Rotary engine with rotatable thrust heads in a toroidal chamber

Claim 2

A rotary engine comprising: a. a pair of inner and outer members, at least one of which is rotatable with respect to the other about a common axis; b. the inner member having an outer circular periphery and the outer member having an inner circular periphery that slidably contacts the outer periphery of the inner member, the inner member having a semi-toroidal groove formed in its outer periphery and the outer member having a complementary semitoroidal groove formed in its inner periphery and facing the semi-toroidal groove in the inner member to form a complete toroidal chamber therewith; c. a first thrust head carried by the inner member and receivable in the toroidal chamber, the first thrust head having a shaft which is rotatable in the inner member; d. a second thrust head carried by the outer member and receivable in the toroidal chamber, the second thrust head having a shaft which is rotatable in the outer member; e. a first pair of arcuate-shaped inserts, one insert being disposed on each side of the first thrust head to form a first pocket and each being secured to the inner member, the inserts having contoured surfaces extending from the first pocket and terminating in feathered edges that merge into the surface of the toroidal chamber, the first thrust head being rotatable receivable in the first pocket; f. a second pair of arcuate-shaped inserts, one insert being diposed on each side of the second thrust head to form a second pocket and each being secured to the outer member, the second pair of inserts having contoured surfaces extending from the second pocket and terminating in feathered edges that merge into the surface of the toroidal chamber, the second thrust head being rotatably receivable in the second pocket; g. means for operatively connecting the inner and outer members together so that at least one of them is rotatable with respect to the other and for rotating the thrust heads so as to continuously close the cross-sectional area of the toroidal chamber and the restricted cross-sectional area caused by the inserts, the first and second thrust heads being rotated on their own axes so that they will pass each other during each revolution of the inner member relative to the outer member; h. means for delivering an expansion fluid into the chamber portion lying between the first and second thrust heads for moving them apart; i. means for exhausting the expansion fluid from that portion of the toroidal chamber lying between the first and second thrust heads in the direction in whcih they are moving relatively toward each other; and j. output shaft means operatively connected to produce a driving torque from the relative rotational movement between the inner and outer members.

Claim 3

The combination as recited in claim 1 further comprising means for holding one of the inner and outer members from rotating and an output shaft connected to the other of the inner and outer members whereby the output shaft will be rotated with greater energy.

Claim 4

The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein: a. each thrust head has both hemispherical and near planar surfaces; b. the first and second pockets formed by the first and second pairs of arcuate-shaped inserts, respectively, are hemispherical in shape; c. the means for rotating the inner and outer members relative to each other and for rotating the first and second thrust heads also cause them to be entirely received within their first and second hemispherical pockets, respectively, at the moment the first and second thrust heads pass each other, the near planar surfaces of both the first and second thrust heads lying parallel to each other at the moment of passing.

Claim 5

The combination as recited in claim 3 wherein the shafts for the first and second thrust heads extend radially with respect to the common rotatIonal axis of the inner and outer members.

Claim 6

The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for delivering an expansion fluid into the toroidal chamber comprises a sleeve valve for controlling both the duration and the time of introduction with respect to the rotational positions of the inner and outer members of the delivery of the expansion fluid into the toroidal chamber whereby both the energy of the output shaft and the operating efficiency of the rotary engine are controlled.

Claim 7

The combination as recited in claim 5 wherein: a. the inner member is rotatable and has an inlet port that communicates with the toroidal chamber and the sleeve valve is hollow and is axially aligned with the common axis of the inner and outer members, the valve receiving the expansion fluid from an external source and having an outlet port selectively registrable with the inner member inlet port; b. the valve outlet port and the inner member inlet port each having openings which taper in opposite directions and which are periodically in registration with each other as the inner member rotates; c. and further including means for moving the sleeve valve in the direction of its length to reposition the degree of registration between the sleeve valve outlet port with respect to the inner member inlet port whereby the time during which the expansion fluid enters the inlet port is varied to thereby control the energy of the output shaft and the efficiency of the engine.

Claim 8

The combination as recited in claim 6 wherein: a. the sleeve valve is rotatable about its longitudinal axis to control the timing of the introduction of the expansion fluid to the toroidal chamber with respect to the rotational position of the inner member; and b. the means for moving the sleeve valve includes means for selectively twisting the sleeve valve about its longitudinal axis.

Claim 9

The combination as recited in claim 7 wherein a. the sleeve-valve-moving-means includes a timer member selectively rotatable about the common axis for the inner and outer members and having a central opening through which a portion of the sleeve valve extends, the timer member having a handle for selectively moving the timer member through a desired arc; b. the sleeve-valve-moving means also includes a sector-shaped member pivoted off center to the timer member and having an arcuate slot for receiving a portion of the sleeve valve, the center of curvature of the arcuate slot coinciding with the axis of the pivot interconnecting the sector-shaped member with the timer member; and c. the outer cylindrical surface of the sleeve valve portion received in the arcuate slot has diametrically opposed grooves and the arcuate-shaped slot in the sector-shaped member has inclined and inwardly extending ribs that are slidably received in the diametrically opposed grooves, the sector-shaped member further having a handle for rotating the sector-shaped member about its pivotal connection with the timer member; whereby the sleeve valve is selectively movable in the desired direction along its length by rotating the sector-shaped member handle and is selectively rotatable about its longitudinal axis by rotating the timer member handle.

Claim 10

The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for operatively connecting the inner and outer members together includes gearing that causes the inner and outer members to rotate in opposite directions and in synchrony with each other.

Claim 11

The combination as recited in claim 9 wherein the inner member is operatively connected to a first output shaft and a second, hollow tubular output shaft is connected to the outer member and encloses a portion of the first output shaft and rotates in an opposite direction to that of the first output shaft.

Claim 12

The combination as recited in claim 5 wherein the sleeve valve has at least two outlet ports.

Claim 13

A rotary engine comprising: a. a pair of first and second rotor members, at least the first of wHich is rotatable with respect to the other about a common axis; b. the first rotor member having a circular periphery and the second rotor member having a circular periphery that slidably contacts the circular periphery of the first rotor member, the first rotor member having a semi-toroidal groove formed in its periphery and the second rotor member having a complementary semi-toroidal groove formed in its periphery and facing the semi-toroidal groove in the first rotor member to form a complete toroidal chamber therewith; c. a first, rotatable thrust head carried by the first rotor member and receivable in the toroidal chamber; d. a second, rotatable thrust head carried by the second rotor member and receivable in the toroidal chamber; e. a first pair of arcuate-shaped inserts, one insert being disposed on each side of the first thrust head to form a first pocket and each being secured to the first rotor member, the inserts having contoured surfaces extending from the first pocket and terminating in feathered edges that merge into the surface of the toroidal chamber, the first thrust head being rotatably receivable in the first pocket; f. a second pair of arcuate-shaped inserts, one insert being disposed on each side of the second thrust head to form a second pocket and each being secured to the second rotor member, the second pair of inserts having contoured surfaces extending from the second pocket and terminating in feathered edges that merge into the surface of the toroidal chamber, the second thrust head being rotatably receivable in the second pocket; g. means for operatively connecting the first and second rotor members together and for rotating the thrust heads so as to continuously close the cross-sectional area of the toroidal chamber and the restricted cross-sectional area caused by the inserts, the first and second thrust heads being rotated on their own axes so that they will pass each other during each revolution of the first rotor member relative to the second rotor member; h. means for delivering an expansion fluid into the toroidal chamber including a hollow sleeve valve for controlling both the duration and the time of introduction with respect to the rotational positions of the first and second rotor members of the delivery of expansion fluid into the toroidal chamber; i. the first member having an inlet port that communicates with the toroidal chamber, the sleeve valve being axially aligned with the common axis of the first and second rotor members, the valve receiving the expansion fluid from an external source and having an outlet port selectively registrable with the first member inlet port; j. the valve outlet port and the first rotor member inlet port each having openings which taper in opposite directions and which are periodically in registration with each other as the first rotor rotates; k. and further including means for moving the sleeve valve in the direction of its length to reposition the degree of registration between the sleeve valve outlet port with respect to the first rotor member inlet port whereby the time during which the expansion fluid enters the inlet port is varied to thereby control the energy of the output and the efficiency of the engine; l. means for exhausting the expansion fluid from that portion of the toroidal chamber lying between the first and second thrust heads in the direction in which they are moving relatively toward each other; and m. output shaft means operatively connected to produce a driving torque from the relative rotational movement between the first and second rotor members.

Claim 14

A rotary engine comprising: a. a pair of first and second rotor members, at least the first of wHich is rotatable with respect to the other about a common axis; b. the first rotor member having a circular periphery and the second rotor member having a circular periphery that slidably contacts the circular periphery of the first rotor member, the first rotor member having a semi-toroidal groove formed in its periphery and the second rotor member having a complementary semi-toroidal groove formed in its periphery and facing the semi-toroidal groove in the first rotor member to form a complete toroidal chamber therewith; c. a first, rotatable thrust head carried by the first rotor member and receivable in the toroidal chamber; d. a second, rotatable thrust head carried by the second rotor member and receivable in the toroidal chamber; e. a first pair of arcuate-shaped inserts, one insert being disposed on each side of the first thrust head to form a first pocket and each being secured to the first rotor member, the inserts having contoured surfaces extending from the first pocket and terminating in feathered edges that merge into the surface of the toroidal chamber, the first thrust head being rotatably receivable in the first pocket; f. a second pair of arcuate-shaped inserts, one insert being disposed on each side of the second thrust head to form a second pocket and each being secured to the second rotor member, the second pair of inserts having contoured surfaces extending from the second pocket and terminating in feathered edges that merge into the surface of the toroidal chamber, the second thrust head being rotatably receivable in the second pocket; g. means for operatively connecting the first and second rotor members together and for rotating the thrust heads so as to continuously close the cross-sectional area of the toroidal chamber and the restricted cross-sectional area caused by the inserts, the first and second thrust heads being rotated on their own axes so that they will pass each other during each revolution of the first rotor member relative to the second rotor member; h. means for delivering an expansion fluid into the toroidal chamber including a hollow sleeve valve for controlling both the duration and the time of introduction with respect to the rotational positions of the first and second rotor members of the delivery of expansion fluid into the toroidal chamber; i. the first member having an inlet port that communicates with the toroidal chamber, the sleeve valve being axially aligned with the common axis of the first and second rotor members, the valve receiving the expansion fluid from an external source and having an outlet port selectively registrable with the first member inlet port; j. the valve outlet port and the first rotor member inlet port each having openings which taper in opposite directions and which are periodically in registration with each other as the first rotor rotates; k. and further including means for moving the sleeve valve in the direction of its length to reposition the degree of registration between the sleeve valve outlet port with respect to the first rotor member inlet port whereby the time during which the expansion fluid enters the inlet port is varied to thereby control the energy of the output and the efficiency of the engine; l. means for exhausting the expansion fluid from that portion of the toroidal chamber lying between the first and second thrust heads in the direction in which they are moving relatively toward each other; and m. output shaft means operatively connected to produce a driving torque from the relative rotational movement between the first and second rotor members.

Claim 15

The combination as recited in claim 12 wherein: a. the sleeve valve is rotatable about its longitudinal axis to control the timing of the introduction of the expansion fluid to the toroidal chamber with respect to the rotational position of the first rotor member; and b. the means for moving the sleeve valve includes means for selectively twisting the sleeve valve about its longitudinal axis.

Claim 16

The combination as recited in claim 13 wherein a. the sleeve-valve-moving-means includes a selectively rotatable timer member having a central opening through which a portion of the sleeve valve extends, the timer member having a handle for selectively moving the timer member through a desired arc; b. the sleeve-valve-moving means also includes a sector-shaped member pivoted off center to the timer member and having an arcuate slot for receiving a portion of the sleeve valve, the center of curvature of the arcuate slot coinciding with the axis of the pivot interconnecting the sector-shaped member with the timer member; and c. the outer cylindrical surface of the sleeve valve portion received in the arcuate slot has diametrically opposed grooves and the arcuate-shaped slot in the sector-shaped member has inclined and inwardly extending ribs that are slidably received in the diametrically opposed grooves, the sector-shaped member further having a handle for rotating the sector-shaped member about its pivotal connection with the timer member; whereby the sleeve valve is selectively movable in the desired direction along its length by rotating the sector-shaped member handle and is selectively rotatable about its longitudinal axis by rotating the timer member handle.