Rotary displacement machines

Claim 2

In a rotary displacement machine adapted to handle a working fluid, the combination of; a casing structure having a pair of intersecting bores, a first rotor mounted for rotation in one said bore, a second rotor mounted for rotation in the other said bore, each rotor having a hub and at least one working tooth, each said tooth projecting radially outward from its respective hub, each said tooth being adapted to rotate in sealing proximity to the wall of its respective casing bore, each hub having at least one groove therein, each groove being located radially inward from the outer radius of its respective hub, each groove being located in its respective hub at an angular location which is adjacent to a respective tooth, timing gear means constraining said two rotors to rotate in timed relation, each said tooth being adapted to enter into and recede from the groove in the opposite rotor hub as the rotors rotate, said two hubs being proportioned so as to rotate in sealing proximity to each other during a portion of each rotor cycle, said two rotors cooperating with each other and the casing structure to provide working chambers which displace the working fluid as the rotors rotate, said casing structure having at least two ports for passage of the working fluid into and out of said working chambers, one of said ports being for passage of higher pressure working fluid and this port is therefore referred to as an H. P. port, the other said port being for passage of lower pressure working fluid and this port is therefore referred to as an L. P. port, said H. P. port being located at an end of the bore containing said first rotor, said first rotor serving to cover said H. P. port during a portion of each rotor cycle, said first rotor serving to uncover said H. P. port during another portion of each rotor cycle, said first rotor thus serving to control the flow of the working fluid through said H. P. port, wherein the improvement comprises, a sector plate located at an end of the bore containing said first rotor, said sector plate being movable to various angular positions relative to the casing structure, said sector plate having two radially directed edges (40 and 41) which form partial boundaries of a cut-out portion of the sector plate, said two radially directed edges extending radially outward to the outer periphery of the sector plate, one said edge (40) forming a movable partial boundary of said H. P. port, the second said radially directed edge (41) being isolated from and sealed from said H. P. port, said second edge (41) being in communication with the working fluid at a pressure substantially lower than that contained in said H. P. port, and said sector plate serving to vary the angle of opening of said H. P. port so as to control the internal pressure ratio of said machine.

Claim 3

A rotary displacement machine as defined in claiM i wherein: a said H. P. port is located at each end of the bore containing said first rotor, said first rotor controls the flow of the working fluid through both of said H. P. ports, a said sector plate is located at each end of the bore containing said first rotor, each sector plate is movable to various angular positions relative to the casing structure, each sector plate has an edge which forms a movable partial boundary of its respective H. P. port, each sector plate serves to vary the angle of opening of its respective H. P. port so as to control the internal pressure ratio of said machine, and the advantages of using two sector plates and two H. P. ports (instead of one of each) are: (a) there is more flow area and hence there is less flow loss through the H. P. ports and (b) the net axial pressure force on the first rotor is less hence there is less thrust load on the first rotor.

Claim 4

A rotary displacement machine as defined in claim 1 wherein: a capacity control plate member is located at an axial end of the bore containing said second rotor, said capacity control plate member has an opening therein for passage of the working fluid, said capacity control plate member is movable to various angular positions relative to the casing structure, said capacity control plate member nullifies variable portions of the displacement of said rotors when moved to said various angular positions, and said capacity control plate member thereby serves to control the capacity of said machine.

Claim 5

A rotary displacement machine as defined in claim 1 wherein; a split ring member is fastened to an end wall of the casing bore containing said first rotor, said split ring member has an overhanging edge which engages a said sector plate and thereby retains the sector plate in axial position inside the casing structure, and said ring member permits angular motion of the sector plate relative to the casing structure.

Claim 6

A rotary displacement machine as defined in claim 1 wherein; a said sector plate has a working outer radius less than the outer radius of said first rotor, a said H. P. port has an outer radius less than the outer radius of said first rotor, and a said H. P. port is controlled by the hub of the first rotor.

Claim 7

A rotary displacement machine as defined in claim 1 wherein; a said sector plate has two radially directed edges, one said radially directed edge forms the movable partial boundary of a said H. P. port, the other said radially directed edge forms the movable partial boundary of a said L. P. port, and said sector plate thus serves dual functions which are: (a) the sector plate controls internal pressure ratio and (b) the same sector plate also controls the capacity of said machine.

Claim 8

A rotary displacement machine as defined in claim 6 wherein: grillwork is fastened to said edge (of the sector plate) which controls internal pressure ratio, and the purpose of said grillwork is to maintain a more constant internal pressure ratio while varying the capacity of said machine.

Claim 9

In a rotary displacement machine adapted to handle a working fluid, the combination of; a casing structure having a pair of intersecting bores, a first rotor mounted for rotation in one said bore, a second rotor mounted for rotation in the other said bore, each rotor having a hub and at least one working tooth, each said tooth projecting radially outward from its respective hub, each said tooth being adapted to rotate in sealing proximity to the wall of its respective bore, each hub having a groove therein, each said groove being located radially inward from the outer radius of its respective hub, each said groove being located in its respective hub at an angular location which is adjacent to a respective tooth, timing gear means constraining said two rotors to rotate in timed relation at equal rotative speed, each said tooth being adapted to enter into and recede from the groove in the opposite rotor hub as the rotors rotate, said two hubs being propoRtioned so as to rotate in sealing proximity to each other during a portion of each rotor cycle, said two rotors cooperating with each other and the casing structure to provide working chambers which displace the working fluid as the rotors rotate, said casing structure having at least three ports for passage of the working fluid into and out of said working chambers, two of said ports being for passage of higher pressure working fluid and these two ports are therefore referred to as H. P. ports, the third said port being for passage of lower pressure working fluid and this port is therefore referred to as an L. P. port, said two H. P. ports being located one at each axial end of the bore containing said first rotor, said first rotor serving to cover both of said H. P. ports during a portion of each rotor cycle, said first rotor serving to uncover both of said H. P. ports during another portion of each rotor cycle, said first rotor thus serving to control the flow of the working fluid through both of said H. P. ports, wherein the improvement comprises, a sector plate located at each axial end of the bore containing said first rotor, each sector plate being movable to various angular positions relative to the casing structure, each sector plate having a radially directed edge which forms a movable partial boundary of a respective H. P. port, each sector plate serving to vary the angle of opening of a respective H. P. port so as to control the internal pressure ratio of said machine, an advantage of employing an H. P. port and a sector plate at each end of the first rotor bore (instead of at just one end) being a larger flow area, the number of working teeth contained by each rotor being equal to one, said machine (when operating as a compressor) having one discharge phase per rotor rotation, said machine (when operating as an expander) having one power phase per rotor rotation, and an advantage of using only one tooth per rotor (instead of more than one tooth) being to obtain a larger flow area through said H. P. ports for a given internal pressure ratio.

Claim 10

In a rotary displacement machine adapted to handle a working fluid, the combination of; a casing structure having a pair of intersecting bores, a first rotor mounted for rotation in one said bore, a second rotor mounted for rotation in the other said bore, each rotor having a hub and at least one working tooth, each said tooth projecting radially outward from its respective hub, each said tooth being adapted to rotate in sealing proximity to the wall of its respective bore, each hub having a groove therein, each said groove being located radially inward from the outer radius of its respective hub, each said groove being located in its respective hub at an angular location which is adjacent to a respective tooth, timing gear means constraining said two rotors to rotate in timed relation at equal rotative speed, each said tooth being adapted to enter into and recede from the groove in the opposite rotor hub as the rotors rotate, said two hubs being propoRtioned so as to rotate in sealing proximity to each other during a portion of each rotor cycle, said two rotors cooperating with each other and the casing structure to provide working chambers which displace the working fluid as the rotors rotate, said casing structure having at least three ports for passage of the working fluid into and out of said working chambers, two of said ports being for passage of higher pressure working fluid and these two ports are therefore referred to as H. P. ports, the third said port being for passage of lower pressure working fluid and this port is therefore referred to as an L. P. port, said two H. P. ports being located one at each axial end of the bore containing said first rotor, said first rotor serving to cover both of said H. P. ports during a portion of each rotor cycle, said first rotor serving to uncover both of said H. P. ports during another portion of each rotor cycle, said first rotor thus serving to control the flow of the working fluid through both of said H. P. ports, wherein the improvement comprises, a sector plate located at each axial end of the bore containing said first rotor, each sector plate being movable to various angular positions relative to the casing structure, each sector plate having a radially directed edge which forms a movable partial boundary of a respective H. P. port, each sector plate serving to vary the angle of opening of a respective H. P. port so as to control the internal pressure ratio of said machine, an advantage of employing an H. P. port and a sector plate at each end of the first rotor bore (instead of at just one end) being a larger flow area, the number of working teeth contained by each rotor being equal to one, said machine (when operating as a compressor) having one discharge phase per rotor rotation, said machine (when operating as an expander) having one power phase per rotor rotation, and an advantage of using only one tooth per rotor (instead of more than one tooth) being to obtain a larger flow area through said H. P. ports for a given internal pressure ratio.

Claim 11

A rotary displacement machine as defined in claim 8 wherein; a capacity control plate member is located at an axial end of the bore containing said second rotor, said capacity control plate member has an opening therein for passage of the working fluid, said capacity control plate member is movable to various angular positions relative to the casing structure, said capacity control plate member serves to nullify variable portions of the displacement of said rotors when moved to said various angular positions, and said capacity control plate member thereby serves to control the capacity of said machine.

Claim 12

A rotary displacement machine as defined in claim 9 wherein; a capacity control plate member is located at both axial ends of the bore containing said second rotor, both of said capacity control plate members (with openings therein) serve to nullify variable portions of the displacement of said rotors when moved to various angular positions, both of said capacity control plate members thereby serve to control the capacity of said machine, and an advantage of using two capacity control plate members (instead of one) is that there is more flow area for passage of the working fluid through said openings therein.

Claim 13

In a rotary displacement machine adapted to handle a working fluid, the combination of; a casing structure having a pair of intersecting bores, a first rotor mounted for rotation in one said bore, a second rotor mounted for rotation in the other said bore, each rotor having a hub and at least one working tooth, each said tooth projecting radially outward from its respective hub, each said tooth being adapted to rotate in sealing proximity to the wall of its respective casing bore, each hub having at least one groove therein, each said groove being located radially inward from the outer radius of its respective hub, each groove being located in its respective hub at an angulaR location which is adjacent to a respective tooth, timing gear means constraining said two rotors to rotate in timed relation, each said tooth being adapted to enter into and recede from the groove in the opposite rotor hub as the rotors rotate, said two hubs being proportioned so as to rotate in sealing proximity to each other during a portion of each rotor cycle, said two rotors cooperating with each other and the casing structure to provide working chambers which displace the working fluid as the rotors rotate, said casing structure having at least three ports for passage of the working fluid into and out of said working chambers, two of said ports being for passage of higher pressure working fluid and these two ports are therefore referred to as H. P. ports, the third said port being for passage of lower pressure working fluid and this port is therefore referred to as an L. P. port, said two H. P. ports being located one at each end of the bore containing said first rotor, the radially outward portion of each said H. P. port being located (from the axis of the first rotor) at a radial distance which is larger than the outer radius of said first rotor hub, said first rotor having a disk attached to each axial end, each said disk having an outer radius larger than the outer radius of said first rotor hub, each said disk having an opening passing in an axial direction through the disk, each said disk serving to control the flow of the working fluid through a respective H. P. port, wherein the improvement comprises, a pressure control plate located at each end of the bore containing said first rotor, each pressure control plate being movable to various angular positions relative to the casing structure, each pressure control plate serving to vary the angle of opening of a respective H. P. port so as to control the internal pressure ratio of said machine, an advantage of employing an H. P. port and a pressure control plate at each end of the first rotor bore (instead of at just one end) being a larger flow area, the number of working teeth contained by each rotor being equal to one, said machine (when operating as a compressor) having one discharge phase per rotor rotation, said machine (when operating as an expander) having one power phase per rotor rotation, and an advantage of using only one working tooth per rotor (instead or more than one tooth) being to obtain a larger flow area through said H. P. ports for a given internal pressure ratio.

Claim 14

In a rotary displacement machine adapted to handle a working fluid, the combination of; a casing structure having a pair of intersecting bores, a first rotor mounted for rotation in one said bore, a second rotor mounted for rotation in the other said bore, each rotor having a hub and at least one working tooth, each said tooth projecting radially outward from its respective hub, each said tooth being adapted to rotate in sealing proximity to the wall of its respective casing bore, each hub having at least one groove therein, each said groove being located radially inward from the outer radius of its respective hub, each groove being located in its respective hub at an angulaR location which is adjacent to a respective tooth, timing gear means constraining said two rotors to rotate in timed relation, each said tooth being adapted to enter into and recede from the groove in the opposite rotor hub as the rotors rotate, said two hubs being proportioned so as to rotate in sealing proximity to each other during a portion of each rotor cycle, said two rotors cooperating with each other and the casing structure to provide working chambers which displace the working fluid as the rotors rotate, said casing structure having at least three ports for passage of the working fluid into and out of said working chambers, two of said ports being for passage of higher pressure working fluid and these two ports are therefore referred to as H. P. ports, the third said port being for passage of lower pressure working fluid and this port is therefore referred to as an L. P. port, said two H. P. ports being located one at each end of the bore containing said first rotor, the radially outward portion of each said H. P. port being located (from the axis of the first rotor) at a radial distance which is larger than the outer radius of said first rotor hub, said first rotor having a disk attached to each axial end, each said disk having an outer radius larger than the outer radius of said first rotor hub, each said disk having an opening passing in an axial direction through the disk, each said disk serving to control the flow of the working fluid through a respective H. P. port, wherein the improvement comprises, a pressure control plate located at each end of the bore containing said first rotor, each pressure control plate being movable to various angular positions relative to the casing structure, each pressure control plate serving to vary the angle of opening of a respective H. P. port so as to control the internal pressure ratio of said machine, an advantage of employing an H. P. port and a pressure control plate at each end of the first rotor bore (instead of at just one end) being a larger flow area, the number of working teeth contained by each rotor being equal to one, said machine (when operating as a compressor) having one discharge phase per rotor rotation, said machine (when operating as an expander) having one power phase per rotor rotation, and an advantage of using only one working tooth per rotor (instead or more than one tooth) being to obtain a larger flow area through said H. P. ports for a given internal pressure ratio.

Claim 15

A rotary displacement machine as defined in claim 11 wherein; a capacity control plate member is located at an axial end of the bore containing said second rotor, said capacity control plate member has an opening therein for passage of the working fluid, said capacity control plate member is movable to various angular positions relative to the casing structure, said capacity control plate member serves to nullify variable portions of the displacement of said rotors when moved to said various angular positions, and said capacity control plate member thereby serves to control the capacity of said machine.

Claim 16

A rotary displacement machine as defined in claim 12 wherein; the outer radius of each said disk is substantially equal to the outer radius of said first rotor tooth, the outer radius of each said pressure control plate is substantially equal to the outer radius of a said disk, and the outer radius of said capacity control plate member is substantially equal to the outer radius of said second rotor tooth.

Claim 17

A rotary displacement machine as defined in claim 11 wherein; each said pressure control plate is in the form of a sector plate, a radially directed edge of each sector plate forms the movable partial boundary of a respective H. P. port, and each H. P. port has a variable area which varies according to the angular position of its respective sector plate.

Claim 18

A rotary displacement machine as defined in claim 14 wherein; a capacity control plate member is located at an axial eNd of the bore containing said second rotor, said capacity control plate member has an opening therein for passage of the working fluid, said capacity control plate member is movable to various angular positions relative to the casing structure, said capacity control plate member serves to nullify variable portions of the displacement of said rotors when moved to said various angular positions, and said capacity control plate member thereby serves to control the capacity of said machine.

Claim 19

In a rotary displacement machine adapted to handle a working fluid, the combination of; a casing structure having a pair of intersecting bores, a first rotor mounted for rotation in one said bore, a second rotor mounted for rotation in the other said bore, each rotor having a hub and at least one working tooth, each said tooth projecting radially outward from its respective hub, each said tooth being adapted to rotate in sealing proximity to the wall of its respective casing bore, each hub having at least one groove therein, each groove being located radially inward from the outer radius of its respective hub, each groove being located in its respective hub at an angular location which is adjacent to a respective tooth, timing gear means constraining said two rotors to rotate in timed relation, each said tooth being adapted to enter into and recede from the groove in the opposite rotor hub as the rotors rotate, said two hubs being proportioned so as to rotate in sealing proximity to each other during a portion of each rotor cycle, said two rotors cooperating with each other and the casing structure to provide working chambers which displace the working fluid as the rotors rotate, said casing structure having at least three ports for passage of the working fluid into and out of said working chambers, two of said ports being for passage of higher pressure working fluid and these ports are therefore referred to as an H. P. ports, the other said port being for passage of lower pressure working fluid and this port is therefore referred to as a L. P. port, said H. P. ports being located one at each end of the bore containing said first rotor, said first rotor serving to cover said H. P. ports during a portion of each rotor cycle, said first rotor serving to uncover said H. P. ports during another portion of each rotor cycle, said first rotor thus serving to control the flow of the working fluid through said H. P. ports, wherein the improvement comprises, a pressure control plate located at each end of the bore containing said first rotor, said pressure control plates being movable to various angular positions relative to the casing structure, said pressure control plates serving to vary the angle of opening of said H. P. ports so as to control the internal pressure ratio of said machine, a capacity control plate member located at an axial end of the bore containing said second rotor, said capacity control plate member having an opening therein for passage of the working fluid, said capacity control plate member being movable to various angular positions relative to the casing structure, said capacity control plate member serving to nullify variable portions of the displacement of said rotors when moved to said various angular positions, and said capacity control plate member thereby serving to control the capacity of said machine.

Claim 20

In a rotary displacement machine adapted to handle a working fluid, the combination of; a casing structure having a pair of intersecting bores, a first rotor mounted for rotation in one said bore, a second rotor mounted for rotation in the other said bore, each rotor having a hub and at least one working tooth, each said tooth projecting radially outward from its respective hub, each said tooth being adapted to rotate in sealing proximity to the wall of its respective casing bore, each hub having at least one groove therein, each groove being located radially inward from the outer radius of its respective hub, each groove being located in its respective hub at an angular location which is adjacent to a respective tooth, timing gear means constraining said two rotors to rotate in timed relation, each said tooth being adapted to enter into and recede from the groove in the opposite rotor hub as the rotors rotate, said two hubs being proportioned so as to rotate in sealing proximity to each other during a portion of each rotor cycle, said two rotors cooperating with each other and the casing structure to provide working chambers which displace the working fluid as the rotors rotate, said casing structure having at least three ports for passage of the working fluid into and out of said working chambers, two of said ports being for passage of higher pressure working fluid and these ports are therefore referred to as an H. P. ports, the other said port being for passage of lower pressure working fluid and this port is therefore referred to as a L. P. port, said H. P. ports being located one at each end of the bore containing said first rotor, said first rotor serving to cover said H. P. ports during a portion of each rotor cycle, said first rotor serving to uncover said H. P. ports during another portion of each rotor cycle, said first rotor thus serving to control the flow of the working fluid through said H. P. ports, wherein the improvement comprises, a pressure control plate located at each end of the bore containing said first rotor, said pressure control plates being movable to various angular positions relative to the casing structure, said pressure control plates serving to vary the angle of opening of said H. P. ports so as to control the internal pressure ratio of said machine, a capacity control plate member located at an axial end of the bore containing said second rotor, said capacity control plate member having an opening therein for passage of the working fluid, said capacity control plate member being movable to various angular positions relative to the casing structure, said capacity control plate member serving to nullify variable portions of the displacement of said rotors when moved to said various angular positions, and said capacity control plate member thereby serving to control the capacity of said machine.

Claim 21

A rotary displacement machine as defined in claim 16 wherein; the number of working teeth contained by each rotor is equal to one, said machine when operating as a compressor has one discharge phase during each 360* rotation of the rotors, said machine when operating as an expander has one power phase during each 360* rotation of the rotors, and an advantage of using a single tooth per rotor (instead of more than one tooth) is to obtain a larger flow area through a said H. P. port for a given internal pressure ratio.

Claim 22

A rotary displacement machine as defined in claim 16 wherein; the radially outward portion of a said H. P. port is located (from the axis of the first rotor) at a radial distance which is larger than the outer radius of said first rotor hub, said first rotor has a disk attached to at least one axial end, said disk has an outer radius larger than the outer radius of said first rotor hub, said disk has an opening passing in an axial direction through the disk, said disk serves to cover a said H. P. port during a portion of each rotor cycle, said opening in the disk serves to uncover a said H. P. port during another portion of each rotor cycle, said disk thus serves to control the flow of the working fluid through a said H. P. port, said opening in the disk is in staggered relation with said groove in the first rotor hub, said staggered relation is such that the leading edge of said opening in the disk lags behind a leading edge of the groove when operating as a compressor machine, a trailing edge of said groove in the first rotor hub lags behind the trailing edge of said opening in the disk when operating as an expansion engine, the purpose of placing an edge of said groove in the rotor hub in staggered relation with an edge of the opening in the disk (as specified in this claim) is to delay the time of opening of said H. P. port when operating as a compressor machine and to advance the time of closing of said H. P. port when operating as an expansion engine, and said delayed opening and advanced closing of the H. P. port increases the internal pressure ratio of said machine.

Claim 23

A rotary displacement machine as defined in claim 16 wherein; an outer peripheral edge of a said capacity control plate member forms the partial boundary of a said H. P. port, a said sector plate has a radially inward portion of its periphery in the form of a circular arc (the profile of which is designated arc 44), and the outer periphery of said capacity control plate member is tangent to said arc 44.

Claim 24

A rotary displacement machine as defined in claim 16 wherein; the radially outward portion of each said H. P. port is located (from the axis of the first rotor) at a radial distance which is larger than the outer radius of said first rotor hub, said first rotor has a disk attached to at least one axial end, said disk has an outer radius larger than the outer radius of said first rotor hub, said disk has an opening passing in an axial direction through the disk, said disk serves to cover a said H. P. port during a portion of each rotor cycle, said opening in the disk serves to uncover a said H. P. port during another portion of each rotor cycle, and said disk thus serves to control the flow of the working fluid through a said H. P. port.

Claim 25

A rotary displacement machine as defined in claim 20 wherein; an edge of said groove in the hub of the first rotor is staggered along its axial length the purpose of which is to delay the time of opening of a said H. P. port when operating as a compressor machine and to advance the time of closing of said H. P. port when operating as an expansion engine, and said delayed opening and advanced closing of the H. P. port increases the internal pressure ratio of said machine.

Claim 26

A rotary displacement machine as defined in claim 16 wherein; a ring member is fastened to the end wall of the casing bore containing said second rotor, said ring member has an overhanging edge which engages a said capacity control plate member and thereby retains the control plate member in axial position inside the casing structure, and said ring member permits angular motion of the capacity control plate member relative to the casing structure.

Claim 27

The combination defined in claim 22 wherein; said ring member is fastened to the casing end wall with pin like fasteners, said capacity control plate member is a composite structure comprised of multiple plates fastened together, and a purpose of making the capacity control plate member in the form of an assembled composite structure is to permit assembly of said ring member into saId capacity control plate member.