Back to results
US 10,472,966 B2Granted
Rotary expansible chamber devices and systems incorporating the same
OwnerAaron Feustelinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Rotary expansible chamber (REC) devices having one or more working-fluid ports that are adjustable, for example, in size or location. In some embodiments, the variable port mechanisms can be used to control any one or more of a plurality of operating parameters of a REC device independently of one or more others of the operating parameters. In some embodiments, the REC devices can have a plurality of fluid volumes that change in size during rotation of the REC device, and that transition to a zero volume condition during the rotation of the REC device. Systems are also provided that can include one or more REC devices. Methods for controlling various aspects of REC devices, including methods of controlling one or more operating parameters, are also provided.
Claims17
A rotary expansible chamber device comprising:
- an external gear having a first plurality of teeth and a first rotational axis;
- an internal gear having a second plurality of teeth configured to enmesh with said first plurality of teeth, said internal gear having a second rotational axis that is different than said first rotational axis;
- an arc of inaccessibility with a circumferential location and size;
- wherein enmeshed ones of said first and second plurality of teeth define a plurality of volumes, wherein each of said plurality of volumes individually or as a group become zero or substantially zero at one or more locations as at least one of said internal gear and said external gear rotates, and wherein when said external gear rotates at a first constant rate, said first plurality of teeth enmesh with said second plurality of teeth, thereby causing said internal gear to rotate at a second constant rate;
- wherein each tooth of at least one of said first and second plurality of teeth are always in contact with the other one of said external and internal gear;
- wherein said first rotational axis is in a fixed location and orientation in relation to said second rotational axis;
- and
- wherein said circumferential size of said arc of inaccessibility is configured to be changed independently of said rotation of said external gear.
5 more elements
A rotary expansible chamber device, comprising:
- an outer rotary component having a machine axis;
- an inner rotary component located relative to said outer rotary component so as to define a fluid zone between said inner and outer components, said fluid zone comprising a plurality of fluid volumes for receiving a working fluid during use, wherein said inner and outer rotary components are designed and configured to engage one another so that, when at least one of said inner and outer rotary components is continuously moved relative to the other and about an axis parallel to said machine axis, said inner and outer rotary components continuously define at least one shrinking arc, at least one expanding arc, and at least one zero volume arc within said fluid zone;
- a first working-fluid port in fluid communication with said fluid zone and having a first circumferential extent and a first angular position about said machine axis;
- a first mechanism designed and configured to controllably change at least one of said first circumferential extent and said first angular position;
- a second working-fluid port in fluid communication with said fluid zone and having a second circumferential extent and a second angular position about said machine axis;
- a second mechanism designed and configured to controllably change at least one of said second circumferential extent and said second angular position independently of said first mechanism;
- and
- an arc of inaccessibility over which said fluid volumes do not have access to any of the working fluid port, including said first and second working-fluid ports, said arc of inaccessibility having a circumferential location and circumferential size, wherein changing any one of said first circumferential extent and said first angular position with said first mechanism changes at least one of said circumferential location and said circumferential size of said arc of inaccessibility, and changing any one of said second circumferential extent and said second angular position with said second mechanism changes at least one of said circumferential location and said circumferential size of said arc of inaccessibility.
5 more elements
A method of controlling a rotary expansible chamber device having
- an outer rotary component having a machine axis;
- an inner rotary component located relative to said outer rotary component so as to define a fluid zone between said inner and outer components, said fluid zone comprising a plurality of fluid volumes for receiving a working fluid during use, wherein said inner and outer rotary components are designed and configured to engage one another so that, when at least one of said inner and outer rotary components is continuously moved relative to the other and about an axis parallel to said machine axis, said inner and outer rotary components continuously define at least one shrinking arc, at least one expanding arc, and at least one zero volume arc within said fluid zone,
- at least one arc of inaccessibility where fluid communication to one of said plurality of fluid volumes is denied, said arc of inaccessibility having a circumferential location and size,
- the method comprising:
- changing at least one of the location or the size of the at least one arc of inaccessibility to control any one of a group of operating parameters independently of any of the other operating parameters in the group, wherein the group of operating parameters consists of (1) either a working fluid temperature or pressure differential across the rotary expansible chamber device, (2), a rotation rate of the rotary expansible chamber device and (3) a working fluid mass flow rate through the rotary expansible chamber device.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.