Engine apparatus

Claim 2

A fluid pump, comprising, in combination: means defining a pump chamber having return and delivery ports; movable means within said chamber for pressurizing fluid within said chamber; means for supplying fluid to said chamber; means for cyclically opening and closing said ports in synchronism with the motion of said movable means to provide three distinct conditions including a first condition in which said chamber communicates solely with a first said port, a second condition in which said chamber communicates decreasingly with said first of said ports and increasingly with the other of said ports and a third condition in which said chamber communicates solely with said other of said ports, said ports being arranged so that the total area of said ports communicating with said chamber reaches a minimum during said second condition and the pressure in said chamber reaches a maximum during said second condition; check valve means connected to release fluid from said chamber to said means for supplying fluid when said pressure exceeds a predetermined vaLue; and an output conduit connecting said delivery port to a utilization device.

Claim 3

A pump according to claim 1 in which said means defining said pump chamber comprises a first plate with a recess having an open end and a second plate mounted adjacent said first plate, said second plate containing said return and delivery ports, and in which said means for cyclically opening and closing said ports comprises means for providing a relative rotation between said first and second plates so that said open end of said recess cyclically communicates with said return and delivery ports.

Claim 4

A pump according to claim 2 in which said check valve means comprises a spring-loaded check valve mounted in a passageway within said first plate, said passageway communicating with said recess and said check valve being adapted to move along a valve-operating axis, said valve-operating axis having a radial component of direction, whereby centrifugal force caused by rotation of said first plate varies the opening pressure of said check valve.

Claim 5

A pump according to claim 2 in which said check valve means comprises a spring-loaded check valve mounted in a passageway within said first plate, said passageway communicating with said recess and said check valve being adapted to move along a valve-operating axis, said valve-operating axis having a tangential component of direction, whereby angular acceleration of said first plate varies the opening pressure of said check valve.

Claim 6

A rotary pump comprising a first member defining a cylindrical bore; a rotor disc mounted to rotate within said cylindrical bore and having a periphery provided with two portions of different radius; a pair of follower means rotatably carried in said first member and spring-biased against said rotor disc to selectively divide the space of said bore surrounding said rotor into chambers which alternately increase and decrease in volume as said rotor disc is rotated, a first passage in said rotor disc connecting the chamber which is expanding to a fluid source, and a second passage in said rotor disc connecting the chamber which is contracting to outlet port means extending between opposite sides of said rotor disc, whereby rotation of said rotor disc creates fluid pressure in said outlet port means of said rotor disc; a first stationary plate engaging one side of said rotor disc, said plate having at least one opening connected to said fluid source, said outlet port means of said rotor disc being arranged to periodically communicate with said opening as said disc is rotated; a second plate engaging the other side of said rotor disc and mounted for limited angular adjustment, said second plate having at least one return opening communicating with said fluid source and at least one delivery opening communicating with a utilization device, said outlet port means being arranged to periodically communicate with said openings in said second plate as said disc is rotated, whereby pressure created in said outlet port means may provide fluid flow through one or the other of said openings of said second plate during time periods when said outlet port means does not communicate with said openings in said first stationary plate, and the fluid flow occurring during said time periods is selectively proportioned between said openings of said second plate by the angular adjustment of said second plate, thereby controlling the delivery of fluid to said utilization device.

Claim 7

A rotary pump comprising a first member defining a cylindrical bore; a rotor disc mounted to rotate within said cylindrical bore and having a periphery provided with two portions of different radius; a pair of follower means rotatably carried in said first member and spring-biased against said rotor disc to selectively divide the space of said bore surrounding said rotor into chambers which alternately increase and decrease in volume as said rotor disc is rotated, a first passage in said rotor disc connecting the chamber which is expanding to a fluid source, and a second passage in said rotor disc connecting the chamber which is contracting to outlet port means extending between opposite sides of said rotor disc, whereby rotation of said rotor disc creates fluid pressure in said outlet port means of said rotor disc; a first stationary plate engaging one side of said rotor disc, said plate having at least one opening connected to said fluid source, said outlet port means of said rotor disc being arranged to periodically communicate with said opening as said disc is rotated; a second plate engaging the other side of said rotor disc and mounted for limited angular adjustment, said second plate having at least one return opening communicating with said fluid source and at least one delivery opening communicating with a utilization device, said outlet port means being arranged to periodically communicate with said openings in said second plate as said disc is rotated, whereby pressure created in said outlet port means may provide fluid flow through one or the other of said openings of said second plate during time periods when said outlet port means does not communicate with said openings in said first stationary plate, and the fluid flow occurring during said time periods is selectively proportioned between said openings of said second plate by the angular adjustment of said second plate, thereby controlling the delivery of fluid to said utilization device.

Claim 8

A pump according to claim 5 wherein said openings in said plates are angularly spaced around the axis of rotation of said rotor disc so that said outlet port means successively communicates with said openings in the following sequence: first with said opening in said first plate, next with said delivery opening in said second plate and thirdly with said return opening in said second plate, whereby delivery of fluid to said utilization device begins at a predetermined angular position of said rotor disc and terminates at varying angular positions dependent upon adjusTment of said second plate.

Claim 9

A pump according to claim 5 wherein said openings in said plates are angularly spaced around the axis of rotation of said rotor disc so that said outlet port means successively communicates with said openings in the following sequence: first with said opening in said first plate, next with said return opening in said second plate and thirdly with said delivery opening in said second plate, whereby delivery of fluid to said utilization device begins at varying angular positions of said rotor disc dependent upon adjustment of said second plate and terminates at a predetermined angular position of said rotor disc.

Claim 10

A pump According to claim 5 wherein the sizes and spacings of said openings in said plates are arranged in relation to said outlet port means so that said outlet port means communicates with at least one of said opeings at all angular positions of said rotor disc.

Claim 11

Rotary distributor pump apparatus for supplying fluid successively and equally in controlled amounts to a plurality of output conduits, comprising, in combination: pump means having means defining a bore and a rotor adapted to rotate in said bore about an axis; a fluid source connected to said pump means, said rotor including an outlet port radially displaced from said axis to sweep in a circular path as said rotor is rotated, rotation of said rotor creating fluid pressure at said outlet port; stationary plate means having a plurality of openings spaced apart in a circular path to successively communicate with said outlet port as said rotor is rotated, each of said openings being connected to said fluid source; adjustable plate means capable of limited angular adjustment and having a plurality return openings spaced apart in a first circular arrangement to successively communicate with said outlet port as said rotor is rotated and a plurality of delivery openings spaced apart in a second circular arrangement to successively communicate with said outlet port as said rotor is rotated, each of said return openings being connected to said fluid source and each of said delivery openings being connected to a respective one of said plurality of output conduits.

Claim 12

Rotary distributor pump apparatus for supplying fluid successively and equally in controlled amounts to a plurality of output conduits, comprising, in combination: pump means having means defining a bore and a rotor adapted to rotate in said bore about an axis; a fluid source connected to said pump means, said rotor including an outlet port radially displaced from said axis to sweep in a circular path as said rotor is rotated, rotation of said rotor creating fluid pressure at said outlet port; stationary plate means having a plurality of openings spaced apart in a circular path to successively communicate with said outlet port as said rotor is rotated, each of said openings being connected to said fluid source; adjustable plate means capable of limited angular adjustment and having a plurality return openings spaced apart in a first circular arrangement to successively communicate with said outlet port as said rotor is rotated and a plurality of delivery openings spaced apart in a second circular arrangement to successively communicate with said outlet port as said rotor is rotated, each of said return openings being connected to said fluid source and each of said delivery openings being connected to a respective one of said plurality of output conduits.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 9 in which said outlet port is arranged to communicate with at least one of said openings at all angular positions of said rotor.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 9 in which said rotor is generally cylindrical and provided with two end faces, said outlet port extending between said two end faces, said stationary plate means being disposed against one of said end faces and said adjustable means being disposed against the other of said end faces.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 9 having a passage in said rotor connecting said outlet port to said fluid source, said passage containing a spring-loaded check valve.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the portion of said passage containing said check valve extends at least partially radially in said rotor, whereby centrifugal force affects the opening pressure of said check valve.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the portion of said passage containing said check valve extends at least partially non-radially in said rotor, whereby angular acceleration of said rotor affects the opening pressure of said check valve.

Claim 18

Appparatus according to claim 9 wherein said means defining said bore includes a pair of passages connected between said bore and said fluid source, each of said passages containing a spring-loaded check valve.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 15 having spring means acting between said check valves to apply equal spring loading to said check valves.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 16 having cam means for varying said spring means to vary the spring loading applied to said check valves equally.

Claim 21

Rotary distributor pump apparatus for supplying fluid successively and equally in controlled amounts to a plurality of output conduits, comprising, in combination: pump means having means Defining a bore and a rotor adapted to rotate in said bore about an axis; a fluid source connected to said pump means, said rotor including an outlet port radially displaced from said axis to sweep in a circular path as said rotor is rotated, rotation of said rotor creating fluid pressure at said outlet port; stationary plate means having a plurality of return openings spaced apart in a circular path to successively communicate with said outlet port as said rotor is rotated, said stationary plate means also having a plurality of delivery openings spaced apart in a circular path to successively communicate with said outlet port as said rotor is rotated, said openings being phased so that said outlet port alternately communicates with return openings and delivery openings, said return openings being connected to said fluid source; a distributor plate arranged to rotate in fixed phase relationship with said rotor, said distributor plate having port means radially displaced from said axis to sweep in a circular path as said distributor plate is rotated, said port means of said distributor being phased relative to said outlet port of said rotor to communicate with individual ones of said delivery openings when said outlet port communicates with said ones of said delivery openings, respectively; and adjustable plate means capable of limited angular adjustment, said adjustable plate means having a plurality of return openings spaced apart in a first circular arrangement to successively communicate with said port means of said distributor plate as said distributor plate is rotated and a plurality of delivery openings spaced apart in a second circular arrangement to successively communicate with said port means of said distributor plate as said distributor plate is rotated, each of said return openings of said adjustable plate means being connected to said fluid source and each of said delivery openings of said adjustable plate means being connected to a respective one of said plurality of output conduits.

Claim 22

Rotary distributor pump apparatus for supplying fluid successively and equally in controlled amounts to a plurality of output conduits, comprising, in combination: pump means having means Defining a bore and a rotor adapted to rotate in said bore about an axis; a fluid source connected to said pump means, said rotor including an outlet port radially displaced from said axis to sweep in a circular path as said rotor is rotated, rotation of said rotor creating fluid pressure at said outlet port; stationary plate means having a plurality of return openings spaced apart in a circular path to successively communicate with said outlet port as said rotor is rotated, said stationary plate means also having a plurality of delivery openings spaced apart in a circular path to successively communicate with said outlet port as said rotor is rotated, said openings being phased so that said outlet port alternately communicates with return openings and delivery openings, said return openings being connected to said fluid source; a distributor plate arranged to rotate in fixed phase relationship with said rotor, said distributor plate having port means radially displaced from said axis to sweep in a circular path as said distributor plate is rotated, said port means of said distributor being phased relative to said outlet port of said rotor to communicate with individual ones of said delivery openings when said outlet port communicates with said ones of said delivery openings, respectively; and adjustable plate means capable of limited angular adjustment, said adjustable plate means having a plurality of return openings spaced apart in a first circular arrangement to successively communicate with said port means of said distributor plate as said distributor plate is rotated and a plurality of delivery openings spaced apart in a second circular arrangement to successively communicate with said port means of said distributor plate as said distributor plate is rotated, each of said return openings of said adjustable plate means being connected to said fluid source and each of said delivery openings of said adjustable plate means being connected to a respective one of said plurality of output conduits.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to claim 18 in which said rotor is generally cylindrical and provided with two end faces,said outlet port means extending between said two end faces, said stationary plate means comprising a first plate disposed against one of said end faces and containing said return openings of said stationary plate means and a second plate disposed against the other of said end faces and containing said delivery openings of said stationary plate means.

Claim 24

Apparatus according to claim 18 in which said outlet port of said rotor is arranged to communicate with at least one of said openings of said stationary plate means at all angular positions of said rotor.

Claim 25

Apparatus according to claim 18 having a passage in said rotor connecting said outlet port to said fluid source, said passage containing a spring-loaded check valve.

Claim 26

Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said means defining said bore includes a pair of follower means spring-biased against said rotor to selectively divide the space of said bore surrounding said rotor into chambers which alternately increase and decrease in volume as said rotor is rotated, said bore being cylindrical and said rotor having a periphery provided with two portions of different radius, said portions of different radius being operative to control said follower means as said rotor is rotated.

Claim 27

Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said bore is provided with two internal surface portions of different radius and said rotor carries a pair of follower means spring-biased to selectively divide the space of said bore surrounding said rotor into chambers which alternately increase and decrease in volume as said rotor is rotated, said internal surface portions of different radius being operative to control said follower means as said rotor is rotated.

Claim 28

Apparatus according to claim 18 Wherein said openings in said plate means are angularly spaced around said axis so as to provide fluid flow from said outlet port of said roTor in the following sequence: (1) through one of said return openings of said stationary plate means, (2) through one of said delivery openings of said stationary plate means, through said port means of said distributor plate, and through one of said delivery openings of said adjustable plate means, and (3) through said one of said delivery openings of said stationary plate means, through said port means of said distributor plate, and through one of said return openings of said adjustable plate means, whereby delivery of fluid to the output conduit connected to said one of said delivery openings of said adjustable plate means begins at a predetermined angular position of said rotor and terminates at varying angular positions dependent upon adjustment of said adjustable plate means.

Claim 29

Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said openings in said plate means are angularly spaced around said axis so as to provide fluid flow from said outlet port of said rotor in the following sequence: (1) through one of said return openings of said stationary plate means, (2) through one of said delivery openings of said stationary plate means, through said port means of said distributor plate, and through one of said return openings of said adjustable plate means, and (3) through said one of said delivery openings of said stationary plate means, through said port means of said distributor plate, and through one of said delivery openings of said adjustable plate means, whereby delivery of fluid to the output conduit connected to said one of said delivery openings of said adjustable plate means begins at varying angular positions of said rotor dependent upon adjustment of said adjustable plate means and terminates at a predetermined angular position of said rotor.

Claim 30

Apparatus according to claim 18 having a passage in said distributor plate connecting said port means of said distributor plate to said fluid source, said passage containing a spring-loaded check valve.

Claim 31

Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the portion of said passage containing said check valve extends at least partially radially in said rotor, whereby centrifugal force affects the opening pressure of said check valve.

Claim 32

Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the portion of said passage containing said check valve extends at least partially non-radially in said rotor, whereby angular acceleration of said rotor affects the opening pressure of said check valve.