US 9,068,456 B2Granted

Fluid energy transfer device with improved bearing assemblies

AssigneeEner-G-Rotors ,Inc.

InventorGeorge A. Yarr

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Abstract

A trochoidal gear pump or engine uses a coaxial hub with an outer and/or inner rotor and an associated rolling element bearing assembly that uses pre-loaded bearings to precisely set the rotational axis and/or the axial position of the rotor with which it is associated. This allows the fixed-gap clearance between the rotor surfaces and the housing or other rotor surfaces to be set at a distance that minimizes operating fluid shear forces and/or by-pass leakage and eliminates gear tooth wear thus preserving effective chamber to chamber sealing. The device is useful in handling gaseous and two-phase fluids in expansion/contracting fluid engines/compressors and can incorporate an output shaft for an integrated condensate pump for use with Rankine cycles. A vent from the housing cavity to a lower pressure input or output port regulates built-up fluid pressure in the housing, thereby optimizing the efficiency of the device by controlling bypass leakage.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A rotary chambered fluid energy-transfer device comprising:

(a) a housing comprising:
(1) a central portion having a central portion bore formed therein;
and
(2) an end plate having an inlet passage and an outlet passage;
(b) an outer rotor rotatable in the central portion bore, the outer rotor comprising:
(1) a female gear profile formed in a radial portion;
(2) a first end covering the female gear profile;
(3) a second end skirting the female gear profile;
and
(4) an outer rotor hub extending from the first end and mounted in the housing with a first bearing assembly comprising a rolling element bearing;
and
(c) an inner rotor with a male gear profile in operative engagement with the outer rotor and having an inner rotor bore formed therein, the inner rotor mounted in the housing with a second bearing assembly comprising a first rolling element bearing and a second rolling element bearing mounted in a pre-loaded configuration with each other in the inner rotor bore by attachment means, wherein the first bearing assembly and the second bearing assembly:
1) set at least one of:
a) a rotational axis of the inner rotor;
b) a rotational axis of the outer rotor;
c) an axial position of the inner rotor;
and
d) an axial position of the outer rotor;
and
2) maintain a fixed-gap clearance of at least one of the inner rotor and the outer rotor with at least one surface of:
a) the housing;
and
b) the other rotor.

20 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/695,967Filed 5 May 2011 · us provisional application
Priority: 5 May 2010
Published: US 2013/0045125 A121 Feb 2013
Granted: 30 Jun 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

F01C 1/103
Of internal-axis type with the outer member having more teeth or tooth-equivalents, e.g. rollers, than the inner member: the two members rotating…
F01C 11/002
Combinations of two or more machines or engines, each being of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type: of similar working principle
F01C 21/02
Component parts, details or accessories not provided for in groups F01C1/00 - F01C20/00: arrangements of bearings
F04C 2/14
Of other than internal-axis type: with toothed rotary pistons