Rotary vane engines with movable rotors, and engine systems comprising same

A rotary vane engine, comprising:

• a first and a second cover, the first cover being secured to one end of the housing, the second cover being secured to another end of the housing, the first and second covers each having an opening formed therein proximate an outer periphery thereof;
• 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;
• each of the vanes and the vane guides extends substantially in a first direction between a leading and a trailing edge thereof, the first direction being disposed at an angle greater than zero and less than 90° in relation to a direction coinciding with the centerline of the shaft;
• an inlet and an outlet are formed in the housing;
• one or more vent openings are formed in the housing at circumferential positions located between the outlet and the inlet in the direction of rotation of the rotor;
• the inlet receives the pressurized gas and directs the pressurized gas to the chambers before the pressurized gas has been expanded;
• and
• at least a portion of the pressurized gas is exhausted from the chambers by way of the outlet after the pressurized gas has been expanded.

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;
• the pressurized gas is exhausted from the chambers by way of the outlet after the pressurized gas has been expanded;
• one or more vent openings are formed in the housing at circumferential positions located between the outlet and the inlet in the direction of rotation of the rotor;
• one or more ports are formed in the housing at circumferential positions located between the inlet and the outlet in the direction of rotation of the rotor;
• and
• the rotary vane engine further comprises a manifold in fluid communication with the one or more vent openings and the one or more ports, and a controller that causes the manifold to direct the pressurized gas from the one or more vent openings to the one or more ports.