Variable volume chamber device
AssigneeQuest Engines, LLC
InventorsElario Dino Dalmas, II, Roy A. Blom
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A variable volume chamber device is disclosed. The chambers may be defined by the space between four pivotally connected vanes contained within a housing. The vanes may be connected so as to create a sealed interior chamber that may be used as a combustion chamber in an internal combustion engine, or as a pumping chamber in a pump or compressor. The four-vane assembly may also form additional variable volume chambers between the vanes and a surrounding structure. The plurality of variable volume chambers may be interconnected to progressively act on a working fluid.
Claims23
A variable volume chamber device comprising:
- a housing;
- an assembly including a first vane, a second vane, a third vane, and a fourth vane disposed within said housing,
- wherein the first vane is pivotally connected to the second vane at a fixed location relative to the housing,
- wherein the second vane is pivotally connected to the third vane,
- wherein the third vane is pivotally connected to the fourth vane,
- wherein the fourth vane is pivotally connected to the first vane, and
- wherein said assembly defines a variable volume chamber.
In an internal combustion engine experiencing, in relative terms, repeated and sequential cool inlet events and hot combustion events, the method of:
- repeatedly moving a variable volume chamber to a first engine region for the cool inlet events;
- and
- repeatedly moving the variable volume chamber to a second engine region for hot combustion events.
A variable volume chamber device comprising:
- an engine, pump, or compressor housing;
- a variable volume chamber provided in the housing;
- an inlet or outlet port provided in the housing communicating with the variable volume chamber;
- a slide gate or a rotary gate provided adjacent to the inlet or outlet port, said slide gate or rotary gate configured to selectively block a variable portion of the inlet or outlet port;
- and
- an actuator connected to the slide gate or rotary gate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.