Information
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Patent Grant
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6439868
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Patent Number
6,439,868
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Date Filed
Friday, December 15, 200024 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, August 27, 200222 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Denion; Thomas
- Trieu; Theresa
Agents
- Fattibene & Fattibene
- Fattibene; Paul A.
- Fattibene; Arthur T.
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CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 418 266
- 418 221
- 418 143
- 418 259
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
A rotary engine having end plates attached to a rotor and moving therewith. A rotor has a plurality of blades reciprocally mounted therein and placed within a housing. A chamber is formed between the blades, the rotor, the end plates, and a cylindrical stator. The end plates move with the rotor, thereby improving sealing. The structure permits easy assembly and manufacture and substantially reduces sealing problems associated with rotary engines. The rotary engine may be applied to many applications where rotational motion is needed.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to a rotary engine having a plurality of chambers, and more particularly to a rotary engine with improved sealing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are many different types of rotary engines. Most rotary engines, however, have difficulty sealing, and therefore have a reduced efficiency. Many rotary engines have the rotor placed within a housing. The chamber is generally formed with a stationary end wall adjacent a rotor. One such rotary engine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,298 entitled “Concentric Rotary Engine” issuing to Schulz on Mar. 29, 1977. Therein disclosed is a concentric rotary engine concentrically disposed within a hollow rotor housing. The rotor is in slidable, sealable and rotatable engagement with the inner surface of the rotor housing. Another rotary engine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,704 entitled “Hinge Valve Rotary Engine With Separate Compression And Expansion Sections” issuing to Slaughter on Aug. 29, 1989. Therein disclosed is a rotary engine with respective smooth surfaced compression and expansion rotors mounted within chambers. The expansion rotor has opposite end faces, which, in cooperation with end face seals, seal against the partitions.
While these and other rotary engines have proven satisfactory for their intended use, there is a need for an improved rotary engine that provides better sealing and more efficient operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a rotary engine that has a substantial portion of a chamber that rotates with the rotor of the rotary engine. A rotor has movable blades contained therein that extend radially inward and outward. The rotor has fixed end walls or plates that rotate with the rotor. The rotor assembly is contained within a cylindrical housing that has a plurality of chamber dividers acting as cam surfaces for moving the movable blades. The chamber dividers have a sealing surface adjacent the rotor. The end plates rotate with the rotor providing improved sealing between the end plate and the chambers of the rotary engine.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a rotary engine having improved efficiency.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a rotary engine that has improved sealing, especially between the rotor assembly and an end plate.
It is an advantage of the present invention that it is relatively easy to manufacture and assemble.
It is a further advantage of the present invention that it can maintain a high pressure with little seal leakage during extended use and operation.
It is a feature of the present invention that end plates are attached to the rotor and move with the rotor.
It is a further feature of the present invention that centrifugal force helps to seal the chamber between the movable blade and the housing.
These and other objects, advantages, and features will become readily apparent in view of the following more detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
schematically illustrates a front elevational view of the present invention.
FIG. 2
schematically illustrates a side elevational view of the present invention.
FIG. 3
is a perspective view illustrating the rotor assembly of another embodiment.
FIG. 4
schematically illustrates a front elevational view of another embodiment.
FIG. 5
is a partial sectional view of a preferred sealing structure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1
schematically illustrates the rotary engine
10
of the present invention. The rotary engine
10
has a central shaft
12
with a rotor assembly enclosed in a housing
14
. Bearings
16
are placed between the shaft
12
and the housing
14
. Rotor
18
, which is placed within the housing
14
, is connected to the shaft
12
. Rotor
18
has a pair of end plates
20
attached thereto by rotor bolts
34
. A plurality of movable blades
22
extend between the rotor
18
and a stator
24
. The blades
22
are mounted within rotor
18
so as to move radially in and out. Formed within stator
24
are a plurality of exhaust ports
26
. At the point of contact between the end plates
20
and the stator
24
O-ring seals
28
are placed. Additionally, a sliding surface
30
may be inserted between the stator
24
and the end plates
20
contacting the O-rings
28
. The sliding surface
30
may be made of a friction free material, such as Teflon brand polymer. Bolts
32
connect the stator
24
to the housing
14
. A coupling
36
is attached to one end of shaft
24
. The coupling
36
may then be coupled to other rotary engines or a load. The end plates
20
, which are fixed to the rotor
18
and form a part of the rotor assembly, will rotate together with the rotor
18
. Accordingly, the seal between the blade
22
and the end plate
20
may be made relatively leak free and is less prone to wear, increasing the efficiency and longevity of the rotary engine
10
.
FIG. 2
schematically illustrates the interior of the rotary engine
10
. Chambers
38
are formed between blades
22
and the chamber dividers
42
. Chamber dividers
42
have a seal
44
adjacent the surface of rotor
18
. Blades
22
form a seal against the cylindrical surface of stator
24
attached to housing
14
. Springs
46
force the blade
22
radially outward and are advantageous when the rotor
18
is turning at relatively low speed or revolutions. At higher revolutions, the centrifugal force will exert additional pressure radially outward, creating a better seal. The blades
28
reciprocate within blade channels
48
. An inlet valve
40
provides pressurized gas into chamber
38
, causing the rotor
18
to move in the direction of arrow
50
. Accordingly, the exhaust gases are outlet through exhaust ports
26
as the rotor
18
rotates. A suitable valve or timing system may be utilized to time the injection of pressurized gas into the chamber
38
so as to prevent the pressurized gas entering through inlet port
40
from escaping when the chamber
38
also communicates or is open to the exhaust ports
26
.
FIG. 3
more clearly illustrates another embodiment of a rotor assembly
111
. The rotor assembly
111
comprises a rotor
118
having end plates
120
attached to the ends of rotor
118
. Seals
128
extend around the peripheral edge of the end plates
120
. A plurality of blades
122
are radially movably mounted on the rotor
118
and the end plates
120
. There may be any number of blades
122
. The blades
122
and the end plates
120
form a chamber
138
. The top surface of chamber
138
is bounded by the surface of a stator, not illustrated. Accordingly, the chamber
138
, defined by the blades
122
and the end plates
120
, moves with the rotor
118
. Rotor
118
may move in the direction of arrow
150
. Since the chamber
138
moves with the rotor
118
, the seal between the blades
122
and the fixed end plates
120
may be made substantially less prone to leakage or wear. This improves the sealing efficiency and longevity of a rotary engine.
FIG. 4
schematically illustrates another embodiment of a rotor assembly
211
of the present invention. In this embodiment, blade
222
is positioned diagonally or transverse to the longitudinal axis of rotor
218
. Affixed to rotor
218
are two end plates
220
. The end plates
220
have a seal
228
therein.
FIG. 5
schematically illustrates an embodiment of preferred sealing. End plate
320
has a groove or channel
321
therein. Placed within channel
321
is O-ring
328
. The O-ring
328
may be made of a soft elastic or plastic material, such as silicone. Adjacent the O-ring
328
is a sliding surface
330
. Sliding surface
330
may be made of a tough polymer, such as tetrafluoroethylene sold under the trademark Teflon. The sliding surface
330
contacts stator
324
. This sealing structure is very effective in sealing between the end plate
320
attached to the rotor and the stator
324
. The sliding surface
330
and O-ring
328
are retained within channel
321
. Additionally, the sliding surface
330
provides a smooth surface for the O-ring
328
. The O-ring
328
will remain stationary. This reduces friction and provides good long lasting sealing.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an improved rotary engine that has increased efficiencies and longevity. A portion of the sealing difficulties in rotary engines is eliminated because a substantial portion of the surfaces forming the chamber of the rotary engine move with the rotor. This eliminates much of the wearing and leaking of seals used in a rotary engine. Therefore, the rotary engine of the present invention operates smoothly and efficiently. Additionally, the structure of the rotary engine of the present invention is relatively easily manufactured and assembled. The present invention may be used in any application where a rotary power source is required.
While the present invention has been described with respect to several embodiments, the usefulness of the present invention may be applied to different arts. Additionally, although the preferred embodiment has been illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.
Claims
- 1. A rotary engine comprising:a housing; a cylindrical rotor placed within said housing; a pair of end plates attached to said cylindrical rotor; a plurality of movable blades held by said cylindrical rotor and moving therewith; a cylindrical stator attached to said housing and containing said cylindrical rotor and plurality of blades; a channel formed in each of said pair of end plates; an O-ring placed in each of said channels; and a sliding surface placed adjacent each of said O-rings, whereby said pair of end plates move with said rotor and a seal is formed between each of said pair of end plates and said cylindrical stator.
- 2. A rotary engine as in claim 1 further comprising:a plurality of chamber dividers attached to said cylindrical stator and contacting said cylindrical rotor.
- 3. A rotary engine as in claim 1 further comprising:an exhaust port on one side of each of said plurality of chamber dividers; and an inlet port on another side of each of said plurality of chamber dividers.
- 4. A rotary engine as in claim 1 wherein:said sliding surface comprises tetrafluoroethylene.
- 5. A rotary engine as in claim 1 wherein:said cylindrical rotor has an axis of rotation, and each of said plurality of movable blades has a longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said cylindrical rotor.
- 6. A rotary engine comprising:a housing; a cylindrical rotor placed within said housing; a pair of end plates attached to said cylindrical rotor; a plurality of movable blades held by said cylindrical rotor and moving therewith; a cylindrical stator attached to said housing and containing said cylindrical rotor and plurality of blades, whereby said pair of end plates move with said rotor, and wherein said cylindrical stator has an axis of rotation, and each of said plurality of movable blades has a longitudinal axis transverse to the axis of rotation of said cylindrical stator.
- 7. A rotary engine comprising:a housing; a shaft extending though said housing; a cylindrical rotor placed within said housing and rotating with said shaft; a pair of end plates attached to said cylindrical rotor, said shaft extending though said end plates; a plurality of blades held by said cylindrical rotor, each of said plurality of blades adapted to move radially within said cylindrical rotor; a cylindrical stator attached to said housing and containing said cylindrical rotor and plurality of blades; and a plurality of stationary chamber dividers extending radially from said cylindrical stator and contacting said cylindrical rotor, whereby a chamber is formed between each of said plurality of blades, each of said plurality of stationary chamber dividers, said cylindrical rotor, said cylindrical stator, and said pair of end plates, a channel formed in each of said pair of end plates; an O-ring placed in each of said channels; and a sliding surface placed adjacent each of said O-rings, whereby a seal is formed between each of said pair of end plates and said cylindrical stator and a substantial portion of elements forming the chamber move with the rotor.
- 8. A rotary engine as in claim 7 further comprising:an exhaust port on one side of each of said plurality of stationary chamber dividers; and an inlet port on another side of each of said plurality of stationary chamber dividers.
- 9. A rotary engine as in claim 7 further comprising:a seal placed between each of said pair of end plates and said cylindrical stator.
- 10. A rotary engine as in claim 7 wherein:said sliding surface comprises tetrafluoroethylene.
- 11. A rotary engine as in claim 7 wherein:said cylindrical rotor has an axis of rotation, and each of said plurality of movable blades has a longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said cylindrical rotor.
- 12. A rotary engine comprising:a housing; a shaft extending though said housing; a cylindrical rotor placed within said housing and rotating with said shaft; a pair of end plates attached to said cylindrical rotor, said shaft extending though said end plates; a plurality of blades held by said cylindrical rotor, each of said plurality of blades adapted to move radially within said cylindrical rotor; a cylindrical stator attached to said housing and containing said cylindrical rotor and plurality of blades; and a plurality of stationary chamber dividers extending radially from said cylindrical stator and contacting said cylindrical rotor, whereby a chamber is formed between each of said plurality of blades, each of said plurality of stationary chamber dividers, said cylindrical rotor, said cylindrical stator, and said pair of end plates, wherein said cylindrical rotor has an axis of rotation, and each of said plurality of movable blades has a longitudinal axis transverse to the axis of rotation of said cylindrical rotor, whereby a substantial portion of elements forming the chamber move with the rotor.
- 13. A rotary engine as in claim 12 further comprising:a spring placed between each of said plurality of blades and said cylindrical rotor, whereby each said plurality of blades is biased radially outward toward said cylindrical stator.
- 14. A rotary engine comprising:a housing; a shaft extending though said housing; shaft bearings supporting said shaft; a cylindrical rotor placed within said housing and rotating with said shaft, said cylindrical rotor having a plurality of radial blade channels; a pair of end plates attached to said rotor, said shaft extending though said end plates, each of said end plates having a circumferential groove; a plurality of blades, one each of said plurality of blades held within one each of said plurality of blade channels formed within said cylindrical rotor, each of said plurality of blades adapted to move radially within said rotor; a plurality of springs, one of said plurality of springs placed within one of said plurality of radial blade channels, whereby said plurality of blades are biased outward; a cylindrical stator attached to said housing and containing said rotor and plurality of blades; an O-ring placed within the circumferential groove of each of said pair of end plates; a sliding surface placed adjacent said O-ring and said cylindrical stator, whereby said O-ring slides on said sliding surface and said sliding surface is retained within the circumferential groove; and a plurality of stationary chamber dividers extending radially from said cylindrical stator having a surface adjacent said cylindrical rotor, whereby a chamber is formed between each of said plurality of blades and each of said plurality of stationary chamber dividers; a seal placed within each of said plurality of stationary chambers dividers contacting said cylindrical stator; an exhaust port formed within a portion of each of said plurality of stationary chamber dividers on one side of said seal; and an inlet port formed adjacent each of said plurality of stationary chamber dividers on the other side of said seal, whereby a substantial portion of a chamber of the rotary engine rotates with said rotor.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
4221199 |
Feb 1993 |
DE |
2591286 |
Jun 1987 |
FR |