Rotary variable expansible chamber - kinetic hybrid pump

Abstract

This invention concerns pumping fluids to both high pressures and high flow rates and thus has a very high power density. The technology pertains to both fluid power and to fluid transfer and is adaptable to a wide scope of use The concept is a very simple rotary variable displacement expansible chamber pump which can also be a rotary kinetic pump and thus is a hybrid. At a positive displacement setting, the pump primes by positive displacement, then as the rotational speed increases; the pump gains a kinetic pumping component, then as head pressure increases the pump again becomes positive displacement. At a zero displacement setting, the pump is purely a rotary kinetic pump. The variable displacement feature allows both performance and efficiency. The porting allows very high rotational speeds and flow rates near to centrifugal designs. When set a zero displacement, the device has features both of positive displacement fan (gear pump) and kinetic (centrifugal pump). The pump is vibration free and silent. Fields of use are fluid power, where the power density is higher, and fluid transfer where high flow rates at higher pressures are required. The concept marries rotary positive displacement to rotary kinetic in pumps.

Description

SUMMARY

[0001] A variable displacement expansible chamber pump has an inlet through the center chamber axis, similar to a centrifugal pump. The pump has abutments which divide a chamber which may be annular cylindrical in shape and the abutments are driven by a rotor on a different but a parallel axis, causing the sub-chambers between adjacent abutments to expand or contract. The chambers are exposed either to the intake or discharge but not both simultaneously.

[0002] The resultant pump is one having both a positive displacement pumping action as well as a kinetic pumping action. Since the device is variable displacement, zero displacement is one setting. At zero displacement the pump is a purely kinetic device. Thus at all displacement settings, the pump will have two distinct pumping disciplines.

[0003] Because the pump marries positive displacement to kinetic pumping, the flow rate is considerably increased by two means: the superimposed kinetic pumping, and the centrifugal supercharging of the expansible chambers, which allow greater rotational speeds to be attained at higher flow rates.

[0004] In fluid power applications, the increased flow rates mean increased power.

[0005] In fluid transfer applications the flow rates approach those of centrifugal devices while allowing the pressure capability of positive displacement.

[0006] The variable displacement provides versatile performance and increased efficiency.

[0007] The design is simple; of low cost of manufacture; and is silent and free of vibration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The fields of endeavor of this invention are: fluid power, fluid (liquid) transfer, gas compressor-expander, vacuum pump.

[0009] This invention is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/836, 396 entitled “Rotary Two Axis Expansible Pump with Pivotal Link” and PCT application No. PCT/US02/08265 with the same title. That application was classified under art unit 3748; however, some embodiments in that case also showed characteristics not usually found in that art group. Those embodiments showed not only a positive displacement pumping ability, but also a rotary kinetic component, which when the displacement was set at zero was the only component and it was apparent from the pressure flow curves that there are two distinct curves which unite to form a single resultant curve. It was apparent from those curves that not only did the kinetic flow add to the total flow, but it also considerably extended the rotational speed of the positive displacement and thereby increased both flow and power. This application is to extend and concentrate on the hybrid nature of this technology and therefore will not only be described by art group 3748, but also have characteristics of class 415, however; 415 specifically excludes expansible chamber pumps. This variable expansible chamber concept, when set at zero displacement, pumps purely by kinetic means, however, the intake and discharge still do not communicate which sets the device apart from other rotary kinetic pumps. In this pumping action, the momentum of the fluid carries fluid out of the discharge port and creates a partial vacuum within the chamber. The vacuum then fills as the chamber passes the intake port. At all displacement settings, there will be two distinct pumping actions, the positive displacement, and the kinetic. The higher the rotational speed, the larger the kinetic component. The higher the head pressure, the greater the positive displacement component.

[0010] This art then embraces both positive displacement pumps and rotary kinetics pump art.

[0011] Positive displacement pumps are generally regarded as high pressure, low flow devices, while centrifugal pumps are generally the opposite, having high flow rates but less pressure capability.

[0012] This hybrid pump tends to merge the two disciplines by increasing the flow of the positive displacement and at the same time maintaining the pressure capability and also allowing some high kinetic flow rates. Thus, this technology allows greater power as a result of flow times pressure. This becomes especially apparent in fluid power applications where pressures may equal the available hydraulic pumps, but flow rates may be increased by a factor of two or three and hence power is increased by the same factor. This could change fluid power applications from being auxiliary drives to being prime mover drives. In the case of fluid transfer, the technology will improve efficiency above head pressures of 25 psi, or so, as well as providing self priming and while providing high flow rates.

PRIOR ART

[0013] Prior art such as in vane pumps, shows porting which is inferior due to cavitation problems. To put the intake on the outer chamber surface causes cavitation and requires reduced angular velocity. In the case of a vane pump, the centrifugal force encountered in the suction port subtracts from the efficiency, whereas in this concept, it adds.

[0014] The general aspect of the circular chambers and simple abutments, make this a simple and high speed pump.

[0015] This pump has better suction, higher rotational speeds, greater flow rates, and more versatile performance and efficiency than existing positive displacement pumps, and as a hybrid has better performance than the smaller centrifugal pumps.

OBJECTS

[0016] A first object is to provide a variable displacement expansible pump having an intake at the center axis and a discharge at the radially outward surface to provide the pump with a kinetic pumping component which adds to the expansible component.

[0017] A second object is to provide a pump which primes as a positive displacement, becomes largely a kinetic pump when the pump reaches the desired rotation speed, then which returns to being a positive displacement as head pressure is increased.

[0018] A third object is to provide a variable pump in which a displacement is chosen which determines a specific displacement curve; and a rotational operational speed is chosen which described a specific kinetic pumping curve; such that the resultant curve approaches an hyperbola in which the drive torque is nearly constant for most of the curve regardless of either flow or pressure.

[0019] A fourth object is to provide a pump with flexible vanes which will pass debris.

[0020] A fifth object is to provide a self priming pump which is only positive displacement in pumping a gas (air), but then becomes a kinetic pump when the pump reaches operational speed and liquid enters the pump.

[0021] A sixth object is to provide a hinged vane vacuum pump, compressor, or engine which is pressure regulated variable displacement and can have constant torque, hence higher efficiency.

[0022] A seventh object is to provide a simple pump which is similar to the variable displacement pump set at zero displacement in which the moveable abutments are removed but the porting remains the same and the pump operates as a rotary valved kinetic pump where the discharge does not communicate with the intake, but the fluid is captured within sub-chambers much as in a gear pump and the discharge is at rotor velocity.

[0023] An eighth object is to provide a simple pump as in the seventh object in which the fluid is captured in fixed chambers by centrifugal force and the discharge is tangential at rotor velocity since the pump does not have a volute.

ADVANTAGES

[0024] A first advantage is a positive displacement pump with increased capacity. This is especially an advantage for fluid power applications where doubling the flow rate will double the power output.

[0025] A second advantage is in fluid transfer where the pump has flow rates approaching centrifugal rates, but is able to reach high head pressures.

[0026] A third advantage is that the regulated variable displacement can match pump load to drive load regardless of varying head pressure.

[0027] A fourth advantage is a self priming pump which after priming may be either a kinetic or positive displacement pump.

[0028] A fifth advantage is to have a kinetic pump with suction and discharge which do not communicate and is easy to prime.

[0029] A sixth advantage is to have a variable compression pump as compressor or expander in order to match to drive torque.

[0030] However, as the rotation speed is increased, another pumping discipline emerges. That is pumping by velocity or centrifugal force. The slots in the rotor (3) fingers as well as the slot in the abutments (4) allow communication between the inner hub surface and the outer chamber surface. This allows the fluid to be drawn in at (6) and be thrown outward toward the outer chamber surface. In looking at FIG. 1A, fluid is being drawn in at 6 from the center hub where it is passing outward through slot 5 in rotor 3 as well as through the two slots in the two abutments. At the top of FIG. 1A the fluid is being thrown out through port (7) by two means: the two abutments are contracting the volume contained between them, and also the fluid is being thrown out centrifugally by momentum. If the rotational speed is high, the momentum is great; and if the head pressure at (7) is less than the force of fluid momentum, more fluid will exit through (7) than is displaced by positive displacement. The momentum of the velocity flow varies as the square of the rotational velocity. Thus, the pressure volume curve of this pump has two distinct components: the component of

[0031] rpm×displacement and the component of rpm squared. The resultant curve is somewhat hyperbolic in nature. FIG. 1B shows how the fluid may be thrown radially outward through slots (5) and the slots in the abutments. If the displacement is set at the maximum and the rpm is low or the head pressure is high, the pump behaves as a positive displacement. If the displacement is set at zero, the pump behaves as a kinetic pump using centrifugal force, provided the rotational speed is high. For example, this pump having a 6 cu in/revolution maximum displacement run at 3600 rpm gives the following results through a 1.25 inch diameter discharge hose: at full displacement 100 usgpm; at 4 cubic inches/revolution displacement, 95 gpm; at zero displacement 72 gpm. Thus at full displacement only 5% of the flow was due to velocity. At ⅔ displacement, more than ⅓ flow was due to velocity. At no displacement, all flow was due to velocity.

[0032] In FIG. 2, the pump is shown with different abutment types. Four types are shown. The abutment show as (9) is similar to a vane in some respects. The slot through the rotor (3) fingers is narrower in order to hold the vane. The vane must be wide enough so that a line drawn through the vane which is drawn radially outward from the chamber center axis must pass through the vane at all points perpendicular to the chamber walls. The abutments in (10) are double vanes in a single slot and each vane must meet the same criteria as (9) in order to seal. The abutments in (11) are cylindrical rollers. The specific gravity of the rollers make a difference in the radial direction of the force exerted on the abutment, whether centrifugal or centripetal. If the specific gravity is less than that of the pumped fluid, the force on the rollers is inward. If it is greater, the force outward. It is some advantage to have the rollers favor the inner lower speed surface (of the center hub). There is an inherent problem with rollers in a pump; that the spin caused by touching a high speed surface tends to move the rollers toward that surface which causes wear. The opposite is true for a motor.

[0033] The cylindrical rollers in 11(a) are divided into three parts, connected by a center shaft. This is to counter the problem of spin. In FIGS. 2B-11a, C the center roller portion rides in the center radial rotor (3) slot and hence takes the torque load; while the two end rollers ride on the chamber arcuate surface. The surfaces mentioned must be relieved accordingly, to be tolerance, rather than contact seals.

[0034] In both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the housing (2) has an annular chamber which has a constant cross-section. Both can be variable displacement simply by shifting the axes of housing (1) and housing (2) relatively. Both have fluid entering through the chamber axis and being discharged through the chamber periphery.

[0035] FIG. 3A shows a similar porting but is generally a fixed displacement. In FIG. 3A, the axis of the center hub is different from the axis of the outer chamber surface. The drive rotor is on a still different axis so that there are 3 axes involved. The chamber does not have constant cross-sectional width but does have constant depth as seen in FIG. 3B. Rotor 3 has projections (13) with flexible vanes (12) attached. This is different from other flexible vane pumps, not only in porting, but also with now the vane flexes at both inner and outer contacts with chamber walls, which are the outer surface and the inner hub. This is good for three reasons; first that in order to get displacement the flexing vane only has to flex half as far as on that flexes against a single surface; second, that the arrangement allows much more debris to be able to pass through the pump, and third because the geometry allows some centrifugal or velocity pumping as the pump reaches speed. For many uses, such as marine bilge pump, this is ideal, since the pump starts as a positive displacement which self primes, then changes to a centrifugal aided by positive displacement.

[0036] FIG. 4A shows a different flexing vane pump. The flexible vanes (14) are attached to the rotor (3) fingers and are also held in outer orbit by groove which mates with projections on flex vanes (14) to assure positive displacement. The rotor projections could also be pins in which case the vanes could be rigid and pivot on journals on the pins. The pump will also work without the slots (15) since the vanes will seal outward by centrifugal force as the pump reaches rpm. FIG. 4B is a typical sectional side view.

[0037] FIG. 5A is similar to FIG. 1A and FIG. 2A in that Housing (2) has an annular chamber of constant width and depth. It is similar in that FIG. 5A is FIG. 1A or FIG. 2A without abutments. Since FIG. 1A or FIG. 1B can run at zero displacement, then abutments are not required for such operation. FIG. 5 is then purely a velocity pump, but quite different from common centrifugal pumps in that there is no volute, and that the intake does not communicate with the discharge. This pump will self prime better than centrifugal pumps. In operation, the fluid is drawn in at 6 where it is thrown out centrifugally. The fluid is caused to reach tangential rotor velocity since the fluid is captured between the Rotor (3) fingers which are like fixed vanes similar to sub-chambers in a gear pump. As the vanes pass the discharge port (7), the fluid continues tangentially by momentum out the discharge duct. At the same time, a vacuum is forming on the inward part of the chamber with the approximate boundary shown by a dotted line in the chambers communicating with the discharge port. As the chamber having a vacuum passes the intake port, the fluid is drawn into the void. We might expect the pump to vibrate and thus require two intake ports and two discharge ports but no vibration has been noted. This is a very simple pump and one which will pass debris. FIG. 5B is a typical sectional side view.

[0038] FIG. 5C shows FIG. 5a with the center hub removed. The center hub portion in FIG. 5A held the fluid enclosed in a chamber between vane abutments. In FIG. 5C the fluid is held in the same way by centrifugal force and the fluid is still captured between the vanes unlike in a centrifugal pump where the fluid always is in radial outward motion. By being captured, the fluid attains the rotor velocity which it cannot do in a centrifugal pump. Since the head pressure in a kinetic pump is proportional to the square of the discharge velocity. This pump will have much higher available head pressure, typically by a factor of 4. FIG. 5D is a sectional side view of 5C.

[0039] FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. (1) and FIG. 2 except that the abutments are hinged on the center hub which allows high speed tolerance sealing. FIG. 6 is a vacuum pump, compressor, expander or engine in which, as in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 the intake is through the center hub, the bearings are cooled, and, in case that the pump is used as an engine, the bearings can be cooled and lubricated by the incoming fuel. The air is drawn in at (6) compressed between the abutments, and discharged at (7). The discharge (7) is shown to be through the outer chamber wall but also can be through the housing (2) end wall near the arrow shown as (2) on FIG. 6B. This allows lubricant to stay within the pump for uses as vacuum pump or compressor. This is a variable displacement pump; and shown is a spring and adjust screw which acts against the pressure of compression such that the device can have a nearly constant torque over a larger pressure or vacuum range and thus be efficient. Note that in the position shown in FIG. 6A, the displacement is set at a maximum position and the compression ration is high. As a vacuum pump, at start up, the compression will force the spring to compress and the device to go to a lower compression ratio. As vacuum occurs in the pumped chamber communicating with port (6), the spring causes the displacement to increase.

[0040] FIG. 7 shows comparisons with the elected species in FIG. 1 with two commercial pumps. All three pumps are close coupled to a 5HP gasoline engine. Curve A shows the pressure flow curve of a diaphragm pump. The diaphragm pump has good self priming ability but low flow and low pressure capability. Curve B shows a single stage “high pressure” centrifugal pump which has good flow rates but marginal pressure and it is not good for self priming. Curve C shows the variable pump with displacement set at zero and shown no advantage over curve B. Curve D shows the variable pump set a 2 cubic inch/rev displacement and shows better efficiency at higher pressures. Curve E shows the displacement at 4 cubic inch/rev and shows better efficiency at higher head pressures. Curve F shows the variable pump at full displacement of 6 cubic inch/rev and shows quite good flow and much better pressure, hence efficiency. Generally, it shows that the variable pump is less efficient than the centrifugal at pressures from zero to about 25 psi, but thereafter more efficient.

[0041] In the Drawings:

[0042] 1 refers to a first housing member which has a rotor mounted for rotation.

[0043] 2 refers to a second housing member having a chamber that is approximately annular and having a central hub.

[0044] 3 refers to the rotor shaft element.

[0045] 4 refers to the abutment which seals and divides the chamber.

[0046] 5 refers to a fluid passage slot in the rotor drive fingers.

[0047] 6 refers to the intake passage and port through the center hub in housing 2.

[0048] 7 refers to the discharge passage through housing 2.

[0049] 8 refers to an O-ring seal between housing 1 and housing 2.

[0050] 8 a refers to a seal between housing 1 and rotor shaft 3.

[0051] 9 refers to a double vane abutment.

[0052] 10 refers to a double vane abutment.

[0053] 11 refers to a roller type abutment

[0054] 11 a refers to a roller type abutment designed to separate the pressure loaded surfaces and reduce spin.

[0055] 12 refers to a flexible abutment having two flex surfaces.

[0056] 13 refers to a pin attached to the flexible abutment 12 which is held for rotation by rotor 3

[0057] 14 refers to a flexible abutment bonded to rotor element 3

[0058] 15 refers to an annular groove in both housing 1 and housing 2 which engages flexible abutment 14.

[0059] 16 refers to a hinged abutment which is free to rotate about the center hub.

[0060] 17 refers to a swivel bearing element.

[0061] 18 refers to an assembly consisting of an adjusting screw through housing 1 which contacts a spring which in turn contacts housing 2.

[0062] FIGS. 1A and 1B show a variable displacement pump or motor in which the low pressure port is through the center chamber axis and the high pressure port is through the outer chamber surface. FIG. 1A is a sectional view though the housing and working chamber. FIG. 1B is a sectional side view.

[0063] FIGS. 2A and 2B show the pump or motor with four other abutment type. FIG. 2A is sectional view through the working chamber, similar to 1A. FIG. 2B shows four abutment types in front and side views.

[0064] FIG. 3A shows a fixed displacement pump having center inlet and radially outward discharge as a flexible vane pump. FIG. 3A is a sectional view through the working chamber and FIG. 3B is a sectional side view.

[0065] FIG. 4A shows another flexible vane pump with intake at the chamber center axis and discharge through the radially outward chamber surface. FIG. 4B is a sectional side view.

[0066] FIG. 5A shows a fixed displacement pump which is similar to FIGS. 1-4 where the displacement is made to be zero. FIG. 5B is a sectional view though the working chamber. FIG. 5B is a sectional side view. Inward of the dashed line is a partial vacuum in the two upper chambers.

[0067] FIG. 6A shows a variable displacement compressor, expander, or vacuum pump having vanes hinged on a center hub through which the fluid intakes. FIG. 6B is a sectional side view. The discharge is shown through the outer surface, but can be through the planar end surface.

[0068] FIG. 7 shows comparison between the FIG. 1 pump and two commercial pumps in Pressure volume curves.

[0069] FIG. 8 shows how the displacement and rpm may be set to get a pressure volume curve which is hyperbolic in nature.

[0070] FIG. 9 shows a calculated comparison in power requirement between the vacuum pump in FIG. 6 and a Roots lobe pump.

SPECIFICATION

[0071] FIG. 1 shows a pump which is variable displacement and consist of a Housing (1) in which a rotor (3) rotates. Housing (1) has a planar face and rotor (3) has a coplanar face with Housing (1). Rotor (3) has 3 extending carousel type fingers which have radial slots. The radial slots engage 3 abutments (4). The abutments (4) rotate about a circular cylindrically shaped annular groove in a second housing (2) and the abutments divide the groove chamber in Housing (2) into sub-chambers.

[0072] The inner hub portion of the Housing (2) has an port entering Housing (2) axially on the chamber center axis and has a port extending radially outward through the hub wall to communicate with a sector of the annular chamber of Housing (2). Housing (2) has a planar face to fit in a sealing manner but to allow it to shift in order to vary displacement. The three abutments (4) seal and divide the annular chamber and are driven around the annular chamber by the rotor fingers with slits which engage the abutments. The rotor (3) fingers which extend nearly across the annular chamber have slots (5) which allows fluid to freely communicate between the inner hub surface and the outer chamber surface. The abutments (4) also are slotted to allow fluid to communicate from the inner hub surface to the outer chamber surface. The abutments (4) also have cylindrical surfaces to fit the rotor (3) finger slots, allowing the abutments to both slide radially outward in the radial rotor (3) slots but also to pivot while sliding. This surface can also have pivot bearing members as in 17 of FIG. 6A.

[0073] In FIG. 1A, the rotor moving in a counter clockwise direction will cause fluid to be drawn in at the intake (6) and discharge at (7). The pump is shown at its maximum displacement position. The fluid can be pumped in two distinct manners in this pump. At lower rotational speeds, the pumping is primarily by positive displacement and the capacity can be calculated by the displacement per revolution times the number of revolutions per minutes. Thus, mathematically, Flow=displacement×rpm. Since the displacement is variable, then there are two variables to determine the flow rate: the displacement setting and the rpm chosen.

[0074] However, as the rotation speed is increased, another pumping discipline emerges. That is pumping by velocity or centrifugal force. The slots in the rotor (3) fingers as well as the slot in the abutments (4) allow communication between the inner hub surface and the outer chamber surface. This allows the fluid to be drawn in at (6) and be thrown outward toward the outer chamber surface. In looking at FIG. 1A, fluid is being drawn in at 6 from the center hub where it is passing outward through slot 5 in rotor 3 as well as through the two slots in the two abutments. At the top of FIG. 1A the fluid is being thrown out through port (7) by two means: the two abutments are contracting the volume contained between them, and also the fluid is being thrown out centrifugally by momentum. If the rotational speed is high, the momentum is great; and if the head pressure at (7) is less than the force of fluid momentum, more fluid will exit through (7) than is displaced by positive displacement. The momentum of the velocity flow varies as the square of the rotational velocity. Thus, the pressure volume curve of this pump has two distinct components: the component of

[0075] rpm×displacement and the component of rpm squared. The resultant curve is somewhat hyperbolic in nature. FIG. 11B shows how the fluid may be thrown radially outward through slots (5) and the slots in the abutments. If the displacement is set at the maximum and the rpm is low or the head pressure is high, the pump behaves as a positive displacement. If the displacement is set at zero, the pump behaves as a kinetic pump using centrifugal force, provided the rotational speed is high. For example, this pump having a 6 cu in/revolution maximum displacement run at 3600 rpm gives the following results through a 1.25 inch diameter discharge hose: at full displacement 100 usgpm; at 4 cubic inches/revolution displacement, 95 gpm; at zero displacement 72 gpm. Thus at full displacement only 5% of the flow was due to velocity. At ⅔ displacement, more than ⅓ flow was due to velocity. At no displacement, all flow was due to velocity.

[0076] In FIG. 2, the pump is shown with different abutment types. Four types are shown. The abutment show as (9) is similar to a vane in some respects. The slot through the rotor (3) fingers is narrower in order to hold the vane. The vane must be wide enough so that a line drawn through the vane which is drawn radially outward from the chamber center axis must pass through the vane at all points perpendicular to the chamber walls. The abutments in (10) are double vanes in a single slot and each vane must meet the same criteria as (9) in order to seal. The abutments in (11) are cylindrical rollers. The specific gravity of the rollers make a difference in the radial direction of the force exerted on the abutment, whether centrifugal or centripetal. If the specific gravity is less than that of the pumped fluid, the force on the rollers is inward. If it is greater, the force outward. It is some advantage to have the rollers favor the inner lower speed surface (of the center hub). There is an inherent problem with rollers in a pump; that the spin caused by touching a high speed surface tends to move the rollers toward that surface which causes wear. The opposite is true for a motor.

[0077] The cylindrical rollers in 11(a) are divided into three parts, connected by a center shaft. This is to counter the problem of spin. In FIGS. 2B-11a, C the center roller portion rides in the center radial rotor (3) slot and hence takes the torque load; while the two end rollers ride on the chamber arcuate surface. The surfaces mentioned must be relieved accordingly, to be tolerance, rather than contact seals.

[0078] In both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the housing (2) has an annular chamber which has a constant cross-section. Both can be variable displacement simply by shifting the axes of housing (1) and housing (2) relatively. Both have fluid entering through the chamber axis and being discharged through the chamber periphery.

[0079] FIG. 3A shows a similar porting but is generally a fixed displacement. In FIG. 3A, the axis of the center hub is different from the axis of the outer chamber surface. The drive rotor is on a still different axis so that there are 3 axes involved The chamber does not have constant cross-sectional width but does have constant depth as seen in FIG. 3B. Rotor 3 has projections (13) with flexible vanes (12) attached. This is different from other flexible vane pumps, not only in porting, but also with now the vane flexes at both inner and outer contacts with chamber walls, which are the outer surface and the inner hub. This is good for three reasons; first that in order to get displacement the flexing vane only has to flex half as far as on that flexes against a single surface; second, that the arrangement allows much more debris to be able to pass through the pump; and third because the geometry allows some centrifugal or velocity pumping as the pump reaches speed. For many uses, such as marine bilge pump, this is ideal, since the pump starts as a positive displacement which self primes, then changes to a centrifugal aided by positive displacement.

[0080] FIG. 4A shows a different flexing vane pump. The flexible vanes (14) are attached to the rotor (3) fingers and are also held in outer orbit by groove which mates with projections on flex vanes (14) to assure positive displacement. The rotor projections could also be pins in which case the vanes could be rigid and pivot on journals on the pins. The pump will also work without the slots (15) since the vanes will seal outward by centrifugal force as the pump reaches rpm. FIG. 4B is a typical sectional side view.

[0081] FIG. 5A is similar to FIG. 1A and FIG. 2A in that Housing (2) has an annular chamber of constant width and depth. It is similar in that FIG. 5A is FIG. 1A or FIG. 2A without abutments. Since FIG. 1A or FIG. 1B can run at zero displacement, then abutments are not required for such operation. FIG. 5 is then purely a velocity pump, but quite different from common centrifugal pumps in that there is no volute, and that the intake does not communicate with the discharge. This pump will self prime better than centrifugal pumps. In operation, the fluid is drawn in at 6 where it is thrown out centrifugally. The fluid is caused to reach tangential rotor velocity since the fluid is captured between the Rotor (3) fingers which are like fixed vanes. As the vanes pass the discharge port (7), the fluid continues tangentially by momentum out the discharge duct. At the same time, a vacuum is forming on the inward part of the chamber with the approximate boundary shown by a dotted line in the chambers communicating with the discharge port. As the chamber having a vacuum passes the intake port, the fluid is drawn into the void. We might expect the pump to vibrate and thus require two intake ports and two discharge ports but no vibration has been noted. This is a very simple pump and one which will pass debris. FIG. 5B is a typical sectional side view.

[0082] FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. (1) and FIG. 2 except that the abutments are hinged on the center hub which allows high speed tolerance sealing. FIG. 6 is a vacuum pump, compressor, expander or engine in which, as in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 the intake is through the center hub, the bearings are cooled, and, in case that the pump is used as an engine, the bearings can be cooled and lubricated by the incoming fuel. The air is drawn in at (6) compressed between the abutments, and discharged at (7). The discharge (7) is shown to be through the outer chamber wall but also can be through the housing (2) end wall near the arrow shown as (2) on FIG. 6B. This allows lubricant to stay within the pump for uses as vacuum pump or compressor. This is a variable displacement pump; and shown is a spring and adjust screw which acts against the pressure of compression such that the device can have a nearly constant torque over a larger pressure or vacuum range and thus be efficient. Note that in the position shown in FIG. 6A, the displacement is set at a maximum position and the compression ration is high. As a vacuum pump, at start up, the compression will force the spring to compress and the device to go to a lower compression ratio. As vacuum occurs in the pumped chamber communicating with port (6), the spring causes the displacement to increase.

[0083] FIG. 7 shows comparisons with the elected species in FIG. 1 with two commercial pumps. All three pumps are close coupled to a 5HP gasoline engine. Curve A shows the pressure flow curve of a diaphragm pump. The diaphragm pump has good self priming ability but low flow and low pressure capability. Curve B shows a single stage “high pressure” centrifugal pump which has good flow rates but marginal pressure and it is not good for self priming. Curve C shows the variable pump with displacement set at zero and shown no advantage over curve B. Curve D shows the variable pump set a 2 cubic inch/rev displacement and shows better efficiency at higher pressures. Curve E shows the displacement at 4 cubic inch/rev and shows better efficiency at higher head pressures. Curve F shows the variable pump at full displacement of 6 cubic inch/rev and shows quite good flow and much better pressure, hence efficiency. Generally, it shows that the variable pump is less efficient than the centrifugal at pressures from zero to about 25 psi, but thereafter more efficient.

[0084] FIG. 8 shows the variable pump maybe set to provide a curve which is hyperbolic in nature. Curve H shows the velocity or momentum pumping curve. Curve G shows the positive displacement curve. Curve I shows the resultant curve. The value of a curve like this is that the flow times pressure in nearly constant over the entire curve, except at either end. This is important for drive motor efficiency.

[0085] FIG. 9 shows a comparison of the pressure regulated vacuum pump (shown in FIG. 6) with a commercial Roots blower lobe vacuum pump.

[0086] The variable pump is shown to have the same displacement at maximum swept volume as the Roots lobe pump; however the variable drops displacement as vacuum decreases. (A) is the swept volume of the Roots Lobe pump which is a constant with constant rpm. B shows the swept volume with the pressure controlled variable displacement pump. C shows the required brake HP with the Roots Vacuum pump and D shows the HP requirement of the variable pump which adjusts to a constant torque. The ratios of the power requirements of the comparisons is dramatic, showing the variable pump to be quite efficient and the Roots blower to be quite inefficient.

[0087] FIG. 8 shows the variable pump may be set to provide a curve which is hyperbolic in nature. Curve H shows the velocity or momentum pumping curve. Curve G shows the positive displacement curve. Curve I shows the resultant curve. The value of a curve like this is that the flow times pressure in nearly constant over the entire curve, except at either end. This is important for drive motor efficiency.

[0088] FIG. 9 shows a comparison of the pressure regulated vacuum pump (shown in FIG. 6) with a commercial roots blower lobe vacuum pump:

[0089] The variable pump is shown to have the same displacement at maximum swept volume as the Roots lobe pump; however the variable drops displacement as vacuum decreases. (A) is the swept volume of the Roots Lobe pump which is a constant with constant rpm. B shows the swept volume with the pressure controlled variable displacement pump. C shows the required brake HP with the Roots Vacuum pump and D shows the HP requirement of the variable pump which adjusts to a constant torque. The ratios of the power requirements of the comparisons is dramatic, showing the variable pump to be quite efficient and the Roots blower to be quite inefficient.

Claims

1 A rotary expansible chamber pump with a first housing member having a rotor and shaft mounted for rotation and the rotor and housing having a common planar face; and with a second housing having an chamber which is approximately annular with an outer arcuate surface, an inner hub arcuate surface, and a planar end surface; the second housing having also a planar face to mate in a sealing but sliding manner with the first housing member such that a closed chamber is formed; and abutments which seal and divide, the chamber into sub-chambers; with rotor projections extending from the rotor projections to engage and drive the abutments; but not to divide or seal the chamber, and having a low pressure port through the center axis of the second housing and extending radially outward into the housing chamber; and having a high pressure port through the radially outer chamber wall such that the fluid moves tangentially through the port.

2 A pump as in claim 1 where the displacement is variable by shifting the first housing with the second housing in order to change the displacement.

3 A pump as in claim 1 where the positive displacement is a product of the rpm and the displacement setting and also the velocity pumping is a momentum function of the rpm and where the velocity head pressure is a function of the square of the rpm, and the pump capacity and pressure are a function of the sum of the displacement function plus the velocity function.

4 A pump as in claim 1 in which the pump starts as a positive displacement and primes by positive displacement suction, then when reaching a high rotational speed becomes primarily a momentum or velocity pump, then as head pressure increases, again returns to positive displacement performance providing self priming, high flow rates and high pressure capability.

5 A pump as in 1 where the displacement and velocity are chosen such that the pressure volume curve approaches a hyperbola such that the drive torque is near to constant over a wide portion of the pressure volume curve.

6 A variable pneumatic pump as in claim 1 in which the abutments are wide such that the minimum sub chamber volume between adjacent abutments approaches zero and the pump is ported as a compressor or vacuum pump such that the compressed gas in the sub-chamber acts to move the two housing toward a common axis and a spring is provided to counter this motion such that a drive torque is near to constant.

7 A pump as in claim 1 except that the axes offset is at zero and the abutments are fixed to the rotor and seal and divide the annular chamber in the second housing and the inner chamber hub communicates with the outer chamber surface but the intake port does not communicate with the discharge port which makes a pumping action by the momentum of the liquid.

8 A pump as in claim 1 in which the abutments are flexible members attached to the rotor which seal and divide the chamber which has a circular outer cylindrical wall and an inner cylindrical hub wall and where the axis of the outer chamber cylindrical wall is different than the inner cylindrical wall axis and both axes are different from the rotor axis and such that the vanes have two flexing surfaces; one against the outer surface and one against the inner surface.

9 A pump as in claim 1 having a chamber within the second housing with a cylindrical surface radially outward and a cylindrical hub surface, each on a separate axis, a rotor on the hub axis having rotor projections which extend axially across the chamber and which have attached flexible vanes which are thrown out centrifugally to form a seal on the radially outer surface, but such that the pump can evacuate air from the intake for priming whereupon the pumping becomes primarily kinetic pumping once the liquid enters the pump.

10 A pump as in 6 in which the chamber also has grooves to fit the radially outer portion of the flexible vanes such that the vanes always seal against the outer chamber cylindrical surface and pumping is both by positive displacement and by momentum of the fluid.

11 A motor as in claim 1 where the pressured fluid enters tangentially through the outer second housing chamber surface in discharges through the center hub.

12 A pump as in claim 1 where the abutments are chosen by their specific gravity; such that if the specific gravity is more than that of the pumped fluid, the abutment will be forced radially outward by centrifugal force; and if the abutment is chosen with less specific gravity than the pumped fluid, the abutment will be forced radially inward toward the lower speed surface by the centrifugal force on the fluid.