Rotational Displacement Apparatus
AssigneeFetu Limited
InventorJonathan Paul Fenton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus comprising a first piston member (22) rotatable about a first rotational axis (30) and a rotor (16) comprising a first chamber (34a) and pivotable about a second rotational axis (32). The first piston member (22) extends across the first chamber (34a). The rotor (16) and first piston member (22) are rotatable around the first rotational axis (30), and the rotor (16) is pivotable about the second rotational axis (32) to permit a relative pivoting motion between the rotor (16) and the first piston member (22) linked to the rotor (16) rotating about the first rotational axis (30).
Claims24
An apparatus (10) comprising:
- a shaft (18) which defines and is rotatable about a first rotational axis (30);
- an axle (20) defining a second rotational axis (32), the shaft (18) extending through the axle (20);
- a first piston member (22) provided on the shaft (18), the first piston member (22) extending from the axle (20) towards a distal end of the shaft (18);
- a rotor (16) carried on the axle (20);
- the rotor (16) comprising a first chamber (34a),
- the first piston member (22) extending across the first chamber (34a);
- whereby:
- the rotor (16) and axle (20) are rotatable with the shaft (18) around the first rotational axis (30);
- and
- the rotor (16) is pivotable about the axle (20) about the second rotational axis (32)
- to permit relative pivoting motion between the rotor (16) and the first piston member (22) as the rotor (16) rotates about the first rotational axis (30).
An apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein
- the shaft (18), axle (20) and piston member(s) (22) are fixed relative to one another.
An apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein:
- the second rotational axis (32) is substantially perpendicular to the first rotational axis (30).
An apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising:
- a housing (12) having a wall (24) which defines a cavity (26);
- the rotor (16) being rotatable and pivotable within the cavity (26);
- and disposed relative to the housing (12) such that a small clearance is maintained between the rotor (16) over the majority of the wall (24).
An apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the apparatus further comprises:
- a pivot actuator operable to pivot the rotor (16) about the axle (20).
An apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the chamber(s) (34a, 34b) is (are) in fluid communication with a fuel supply.
An apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the chamber(s) (34a, 34b) is (are) in fluid communication with a fuel ignition device.
An apparatus comprising:
- a first piston member (22) rotatable about a first rotational axis (30);
- a rotor (16) comprising a first chamber (34a) and pivotable about a second rotational axis (32),
- the first piston member (22) extending across the first chamber (34a);
- whereby:
- the rotor (16) and first piston member (22) are rotatable around the first rotational axis (30);
- and
- the rotor (16) is pivotable about the second rotational axis (32)
- to permit relative pivoting motion between the rotor (16) and the first piston member (22) linked to the rotor (16) rotating about the first rotational axis (30).
A method of operation of an apparatus:
- the apparatus comprising:
- a first piston member (22) rotatable about a first rotational axis (30);
- a rotor (16) comprising a first chamber (34a) and pivotable about a second rotational axis (32),
- the first piston member (22) extending across the first chamber (34a);
- whereby in operation:
- the rotor (16) and first piston member (22) rotate around the first rotational axis (30);
- and
- the rotor (16) pivots about the second rotational axis (32) such that there is a relative pivoting motion between the rotor (16) and the first piston member (22)
- which varies the volume of the first chamber,
- the change in chamber volume being linked to rotation of the rotor (16) about the first rotational axis (30).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.