Spherical displacement device and seal means therefor

Claim 2

In a spherical displacement device having a plurality of variable volume chambers for use as a pump, compressor or motor comprising a housing having a cavity therein, at least a portion of which has a substantially spherical configuration, a pair of end pistons disposed in said spherical cavity, each of said end pistons being mounted for rotation in said spherical cavity about an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation of each of said pair of end pistons being disposed at an angle other than 180* with respect to the other axis of rotation, each of said pair of end pistons having a pair of faces inclined axially inwardly toward the center of said spherical cavity, first semi-cylindrical journal means in each of said pair of pistons extending diametrically of said spherical cavity, a central piston disposed in said spherical cavity between said pair of end pistons and extending diametrically of said spherical chamber, said central piston having a second semi-cylindrical journal means on opposite sides thereof for operably connecting said first semi-cylindrical journal means of each of said pair of end pistons and a pair of piston faces on each side of said second journal means aligned with said inclined piston surfaces to form a plurality of chambers in said spherical cavity whereby said central piston is simultaneously oScillated as it rotates with said pairs of pistons to vary the volume of said plurality of chambers, an improved sealing arrangement for sealing between said end pistons, said central piston and said spherical housing comprising: a. semi-cylindrical end seal members on opposite ends of the semi-cylindrical journal means on said central piston and positioned externally of said semi-cylindrical journal with the ends of said semi-cylindrical end seals received in slots in said center pistons adjacent said semi-cylindrical journal means; and b. arcuate ring seal segments disposed in grooves extending circumferentially of said center piston between said semicylindrical end seal members.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein said arcuate ring segment seals have tapered ends adjacent said semi-cylindrical end seal members and including wedge-shaped lock means positioned between said tapered ends of said arcuate ring seal segments and said semi-cylindrical end seal members for limiting longitudinal movement of said arcuate ring seal segments in their grooves upon rotation of said center piston in said spherical chamber and for sealing between said semi-cylindrical end seal members and said tapered end segments adjacent thereto to prevent leakage of pressure from behind said arcuate ring seal segments.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1 including plug seal means provided at the juncture of said semi-cylindrical end seal members and said arcuate ring seal segments with slot means provided in said plug means for receiving said arcuate ring segment seals with said center piston being provided with suitable openings for receiving said plug seal means whereby high pressure gas in said circumferentially extending grooves is prevented from leaking around said center piston.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 3 including fluid passage means in said end piston for communicating high pressure fluid to the opening in said end piston in which said plug means is received for urging said plug means outwardly into said sealing engagement with said arcuate ring segment seal.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 3 wherein spring means are provided in said openings in said center piston for urging said plug seal means radially outwardly.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 5 wherein said plug seal means includes a hollow tubular member having a notch formed in its outer end for receiving said ring seal means and having a movable piston disposed in said hollow tubular member adapted to engage the inner surface of said ring seal means and having spring means for urging said piston means and said tubular member radially outwardly into sealing engagement with said ring seal means.

Claim 8

In a spherical displacement device having a plurality of variable volume chambers for use as a pump, compressor or motor comprising a housing having a cavity therein, at least a portion of which has a substantially spherical configuration, a pair of end pistons disposed in said spherical cavity, each of said end pistons being mounted for rotation in said spherical cavity about an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation of each of said pair of end pistons being disposed at an angle other than 180* with respect to the other axis of rotation, each of said pair of end pistons having a pair of faces inclined axially inwardly toward the center of said spherical cavity, first semi-cylindrical journal means in each of said pair of pistons extending diametrically of said spherical cavity, a central piston disposed in said spherical cavity between said pair of end pistons and extending diametrically of said spherical chamber, said central piston having a second semi-cylindrical journal means on opposite sides thereof for operably connecting said first semi-cylindrical journal means of each of said pair of end pistons and a pair of piston faces on each side of said second journal means aligned with said inclined piston surfaces to form a plurality of chambers in said spherical cavity whereby said central piston is simultaneously oscillaTed as it rotates with said pairs of pistons to vary the volume of said plurality of chambers, an improved sealing arrangement for sealing between said end pistons, said central piston and said spherical housing comprising: arcuate ring segment seals disposed in grooves in said end pistons with the ends of said arcuate ring segment seals tapered to a point and strip seal means extending axially of said semi-cylindrical journal means in each of said end pistons with the ends of said strip seal means being tapered to interfit with the tapered ends of said arcuate ring segment seals and with spring means for urging said tapered ends of said strip seal means into engagement with said tapered ends of said arcuate ring segment seals.

Claim 9

In a spherical displacement device having a plurality of variable volume chambers for use as a pump, compressor or motor comprising a housing having a cavity therein, at least a portion of which has a substantially spherical configuration, a pair of end pistons disposed in said spherical cavity, each of said end pistons being mounted for rotation in said spherical cavity about an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation of each of said pair of end pistons being disposed at an angle other than 180* with respect to the other axis of rotation, each of said pair of end pistons having a pair of faces inclined axially inwardly toward the center of said spherical cavity, first semi-cylindrical journal means in each of said pair of pistons extending diametrically of said spherical cavity, a central piston disposed in said spherical cavity between said pair of end pistons and extending diametrically of said spherical chamber, said central piston having a second semi-cylindrical journal means on opposite sides thereof for operably connecting said first semi-cylindrical journal means of each of said pair of end pistons and a pair of piston faces on each side of said second journal means aligned with said inclined piston surfaces to form a plurality of chambers in said spherical cavity whereby said central piston is simultaneously oscillaTed as it rotates with said pairs of pistons to vary the volume of said plurality of chambers, an improved sealing arrangement for sealing between said end pistons, said central piston and said spherical housing comprising: arcuate ring segment seals disposed in grooves in said end pistons with the ends of said arcuate ring segment seals tapered to a point and strip seal means extending axially of said semi-cylindrical journal means in each of said end pistons with the ends of said strip seal means being tapered to interfit with the tapered ends of said arcuate ring segment seals and with spring means for urging said tapered ends of said strip seal means into engagement with said tapered ends of said arcuate ring segment seals.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 7 wherein said arcuate ring segment seals are disposed in grooves substantially parallel to the inclined faces of said end pistons.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 7 wherein said arcuate ring segment seal is disposed in a continuous groove extending circumferentially of said end piston and in a plane which is not perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said piston.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 7 including side seal means which are disposed in grooves substantially perpendicular to said arcuate ring segment seals with wedge-shaped seal means disposed between the ends of said arcuate ring segment seals and said side seal means.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 7 wherein said side seal means are provided with wedge-shaped seal means adjacent the first semi-cylindrical journal means on said central piston for engaging the semi-cylindrical end seal members on the semi-cylindrical journal means on said central piston.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 11 including spring means for urging said wedge-shaped seal means outwardly between said side seal members and the adjacent semi-cylindrical end seal member on said semi-cylindrical journal means on the central piston.