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US 2012/0048230 A1Published application
Rotary vane engines with movable rotors, and engine systems comprising same
OwnerDavid S. Darrowinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of rotary vane engines include rotors that rotate about an axis of rotation. The rotors can be moved in directions substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation to vary expansion and/or compression ratios of the rotary vane engines. The ability to vary the expansion and/or compression ratios can facilitate optimization of the performance of the rotary vane engines as operating conditions vary.
Claims20
A rotary vane engine adapted for use with a source of pressurized gas, comprising:
- a housing;
- and
- a rotor mounted in the housing and rotatable in relation to the housing about an axis of rotation, wherein:
- the rotor comprises a shaft, a plurality of radially-oriented vane guides secured to the shaft, and a plurality of vanes;
- each of the plurality of vanes is disposed at least in part within an associated one of the vane guides;
- the vanes, the vane guides, and the housing define a plurality of chambers within the rotary vane engine;
- the chambers receive pressurized gas from the source of pressurized gas;
- the pressurized gas is expanded within the chambers to impart rotation to the rotor;
- the rotor is movable in relation to the housing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotor so that a volume of each of the plurality of chambers at a given angular position of the chamber in relation to the housing is variable and an expansion ratio of the pressurized gas is variable;
- an inlet and an outlet are formed in the housing;
- the inlet receives the pressurized gas and directs the pressurized gas to the chambers before the pressurized gas has been expanded;
- and
- the pressurized gas is exhausted from the chambers by way of the outlet after the pressurized gas has been expanded.
10 more elements
(canceled)
8-10. (canceled)
A rotary vane engine, comprising:
- a housing;
- and
- a rotor mounted for rotation within the housing and comprising a shaft and a plurality of vanes mounted on the shaft, wherein:
- the vanes and the housing define a plurality of chambers for expanding a pressurized gas to impart rotation to the rotor;
- a centerline of the shaft is movable in relation to the housing in a direction substantially perpendicular to a centerline of the housing so that a volume of each of the chambers at a given angular position of the chamber is variable and an expansion ratio of the pressurized gas is variable;
- an inlet and an outlet are formed in the housing;
- the inlet receives the pressurized gas and directs the pressurized gas to the chambers before the pressurized gas has been expanded;
- and
- the pressurized gas is exhausted from the chambers by way of the outlet after the pressurized gas has been expanded.
6 more elements
A rotary vane engine, comprising:
- a housing;
- a rotor mounted within the housing and rotatable in relation to the housing about an axis of rotation, the rotor comprising a shaft and plurality of vanes mounted on the shaft, the vanes and the housing defining a plurality of chambers each having a volume that receives a pressurized gas for expansion within the chamber to impart rotation to the rotor, wherein:
- an inlet and an outlet are formed in the housing;
- the inlet receives the pressurized gas and directs the pressurized gas to the chambers before the pressurized gas has been expanded;
- and the pressurized gas is exhausted from the chambers by way of the outlet after the pressurized gas has been expanded;
- and
- at least one of:
- a hydraulic actuator;
- a screw jack;
- a pneumatic cylinder;
- a cam;
- a ramp;
- and a lobe coupled to the rotor for moving the rotor in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation so that a volume of each of the chambers at a given angular position of the chamber in relation to the housing is variable and an expansion ratio of the pressurized gas is variable.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.