Title of Invention: A ROLLING SELF-SEALING VANE FOR A

ROTARY PUMP OR ENGINE.

Technical Field

[1] A rolling vane for a rotary pump or engine with self-sealing and minimal friction loss operation automatically driven by the pressure difference.

[2] The invention relates to the construction of high efficiency rotary pumps and

engines.

Background Art

[3] An US 4306845 and German 2353706 patents show an attempt to apply the pressure difference to drive a rolling sealing cylinder.

[4] This concept introduces a rolling vane solution for rotary pumps and engines application.

[5] Both solutions has common weakness: they use gliding elements and in some rotor positions there is a lack of separation between inlet and outlet that is causing an open flow through the devices that is contributing to significant losses of its efficiency. In the case they are used as an engine, in some rotor position can dysfunction occur-

[6] The presented rolling vane solution is solving those problems.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[7] In conventional solutions of vanes the valves in rotary pumps or engines are made by sliding elements supported by the housing or rotors that are sliding against the rotor or housing surface and make a reciprocating movement in the stationary housing or in the rotor. In such solutions it is difficult to cope with sealing problems and increasing friction effects when the pressure increase and this is causing their limited applications. Technical Solution

[8] Replacing the vane sliding elements with rolling cylinders enables the rotary pump or engine's possibility to operate with a wide temperature and pressure range even without lubricants.

[9] Minimal friction loss is obtained by replacing gliding friction phenomena with

rolling friction wherever needed and further by precisely positioning moving elements to prohibit direct mechanical contact between surfaces.

[10] The presented solution is enabling a double stage operating mode of the rotary pump or engine, where in one compression or decompression space simultaneously can centrically rotate a permanent rotor's vane-piston (first stage) and at the same time a rolling cylinder (8) is rolling and also moving reciprocating (second stage) and con- tributes to better efficiency of compression or decompression phase.

[11] This solution makes it possible to build a simple and high efficiency rotary internal combustion engine by combining a rotary pump, a compressor and a high temperature operating gas engine that utilized the rolling vane solution and an isolated burning chamber.

[12] The operation principle :

[13] Referring to fig. 2 the force that is applied to the rolling cylinder (8) that seals the space (10) is proportional to the boundary surface of the rolling cylinder (8) that is against the low pressure outlet space (13) and the difference of pressure in the expanding space (10) and low pressure outlet space (13). The roll (8) is trying to go between the surfaces of the rotor (1) and reacting roll (5), causing the surfaces of the rolling collaborating elements to better stick to each other. The pressing force also moves the reactive roll (5) and rotor (1) a little bit towards the housing walls (bearings have usually a little radial clearing), causing even better sealing between the housing

(7) and rotating elements. Too big clearing in the bearings will block the rotation of the roll (5) and rotor (1) so this should be avoided. The rotor (1) is positioned in the center of the cylindrical housing (7) and has its own suspension bearings - not shown. The working rotor (1) should have a curved slope, permanent vane-piston (27) with the top part (21) matched to the radius of the cylindrical housing (7) so that the pressure space (10) is effectively sealed without material contacts when the vane-piston (27) rotates in the housing (7). The radial section (21) of the piston-vane (27) is effectively contributing to a permanent physical separation between the inlet and the outlet of the pump/engine. The curved slopes contributes to soft acceleration and braking down the rolling cylinders (8) reciprocating and rolling movement.

[14] Referring to fig. 3 that is a schematic cross-section through the axis of the cylinder

(8) and (5) shows positioning of the cylinders and placing of an extra stabilization roll (23). It shows also how the small collars (20) are guiding the rolling cylinder (8) inside the compressing or decompressing chamber (10) and keeping it between side walls (26) of the housing (7). The rolling cylinder (8) is kept in position so that the sides of the rolling cylinder (8) do not have any material contact with the sides of the rotor housing walls (26) or the sides of rotor's (1) collars - if the working rotor (1) is made with such collars. The guiding collars (20) enable a close to friction free movement of the sealing roll (8) between the side walls (26) of the housing (7).

Advantageous Effects

[15] Elimination of gliding friction between moving parts is enabling an operation of pumps or engines in much higher temperature and is eliminating necessity of using lubricants where have to be applied the parts that operated with a gliding friction solution. This solution applied to rotary engines is effectively increasing its efficiency. Description of Drawings

[16] List of schematic drawings:

[17]

[18] Fig. 1 - Radial cross-section of the rotary engine with the rolling vane.

[19] Fig. 2 - Radial cross-section of a rotary pump /compressor/ with the rolling vane.

[20] Fig. 2a - Radial cross-section of a rotary pump /compressor/ with the rolling vane that rotating elements have tooth structure.

[21] Fig. 2b. Magnification (AA) showing an sample of the tooth structure (25).

[22] Fig. 3 - Cross-section through the axis (4) and reacting rotating cylinder (5) and rolling vane cylinder (8).

[23] Fig. 4 - 6 - illustration of different operating phases of the rolling vane in the rotary gas engine.

[24] Fig. 7 - 10 - illustration of different operating phases of the rolling vane in the rotary pump.

[25]

[26] Explanation of the symbols that are used at fig. 1 - 9

[27] 1. Main working rotor with V shaped slopes of a vane -piston (27).

2. High pressure inlet port.

3. High pressure inlet space.

4. Axle to a reactive rotating cylinder (5).

5. Reactive rotating cylinder.

6. Optional sealing rings.

7. Housing to the engine.

8. Freely rolling sealing cylinder - pressure space (10) closing element.

9. Housing's cave matched to the rolling cylinder (8), a part of the compressing or decompressing chamber (10).

10. Pressure space /compressing or decompressing chamber/.

11. Optional sealing stripes.

12. Low pressure outlet.

13. Low pressure outlet space.

14. Optional, a part /segment/ of the housing cave (9) wall that can be matched to the diameter of rolling cylinder (8) in that way, that the high pressure inlet rolling space (3) will be separated and sealed from the pressure space (10) when the cylinder (8) enters the cave (9).

15. Low pressure inlet port.

16. Low pressure inlet space.

17. High pressure outlet.

18. High pressure outlet space. 19. Bearings to reacting rotating cylinder (5).

20. Guiding collars of reacting rotating cylinder (5).

21. Radial part of rotors piston-vane (27).

22. Optional reinforcing insides walls of the rolling cylinder (8).

23. Stabilizations extra bearings-roll.

24. Pressing arm with driving spring or alternatively pneumatic cylinder.

25. Tooth structure.

26. Side walls of the housing.

27. "S" shaped permanent vane-piston.

[28]

[29] Figure 1 shows schematics of the rolling vane that is working in the rotary engine.

[30] The presented rolling vane solution is a self-sealing, close to a friction free solution, where the pressure differences between the opposite slopes of the vane -piston (27) is automatically driving the rolling and moving the vane element (8) of a rotary (pump) or engine and is forced to seal the space (10). This solution comprise one freely rolling light and strong cylinder (8) that is rolling between the working rotor (1) which is rotating centrically inside a cylindrical stationary housing (7) and a reacting rotating cylinder (5) with guiding collars (20) and optional sealing grooves (21). By bearings (19) and an axle (4) the reacting rotating cylinder (5) is kept in position in the matching part of the housing (7), which radius dimensions of matched part of the housing (7) are only a little larger then the radius of the rotating cylinder (5). The reacting rotating cylinder (5) is rotating centrically around the steady axle (4). The radial gap between the housing and rotating cylinder (5) is so small that the space is sealed without material contacts. Optional sealing strips (11) and rings can be used. A cave (9) in the stationary housing (7), a part of the expanding space (10) is enabling the passing of the centrically rotating rotor vane-piston (27) through the rolling vane operation space when the rolling cylinder (8) rolls in the cave (9). The reacting rotating cylinder (5) is placed in such way that it rotates without any contact to the rotor (1) and there is always a significant gap between the rotor (1) and the rotating cylinder (5). It is placed outside the rotating space of the rotor (1). The diameter of the rolling cylinder (8) is larger than the height of the vane -piston (27) of the rotor (1) so it is not allowed to escape from the housing cave area (9). The rolling cylinder (8) can be additionally positioned and stabilized by an extra bearings, roll (23) placed in the cave area (9). The rolling cylinder (8) is effectively and continuously sealing and closing the pressure space (10) when the difference of pressure is pressing the rolling cylinder (8) between the rotor (1) and reacting rotating cylinder (5). The rotation of the rolling cylinder (8) and rotating cylinder (5) accelerate and retards (slows down) when the rolling cylinder (8) is adequately rolling up and down over the curved surface of the vane -piston (27) and parasitic gliding effects should be avoided. To increase a proper grip of the rolling surfaces adequate matched tooth structure (25) of (collaborating) contiguous surfaces can be used and the rolling surfaces will behave similar as in rolling toothed wheels. This toothed structure can also increase stabilizations of the rolling cylinder (8).

[31] The fig. 1 and 4 - 6 shows different phases of operation of the rolling vane in the rotary gas engine.

[32] At fig. 4 is shown a starting phase when the high pressure inlet port (2) is open and the pressured gas has filled the high pressure space (3) and is pressing the rolling cylinder (8) between the surface of the rotor vane-piston (27) and surface of the reactive rotating cylinder (5), effectively seals the beginning part of the expanding space (10) and contributes to the rotation of the working rotor (1). The rolling cylinder (8) is rotating around its own axis and is also making a fractional reciprocating rotation around the reactive rotating cylinder (5). When the rolling sealing cylinder (8) reaches its lowest position it will continue to roll over the surface of working rotor (1) and will always efficiently seal expanding space (10). The gas will continue to press the vane- piston (27) causing the rotor (1) rotation. Fig. 1 shows a situation when the high pressure inlet port is closed and the expanding gas is causing the further rotation of the rotor (1).

[33] The fig. 5 is showing a situation when the opposite slope of the vane-piston is approaching the rolling sealing cylinder (8). The inertia of the rotor (1) is moving the sealing roll (8) to the cave (9) of the housing (7).

[34] The fig. 6 illustrates the end phase of the rotor (1) cycle. When the segment of the caves (9) wall surface (14) has matched dimension to the sum of radius of the sealing roll (8) and reacting rotating cylinder (5) the sealing roll is sequentially rotating around the steady axle, (4) and a part of the expanding gases can be trapped inside the high pressure space (3) and effectively retard the movement of the roll (8) towards the end of cave (9) and later contributes to its acceleration in a new rotor cycle.

[35] The figures 2 and 7 - 10 are illustrating a rotary pump - compressor application and shows also how an extra stabilization roll (23) can be useful when the pressure of gases in the compressing chamber (10) is low. The figure 7 illustrates how the vane-piston (27) of the rotor (1) is forcing the rolling cylinder (8) to roll in the cave (9). The functions of the rolling vane are fully similar to the functions described above in the rotary engine application.

[36]

Best Mode

[37] When the rotary pump or engine should be constructed, using the presented rolling vane solution it should be putt attention to the right choice of the construction materials and dimension tolerances of collaborating parts. The best choice should consider the loud that the different element should stand and the temperature range that the device will be operating. In the case of very large temperature range of operation optional sealing elements should be used and also materials with a very low temperature expansion coefficient.

Mode for Invention

[38]

Industrial Applicability

[39] This solution has its applicability in different construction of rotary pumps or engines including the rotary internal combustions engines.

Sequence List Text

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