Rotary fluid machine and associated method of operation
AssigneeGreystone Technologies Pty Ltd
InventorDaryl Wheeler
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Abstract
A fluid rotary machine includes first and second bodies and that are rotatable relative to each other. The second body is inside the first body to define a working fluid space there between. In addition, the machine includes a plurality of gates. Each gate 18 is supported by the first body and is movable in a radial direction with respect to the first and second bodies to extend into and retract from the working fluid space. The machine also includes a magnetic gate control system configured to exert control of the motion and/or position of the gates in the radial direction. The magnetic gate control system is a dispersed system including magnets or magnets and components made of ferromagnetic materials. The magnetic gate control system may be dispersed between the gates, and one or both of the bodies.
Claims28
A rotary fluid machine comprising:
- first and second bodies, the bodies being rotatable relative to each other about an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation forming an axial direction of the machine, the bodies being arranged one inside the other to define a working fluid space there between;
- a working fluid intake and a working fluid exhaust together forming an axial flow path being co-axial with the axial direction and enabling working fluid to flow into and out of the machine in an axial direction wherein the working fluid space is in fluid communication with the intake and the exhaust;
- at least one gate carried by or otherwise coupled with the first body and being movable with respect to the bodies;
- and
- a magnetic gate control system operable to exert control of motion of the at least one gate.
A method of operating a rotary fluid machine having first and second bodies, the bodies being rotatable relative to each other about an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation forming an axial direction of the machine, the bodies being arranged one inside the other to define a working fluid space there between, a working fluid intake and a working fluid exhaust forming an axial flow path being co-axial with the axial direction and enabling working fluid to flow into and out of the machine in an axial direction wherein the working fluid space is in fluid communication with the intake and the exhaust, and at least one gate, the at least one gate being carried by or otherwise coupled with the first body and movable with respect to the bodies, the method comprising magnetically controlling motion of the gates for at least one portion of a cycle of the rotation of one of the bodies relative to the other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.