusted. The combusted fuel-air combination is purged after an expansion cycle. The premixing step prior to combustion may use inclined airfoils within the intake duct to produce counter-rotating mixing vortices.

Abstract: A rotary engine is disclosed having a rotor and rotor housing for mounting therewithin said rotor for its rotation within the inner wall of the rotor housing, the gap between the rotor and the inner wall of the rotor housing defining the engine room. A plurality of telescopic sealing blades which can elongate and shorten with respect to the rotor are attached, respectively at positions substantially equally spaced on the circumference of said rotor so that the sealing blades elastically contact to the inner wall of the rotor housing, the sealing blades sliding along the inner wall of the rotor housing during the rotation of the rotor and separating the engine room in an airtight manner so that the suction of fuel gas, its succeeding compression and the exhaust of burnt gas are carried out.

Abstract: A sliding vane internal combustion engine that provides one or more expansion gas ducts directing pressurized gases from expansion volumes of the vane engine into an intake charge so as to increase the intake charge density. One or more intercoolers may be coupled to the expansion gas ducts to cool the pressurized gases flowing into the intake region. One or more bypass passages may also be provided to direct the pressurized gas flow around the corresponding intercooler. One or more flow control valves may be provided to control the rate of the pressurized gas flow into the intake region.

Abstract: A rotary vane internal combustion engine wherein the section of the rotor housing where ignition takes place is formed in the shape of a circular arc matching the curvature of the rotor, with the balance of the housing periphery being composed of a series of tangent arcs to define an elliptical shape that is continuously concave and has no drastic changes in curvature. The rotor and housing are "stretched" along their axial dimensions so that each combustion chamber has an axial measurement substantially greater than its circumferential measurement, and each segment of the rotor surface between adjacent vanes has formed therein a plurality of combustion chamber pockets spaced from one another along the axial dimension of the rotor and each provided with a spark plug.

Abstract: A radial vane rotary engine comprises an outer housing having a inner cam surface, and an inner housing disposed within the outer housing and having a outer cam surface. There is a substantially constant radial distance between the inner and outer cam surfaces. A rotatable rotor is disposed between the inner and outer housings. The rotor is generally cylindrical having an outer surface, an inner surface, a plurality of axial slots opening between the outer and inner surfaces, and an output shaft extending axially from an end portion of the rotor. A plurality of vanes extend radially through the slots between the inner and outer cam surfaces, providing a plurality of outer chambers between the adjacent vanes, the inner cam surface and the outer surface of the rotor. Similarly, a plurality of inner chambers are provided between the adjacent vanes, the inner cam surface and the inner surface of the rotor.

Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine includes a block having a generally elliptically shaped bore and a substantially round rotor adapted to rotate on a straight shaft in the bore of the block. The rotor is provided with a pair of substantially diametrically mounted rotor segments, the rotor being provided with a pair of recesses for receiving the rotor segments and the rotor segments being pivotally mounted to the rotor such that a portion of each rotor segment tends to be forced outwardly by centrifugal force upon the rotation of the rotor. The block is provided with a charging and a combustion space formed in the space between the elliptical shaped bore and the round rotor. The combustion chamber is enlarged by the outward movement of an outer segment pivotally mounted on the block. A pair of vanes between the rotor segments are mounted in slots on the rotor for the forming of a seal between the rotor and the inner surface of the bore of the block. The engine may be operated on any type of gaseous fuel.

Abstract: A sliding vane engine, where the vanes slide with at least of one of an axial and radial component of vane motion, and where the compression ratio of the engine may be variably controlled. The engine includes a stator and a rotor in relative rotation, and a plurality of vanes in rotor slits defining one or more main chamber cells and one or more vane slit cells. The vanes contain extended pins that move in a pin channel for controlling the sliding motion of the vane. Fuel is mixed by incorporating air turbulence generators at or near the intake region. The intake and exhaust regions of the engine also incorporate a wave pumping mechanism for injecting and scavenging air from the main chamber cells and the vane slits. The compression ratio of the engine may be varied while the engine is in operation, and the engine geometry provides for an extended temporal duration at about peak compression. The engine is insulated by using segmented ceramic inserts on the stator and rotor surfaces.

Abstract: A method for reducing the exhaust pollution emissions in a sliding vane internal combustion engine. First, an ultra-lean fuel-air combination is thoroughly premixed, the fuel-air combination having an equivalence ratio less than about 0.60 and a dimensionless concentration fluctuation fraction below about 0.33. After being premixed, the ultra-lean fuel-air combination is inducted into a vane cell, compressed, and it is then combusted at a peak compression plateau. The combusted fuel-air combination is purged after an expansion cycle. The combusting of the fuel-air combination may be initiated by autoignition.

Abstract: An axial vane rotary device (14) includes a stator (16) with a cylindrical internal chamber (34) defined an annular outer wall (40) and two side walls (36, 38) of the stator. Each side wall has an annular cam surface (42, 44). A rotor (54) is rotatably mounted within the chamber. The rotor has an annular outer wall (66) and a plurality of angularly spaced-apart, axially extending slots (64) extending therethrough. A vane (68) is slidably received in each slot. The vanes reciprocate axially and alternatively expand and compress spaces between adjacent vanes and the cam sur-faces as the rotor rotates. The cam surfaces have alternating first portions (92) and second portions (90). The second portions are further from the rotor than the second portions. The first portions of one said cam surface are aligned with second portions of another said cam surface. The slots extend radially outwards on the rotor to the annular outer wall thereof.

Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine includes a block having a generally elliptically shaped bore and a substantially round rotor adapted to rotate on a straight shaft in the bore of the block. The rotor is provided with a pair of substantially diametrically mounted rotor segments, the rotor being provided with a pair of recesses for receiving the rotor segments and the rotor segments being pivotally mounted to the rotor such that a portion of each rotor segments tends to be forced outwardly by centrifugal force upon the rotation of the rotor. The block is provided with a charging and a combustion space formed in the space between the elliptical shaped bore and the round rotor. The combustion chamber is enlarged by the outward movement of an outer segment pivotally mounted on the block. A pair of vanes between the rotor segments are mounted in slots on the rotor for the forming of a seal between the rotor and the inner surface of the bore of the block. The engine may be operated on any type of gaseous fuel.

Abstract: An axial vane rotary device (14) includes a stator (16)with a cylindrical internal chamber (34) defined an annular outer wall (40) and two side walls (36, 38) of the stator. Each side wall has an annular cam surface (42, 44). A rotor (54) is rotatably mounted within the chamber. The rotor has an annular outer wall (66) and a plurality of angularly spaced-apart, axially extending slots (64) extending therethrough. A vane (68) is slidably received in each slot. The vanes reciprocate axially and alternatively expand and compress spaces between adjacent vanes and the cam surfaces as the rotor rotates. The cam surfaces have alternating first portions (92) and second portions (90). The second portions are further from the rotor than the second portions. The first portions of one said cam surface are aligned with second portions of another said cam surface. The slots extend radially outwards on the rotor to the annular outer wall thereof.

Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine including a plurality of variable compression ratio rotating combustion chambers or alternatively stationary combustion chambers, a multi-piston movable assembly or alternatively a multi-sector movable assembly, a multi-sector stationary assembly or alternatively multi-piston stationary assembly with means for effecting ignition or alternatively for injecting fuel into the combustion chambers. The combustion chambers are formed by the multi-sector stationary assembly and the multi-piston movable assembly such that each of the pistons is located radially of the engine's pre-definable center axis. The stationary assembly, the movable assembly and the pistons of the movable assembly are cooperatively associated one with another so that the movable assembly is capable of being made to undergo rotating motion about the engine's center axis in a circular path about the stationary assembly.

Abstract: A rotary device has a stator having a space therein with an oval peripheral wall. A rotor is rotatably mounted within the space. The rotor has a circular outer wall. There are two chambers on opposite sides of the stator between the peripheral wall and the outer wall of the rotor. Vanes are reciprocatingly mounted on the rotor for radial movement towards and away from the rotor. Each vane has an outer wall. There is a cam mechanism for maintaining the outer walls of the vanes in contact with the peripheral wall of the stator as the rotor rotates.

Abstract: A novel centrifugal device that attaches to multiple rotating cross-vanes in a rotary engine so as to offset the effects of centrifugal forces on the cross-vanes and thereby reduce seal element wear on the cross-vanes. The device consists of two clevis arms and a weight arm pivotally pinned to each end of the rotating cross-vanes.

Abstract: A three-piece housing enclosing a cavity has rotatably mounted therein a rotor having a plurality of slots, each slot supporting a vane. Each vane has a retention end guided in its revolution around the rotor by an internal, non-circular vane retention track. Two adjacent vanes define opposite sides of a combustion chamber, while the housing and the portion of the rotor between the adjacent vanes form the remaining surfaces of the combustion chamber. Each combustion chamber is rotated past an intake port, a diagonal plasma bleed-over groove, and an exhaust port to accomplish the phases of a combustion cycle. Fuel ignition is provided to more than one combustion chamber at a time by expanding gases passing through a plasma bleed-over groove and being formed into a vortex that ignites and churns the charge in a succeeding combustion chamber.

Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine including a housing dividing a substantially circular rotor chamber and a drive shaft extending through this chamber. A circular rotor is mounted in the chamber on the drive shaft and has a diameter less than the diameter of the chamber. The rotor and drive shaft are offset from the center axis of the chamber. Two pairs of vanes are slidingly mounted in the rotor with one vane of each pair being located diametrically opposite to the other vane of the pair. Rods fixedly connect the vanes of each pair together so that the predetermined distance between outer ends of the vanes of each pair remains constant and is the same for each pair. This predetermined distance is substantially equal to the distance from a point on the circumferential wall of the chamber which is closest to the circumference of the rotor and a second point on the wall diametrically opposite the first point.

Abstract: A positive displacement pump-motor-meter has a housing structure and a rotor disposed within and supported by the housing structure in a rotatable arrangement about an axis of rotation, wherein the combination of the housing structure and the rotor provides a toroidal cavity encircling the axis of rotation and having cross sectional area varying from a maximum value at the 12 o'clock position to a minimum value at the 6 o'clock position, which toroidal cavity houses a plurality of planar vanes disposed therealong in an axisymmetric arrangement about the axis of rotation and supported by the rotor member in a revolvable arrangement about respective axes of revolution, of wherein the revolving motion of each of the plurality of vanes about its respective axis of revolution is coupled to the rotating motion of the rotor about the axis of rotation in such a way that the vane revolves at an angular speed equal to one half of the angular speed of the rotor, whereby each of the plurality of planar vanes substantiall

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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A radial internal combustion engine having a rotor of the radially movable vane type eccentrically housed within a rotor chamber casing both of which are journalled for rotation within an engine housing. Combustion induced rotation of the rotor is coupled by a gear train to the rotor chamber casing for driving the rotor chamber casing at the same speed as the rotor. Impeller blades provided on the periphery of the rotor chamber casing are employed to supercharge the fuel mixture prior to its being directed into the volumetrically expandable and contractable combustion chambers provided about the periphery of the rotor.

Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine having an elliptical wall member which forms an elliptical internal chamber. A drive shaft is rotatably mounted in the housing and extends transversely through the elliptical chamber. A substantially cylindrical rotor is secured to the drive shaft within the chamber and has a plurality of circumferentially equidistantly spaced vane members radially slidably disposed within the rotor. A source of fluid pressure communicates with the radially inner end of the vane members to urge the vane members radially outwardly so that the vane members contact the elliptical wall. Moreover, each vane member is of a sliding laminated construction to ensure a sealing engagement between the vane member and the wall surface. A fuel and air mixture is supplied to the rotor via an air suction chamber which thereafter is compressed with the fuel between the rotor, the wall portion and adjacent vane members.

Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine having a housing defining a chamber is disclosed. A fixed shaft extends coaxially through the chamber. A plurality of vanes are pinned to a collar which is rotative about the shaft. One vane is rigidly secured to the collar. A cylindrical drum is positioned in the working chamber with the centerline of the drum radially offset from the centerline of the working chamber. The vanes extend through slots or apertures in the rotor to close proximity with the chamber wall. A fuel delivery system communicates with the chamber through approximately 90 degrees of the compression cycle. An exhaust opening communicates with the chamber at the end of the expansion cycle whereby the compression ratio is substantially less than the expansion ratio. In one embodiment means are provided to vary the compression and expansion ratios.

Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine with four vanes carried by a rotor engaging an internal oval housing surface to define four chambers that orbit the rotor axis. Two of the chambers, diametrically opposed, are operated as working chambers on a four-phase internal combustion engine basis in phase with each other. Supercharging is continued through an early part of the volume expansion and firing phase, whereby the rate of expansion per degree of rotation is substantial at the time firing is initiated. The other two chambers are operated as air pumping chambers to supercharge the working chambers via an air pressure accumulator. A lubricating liquid within the chamber is introduced into the pumping chambers for engine lubrication with excess being returned to the accumulator. The pressure of the liquid is applied hydraulically against the vanes to urge each radially outward with equal force.

Abstract: An orbital internal combustion engine comprises an engine housing having first and second end walls and intermediate, axially spaced first and second annular, inwardly projecting wall members. First and second axial drive shaft portions are installed through the housing first and second end walls respectively. A spool shaped engine rotor having radially outwardly projecting end flanges is installed in the housing with the first and second end flanges closely adjacent to axially outer surfaces of the first and second annular wall members. The rotor is eccentrically rotatably mounted to inner ends of the drive shaft portions. The two annular wall members and rotor ends divide the housing interior into a combustion air plenum at the housing first end, a central chamber and an exhaust gas plenum at the housing second end.

Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine having an ellipsoidal wall member which forms an ellipsoidal internal chamber. A drive shaft is rotatably mounted in the housing and extends transversely through the ellipsoidal chamber. A substantially cylindrical rotor is secured to the drive shaft within the chamber and has a plurality of circumferentially equidistantly spaced vane members radially slidably disposed within the rotor. A source of fluid pressure communicates with the radially inner end of the vane members to urge the vane members radially outwardly so that the vane members contact selected circumferential sections of the wall portion. A fuel supply means including a rotary compressor supplies a fuel and air mixture to the rotor which thereafter further compresses the fuel between the rotor, the wall portion, and adjacent vane members. The fuel air mixture is ignited by appropriate ignition means to thereby rotatably drive the drive shaft.

Abstract: A four-chamber rotary internal combustion engine wherein each chamber is operated on a four-stroke cycle with adjacent chambers being operated 90.degree. out of phase with each other so that combustion or power strokes are effected adjacent diametrically opposed parts of the housing. Intake and exhaust valving functions are effected by rotary valves constituted of passageways in the housing and rotor, and with adjacent chambers having intake and exhaust connection to separate sets of passageways in the housing.

Abstract: A rotary energy converter has a rotor provided with a plurality of hinged vanes and centrally mounted within a stator having a generally circular inner wall surface formed with one or more vaulted bays and corresponding abutments. As the rotor rotates within the stator, the hinged vanes are urged outwardly by centrifugal force into wiping contact with the stator inner wall, and are alternately extended and retracted, as the vanes encounter the vaulted bays and abutments to provide a respiring chamber between each pair of adjacent vanes. In one preferred form, the energy converter is shown as a rotary internal combustion engine having at least two vaulted bays, one of which constitutes a fuel inlet and compression bay, and the other of which constitutes a combustion expansion bay with an ignition station located between said bays.

Abstract: An orbital pump or the like comprises a housing having first and second end walls and intermediate, axially spaced first and second annular, inwardly projecting wall members. First and second axial drive shaft portions are installed through the housing first and second end walls respectively. A spool shaped engine rotor having radially outwardly projecting end flanges is installed in the housing with the first and second end flanges closely adjacent to axially outer surfaces of the first and second annular wall members. The rotor is eccentrically rotatably mounted to inner ends of the drive shaft portions. The two annular wall members and rotor ends divide the housing interior into an inlet plenum at the housing first end, a central chamber and an outlet plenum at the housing second end. A pair of intersecting rotor vanes, mounted diametrically through major portions of the rotor and in mutual orthogonal relationship, circumferentially divide the central chamber into four working chambers.