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US 9,670,924 B2Granted
Gerotor apparatus having outer gerotor with strengthening members
OwnerMark T. Holtzapple, George A. Rabroker +1inventors
InventorsMark T. Holtzapple, George A. Rabroker, Michael K. Ross
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Abstract
According to one embodiment of the invention, a gerotor apparatus includes a first gerotor, a second gerotor, and a synchronizing system operable to synchronize a rotation of the first gerotor with a rotation of the second gerotor. The synchronizing system includes a cam plate coupled to the first gerotor, wherein the cam plate includes a plurality of cams, and an alignment plate coupled to the second gerotor. The alignment plate includes at least one alignment member, wherein the plurality of cams and the at least one alignment member interact to synchronize a rotation of the first gerotor with a rotation of the second gerotor.
Claims20
A gerotor apparatus comprising:
- a rotatable outer gerotor separated into multiple portions;
- a rotatable inner gerotor disposed at least partially within the outer gerotor;
- multiple strengthening members located along an outer periphery of the outer gerotor, each strengthening member contacting at least two of the portions of the outer gerotor, wherein the strengthening members comprise rings or bands that wrap around the outer gerotor;
- a housing;
- and
- at least one seal located between the housing and the outer gerotor, each seal comprising a notched surface that contacts the outer gerotor, the notched surface having notches configured to accommodate the rings or bands.
3 more elements
A gerotor apparatus comprising:
- a rotatable outer gerotor separated into multiple portions;
- a rotatable inner gerotor disposed at least partially within the outer gerotor;
- and
- multiple strengthening members located along an outer periphery of the outer gerotor, each strengthening member contacting at least two of the portions of the outer gerotor;
- wherein the multiple portions of the outer gerotor comprise tips that are separated from one another;
- and
- wherein the strengthening members comprise strengthening ligaments, each strengthening ligament connecting the tips of two adjacent portions of the outer gerotor.
4 more elements
A system comprising:
- a quasi-isothermal Brayton cycle engine;
- wherein the quasi-isothermal Brayton cycle engine comprises a gerotor apparatus;
- and
- wherein the gerotor apparatus comprises:
- a rotatable outer gerotor separated into multiple portions;
- a rotatable inner gerotor disposed at least partially within the outer gerotor;
- multiple strengthening members located along an outer periphery of the outer gerotor, each strengthening member contacting at least two of the portions of the outer gerotor, wherein the strengthening members comprise rings or bands that wrap around the outer gerotor
- a housing;
- and
- at least one seal located between the housing and the outer gerotor, each seal comprising a notched surface that contacts the outer gerotor, the notched surface having notches configured to accommodate the rings or bands.
7 more elements
A system comprising:
- a quasi-isothermal Brayton cycle engine;
- wherein the quasi-isothermal Brayton cycle engine comprises a gerotor apparatus;
- wherein the gerotor apparatus comprises:
- a rotatable outer gerotor separated into multiple portions;
- a rotatable inner gerotor disposed at least partially within the outer gerotor;
- and
- multiple strengthening members located along an outer periphery of the outer gerotor, each strengthening member contacting at least two of the portions of the outer gerotor;
- wherein the multiple portions of the outer gerotor comprise tips that are separated from one another;
- and
- wherein the strengthening members comprise strengthening ligaments, each strengthening ligament connecting the tips of two adjacent portions of the outer gerotor.
7 more elements
A method comprising:
- rotating an outer gerotor, the outer gerotor separated into multiple portions;
- and
- rotating an inner gerotor disposed at least partially within the outer gerotor;
- wherein multiple strengthening members are located along an outer periphery of the outer gerotor, each strengthening member contacting at least two of the portions of the outer gerotor, wherein the strengthening members comprise rings or bands that wrap around the outer gerotor;
- and
- wherein at least one seal is located between a housing and the outer gerotor, each seal comprising a notched surface that contacts the outer gerotor, the notched surface having notches configured to accommodate the rings or bands.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- rotating an outer gerotor, the outer gerotor separated into multiple portions;
- and
- rotating an inner gerotor disposed at least partially within the outer gerotor;
- wherein multiple strengthening members are located along an outer periphery of the outer gerotor, each strengthening member contacting at least two of the portions of the outer gerotor;
- wherein the multiple portions of the outer gerotor comprise tips that are separated from one another;
- and
- wherein the strengthening members comprise strengthening ligaments, each strengthening ligament connecting the tips of two adjacent portions of the outer gerotor.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.