Balanced rotary vane machine and method of transfering fluids therewith

Abstract

 The present invention discloses a balanced rotary machine for transferring fluid comprising at least one operational volume bounded by a cardioidal cross section; at least one inlet (29) to said operational volume; at least one outlet (32) from said operational volume; a single vane (2) situated within the operational volume and mounted upon a rotating axis (23); a means (22) of driving the axis of the vane (2) around a circular path within the operational volume; and a means (19) of rotating the vane (2) around its axis during the operating cycle. The machine is provided in a manner that the extremities of said vane (2) remain in contact with the walls of the operational volume throughout the operating cycle of the rotary machine thereby dividing the operational volume into at least two sections (3,30). The invention also presents an efficient method of transferring fluid with the aforesaid balanced rotary machine.

Description

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to rotary vane devices and, in particular, it concerns high efficiency volume machines.

[0002] Devices are known in which an element rotating within a volume defined by a stator produces a desired effect. Notable among these are two- rotor pumps (Clue Pumps, Roots Pumps, Three Lobe Pumps) in which the variable volumes created by spinning rotors, with special design, draws fluid in through an inlet and the rotors push it out through an outlet. In this type of rotary device, the angular relationship of the rotor elements to the plane of rotation is changed through the path of rotation about the axes; therefore a cross-section of stator, through the axes of rotation will have irregular contour. Disadvantages of this type of device are apparent difficulties of sealing and the low ratio of the operational volume to the total rotors volume.

[0003] Other devices are known as Screw Pumps, in which the stator and the rotor have different parallel axes; the rotor is screw- shaped and push the fluids along the stator housing to the outlet. Disadvantages of this type of devices are unclosed internal volumes and high spinning speed; and high cost.

[0004] Other variations that have been adapted for Scroll eccentric motion devices have the same disadvantages mentioned above.

[0005] One disadvantage of the toroidal variations is the apparent difficultly implementing a compression barrier as evidenced by the number of complex suggestions presented in the prior arts.

[0006] There is therefore a need for a rotary machine with balanced rotational movements with an uncomplicated compression barrier that can solve the balance, volume efficiency and gas- tight issues. It would be beneficial if the rotary machine were to provide for embodiments that could be implemented as compressors, dry vacuum pumps, gas transfer and hydraulic; a rotary hydraulic motor, rotary engine; also multistage variants of the above mentioned applications.

[0007] Typical of the cardioidal variations, however, is the substantially unchanged angular speed of rotation of the vane to the plane of rotation through the path of rotation about its own axis, very high volume efficiency (up to 95%) and no gear system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is thus one object of the current invention to present a balanced rotary machine for transferring fluid including; at least one operational volume bounded by a cardioidal cross section; an inlet to said operational volume; an outlet from said operational volume; a single vane situated within the operational volume and mounted upon a rotating axis; a means of driving the axis of the vane around a circular path within the operational volume; and a means of rotating the vane around its axis during the operating cycle; such that the extremities of said vane remain in contact with the walls of the operational volume throughout the operating cycle of the rotary machine thereby dividing the operational volume into two to three sections.

[0009] It is another object of the current invention to present a balanced rotary machine wherein the means of rotating the vane and its axis is provided by at least one driver disc including; at least one driver shaft; two perpendicular channels within a disc which cross each other at the axis of the disc; a driver pin free to slide along one channel up to a fixed distance, d, to either side of the axis of the disc; a driver plate free to slide along the perpendicular second channel until its midpoint reaches said distance, d, either side of the axis of the driver disc; and a means of connecting the midpoint of the driver plate with the vane; such that the rotation of the driver disc causes the extremities of the vane to follow a cardioidal path.

[0010] It is another object of the current invention to present a balanced rotary machine additionally including a central shaft within the operational volume characterised by a crescent shaped cross section and connected to the driver pin such that its axis follows a circular path diametrically opposed to the circular path of the axis of the vane.

[0011] It is another object of the current invention to present a balanced rotary machine wherein the vane is attached to both the driver plate and the driver pin, through the main shaft, thereby providing a cardioidal path of the extremities of the vane.

[0012] It is a further object of the current invention to teach a method of transferring fluid with a balanced rotary machine by; providing at least one operational volume bounded by a cardioidal cross section; providing an inlet to said operational volume; providing an outlet from said operational volume; dividing the operational volume into two or three sections, an inlet section adjacent to the inlet, and an outlet section adjacent to the outlet and a possible third section between the above mentioned sections, by means of a single vane situated within the operational volume mounted upon a rotating axis and in contact with the walls of the operational volume; driving said axis of the vane around a circular path within the operational volume; and rotating the vane around its axis during the operating cycle; thus, throughout the operating cycle, increasing the volume of the inlet section thereby drawing fluid into the operational volume, and decreasing the volume of the outlet section thereby forcing fluid out through the outlet.

[0013] It is another object of the current invention to teach a method of transferring fluid with a balanced rotary machine by additionally driving the vane by; providing at least one driver shaft; providing at least one driving disc with two perpendicular channels which cross each other at the axis of the driving disc; providing a driver pin free to slide along one channel up to a fixed distance, d, to either side of the axis of the disc; providing a driver plate free to slide along the perpendicular second channel until its midpoint reaches said distance, d, either side of the axis of the disc; connecting the midpoint of the driver plate with the axle of the vane; rotating the driver disc; thereby transmitting a complex motion to the vane such that its extremities follow cardioidal paths.

[0014] It is a further object of the current invention to teach a method of transferring fluid with a balanced rotary machine by additionally providing a main shaft, within the operational volume, characterised by a crescent shaped cross section and connected to the driver pin such that its axis follows a circular path diametrically opposed to the circular path of the axis of the vane.

[0015] It is a further object of the current invention to teach a method of transferring fluid with a balanced rotary machine by additionally adapting the dimensions of the vane and the operational volume such that as the vane approaches its vertical orientation, the crescent shaped main shaft completes the boundary between the inlet and the outlet sections of the operational volume.

[0016] According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided, a rotary machine comprising: (a) solely one vane deployed in an operational volume, with symmetrically attached axles on both sides out of the operational volume; (b) the vane osculates a cardioidal curve of any stator cross-section of the operational volume in at least two points and maximum in three points.(c) a driver disc configured to move the vane and the main shaft in a motion, such that the vane sweeps out an cardioidal path of cross-section; (d) a stator housing containing an operational volume, (in short bellow will refer as "operational volume") the operational volume is defined by the cardioidal path, such that the vane moves through the operational volume contacting the walls of the operational volume so that the vane separates the operational volume into two or three operational volumes: one always connected with the inlet opening, second operational volume, always connected with the outlet opening, and a possible third operational volume between the opposite side of the vane and the stator housing; (e) at least one inlet opening through the stator housing in the operational volume; and (f) at least one outlet opening through the stator housing from the operational volume deployed on both sides of the seal area consecutively to the direction of rotation of the vane, so as any other position of the inlet and outlet openings according to the above mentioned conditions, are included in the considerations of the current invention; (g) a main shaft consists of a crescent shaped cross-section in the operation volume with two axles on both sides deployed in the stator housing, configured so as to rotate about its own fixed secondary axis and/or; (h) a main shaft which consists of two axles on both sides deployed in the stator housing, configured so as to rotate about its own fixed axis.

[0017] According to a further teaching of the present invention the vane is deployed through the openings in the axles of the main shaft lying on the third axis, parallel to the secondary axis such that the distances between the secondary axis and third axis and secondary axis and the primary axis of rotation of the drive disc are equal.

[0018] According to a further teaching of the present invention the driver disc includes: (h) a disc rotating about the primary axis parallel to the secondary and the third axes, containing two diametrical reciprocal perpendicular channels with different lengths, so that in the longer channel of the disc is deployed a plate besides the plate's center is mechanically fixed to left side axle of the vane; and (i) in the shorter channel is deployed a pin fixed to the left side axle of the main shaft, parallel to the secondary axis.

[0019] According to a further teaching of the present invention the transmission ratio transferred from the drive disc to the main shaft rotation is 1:2; and the vane rotation to the main shaft rotation is 1:2 so that the both rotations are in opposite directions, provided by the drive disc.

[0020] According to a further teaching of the present invention the vane is implemented with a substantially rectangular outer contour with lens-shaped cross-section in the operation volume.

[0021] According to a further teaching of the present invention the cardioidal-shaped motion of the plate is caused by the rotation of the plate and drive disc through linear movement of the plate and the pin into the corresponding channels of the drive disc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of a first embodiment of a variable-volume rotary machine constructed and operable according to the teachings of the present invention with crescent main shaft;

FIG. 2-5 is a side partial cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in different vane and main shaft positions.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section of a first embodiment of a variable-volume rotary machine constructed and operable according to the teachings of the present invention without crescent-shaped part of the main shaft in the cardioidal operational volume;

FIG. 7-10 is a side partial cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 6 in different vane position.

FIG.11 is side view of the vane and main shaft motion mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] The present invention is a high efficiency volume machine. The following specification taken in conjunction with the drawings sets forth the preferred embodiments of the present invention. The embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are the best modes contemplated by the inventors for carrying out their invention in a commercial environment, although it should be understood that various modifications can be accomplished within the parameters of the present invention.

[0024] The principles and operation of the high efficiency volume machine according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.

[0025] By way of introduction, a principle of the present invention is that the element, which acts as the "vane", rotates about a central axis, this axis itself describes a circular path about a second axis. That is to say the vane travels through the operating volume of the machine as represented schematically in Figures 2-5 an Figures 7-10.

[0026] The term "vane" refers hereinafter to a moving element that traps and pushes fluids toward the outlet opening and a compression barrier.

[0027] The term "fluids" refers hereinafter to any fluid whether in a gaseous or in a liquid state, although it is acknowledged that solid particles may also be suspended in such a fluid.

[0028] The term "plurality" refers hereinafter to any integer greater than or equal to one.

[0029] The following description considers in a non-limiting manner two preferred embodiments of the present invention, one in which the main shaft includes crescent-shaped cross sections (figures 1- 5), and the other in which the main shaft does not include crescent-shaped cross sections (figures 6 - 10).

[0030] It should be noted that machines constructed and operated according to the principles of the present invention may be implemented as any number of devices, such as, but not limited to, a compressor, a rotary motor, and pumps, both dry vacuum and hydraulic, gas service devices, liquid and gas transfer machines.

[0031] It will be readily understood that the operational volume is defined by the volume swept by the vane during a cycle. The volume swept by the complex rotation of the vain is determined by the linear movement of the driving plate and the driving pin within the perpendicular channels of a driving disc, which is itself rotating about a central axis.

[0032] Reference is now made to figures 1-5 schematically representing a first preferred embodiment 300 of the present invention. In Figure 1, which is a longitudinal section of this embodiment, it can be seen that this embodiment of the present invention is configured as two stator housings; the driver disc stator housing 11 and the vane stator housing 1.

[0033] The vane stator housing 1 includes the vane 2 and the main shaft 9 deployed within the operating volume. The vane 2 and the crescent-shaped main shaft 9 lie parallel to the axes or rotation 23 and 24. The vane 2 rotates about its own axis 23, which follows a circular path around the secondary axis 24 which is shared with the crescent-shaped main shaft 9.

[0034] A cross section through the stator housing is represented in figures 2-5, at various points of the operating cycle. The stator containing the operating volume is divided by the vane 2 to two main parts: suction operation volume 3, adjacent to the inlet, 29 and compression operational volume 30, adjacent to the outlet, 32.

[0035] The driver disc stator housing 11 contains the driver disc 22, the side of disc further from the stator housing 11 is formed as a cylindrical shaft 17 mounted on a bearing 14. The disc shaft 17 rotates about the primary axis 16, which is parallel to both the secondary axis 24 of rotation of the main shaft 9 and to the vanes own axis 23. In Figures 1, 2 and 11 the primary axis 16 is coincident with the vanes own axis 23.

[0036] The disc shaft 17 of the disc 22 can be mechanically connected to a driving device, depending upon the application. The vane axles 19 and 5 rotate in the bushings 20 and 6. Both main shafts axles 7 and 10 are mechanically connected with the main shaft 9, which rotates about the secondary axis 24 of the main shaft 9.

[0037] A cross section through the driver disc 22 is represented in Figure 11, corresponding to the point in the operating cycle represented by figure 2. The driver disc comprises a disc 22 which includes two diametrically perpendicular channels 26 and 27 of differing lengths. In the longer channel 26 is deployed a driving plate 25, in the shorter channel 27 is deployed a driving pin 12. The center of the driving plate 25 is mechanically fixed to the vane axle 19, the driving pin, 12 is mechanically fixed to the main shaft axle 10.

[0038] The transmission ratio provided by the disc 22, between the rotation of vane 2 about its own axis and the rotation of the main shaft 9 is 1:2 with rotations in opposite directions.

[0039] The motion of the vane 2 is caused by the rotation of the driver disc 22 through linear slide movement of the driver plate 25 and the driver pin 12 respectively into the corresponding channels 26 and 27, transmitting rotation motions to the driver plate 25 and to the driver pin 12 so that the plate's extreme points describe equidistant cardioidal curves.

[0040] Because the center of the plate 25 is mechanically connected to the vane axle 19, the walls of the vane 2 also sweep out a cardioidal curve.

[0041] Reference is now made to figures 2-5 representing one operational cycle of the vane. On the vane stator housing 1 is formed at least one inlet opening 29 adjacent to the right side of the seal area 34, and at least one outlet opening 32 adjacent to the left side of the seal area 34. It is noted that any alternative positions of the inlet 29 and outlet 32 openings to those above-mentioned are included in the considerations of the current invention.

[0042] An operational cycle of this first embodiment would be as follows:

[0043] Throughout the rotational path, the sides of the vane 2 are in contact with the inner walls of the vane stator housing 1 closing the operating volume 3. Thus a volume is defined by the seal area 34, the walls of the vane stator housing 1 and the walls of the vane 2. The vane 2 passes through the seal area 34 and into the stator inlet opening 29. At this point, fluid is drawn into the operating volume 3 through the inlet 33 because the volume between the vane 2 and the seal area 34 increases as the vane 2 moves through the cardioidal path of the operation volume.

[0044] As the opposite side of the vane 2 moves to the seal area 34, the fluid that entered into operational volume 30 from the previous cycle through the inlet stator opening 29 is now trapped between the seal area 34, the wall of the vane 2 and a portion of the inner stator housing 1. As rotation continues, the fluid is pushed out through the outlet stator opening 32 of the outlet 31 and the seal area 34, which now acts as a compression barrier (Figures 2-3). As rotation continues, the crescent-shaped main shaft 9 makes contact with the seal area 34 and now the ends of vane 2 are in contact with the inner part of the crescent- shaped main shaft 9 and the inner part of the stator housing 1 (Figure 4). As rotation continues, the crescent- shaped main shaft 9 passes over the seal area 34 and now again the ends of the vane 2 are in contact with inner wall of the stator housing 1 (figure 5), and the fluid is pushed out completely though the outlet 31.

[0045] The second embodiment 400 of the present invention is lustrated in figures 6-10. It should be noted that the specific difference between this second embodiment 400 and the first embodiment 300 is that in the second embodiment 400 the crescent-shaped main shaft is missing. All the rest is the same.

[0046] An operational cycle of this second embodiment would be as follows:

[0047] Throughout the rotational path, the sides of the vane 2 are in contact with the inner walls of the vane stator housing 1, closing the operating volume 3. Thus a volume is defined by the seal area 34, the walls of the vane stator housing 1 and the walls of the vane 2. The vane 2 passes through the seal area 34 and into the stator inlet opening 29. At this point, fluid is drawn into the operating volume 3 through the inlet 33 because the volume between the vane 2 and the seal area 34 increases as the vane 2 moves through the cardioidal path of the operation volume.

[0048] As the opposite side of the vane 2 moves to the seal area 34, the fluid that entered into operational volume 30 from the previous cycle through the inlet stator opening 29 is now trapped between the seal area 34, the wall of the vane 2 and a portion of the inner stator housing 1. As rotation continues, the fluid is pushed out through the outlet stator opening 32 and the seal area 34, which now acts as a compression barrier (Figures 7-10). As rotation continues the ends of the vane 2 remain in contact with the seal area 34 and the inner stator housing 1 (figure 10). As rotation continues, the walls of the vane 2 passes the seal area 34 and the vane 2 walls are in contact with inner stator housing 1 wall, and the fluid is pushed out completely though the outlet 31.

[0049] It will be appreciated that, two such machines either of the first embodiment 300 or the second 400 used in concert may be implemented as an internal combustion engine. As such, for example, a first such machine performs the intake and compression strokes and a second such machine performs the combustion and exhaust stroke of the engine. Alternatively, any known injection device could be used with a single machine such that the injection device injects a pressurized combustible mixture into the inlet of the machine, which in turn performs the combustion and exhaust strokes of the engine. The principles of the present invention in the creation of an internal combustion engine apply equally to any embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] It will be appreciated that the above descriptions are intended only to serve as examples and that many other embodiments are possible within the spirit and the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A balanced rotary machine for transferring fluid comprising;

a. at least one operational volume bounded by a cardioidal cross section;

b. a plurality of inlets to said operational volume;

c. a plurality of outlets from said operational volume;

d. a single vane situated within the operational volume and mounted upon a rotating axis;

e. a means of driving the axis of the vane around a circular path within the operational volume; and

f. a means of rotating the vane around its axis during the operating cycle; such that the extremities of said vane remain in contact with the walls of the operational volume throughout the operating cycle of the rotary machine thereby dividing the operational volume into at least two sections.

2. The balanced rotary machine according to claim 1 wherein the means of rotating the vane and its axis is provided by at least one driver disc comprising;

a. at least one driver shaft;

b. two perpendicular channels within a disc which cross each other at the axis of the disc;

c. a driver pin free to slide along one channel up to a fixed distance, d, to either side of the axis of the disc;

d. a driver plate free to slide along the perpendicular second channel until its midpoint reaches said distance, d, either side of the axis of the driver disc; and

e. a means of connecting the midpoint of the driver plate with the vane; such that the rotation of the driver disc causes the extremities of the vane to follow a cardioidal path.

3. The balanced rotary machine according to claim 1 additionally comprising a central shaft within the operational volume characterised by a crescent shaped cross section and connected to the driver pin such that its axis follows a circular path diametrically opposed to the circular path of the axis of the vane.

4. The balanced rotary machine according to claim 1 wherein the vane is attached to both the driver plate and the driver pin thereby providing a cardioidal path of the extremities of the vane.

5. A method of transferring fluid with a balanced rotary machine;

a. providing at least one operational volume bounded by a cardioidal cross section;

b. providing a plurality of inlets to said operational volume;

c. providing a plurality of outlets from said operational volume;

d. dividing the operational volume into at least two sections, including an inlet section adjacent to the inlets, and an outlet section adjacent to the outlets, by means of a single vane situated within the operational volume mounted upon a rotating axis and in contact with the walls of the operational volume;

e. driving said axis of the vane around a circular path within the operational volume; and

f. rotating the vane around its axis during the operating cycle; thus, throughout the operating cycle, increasing the volume of the inlet section thereby drawing fluid into the operational volume, and decreasing the volume of the outlet section thereby forcing fluid out through the outlets.

6. The method of transferring fluid with a balanced rotary machine, according to claim 5, additionally comprising driving the vane by;

a. providing at least one driver shaft;

b. providing two perpendicular channels within a driving disc which cross each other at the axis of the disc;

c. providing a driver pin free to slide along one channel up to a fixed distance, d, to either side of the axis of the disc;

d. providing a driver plate free to slide along the perpendicular second channel until its midpoint reaches said distance, d, either side of the axis of the disc;

e. connecting the midpoint of the driver plate with the axle of the vane;

f. rotating the driver disc;

thereby transmitting a complex motion to the vane such that its extremities follow cardioidal paths.

7. The method of transferring fluid with a balanced rotary machine, according to claim 5, additionally providing a main shaft, within the operational volume, characterised by a crescent shaped cross section and connected to the driver pin such that its axis follows a circular path diametrically opposed to the circular path of the axis of the vane.

8. The method of transferring fluid with a balanced rotary machine, according to claim 7, additionally adapting the dimensions of the vane and the operational volume such that as the vane approaches its vertical orientation, the main shaft completes the boundary between the inlet and the outlet sections of the operational volume.

Drawing