Rotary fluid pump or motor with intermeshed spiral walls

Claim 2

A fluid pump or motor comprising a first pair of spiral walls and a second pair of spiral walls, the walls of each pair being fitted together out of phase between end walls perpendicular to the spiral walls, with two lines of contact between the spiral walls of each pair, means for moving one spiral wall of each pair relative to the other spiral wall of the same pair, while maintaining said out of phase relationship, to advance said lines of contact spirally outward, for the first pair, from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, and spirally inward, for the second pair, from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, whereby fluid flows spirally outward between the first pair and spirally inward between the second pair, the fluid inlets being in parallel and the fluid outlets being in parallel whereby the total flow through the pump or motor is the sum of said spirally outward and inward flows, the sizes and configurations of the first and second pairs of walls being substantially identical whereby said sum is substantially nonpulsating.

Claim 3

A fluid pump or motor as claimed in claim 1 wherein each spiral wall extends approximately 3 pi radians.

Claim 4

A fluid pump as claimed in claim 1 wherein the walls of each pair are fitted together approximately 180* out of phase.

Claim 5

A fluid pump or motor as claimed in claim 1 wherein each spiral wall has two longitudinal edges, one longitudinal edge of one spiral wall of each pair being fast with one end wall, the other longitudinal edge of the latter spiral wall bearing frictionally along an opposite end wall, one longitudinal edge of the other spiral wall of the pair being fast with said opposite end wall and the other longitudinal edge of the latter spiral wall bearing frictionally along said one end wall.

Claim 6

A fluid pump or motor as claimed in claim 4 wherein one spiral wall and end wall of each pair are stationary, and the other spiral wall and end wall of the pair are movable by said moving means.

Claim 7

A fluid pump or motor as claimed in claim 5 wherein the moving means comprise a shaft pivoted for movement in a conical path, rotary means for driving the shaft in said conical path, and means coupling the shaft with the movable wall of each pair.

Claim 8

A fluid pump or motor as claimed in claim 6 wherein the coupling means comprise a bearing into which one end of the shaft extends and on which the movable spiral walls are driven in circular paths of the same size.

Claim 9

A fluid pump or motor as claimed in claim 5 wherein the movable one of the end walls of each pair has an outer surface subjected to the pressure at the fluid outlet whereby it is fluid pressed towards the stationary end wall of the same pair.

Claim 10

A fluid pump or motor as claimed in claim 8 wherein, for the second pair of spiral walls whose lines of contact advance spirally inward from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, the movable end wall has a port through which outlet fluid can flow to exert pressure against the outer surface of said end wall, said end wall having an inner surface and a peripheral sealing portion that confines inlet fluid pressure to said inner surface.

Claim 11

A fluid pump or motor as claimed in claim 8 and including spring means urging the movable end wall of each pair towards the stationary end wall.

Claim 12

A fluid pump or motor comprising a pair of substantially identical spiral walls fitted together approximately 180* out of phase between end walls perpendicular to the spiral walls, with two lines of contact between the spiral walls, means for moving one spiral wall relative to the other, while maintaining said phase relationship, to advance the said lines of contact spirally from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, said means comprising a shaft pivoted for movement in a conical path, means coupling the shaft with said one of the spiral walls, a rotary drive member for driving the shaft in said coniCal path, the rotary drive member having an outer edge and a guideway extending towards said outer edge and engaging the shaft, the shaft having a center line intersected by a radius of the rotary drive member, and the guideway being at an angle to said radius whereby a dynamic force on the shaft normal to said radius has a component along the guideway urging the shaft to move in a direction along the guideway to press together the spiral walls.

Claim 13

A fluid pump or motor comprising a pair of substantially identical spiral walls fitted together approximately 180* out of phase between end walls perpendicular to the spiral walls, with two lines of contact between the spiral walls, means for moving one spiral wall relative to the other, while maintaining said phase relationship, to advance the said lines of contact spirally from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, said means comprising a shaft pivoted for movement in a conical path, means coupling the shaft with said one of the spiral walls, a rotary drive member for driving the shaft in said coniCal path, the rotary drive member having an outer edge and a guideway extending towards said outer edge and engaging the shaft, the shaft having a center line intersected by a radius of the rotary drive member, and the guideway being at an angle to said radius whereby a dynamic force on the shaft normal to said radius has a component along the guideway urging the shaft to move in a direction along the guideway to press together the spiral walls.

Claim 14

A fluid pump or motor as claimed in claim 11 wherein one of the end walls has an outer surface subjected to the pressure at the fluid outlet whereby it is fluid pressed towards the other end wall.

Claim 15

A fluid pump or motor as claimed in claim 11 wherein the guideway comprises a slot, and a spring in the slot urges the shaft in said direction along the slot.

Claim 16

A fluid pump or motor as claimed in claim 13 wherein the shaft is located in a bearing located in and slidable in the slot, the bearing being pressed in said direction by the spring.

Claim 17

A fluid pump or motor as claimed in claim 11 wherein the means coupling the shaft with said one of the spiral walls comprise a bearing into which one end of the shaft extends and on which said one of the spiral walls is driven in a circular path.

Claim 18

A fluid pump or motor as claimed in claim 15 wherein said one of the spiral walls is fast with one of the end walls and is urged to bear frictionally against the other end wall by a spring supported by said bearing.

Claim 19

A fluid pump or motor as claimed in claim 15 and including another pair of substantially identical spiral walls also fitted together approximately 180* out of phase between end walls perpendicular thereto, and with two lines of contact between the spiral walls of said other pair, the spiral walls of said other pair being of opposite pitch to the first mentioned pair, one of the spiral walls of said other pair being driven by said bearing in a circular path, in the same sense as the driven spiral wall of the first mentioned pair, to advance the lines of contact of said other pair spirally from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, one of the spiral walls of each pair being stationary.

Claim 20

A fluid pump or motor as claimed in claim 15 wherein the shaft is pivoted, for movement in said conical path, in a bearing located between said one end of the shaft and said rotary drive member, and a flexible bellows around the shaft isolates the shaft and bearings from the fluid being pumped.

Claim 21

A fluid pump or motor as claimed in claim 18 wherein said phase relationship is maintained by a detent ring within the bellows which prevents twisting of the bellows during said relative movement of the spiral walls.

Claim 22

A fluid pump or motor comprising a first pair of spiral walls substantially identical to each other, and a second pair of spiral walls substantially identical to each other, the walls of each pair being fitted together approximately 180* out of phase between end walls perpendicular to the spiral walls, with two lines of contact between the spiral walls of each pair, means for moving one spiral wall of each pair relative to the other spiral wall of the same pair, while maintaining said phase relationship, to advance said lines of contact spirally outward, for the first pair, from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, and spirally inward, for the second pair, from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, the inlets being in parallel and the fluid outlets being in parallel, each spiral wall having two longitudinal edges, one longitudinal edge of one spiral wall of each pair being fast with one end wall, the other longitudinal edge of the latter spiral wall bearing frictionally along an opposite end wall, one longitudinal edge of the other spiral wall of the pair being fast with said opposite end wall and the other longitudinal edge of the latter spiral wall bearing frictionally along said one end wall, one spiral wall and end wall of each pair being stationary, and the other spiral wall and end walL of each pair being movable by said moving means, the movable spiral walls being coaxially arranged on a common bearing of said moving means, the stationary end wall of the first pair being a wall of a first chamber surrounding the movable end wall and the spiral walls of the first pair, the fluid inlet for the first pair being through said stationary chamber wall near the axes of the spiral walls, and the advance of the lines of contact of the first pair spirally outward delivering fluid to part of said surrounding first chamber where the fluid outlet for the first pair is located and where the outlet fluid pressure urges the movable end wall of the first pair towards said stationary chamber wall, the stationary end wall of the second pair being a common wall of the first chamber and of a second chamber surrounding the movable end wall and the spiral walls of the second pair, the movable end wall of the second pair having a peripheral portion that divides the second chamber into two compartments at opposite sides of the movable end wall of the second pair, the second pair of spiral walls being in one of said compartments, the fluid outlet for the second pair being from said one compartment through said common wall into the first chamber near the axes of the spiral walls, the fluid inlet for the second pair being into said one compartment and the advance of the lines of contact of the second pair delivering fluid spirally inward from said fluid inlet of the second pair to said fluid outlet thereof, the movable end wall of the second pair having a port through which outlet fluid can flow to the other of said compartments where it urges the movable end wall of the second pair towards said common wall.

Claim 23

A fluid pump or motor comprising a first pair of spiral walls substantially identical to each other, and a second pair of spiral walls substantially identical to each other, the walls of each pair being fitted together approximately 180* out of phase between end walls perpendicular to the spiral walls, with two lines of contact between the spiral walls of each pair, means for moving one spiral wall of each pair relative to the other spiral wall of the same pair, while maintaining said phase relationship, to advance said lines of contact spirally outward, for the first pair, from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, and spirally inward, for the second pair, from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, the inlets being in parallel and the fluid outlets being in parallel, each spiral wall having two longitudinal edges, one longitudinal edge of one spiral wall of each pair being fast with one end wall, the other longitudinal edge of the latter spiral wall bearing frictionally along an opposite end wall, one longitudinal edge of the other spiral wall of the pair being fast with said opposite end wall and the other longitudinal edge of the latter spiral wall bearing frictionally along said one end wall, one spiral wall and end wall of each pair being stationary, and the other spiral wall and end walL of each pair being movable by said moving means, the movable spiral walls being coaxially arranged on a common bearing of said moving means, the stationary end wall of the first pair being a wall of a first chamber surrounding the movable end wall and the spiral walls of the first pair, the fluid inlet for the first pair being through said stationary chamber wall near the axes of the spiral walls, and the advance of the lines of contact of the first pair spirally outward delivering fluid to part of said surrounding first chamber where the fluid outlet for the first pair is located and where the outlet fluid pressure urges the movable end wall of the first pair towards said stationary chamber wall, the stationary end wall of the second pair being a common wall of the first chamber and of a second chamber surrounding the movable end wall and the spiral walls of the second pair, the movable end wall of the second pair having a peripheral portion that divides the second chamber into two compartments at opposite sides of the movable end wall of the second pair, the second pair of spiral walls being in one of said compartments, the fluid outlet for the second pair being from said one compartment through said common wall into the first chamber near the axes of the spiral walls, the fluid inlet for the second pair being into said one compartment and the advance of the lines of contact of the second pair delivering fluid spirally inward from said fluid inlet of the second pair to said fluid outlet thereof, the movable end wall of the second pair having a port through which outlet fluid can flow to the other of said compartments where it urges the movable end wall of the second pair towards said common wall.

Claim 24

A fluid pump or motor comprising a first pair of spiral walls substantially identical to each other, and a second pair of spiral walls substantially identical to each other, the walls of each pair being fitted together approximately 180* out of phase between end walls perpendicular to the spiral walls, with two lines of contact between the spiral walls of each pair, means for moving one spiral wall of each pair relative to the other spiral wall of the same pair, while maintaining said phase relationship, to advance said lines of contact spirally outward, for the first pair, from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, and spirally inward, for the second pair, from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, the inlets being in parallel and the fluid outlets being in parallel, each spiral wall having two longitudinal edges, one longitudinal edge of one spiral wall of each pair being fast with one end wall, the other longitudinal edge of the latter spiral wall bearing frictionally along an opposite end wall, one longitudinal edge of the other spiral wall of the pair being fast with said opposite end wall and the other longitudinal edge of the latter spiral wall bearing frictionally along said one end wall, one spiral wall and end wall of each pair being stationary, and the other spiral wall and end wall of each pair being movable by said moving means; the moving means comprising a shaft pivoted for movement in a conical path, rotary means for driving the shaft in said conical path, and means coupling the shaft with the movable wall of each pair, the coupling means comprising a bearing into which one end of the shaft extends and on which the movable spiral walls are driven in circular paths of the same size; a first spring reacting against the bearing and pressing one of the movable spiral walls against the end wall on which it frictionally bears, and a second spring reacting against the movable end wall which is fast with said one of the movable spiral walls and pressing the other of the movable spiral walls against the end wall on which it frictionally bears.

Claim 25

A fluid pump or motor comprising a first pair of spiral walls substantially identical to each other, and a second pair of spiral walls substantially identical to each other, the walls of each pair being fitted together approximately 180* out of phase between end walls perpendicular to the spiral walls, with two lines of contact between the spiral walls of each pair, means for moving one spiral wall of each pair relative to the other spiral wall of the same pair, while maintaining said phase relationship, to advance said lines of contact spirally outward, for the first pair, from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, and spirally inward, for the second pair, from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, the inlets being in parallel and the fluid outlets being in parallel, each spiral wall having two longitudinal edges, one longitudinal edge of one spiral wall of each pair being fast with one end wall, the other longitudinal edge of the latter spiral wall bearing frictionally along an opposite end wall, one longitudinal edge of the other spiral wall of the pair being fast with said opposite end wall and the other longitudinal edge of the latter spiral wall bearing frictionally along said one end wall, one spiral wall and end wall of each pair being stationary, and the other spiral wall and end wall of each pair being movable by said moving means; the moving means comprising a shaft pivoted for movement in a conical path, rotary means for driving the shaft in said conical path, and means coupling the shaft with the movable wall of each pair, the coupling means comprising a bearing into which one end of the shaft extends and on which the movable spiral walls are driven in circular paths of the same size; a first spring reacting against the bearing and pressing one of the movable spiral walls against the end wall on which it frictionally bears, and a second spring reacting against the movable end wall which is fast with said one of the movable spiral walls and pressing the other of the movable spiral walls against the end wall on which it frictionally bears.

Claim 26

A fluid pump or motor comprising a first pair of spiral walls substantially identical to each other, and a second pair of spiral walls substantially identical to each other, the walls of each pair being fitted together approXimately 180* out of phase between end walls perpendicular to the spiral walls, with two lines of contact between the spiral walls of each pair, means for moving one spiral wall of each pair relative to the other spiral wall of the same pair, while maintaining said phase relationship, to advance said lines of contact spirally outward, for the first pair, from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, and spirally inward, for the second pair, from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, the inlets being in parallel and the fluid outlets being in parallel, each spiral wall having two longitudinal edges, one longitudinal edge of one spiral wall of each pair being fast with one end wall, the other longitudinal edge of the latter spiral wall bearing frictionally along an opposite end wall, one longitudinal edge of the other spiral wall of the pair being fast with said opposite end wall and the other longitudinal edge of the latter spiral wall bearing frictionally along said one end wall, one spiral wall and end wall of each pair being stationary, and the other spiral wall and end wall of each pair being movable by said moving means, the moving means comprising a shaft pivoted for movement in a conical path, rotary means for driving the shaft in said conical path, and means coupling the shaft with the movable wall of each pair, the rotary means for driving the shaft comprising a rotary drive member having an outer edge and a guideway extending towards said outer edge and engaging the shaft, the shaft having a center line intersected by a radius of the rotary drive member, and the guideway being at an angle to said radius whereby a dynamic force on the shaft normal to said radius has a component along the guideway urging the shaft to move in a direction along the guideway to press together the spiral walls of each pair at their lines of contact.

Claim 27

A fluid pump or motor comprising a first pair of spiral walls substantially identical to each other, and a second pair of spiral walls substantially identical to each other, the walls of each pair being fitted together approXimately 180* out of phase between end walls perpendicular to the spiral walls, with two lines of contact between the spiral walls of each pair, means for moving one spiral wall of each pair relative to the other spiral wall of the same pair, while maintaining said phase relationship, to advance said lines of contact spirally outward, for the first pair, from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, and spirally inward, for the second pair, from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, the inlets being in parallel and the fluid outlets being in parallel, each spiral wall having two longitudinal edges, one longitudinal edge of one spiral wall of each pair being fast with one end wall, the other longitudinal edge of the latter spiral wall bearing frictionally along an opposite end wall, one longitudinal edge of the other spiral wall of the pair being fast with said opposite end wall and the other longitudinal edge of the latter spiral wall bearing frictionally along said one end wall, one spiral wall and end wall of each pair being stationary, and the other spiral wall and end wall of each pair being movable by said moving means, the moving means comprising a shaft pivoted for movement in a conical path, rotary means for driving the shaft in said conical path, and means coupling the shaft with the movable wall of each pair, the rotary means for driving the shaft comprising a rotary drive member having an outer edge and a guideway extending towards said outer edge and engaging the shaft, the shaft having a center line intersected by a radius of the rotary drive member, and the guideway being at an angle to said radius whereby a dynamic force on the shaft normal to said radius has a component along the guideway urging the shaft to move in a direction along the guideway to press together the spiral walls of each pair at their lines of contact.

Claim 28

A fluid pump or motor comprising a pair of substantially identical spiral walls fitted together out of phase between end walls perpendicular to the spiral walls, with two lines of contact between the spiral walls, means for moving one spiral wall relative to the other, while maintaining said out of phase relationship, to advance the said lines of contact spirally from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, one of the end walls having an outer surface subjected to the pressure at the fluid outlet whereby it is fluid pressed towards the other end wall, each spiral wall having two longitudinal edges, one longitudinal edge of each spiral wall being fast with one end wall, the other longitudinal edge bearing frictionally along the other end wall, one spiral wall and end wall being stationary and the other spiral wall and end wall being movable by said moving means, the stationary wall being a wall of a chamber surrounding the movable end wall and the spiral walls, the movable end wall having a peripheral portion that sealingly divides the chamber into two compartments at opposite sides of the movable end wall, the advance of said lines of contact delivering fluid spirally inward in one of said compartments from the inlet to the outlet, the movable end wall having a port through which outlet fluid can flow to the other of said compartments where it urges the movable end wall towards the stationary wall.

Claim 29

A fluid pump or motor comprising a pair of substantially identical spiral walls fitted together out of phase between end walls perpendicular to the spiral walls, with two lines of contact between the spiral walls, means for moving one spiral wall relative to the other, while maintaining said out of phase relationship, to advance the said lines of contact spirally from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, one of the end walls having an outer surface subjected to the pressure at the fluid outlet whereby it is fluid pressed towards the other end wall, each spiral wall having two longitudinal edges, one longitudinal edge of each spiral wall being fast with one end wall, the other longitudinal edge bearing frictionally along the other end wall, one spiral wall and end wall being stationary and the other spiral wall and end wall being movable by said moving means, the stationary wall being a wall of a chamber surrounding the movable end wall and the spiral walls, the movable end wall having a peripheral portion that sealingly divides the chamber into two compartments at opposite sides of the movable end wall, the advance of said lines of contact delivering fluid spirally inward in one of said compartments from the inlet to the outlet, the movable end wall having a port through which outlet fluid can flow to the other of said compartments where it urges the movable end wall towards the stationary wall.

Claim 30

A fluid pump or motor comprising a pair of substantially identical spiral walls fitted together approximately 180* out of phase between end walls perpendicular to the spiral walls, with two lines of contact between the spiral walls, means for moving one spiral wall relative to the other, while maintaining said phase relationship, to advance the said lines of contact spirally from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, one of the end walls having an outer surface subjected to the pressure at the fluid outlet whereby it is fluid pressed towards the other end wall, each spiral wall having two longitudinal edges, one longitudinal edge of each spiral wall being fast with one end wall, the other longitudinal edge bearing frictionally along the other enD wall, one spiral wall and end wall being stationary and the other spiral wall and end wall being movable by said moving means, said moving means comprise a shaft pivoted for movement in a conical path, means coupling the shaft with the movable spiral wall, a rotary drive member for driving the shaft in said conical path, the rotary drive member having an outer edge and a guideway extending towards said outer edge and engaging the shaft, the shaft having a center line intersected by a radius of the rotary drive member, and the guideway being at an angle to said radius whereby a dynamic force on the shaft normal to said radius has a component along the guideway urging the shaft to move in a direction along the guideway to press together the spiral walls at their lines of contact.

Claim 31

A fluid pump or motor comprising a pair of substantially identical spiral walls fitted together approximately 180* out of phase between end walls perpendicular to the spiral walls, with two lines of contact between the spiral walls, means for moving one spiral wall relative to the other, while maintaining said phase relationship, to advance the said lines of contact spirally from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, one of the end walls having an outer surface subjected to the pressure at the fluid outlet whereby it is fluid pressed towards the other end wall, each spiral wall having two longitudinal edges, one longitudinal edge of each spiral wall being fast with one end wall, the other longitudinal edge bearing frictionally along the other enD wall, one spiral wall and end wall being stationary and the other spiral wall and end wall being movable by said moving means, said moving means comprise a shaft pivoted for movement in a conical path, means coupling the shaft with the movable spiral wall, a rotary drive member for driving the shaft in said conical path, the rotary drive member having an outer edge and a guideway extending towards said outer edge and engaging the shaft, the shaft having a center line intersected by a radius of the rotary drive member, and the guideway being at an angle to said radius whereby a dynamic force on the shaft normal to said radius has a component along the guideway urging the shaft to move in a direction along the guideway to press together the spiral walls at their lines of contact.

Claim 32

A fluid pump or motor comprising a first pair of spiral walls substantially identical to each other, and a second pair of spiral walls substantially identical to each other, the walls of each pair being fitted together approximately 180* out of phase between end walls perpendicular to the spiral walls, with two lines of contact between the spiral walls of each pair, means for moving one spiral wall of each pair relative to the other spiral wall of the same pair, while maintaining said phase relationship, to advance said lines of contact spirally outward, for the first pair, from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, and spirally inward, for the second pair, from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, the inlets being in parallel and the fluid outlets being in parallel, the moving means comprising a shaft pivoted for movement in a conical path, rotary means for driving the shaft in said conical path, and means coupling the shaft with a movable wall of each pair, the rotary means for driving the shaft comprising a rotary drive member having an outer edge and a guideway extending towards said outer edge and engaging the shaft, the shaft having a center line intersected by a radius of the rotary drive member, and the guideway being at an angle to said radius whereby a dynamic force on the shaft normal to said radius has a component along the guideway urging the shaft to move in a direction along the guideway to press together the spiral walls of each pair at their lines of contact.

Claim 33

A fluid pump or motor comprising a first pair of spiral walls substantially identical to each other, and a second pair of spiral walls substantially identical to each other, the walls of each pair being fitted together approximately 180* out of phase between end walls perpendicular to the spiral walls, with two lines of contact between the spiral walls of each pair, means for moving one spiral wall of each pair relative to the other spiral wall of the same pair, while maintaining said phase relationship, to advance said lines of contact spirally outward, for the first pair, from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, and spirally inward, for the second pair, from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, the inlets being in parallel and the fluid outlets being in parallel, the moving means comprising a shaft pivoted for movement in a conical path, rotary means for driving the shaft in said conical path, and means coupling the shaft with a movable wall of each pair, the rotary means for driving the shaft comprising a rotary drive member having an outer edge and a guideway extending towards said outer edge and engaging the shaft, the shaft having a center line intersected by a radius of the rotary drive member, and the guideway being at an angle to said radius whereby a dynamic force on the shaft normal to said radius has a component along the guideway urging the shaft to move in a direction along the guideway to press together the spiral walls of each pair at their lines of contact.