Positive displacement rotary devices with uniquely configured voids

• US 9,664,047 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2015
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mallen Research Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Mallen Research Limited Partnership
• Inventors: McDaniel, Jr., David Alton, Newman, Jr., James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trieu, Theresa
• Application Number:
  US14/595,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20150184657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 418 1, 418112-113, 418123, 418151, 418191, 418196
• CPC Class Codes: F01C 1/123 with tooth-like elements, extending generally radially from the rotor body cooperating with recesses in the other rotor, e.g. one tooth
• CPC Class Codes: F01C 1/20 with dissimilar tooth forms F01C1/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01C 1/28 of other than internal-axis type
• CPC Class Codes: F01C 19/02 Radially-movable sealings for working fluids
• CPC Class Codes: F01C 21/08 Rotary pistons reciprocating pistons in general F16J
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 15/0042 Systems for the equilibration of forces acting on the machines or pump interstice adjustment other than by fluid pressure F01C21/102
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2250/20 of the rotor
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 29/0021 Systems for the equilibration of forces acting on the pump interstice adjustment other than by fluid pressure F01C21/102
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49336 Blade making

Abstract

A rotary device is disclosed that includes a rotor comprising a main body and plurality of protrusions extending radially from the main body. At least a pair of voids are provided adjacent to each other in the main body of the rotor between each adjacent pair of the plurality of protrusions, and each pair of voids is spaced from each adjacent pair of voids by a distance greater than that between each adjacent void in each pair of voids.

Claims

1. A rotor comprising:

a main body, the main body being configured to rotate around an axis of rotation;

a plurality of protrusions extending radially from the main body; and

at least a pair of voids adjacent to each other in the main body of the rotor between each adjacent pair of the plurality of protrusions, each pair of voids being separated from each adjacent pair of voids by a thickness in the circumferential direction greater than that between each adjacent void in each pair of voids.

2. The rotor of claim 1, wherein the thickness in the circumferential direction between each adjacent pair of voids corresponds to a thickness in the circumferential direction of the protrusion between that adjacent pair of voids.

3. The rotor of claim 2, wherein each adjacent void in each pair of voids is teardrop shaped.

4. The rotor of claim 2, wherein each adjacent void in each pair of voids is at least partially filled with a material that is different from that of the main body.

5. The rotor of claim 4, wherein the material with which at each adjacent void is at least partially filled is less dense than the material of the main body.

6. The rotor of claim 1, wherein the main body of the rotor is substantially circular and comprises three or more protrusions.

7. A method for making a rotor that rotates around a first axis of rotation, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a main body and plurality of protrusions extending radially from the main body; and

forming at least a pair of voids adjacent to each other in the main body of the rotor between each adjacent pair of the plurality of protrusions, each pair of voids being separated from each adjacent pair of voids by a thickness in the circumferential direction greater than that between each adjacent void in each pair of voids.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the thickness in the circumferential direction between each adjacent pair of voids corresponds to a thickness in the circumferential direction of the protrusion between that adjacent pair of voids.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein each adjacent void in each pair of voids is teardrop shaped.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of at least partially filling each adjacent void in each pair of voids with a material that is different from that of the main body.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the material with which at each adjacent void is at least partially filled is less dense than the material of the main body.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the main body of the rotor is substantially circular and comprises three or more protrusions.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the steps of forming are performed in the order recited by a machining process.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the steps of forming are performed concurrently by a casting process.