Rotary piston engine having continuous torque characteristics

In a rotary piston engine of the type including an elongated rotatable shaft having a disc plate intermediate thereof, a rotor assembly carried about the shaft at least to one side of the disc plate and coupled thereto for rotation therewith as a unit, the rotor assembly including an inner and an outer-concentrically arranged ring of different diameters with a radially extending piston vane disposed therebetween in linking relationship therewith, an intermediate ring for the rotor assembly having a diameter intermediate of and being disposed intermediate of the inner and outer rings of the rotor assembly in abutting sliding relationship with the disc plate, the intermediate ring being slotted to accept the vane of the rotor assembly, end plate means through which each end of the shaft is disposed, the end plate means journalling the intermediate ring offset of the rotor assembly and the shaft such that the intermediate ring effects a rolling contact seal with both the inner and outer rings of the rotor assembly during rotation of the rotor assembly and the shaft, the inner and outer rings of the rotor assembly being in an abutting sliding relationship with the end plate means, the arrangements being such that a plurality of crescent-shaped sealed chambers of varying volumes are formed between the intermediate and outer rings and between the intermediate and inner rings as the rotor assembly and the shaft rotates, the radial vane of the rotor assembly dividing the respective chambers into sectors disposed to either side thereof, wherein inlet means are provided communicating with the chamber sectors disposed to one side of the radial vane through which a fluid can be applied, and wherein outlet means are provided communicating with the chamber sectors disposed to the other side of the radial vane through which a fluid can be exhausted, the improvement comprising;

• a pair of circumferential channels and a radial channel disposed on a side of said disc plate into which channels are slidably received said inner and outer rings and said radial vane respectively, of said rotor assembly, said rotor assembly being movable in said channels in a direction normal to the side of said disc plate, and biasing means disposed in said channels for outwardly biasing said rotor assembly thereby ensuring abutting contact thereof with the respective end plate means;
• and wherein said intermediate ring is slidably received in a circumferential channel disposed in said end plate means for movement in a direction normal to said end plate means, biasing means being disposed in said channel of said end plate means for inwardly biasing said intermediate ring thereby ensuring abutting contact thereof with the side of said disc plate, whereby compensation is automatically provided for thermal expansion, wear, and manufacturing tolerances of the rotor assembly and intermediate rings.