Rotary vane engines and methods
OwnerHans-Peter MESSMERinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rotary vane engine includes a sealing area that prevents or reduces carry-back between portions of the rotary vane engine. The rotary vane engine includes a stator housing having a stator wall with a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may be formed with a curvature that substantially matches the curvature of a rotor and provides the sealing. The rotary vane engine may include a first insert member for allowing adjustment of a fluid manipulation ratio (compression or expansion).
Claims42
A rotary vane engine for compressing or expanding a working fluid, the rotary vane engine comprising:
- a stator housing having a stator wall, the stator wall defining an interior space;
- a rotor having a curvature, the rotor disposed within the interior space, the rotor having a plurality of slideable vanes operable to contact the stator wall;
- wherein the stator wall has a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the first portion has a curvature that substantially matches the curvature of the rotor to form a sealing area between the rotor and stator housing having a sealing distance (d).
A rotary vane engine comprising:
- a stator housing having a stator wall, the stator wall defining an interior space;
- a rotor having a curvature and disposed within the interior space, the rotor having a plurality of slideable vanes operable to contact the stator wall to form a plurality of cells;
- and
- a first insert member disposed within the interior space and operable to adjust a fluid manipulation ratio of the rotary vane engine.
A method of manufacturing a rotary vane engine, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming a stator housing having a stator wall, the stator wall defining an interior space;
- forming a rotor having a curvature, the rotor for disposing within the interior space, the rotor having a plurality of slideable vanes operable to contact the stator wall;
- disposing the rotor within the stator housing;
- wherein the interior space of the stator housing has a first portion and a second portion;
- and
- wherein the step of forming the stator housing comprises forming the stator housing with a first portion that has a curvature that at least substantially matches the curvature of the rotor to form a sealing area between the rotor and stator housing having a sealing distance (d).
A method of manufacturing a rotary vane engine comprising:
- forming a stator housing having a stator wall, the stator wall defining an interior space;
- forming a rotor having a curvature, the rotor for disposing within the interior space, the rotor having a plurality of slideable vanes operable to contact the stator wall to form a plurality of cells;
- disposing the rotor within the stator housing;
- forming a first insert member;
- and
- disposing the first insert member within the interior space, wherein the insert member is operable to adjust a fluid manipulation ratio of the rotary vane engine.
A method of expanding a compressed working fluid in a rotary vane engine, the method comprising:
- receiving the compressed working fluid in a moving cell formed in an interior space of the rotary vane engine, wherein the movable cell is formed between a stator wall, a rotor, and two slideable vanes on the rotor;
- moving the moving cell such that the moving cell has a larger volume;
- and
- forming at least a substantial fluid seal between the rotor and stator wall over a sealing distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.