Axial vane rotary device

12) An axial vane internal combustion engine comprising:

• a stator comprising an outer portion and an inner portion together defining a predominantly annular internal chamber having two end plates comprising mutually facing respective cam surfaces, the inner stator portion comprising a central cylindrical portion comprising at least two sets of axially spaced apart peripheral ports, at least one port in each set thereof connected to at least one of an intake passageway and an exhaust passageway;
• a rotor assembly rotatably mounted within the annular chamber, the rotor assembly comprising a shaft extending from a rotor block along an axis of the device, the shaft protruding through one of the end plates,
• the rotor block comprising:
• a central bore receiving therewithin the inner stator portion;
• axially spaced apart pairs of transfer passages, each passage of a pair thereof providing fluid communication between a respective side of the rotor block and a respective transfer port opening to the central bore in axial alignment with one of the sets of peripheral ports;
• a plurality of slots, each extending from one side of the rotor block to the other, the slots angularly disposed alternatively with the pairs of transfer passages;
• vanes slidably disposed within respective slots for axial reciprocation therewithin, each vane comprising an outer edge engaging the outer annular wall and two side edges, each engaging a respective one of the cam surfaces.

20) An axial vane rotary device operable as one of a pump, a compressor, an expander and a fluid-driven motor, the device comprising:

• a stator comprising outer and inner portions jointly defining an annular internal chamber having two end plates comprising mutually facing respective annular cam surface;
• the inner stator portion comprising a central cylindrical portion comprising at least two sets of axially spaced apart peripheral ports, at least one peripheral port in each set thereof connected to at least one of an intake passageway and an exhaust passageway;
• a rotor assembly rotatably mounted within the annular chamber and comprising a rotor block and a shaft extending axially therefrom, the shaft protruding through one of the end plates;
• the rotor block comprising:
• a central bore receiving the inner stator portion;
• axially spaced apart pairs of transfer passages, each passage of a pair thereof providing fluid communication between a respective side of the rotor block and a respective transfer port opening to the central bore in axial alignment with one of the sets of peripheral ports;
• a plurality of slots, each extending from one side of the rotor block to the other, the slots angularly disposed alternatively with the pairs of transfer passages;
• vanes slidably disposed within respective slots for axial reciprocation therewithin, each vane comprising an outer edge engaging the outer annular wall and two side edges, each engaging a respective one of the cam surfaces.

23) Apparatus for moving a vane axially in an axial vane rotary device, the apparatus comprising:

• a stator comprising outer and inner portions jointly defining an annular internal chamber having two end plates comprising mutually facing respective annular cam surfaces;
• a rotor comprising an axial slot for slidingly receiving the vane therein;
• a guide cam groove formed in an outer wall of the chamber;
• a substantially hemispherical recess disposed in an outer edge of the vane;
• and
• a freely movable ball element cam follower engaging both the recess and the guide cam groove, the ball element having a radius greater than a depth of the cam groove and a depth of the recess.