US 2002/0157636 A1 · Two-dimensional positive rotary displacement engine

Abstract

A two-dimensional rotary displacement device comprises a housing, an outer rotor and at least one inner rotor. The axes of rotation of the outer rotor and the at least one inner rotor are parallel. A predefined geometrical relationship exists between the outer and inner rotors such that the scale of operative circumference (or diameter) from the inner rotor with respect to the outer rotor is preferably an integer value. In one embodiment, the device is used as a compressor that positively displaces a gas. In a modified embodiment, the device includes an exit port, which has a location that can be adjusted with respect to the housing and is adjustable so as to decrease the pressure differential between an exit chamber and the exit pressure. In another embodiment, the device can be used as an external combustion engine wherein compressed gas is discharged from an exit chamber to a combustion chamber where the volume of gas is increased due to heating of the gas and a portion of the discharge gas is directed to the rotor assembly and the remaining volume of gas can be used for a “hot blow” thrust or other use or directed to an additional rotor assembly to induce a torque to an output shaft attached to the outer rotor of one or both of the rotor assemblies. In another embodiment, a portion of the the compressed gas can be used for “cold blow thrust or other purpose instead of directing all of the compressed gas through the combustor.

Claims8

Dependent claims

An engine comprising

a housing comprising a first inner surface, a first outer surface, a second inner surface, a second outer surface, an opening duct and an exit passage positioned on the first inner surface;
an outer rotor journalled for rotation about a first axis between the first outer surface and the first inner surface;
the outer rotor comprising a plurality of fins that extends towards the first axis, the fins defining, at least in part, a first chamber;
an inner rotor journalled for rotation about a second axis between the second inner surface and the second outer surface, the second axis being parallel to the first axis, the inner rotor comprising at least a first leg having a distal end comprising a heal portion and a foot portion, the distal end of the first leg configured to fit within the first chamber of the outer rotor;
wherein as the inner and outer rotors rotate from a first position to a second position a fluid is drawn into the first chamber through the opening duct, as the first and second rotors rotate to a third position, the first chamber becomes substantially sealed between the first outer surface, the outer rotor, the housing and the distal end of the first leg, as the inner and outer rotor rotate to a fourth condition, the first chamber is compressed and is substantially sealed between the outer rotor, the housing and the distal end of the first leg, as the inner and outer rotor rotate to a fifth position, the first chamber is further compressed further and the fluid is discharged through the exit passage which is now in communication with the first chamber.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Two-dimensional positive rotary displacement engine

Life of this patent

Two-dimensional positive rotary displacement engine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8