# US 9,518,658 B2 · Rotary engine rotor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,658 B2 - Document ID: US9518658B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/004,001 - Filed: 2012-03-05 - Published: 2014-03-13 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2011-03-10 - Assignees: UAV Engines Ltd. - Applicants: Christopher John Biddulph; Jonathan Mark Bagnell - Inventors: Christopher John Biddulph; Jonathan Mark Bagnell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518658B2 ## CPC - F16J 1/001: {One-piece pistons} - F01C 1/22: of internal-axis type with equidirectional movement of co-operating members at the points of engagement, or with one of the co-operating members being stationary, the inner member having more teeth or tooth- equivalents than the outer member - F01C 21/06: Heating; Cooling (of machines or engines in general F01P); Heat insulation (heat insulation in general F16L) - F01C 21/08: Rotary pistons (reciprocating pistons in general F16J) - F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS - F01C: ROTARY-PISTON OR OSCILLATING-PISTON MACHINES OR ENGINES (internal-combustion aspects F02B53/00, F02B55/00) ## Abstract A rotary engine rotor (10) comprises a body (12) comprising an outer surface (18), an inner surface (22), an insert (14) and a fixing member (16). The outer surface (18) comprises three rotor sides (20) arranged in an equilateral triangle shape. The inner surface (22) comprises a location portion (24) at the midpoint of each rotor side (20), the location portions (24) together defining a location aperture (26). One location portion (24) is provided with a first fixing socket (28) extending radially from the inner surface (22) of the body (12), towards the outer surface (18) of the body (12). Cooling channels (30) are provided axially through the body (12) in the region of each apex (31). The insert (14) is provided in the location aperture (26) and comprises a bearing part (38) with a second fixing socket (40) extending radially through the insert (14) and in alignment with the first fixing socket (28). The fixing member (16) is provided through the second fixing socket (40) and received in the first fixing socket (28) to couple the insert (14) to the body (12). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rotary engine rotor comprising: a body comprising: an outer surface comprising three radially spaced rotor sides that meet at three radially spaced apexes, so that the radially spaced rotor sides are arranged in a generally equilateral triangle shape; and an inner surface comprising: a respective location portion provided generally at the midpoint of each rotor side, the location portions together defining at least in part a location aperture and one location portion being provided with a first fixing socket extending generally radially from the inner surface of the body, away from any of the apexes, and only part way towards the outer surface of the body in such a way that the first fixing socket does not impinge on the outer surface; and a cooling channel provided axially through the body in the region of each apex; an insert provided in the location aperture and comprising a bearing part and an indexing gear, the bearing part being provided with a second fixing socket extending generally radially through the insert and provided in alignment with the first fixing socket; and a rigid elongate fixing member provided through the second fixing socket and at least partially received in the first fixing socket to thereby couple the insert to the body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A rotor as claimed in claim 1, wherein each rotor side of the outer surface of the body is provided with a combustion chamber recess formed in the outer surface and extending part way towards the inner surface and the first fixing socket is further arranged to extend from the inner surface of the body part way towards the respective combustion chamber recess. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A rotor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first fixing socket extends from the inner surface of the body, part way towards the outer surface of the body generally within a region located between the respective combustion chamber recess and cooling channel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A rotor as described in claim 1, wherein a said rigid elongate fixing member and first and second fixing sockets are provided on each of said three sides of the rotor body, each fixing member being received in a respective first and second fixing socket in corresponding positions along the location portions of the rotor body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A rotor as described in claim 1, wherein each location portion is part-circular in shape and the location portions together define a location aperture of substantially circular section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A rotor as described in claim 1, wherein each cooling channel is provided between a respective pair of location portions, the cooling channels and the insert together forming cooling conduits. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A rotor as described in claim 1, wherein each first and second fixing socket extend generally transverse to the axis of rotation of the rotor at an angle of between 70° to 90° to a tangent to the insert. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A rotor as described in claim 1, wherein the rotary engine rotor is for a Wankel engine or a compressor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A rotor as described in claim 1, wherein the first fixing socket is not welded on the outer surface. ### Claim 10 A rotary engine rotor comprising: a rotor body having a triangular perimeter defined by three radially spaced outer surfaces that meet at three radially spaced apexes, the outer surfaces extending axially between a pair of opposed rotor sides; an inner surface of the rotor body defining a circular aperture extending axially through the rotor body through the pair of opposed rotor sides, the inner surface including a plurality of first fixing sockets that extend through the inner surface, radially toward the perimeter and away from any of the apexes, and terminate before reaching an outer surface so as not to impinge on the outer surface; an annular insert positioned within the aperture and including a plurality of second fixing sockets co-aligned with the first fixing sockets, the insert having a bearing part and an indexing gear; a rigid elongated fixing member positioned in the co-aligned first and second fixing sockets to thereby couple the insert to the body; and a cooling channel extending axially through the rotor body in the region of each apex. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A rotor as described in claim 10, wherein the first fixing socket is not welded on an outer surface.