Rotary engine

Claim 2

A rotary engine comprising: a hollow, stationary axle having a pair of spaced ports therethrough; a pair of rotors, one rotor being within the other rotor; means mounting the inner rotor for rotation on said axle about the axis of the latter, said inner rotor having a pair of radial passages therethrough alignable with respective ports in the axle as the inner rotor rotates thereon; means mounting the outer rotor on the axle for rotation about an axis parallel with the axis of rotation of the inner rotor, said rotors having respective portions spaced apart to present a chamber therebetween, said outer rotor having a pair of exhaust passages extending outwardly therethrough; an actuatable valve for each exhaust passage, respectively; means coupled with each valve for actuating the same, whereby one exhaust passage can be open when the other exhaust passage is closed; a buttress interconnecting the rotors and movable through the chamber to divide the latter into an expansion chamber and an exhaust chamber; means on the axle for supplying fluid under pressure thereto; means in the axle for selectively opening and closing said ports thereof; and a shroud surrounding the outer rotor and coupled to the axle, said exhaust passage being in fluid communication with said shroud.

Claim 3

A rotary engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein is provided means coupled with the valves for moving the same together with the valves being oriented to cause each passage to be open when the other passage is closed.

Claim 4

A rotary engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said opening and closing means includes a tube rotatably mounted within the axle and having an inlet port for each port of the axle, respectively, and means coupled with the tube for rotating the same relative to the axle.

Claim 5

A rotary engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein is included a power take-off shaft rigidly secured to the outer rotor and disposed axially thereof.

Claim 6

A rotary engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said mounting means for the inner rotor comprises a bushing rotatably mounted oN the axle, said mounting means for the outer rotor comprising a pair of spaced journal members eccentrically mounted on the axle, and bearing means on each journal member, respectively, for mounting a corresponding portion of the outer rotor thereon.

Claim 7

A rotary engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein is included a starting motor releasably coupled to the rotors for initiating the rotation thereof, means coupling the motor to a source of electrical power, and means releasably connecting the motor to the rotors.

Claim 8

A rotary engine as set forth in claim 6, wherein said motor coupling means is responsive to the fluid pressure in said chamber, said motor connecting means being responsive to the actuation of the motor, said valve being rotatable, and including means responsive to the actuation of the motor for rotating the valves to change the operative positions thereof.

Claim 9

A rotary engine comprising: a hollow axle adapted to be coupled with a source of fluid under pressure and having a fluid exit port; a pair of rotors mounted on the axle for rotation relative thereto, a first of the rotors being within the second rotor and rotatable about the axis of the axle; means mounting the second rotor on the axle for rotation about an axis parallel with the axis of the first rotor, whereby the rotors are eccentric to each other to present a chamber therebetween, the first rotor being provided with a fluid passage therethrough for placing the chamber in fluid communication with said exit port; a tube rotatably mounted in the axle and having a port movable into and out of registry with said exit port for controlling the flow of fluid under pressure through said exit port; a buttress carried by one of the rotors and shiftably coupled in the other rotor, said buttress being operable to divide the chamber into two parts as the rotors rotate together, said passage communicating with one of the chamber parts; exhaust means on the second rotor and communicating with the other chamber part for exhausting the latter as the rotors rotate; and a shroud surrounding said rotors and disposed to receive the fluid exhausted from said other chamber part.

Claim 10

A rotary engine comprising: a hollow axle adapted to be coupled with a source of fluid under pressure and having a fluid exit port; a pair of rotors mounted on the axle for rotation relative thereto, a first of the rotors being within the second rotor and rotatable about the axis of the axle; means mounting the second rotor on the axle for rotation about an axis parallel with the axis of the first rotor, whereby the rotors are eccentric to each other to present a chamber therebetween, the first rotor being provided with a fluid passage therethrough for placing the chamber in fluid communication with said exit port; a tube rotatably mounted in the axle and having a port movable into and out of registry with said exit port for controlling the flow of fluid under pressure through said exit port; a buttress carried by one of the rotors and shiftably coupled in the other rotor, said buttress being operable to divide the chamber into two parts as the rotors rotate together, said passage communicating with one of the chamber parts; exhaust means on the second rotor and communicating with the other chamber part for exhausting the latter as the rotors rotate; and a shroud surrounding said rotors and disposed to receive the fluid exhausted from said other chamber part.

Claim 11

A rotary engine comprising: a stationary hollow axle adapted to be coupled with a source of fluid under pressure and having a fluid exit port; a pair of rotors mounted on the axle for rotation relative thereto, a first of the rotors being within the second rotor and rotatable about the axis of the axle; a pair of spaced journal members eccentrically mounted on the axle and disposed for mounting the second rotor on the axle for rotation about an axis parallel with the axis of the first rotor, whereby the rotors are eccentric to each other to present a chamber therebetween, the first rotor being provided with a fluid passage therethrough for placing the chamber in fluid communication with said exit port; a power take-off shaft rigidly coupled to the second rotor; means in the axle for controlling the flow of fluid under pressure through said exit port; a buttress carried by one of the rotors and shiftably coupled in the other rotor, said buttress being operable to divide the chamber into two parts as the rotors rotate together, said passage communicating with one of the chamber parts; exhaust means on the second rotor and communicating with the other chamber part for exhausting the latter as the rotors rotate; and a shroud surrounding said rotors and disposed to receive the fluid exhausted from said other chamber part.

Claim 12

A rotary engine comprising: a stationary hollow axle adapted to be coupled with a source of fluid under pressure and having a fluid exit port; a pair of rotors mounted on the axle for rotation relative thereto, a first of the rotors being within the second rotor and rotatable about the axis of the axle; a pair of spaced journal members eccentrically mounted on the axle and disposed for mounting the second rotor on the axle for rotation about an axis parallel with the axis of the first rotor, whereby the rotors are eccentric to each other to present a chamber therebetween, the first rotor being provided with a fluid passage therethrough for placing the chamber in fluid communication with said exit port; a power take-off shaft rigidly coupled to the second rotor; means in the axle for controlling the flow of fluid under pressure through said exit port; a buttress carried by one of the rotors and shiftably coupled in the other rotor, said buttress being operable to divide the chamber into two parts as the rotors rotate together, said passage communicating with one of the chamber parts; exhaust means on the second rotor and communicating with the other chamber part for exhausting the latter as the rotors rotate; and a shroud surrounding said rotors and disposed to receive the fluid exhausted from said other chamber part.