Rotational Displacement Apparatus

• US 20180045052A1
• Filed: 08/05/2016
• Published: 02/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FeTu Limited
• Original Assignee: FeTu Limited
• Inventors: Fenton, Jonathan Paul
• Granted Patent: US 10,443,383 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F01C 21/08 Rotary pistons reciprocating pistons in general F16J
• CPC Class Codes: F01C 3/00 Rotary-piston machines or engines with non-parallel axes of movement of co-operating members with the working-chamber walls being at least partly resiliently deformable F01C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: F01C 3/06 the axes being arranged otherwise than at an angle of 90 degrees
• CPC Class Codes: F01C 9/005 the piston oscillating in the space, e.g. around a fixed point rotary piston machines or engines with non-parallel axes of rotation between co-operating members F01C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 53/00 Internal-combustion aspects of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston engines internal-combustion aspects of rotary pistons or outer members for co-operation therewith F02B55/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 53/02 Methods of operating
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 18/48 Rotary-piston pumps with non-parallel axes of movement of co-operating members
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 21/002 the piston oscillating around a fixed axis
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 21/005 the piston oscillating in the space, e.g. around a fixed point rotary-piston pumps with non-parallel axes of rotation between co-operating members F04C18/48

Abstract

An apparatus comprising a first piston member (22) rotatable about a first rotational axis (30) and a rotor (16) comprising a first chamber (34a) and pivotable about a second rotational axis (32). The first piston member (22) extends across the first chamber (34a). The rotor (16) and first piston member (22) are rotatable around the first rotational axis (30), and the rotor (16) is pivotable about the second rotational axis (32) to permit a relative pivoting motion between the rotor (16) and the first piston member (22) linked to the rotor (16) rotating about the first rotational axis (30).

Claims

1. An apparatus (10) comprising:

a shaft (18) which defines and is rotatable about a first rotational axis (30);

an axle (20) defining a second rotational axis (32), the shaft (18) extending through the axle (20);

a first piston member (22) provided on the shaft (18), the first piston member (22) extending from the axle (20) towards a distal end of the shaft (18);

a rotor (16) carried on the axle (20);

the rotor (16) comprising a first chamber (34a),

the first piston member (22) extending across the first chamber (34a);

whereby;

the rotor (16) and axle (20) are rotatable with the shaft (18) around the first rotational axis (30); and

the rotor (16) is pivotable about the axle (20) about the second rotational axis (32)

to permit relative pivoting motion between the rotor (16) and the first piston member (22) as the rotor (16) rotates about the first rotational axis (30).

2. An apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 1 wherein

the first chamber (34a) has a first opening (36);

and

the first piston member (22) extends from the axle (20) across the first chamber (34a) towards the first opening (36).

3. An apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein

the axle (20) is provided substantially half way between ends of the shaft (18).

4. An apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein

the first piston member (22) extends from one side of the axle (20) along the shaft (18);

and

a second piston member (22) extends from the other side of the axle (20) along the shaft (18),

the rotor (16) comprising a second chamber (34b)

to permit relative pivoting motion between the rotor (16) and the second piston member (22) as the rotor (16) rotates about the first rotational axis (30).

5. An apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 4 wherein

the second chamber (34b) has a second opening (36);

and

the second piston member (22) extends from the axle (20) across the second chamber (34b) towards the second opening (36).

6. An apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 5 wherein there is provided a closeable flow passage (80) between the first chamber (34a) and the second chamber (34b).

7. An apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 6 wherein the closeable flow passage (80) comprises a flow path in the axle (20) which is open when the rotor (16) is pivoted to one extent of its pivot, and closed as the rotor (16) is pivoted towards its other extent of its pivot.

8. An apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein

the shaft (18), axle (20) and piston member(s) (22) are fixed relative to one another.

9. An apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein:

the second rotational axis (32) is substantially perpendicular to the first rotational axis (30).

10. An apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising:

a housing (12) having a wall (24) which defines a cavity (26);

the rotor (16) being rotatable and pivotable within the cavity (26);

and disposed relative to the housing (12) such that a small clearance is maintained between the rotor (16) over the majority of the wall (24).

11. An apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 10 wherein the housing (12) further comprises a bearing arrangement (44) for carrying the shaft (18).

12. An apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 wherein:

the piston member(s) (22) is (are) sized to terminate proximate to the wall (24) of the housing (12), a small clearance being maintained between the end of the piston member (22) and the housing wall (24).

13. An apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein:

the housing (12) further comprises at least one port (40,42) per chamber (34a, 34b) for communication of fluid between a fluid passage and the respective chamber (34a, 34b).

14. An apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein:

for each chamber (34a, 34b),

the housing (12) further comprises an inlet port (40) for delivering fluid into the chamber (34a, 34b); and

an exhaust port (42) for expelling fluid from the chamber (34a, 34b).

15. An apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14 when dependent upon claim 2 and/or claim 5 wherein the ports (40,42) are sized and positioned on the housing (12) such that:

in a first set of relative positions of the ports (40,42) and the respective rotor openings (36), the ports (40,42) and rotor openings (36) are out of alignment such that the openings (36) are fully closed by the wall (24) of the housing (12) to prevent fluid flow between the chamber(s) (34a, 34b) and port(s) (40,42); and

in a second set of relative positions of the ports (40,42) and the respective rotor openings (36), the openings (36) are at least partly aligned with the ports (40,42) such that the openings (36) are at least partly open to allow fluid to flow between the chamber(s) (34a, 34b) and port(s) (40,42).

16. An apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a pivot actuator operable to pivot the rotor (16) about the axle (20).

17. An apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 16 when dependent upon claim 10 wherein the pivot actuator comprises:

a first guide feature (50, 52′

) on the rotor (16); and

a second guide feature (50′

, 52) on the housing (12);

the first guide feature being complementary in shape to the second guide feature; and

one of the first or second guide features defining a path (50,50′

) which the other of the first or second guide members (52, 52′

) is constrained to follow;

thereby inducing the rotor (16) to pivot about the axle (20).

18. An apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 17 wherein:

the guide path (50, 50′

) describes a path around a first circumference of the rotor (16) or housing (12),

the guide path (50,50′

) comprising at least;

a first inflexion (70) which directs the path away from a first side of the first circumference and then back toward a second side of the first circumference; and

a second inflexion (72) which directs the path away from the second side of the first circumference and then back toward the first side of the first circumference.

19. An apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the chamber(s) (34a, 34b) is (are) in fluid communication with a fuel supply.

20. An apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the chamber(s) (34a, 34b) is (are) in fluid communication with a fuel ignition device.

21. An apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20 wherein

the first chamber (34a) is specifically adapted for compression, and/or displacement, and/or flow, and/or expansion of a fluid.

22. An apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 21 wherein

the second chamber (34b) is specifically adapted for compression, and/or displacement, and/or flow, and/or expansion of a fluid.

23. An apparatus comprising:

a first piston member (22) rotatable about a first rotational axis (30);

a rotor (16) comprising a first chamber (34a) and pivotable about a second rotational axis (32),

the first piston member (22) extending across the first chamber (34a);

whereby;

the rotor (16) and first piston member (22) are rotatable around the first rotational axis (30); and

the rotor (16) is pivotable about the second rotational axis (32)

to permit relative pivoting motion between the rotor (16) and the first piston member (22) linked to the rotor (16) rotating about the first rotational axis (30).

24. A method of operation of an apparatus:

the apparatus comprising;

a first piston member (22) rotatable about a first rotational axis (30);

a rotor (16) comprising a first chamber (34a) and pivotable about a second rotational axis (32),

the first piston member (22) extending across the first chamber (34a);

whereby in operation;

the rotor (16) and first piston member (22) rotate around the first rotational axis (30); and

the rotor (16) pivots about the second rotational axis (32) such that there is a relative pivoting motion between the rotor (16) and the first piston member (22)

which varies the volume of the first chamber,

the change in chamber volume being linked to rotation of the rotor (16) about the first rotational axis (30).