Rotary hot gas regenerative engine

Claim 2

A hot gas engine comprising: a. an even number of elliptical stators; b. a plurality of cylindrical rotors equal in number to the number of said stators, one each of said rotors being disposed within and offset from the center of one each of said stators, one of said rotors and one of said stators constituting a rotor-stator pair, a longitudinal axis of said rotor of said rotor-stator pair being offset from a longitudinal axis of said stator of said rotor-stator pair; c. a plurality of sliding vanes attached to said rotor of each said rotor-stator pair, said plurality of vanes in conjunction with the inner edge of said stator of said rotor-stator pair defining a plurality of chambers wherein compression and expansion of a fluid occur in accordance with a thermodynamic cycle, said chambers in which compression occurs define compression chambers and said chambers in which expansion occurs define expansion chambers, said compression chambers disposed at one side of said stator of each said rotor-stator pair and said expansion chambers disposed at an opposite side of said stator of each said rotor-stator pair; and d. control means for timing said thermodynamic cycle, said control means including regenerator means operatively connected between said stators of said rotor-stator pairs, said regenerator means extracting heat from said expanded fluid and imparting heat to said compressed fluid.

Claim 3

A hot gas engine comprising: a. at least one pair of elliptical stator means, each said pair of stator means including first and second stator means, a longitudinal axis of said first stator means in spaced parallel relationship with a longitudinal axis of said second stator means; b. at least one pair of cylindrical rotor means, each said pair of rotor means including first and second rotor means, a longitudinal axis of said first rotor means in registration with a longitudinal axis of said second rotor axis of said first rotor means in registration with a longitudinal axis of said second rotor means, said first rotor means rotatable within said first stator means, the longitudinal axis of said first rotor means offset from the longitudinal axis of said first stator means, said second rotor means rotatable within said second stator means, the longitudinal axis of said second rotor means offset from the longitudinal axis of said second stator means, the longitudinal axes of said first and second rotor means being in spaced parallel relationship with the longitudinal axis of said first stator means and the longitudinal axis of said second stator means; c. a plurality of radially disposed slidable vanes mounted to each of said rotor means, said vanes of said first rotor means operative to engage an inner surface of said first stator means and said vanes of said second rotor operative to engage an inner surface of said second stator means, said vanes rotatable about the longitudinal axis of said rotor means associated therewith, said plurality of vanes in conjunction with the inner surface of each said stator means defining a plurality of chambers wherein compression and expansion of a working fluid occur in accordance with a thermodynamic cycle; and d. means operatively communicating with said stator means and said rotor means for controlling said thermodynamic cycle, said means for controlling including duct means and regenerator means disposed between said first and second stator means; e. said first and second stator means including first and second inlet ports, a cool working fluid entering said compression chambers of each said first and second stator means through said first inlet port, a hot working fluid entering said expansion chambers of each said first and second stator means through said second inlet port; and f. first and second outlet ports, a compressed working fluid exiting said compression chambers of each said first and second stator means through said first outlet port, a hot expanded working fluid exiting said expansion chambers of each said first and second stator means though said second outlet port, said first inlet port and said first outlet port communicating with said compression chambers, said second inlet port and said second outlet port communicating with said expansion chambers, said first outlet port of said first stator means communicating with said second inlet port of said second stator means via said duct means, said first outlet port of said second stator means communicating with said second inlet port of said first stator means via said duct means, said regenerator means extracting heat from said expanded working fluid and imparting heat to said compressed working fluid.

Claim 4

A hot gas engine comprising: a. at least one pair of elliptical stator means, each said pair of stator means including first and second stator means, a longitudinal axis of said first stator means in spaced parallel relationship with a longitudinal axis of said second stator means; b. at least one pair of cylindrical rotor means, each said pair of rotor means including first and second rotor means, a longitudinal axis of said first rotor means in registration with a longitudinal axis of said second rotor axis of said first rotor means in registration with a longitudinal axis of said second rotor means, said first rotor means rotatable within said first stator means, the longitudinal axis of said first rotor means offset from the longitudinal axis of said first stator means, said second rotor means rotatable within said second stator means, the longitudinal axis of said second rotor means offset from the longitudinal axis of said second stator means, the longitudinal axes of said first and second rotor means being in spaced parallel relationship with the longitudinal axis of said first stator means and the longitudinal axis of said second stator means; c. a plurality of radially disposed slidable vanes mounted to each of said rotor means, said vanes of said first rotor means operative to engage an inner surface of said first stator means and said vanes of said second rotor operative to engage an inner surface of said second stator means, said vanes rotatable about the longitudinal axis of said rotor means associated therewith, said plurality of vanes in conjunction with the inner surface of each said stator means defining a plurality of chambers wherein compression and expansion of a working fluid occur in accordance with a thermodynamic cycle; and d. means operatively communicating with said stator means and said rotor means for controlling said thermodynamic cycle, said means for controlling including duct means and regenerator means disposed between said first and second stator means; e. said first and second stator means including first and second inlet ports, a cool working fluid entering said compression chambers of each said first and second stator means through said first inlet port, a hot working fluid entering said expansion chambers of each said first and second stator means through said second inlet port; and f. first and second outlet ports, a compressed working fluid exiting said compression chambers of each said first and second stator means through said first outlet port, a hot expanded working fluid exiting said expansion chambers of each said first and second stator means though said second outlet port, said first inlet port and said first outlet port communicating with said compression chambers, said second inlet port and said second outlet port communicating with said expansion chambers, said first outlet port of said first stator means communicating with said second inlet port of said second stator means via said duct means, said first outlet port of said second stator means communicating with said second inlet port of said first stator means via said duct means, said regenerator means extracting heat from said expanded working fluid and imparting heat to said compressed working fluid.

Claim 5

The hot gas engine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said thermodynamic cycle is closed and said heating is external.

Claim 6

The hot gas engine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said thermodynamic cycle is open and said heating is internal.

Claim 7

A hot gas engine comprising: a. at least one pair of elliptical stator means, each said pair of stator means including first and second stator means, a longitudinal axis of said first stator means in spaced parallel relationship with a longitudinal axis of said second stator means; b. at least one pair of cylindrical rotor means, each said pair of rotor means including first and second rotor means, a longitudinal axis of said first rotor means in registration with a longitudinal axis of said second rotor means, said first rotor means rotatable within said first stator means, said second rotor means, said first rotor means rotatable within said first stator means, said second rotor means rotatable within said second stator means, the longitudinal axes of said first and second rotor means being in spaced parallel relationship with the lonitudinal axis of said first stator means and the longitudinal axis of said second stator means, each said first and second stator means including first and second inlet ports, a cool working fluid entering said compression chambers of each said first and second stator means through said first inlet port, a hot working fluid entering said expantion chambers of each said first and second stator means through said second inlet port, first and second outlet ports, a cool compressed working fluid exiting said compression chambers of each said first and second stator means through said first outlet port, a hot expanded working fluid exiting said expansion chambers of each said first and second stator means through said second outlet port; c. a plurality of radially disposed slidable vanes mounted to each of said rotor means, said vanes of said first rotor means operative to engage an inner surface of said first stator means and said vanes of said second rotor operative to engage an inner surface of said second stator means, said vanes rotatable about the longitudinal axis of said rotor means associated therewith, said plurality of vanes in conjunction with the inner surface of each said stator means defining a plurality of chambers wherein compression and expansion of a working fluid occur in accordance with a thermodynamic cycle, said chambers in which compression occurs define compression chambers and said chambers in which expansion occurs define expansion chambers, said compression chambers disposed at one side of each said stator means and said expansion chambers disposed at an opposite side of each said stator means, said expansion chambers having a volume greater than the volume of said compression chambers, faces of said vanes exposed alternately to both said hot expanded working fluid and said cool compressed working fluid; and d. means operatively communicating with said stator means, and said rotor means for controlling said thermodynamic cycle, said means for controlling including duct means and regenerative means, said first inlet port and said first outlet port communicating with said compression chambers, said second inlet port and said second outlet port communicating with said expansion chambers, said first outlet port of said first stator means communicating with said second inlet port of said second stator means via said duct means, said first outlet port of said second stator means communicating with said second inlet port of said first stator means via said duct means, said regenerator means is disposed between said first and second stator means, said compressed fluid exiting said first outlet port of said first stator means directed by said duct means through said regenerator means to said second inlet port of said second stator means, said compressed fluid exiting said first outlet port of said second stator means directed by said duct means through said regenerator means to said second inlet port of said first stator means, said regenerator extracting heat from said expanded working fluid and imparting heat to said compressed working fluid.

Claim 8

A hot gas engine comprising: a. at least one pair of elliptical stator means, each said pair of stator means including first and second stator means, a longitudinal axis of said first stator means in spaced parallel relationship with a longitudinal axis of said second stator means; b. at least one pair of cylindrical rotor means, each said pair of rotor means including first and second rotor means, a longitudinal axis of said first rotor means in registration with a longitudinal axis of said second rotor means, said first rotor means rotatable within said first stator means, said second rotor means, said first rotor means rotatable within said first stator means, said second rotor means rotatable within said second stator means, the longitudinal axes of said first and second rotor means being in spaced parallel relationship with the lonitudinal axis of said first stator means and the longitudinal axis of said second stator means, each said first and second stator means including first and second inlet ports, a cool working fluid entering said compression chambers of each said first and second stator means through said first inlet port, a hot working fluid entering said expantion chambers of each said first and second stator means through said second inlet port, first and second outlet ports, a cool compressed working fluid exiting said compression chambers of each said first and second stator means through said first outlet port, a hot expanded working fluid exiting said expansion chambers of each said first and second stator means through said second outlet port; c. a plurality of radially disposed slidable vanes mounted to each of said rotor means, said vanes of said first rotor means operative to engage an inner surface of said first stator means and said vanes of said second rotor operative to engage an inner surface of said second stator means, said vanes rotatable about the longitudinal axis of said rotor means associated therewith, said plurality of vanes in conjunction with the inner surface of each said stator means defining a plurality of chambers wherein compression and expansion of a working fluid occur in accordance with a thermodynamic cycle, said chambers in which compression occurs define compression chambers and said chambers in which expansion occurs define expansion chambers, said compression chambers disposed at one side of each said stator means and said expansion chambers disposed at an opposite side of each said stator means, said expansion chambers having a volume greater than the volume of said compression chambers, faces of said vanes exposed alternately to both said hot expanded working fluid and said cool compressed working fluid; and d. means operatively communicating with said stator means, and said rotor means for controlling said thermodynamic cycle, said means for controlling including duct means and regenerative means, said first inlet port and said first outlet port communicating with said compression chambers, said second inlet port and said second outlet port communicating with said expansion chambers, said first outlet port of said first stator means communicating with said second inlet port of said second stator means via said duct means, said first outlet port of said second stator means communicating with said second inlet port of said first stator means via said duct means, said regenerator means is disposed between said first and second stator means, said compressed fluid exiting said first outlet port of said first stator means directed by said duct means through said regenerator means to said second inlet port of said second stator means, said compressed fluid exiting said first outlet port of said second stator means directed by said duct means through said regenerator means to said second inlet port of said first stator means, said regenerator extracting heat from said expanded working fluid and imparting heat to said compressed working fluid.

Claim 9

The hot gas rotary engine as claimed in claim 5 wherein each said first and second stator means includes: a. first and second inlet ports, a cool working fluid entering said compression chambers of each said first and second stator means through said first inlet port, a hot working fluid entering said expansion chambers of each said first and second stator means through said second inlet port; b. first and second outlet ports, a compressed working fluid exiting said compression chambers of each said first and second stator means through said first outlet port, a hot expanded working fluid exiting said expansion chambers of each said first and second stator means through said second outlet port; and wherein said means for controlling includes duct means; c. said first inlet port and said first outlet port communicating with said compression chambers, said second inlet port and said second outlet port communicating with said expansion chambers, said first outlet port of said first stator means communicating with said second inlet port of said second stator means via said duct means, said first outlet port of said second stator means communicating with said second inlet port of said first stator means via said duct means.

Claim 10

The hot gas engine as claimed in claim 6 wherein each said stator means includes heater means and cooler means, said heater means disposed adjacent said expansion chambers and said cooler means disposed adjacent said compression chambers.

Claim 11

The hot gas engine as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means for controlling includes regenerator means disposed between said first and second stator means, said compressed fluid exiting said first outlet port of said first stator means directed by said duct means through said regenerator means to said second inlet port of said second stator means, said compressed fluid exiting said first outlet port of said second stator means directed by said duct means through said regenerator means to said second inlet port of said first stator means.

Claim 12

The hot gas engine as claimed in claim 8 wherein said means for controlling includes first and second heater means, said first heater means operative to heat said working fluid passing through said regenerator means to said second inlet port of said first stator means, said second heater means operative to heat said working fluid passing through said regenerator means to said second inlet port of said second stator means.

Claim 13

The hot gas engine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said thermodynamic cycle is open and said heating is external.

Claim 14

The hot gas engine as claimed in claim 8 wherein said compression and said expansion of said fluid is adiabatic.

Claim 15

The hot gas engine as claimed in claim 8 wherein said compression and said expansion of said fluid is polytropic.

Claim 16

The hot gas engine as claimed in claim 8 wherein said compression and said expansion of said fluid is isothermal.

Claim 17

A hot gas engine comprising: a. at least one pair of elliptical stator means, each said pair of stator means including first and second stator means, a longitudinal axis of said first stator means in spaced parallel relationship with a longitudinal axis of said second stator means; b. at least one pair of cylindrical rotor means, each said pair of rotor means including first and second rotor means, a longitudinal axis of said first rotor means in registration with a longitudinal axis of said second rotor means, said first rotor means rotatable within said first stator means, said second rotor means rotatable within said second stator means, the longitudinal axes of said first and second rotor means being in spaced parallel relationship with the longitudinal axis of said first stator means and the longitudinal axis of said second stator means; c. a plurality of radially disposed slidable vanes mounted to each of said rotor means, said vanes of said first rotor means operative to engage an inner surface of said first stator means and said vanes of said second rotor operative to engage an inner surface of said second stator means, said vanes rotatable about the longitudinal axis of said rotor means associated therewith, said plurality of vanes in conjunction with the inner surface of each said stator means defining a plurality of chambers wherein compression and expansion of a working fluid occur in accordance with a thermodynamic cycle, said chambers in which compression occurs define compression chambers and said chambers in which expansion occurs define expansion chambers, said compression chambers disposed at one side of each said stator means and said expansion chambers disposed at an opposite side of each said stator means, said expansion chambers having a volume greater than the volume of said compression chambers; and d. means operatively communicating with said stator means, and said rotor means for controlling said thermodynamic cycle; e. each said first and second stator means including: i. first and second inlet ports, a cool working fluid entering said compression chambers of each said first and second stator means through said first inlet port, a hot working fluid entering said expansion chambers of each said first and second stator means through said second inlet port; ii. first and second outlet ports, a compressed working fluid exiting said compression chambers of each said first and second stator means through said first outlet port, a hot expanded working fluid exiting said expansion chambers of each said first and second stator means through said second outlet port; and f. said means for controlling including duct means; g. said first inlet port and said first outlet port communicating with said compression chambers, said second inlet port and said second outlet port communicating with said expansion chambers, said first outlet port of said first stator means communicating with said second inlet port of said second stator means via said duct means, said first outlet port of said second stator means communicating with said second inlet port of said first stator means via said duct means; h. said means for controlling includes regenerator means disposed between said first and second stator means, said compressed fluid exiting said first outlet port of said first stator means directed by said duct means through said regenerator means to said second inlet port of said second stator means, said compressed fluid exiting said first outlet port of said second stator means directed by said duct means through said regenerator means to said second inlet port of said first stator means; i. said regenerator is a four-way rotary regenerator, said four-way regenerator extracting heat from said expanded working fluid and imparting heat to said compressed working fluid.

Claim 18

A hot gas engine comprising: a. at least one pair of elliptical stator means, each said pair of stator means including first and second stator means, a longitudinal axis of said first stator means in spaced parallel relationship with a longitudinal axis of said second stator means; b. at least one pair of cylindrical rotor means, each said pair of rotor means including first and second rotor means, a longitudinal axis of said first rotor means in registration with a longitudinal axis of said second rotor means, said first rotor means rotatable within said first stator means, said second rotor means rotatable within said second stator means, the longitudinal axes of said first and second rotor means being in spaced parallel relationship with the longitudinal axis of said first stator means and the longitudinal axis of said second stator means; c. a plurality of radially disposed slidable vanes mounted to each of said rotor means, said vanes of said first rotor means operative to engage an inner surface of said first stator means and said vanes of said second rotor operative to engage an inner surface of said second stator means, said vanes rotatable about the longitudinal axis of said rotor means associated therewith, said plurality of vanes in conjunction with the inner surface of each said stator means defining a plurality of chambers wherein compression and expansion of a working fluid occur in accordance with a thermodynamic cycle, said chambers in which compression occurs define compression chambers and said chambers in which expansion occurs define expansion chambers, said compression chambers disposed at one side of each said stator means and said expansion chambers disposed at an opposite side of each said stator means, said expansion chambers having a volume greater than the volume of said compression chambers; and d. means operatively communicating with said stator means, and said rotor means for controlling said thermodynamic cycle; e. each said first and second stator means including: i. first and second inlet ports, a cool working fluid entering said compression chambers of each said first and second stator means through said first inlet port, a hot working fluid entering said expansion chambers of each said first and second stator means through said second inlet port; ii. first and second outlet ports, a compressed working fluid exiting said compression chambers of each said first and second stator means through said first outlet port, a hot expanded working fluid exiting said expansion chambers of each said first and second stator means through said second outlet port; and f. said means for controlling including duct means; g. said first inlet port and said first outlet port communicating with said compression chambers, said second inlet port and said second outlet port communicating with said expansion chambers, said first outlet port of said first stator means communicating with said second inlet port of said second stator means via said duct means, said first outlet port of said second stator means communicating with said second inlet port of said first stator means via said duct means; h. said means for controlling includes regenerator means disposed between said first and second stator means, said compressed fluid exiting said first outlet port of said first stator means directed by said duct means through said regenerator means to said second inlet port of said second stator means, said compressed fluid exiting said first outlet port of said second stator means directed by said duct means through said regenerator means to said second inlet port of said first stator means; i. said regenerator is a four-way rotary regenerator, said four-way regenerator extracting heat from said expanded working fluid and imparting heat to said compressed working fluid.

Claim 19

A hot gas engine comprising: a. at least one pair of elliptical stator means, each said pair of stator means including first and second stator means, a longitudinal axis of said first stator means in spaced parallel relationship with a longitudinal axis of said second stator means; b. at least one pair of cylindrical rotor means, each said pair of rotor means including first and second rotor means, a longitudinal axis of said first rotor means in registration with a longitudinal axis of said second rotor means, said first rotor means rotatable within said first stator means, said second rotor means rotatable within said second stator means, the longitudinal axes of said first and second rotor means being in spaced parallel relationship with the longitudinal axis of said first stator means and the longitudinal axis of said second stator means; c. a plurality of radially disposed slidable vanes mounted to each of said rotor means, said vanes of said first rotor means operative to engage an inner surface of said first stator means and said vanes of said second rotor operative to engage an inner surface of said second stator means, said vanes rotatable about the longitudinal axis of said rotor means associated therewith, said plurality of vanes in conjunction with the inner surface of each said stator means defining a plurality of chambers wherein compression and expansion of a working fluid occur in accordance with a thermodynamic cycle, said chambers in which compression occurs define compression chambers and said chambers in which expansion occurs define expansion chambers, said compression chambers disposed at one side of each said stator means and said expansion chambers disposed at an opposite side of each said stator means, said expansion chambers having a volume greater than the volume of said compression chamber; and d. means operatively communicating with said stator means, and said rotor means for controlling said thermodynamic cycle; e. each said first and second stator means including: i. first and second inlet ports, a cool working fluid entering said compression chambers of each said first and second stator means through said first inlet port, a hot working fluid entering said expansion chambers of each said first and second stator means through said second inlet port; ii. first and second outlet ports, a compressed working fluid exiting said compression chambers of each said first and second stator means through said first outlet port, a hot expanded working fluid exiting said expansion chambers of each said first and second stator means through said second outlet port; and f. said means for controlling including duct means; g. said first inlet port and said first outlet port communicating with said compression chambers, said second inlet port and said second outlet port communicating with said expansion chambers, said first outlet port of said first stator means communicating with said second inlet port of said second stator means via said duct means, said first outlet port of said second stator means communicating with said second inlet port of said first stator means via said duct means; h. said means for controlling includes regenerator means disposed between said first and second stator means, said compressed fluid exiting said first outlet port of said first stator means directed by said duct means through said regenerator means to said second inlet port of said second stator means, said compressed fluid exiting said first outlet port of said second stator means directed by said duct means through said regenerator means to said second inlet port of said first stator means; i. said means for controlling includes first and second heater means, said first heater means operative to heat said working fluid passing through said regenerator means to said second inlet port of said first stator means, said second heater means operative to heat said working fluid passing through said regenerator means to said second inlet port of said second stator means; j. said hot expanded working fluid exiting said second outlet ports of said first and second stators is directed by said duct means through said regenerator means and passes out to the atmosphere, said gas engine characterized by an open cycle.

Claim 20

A hot gas engine comprising: a. at least one pair of elliptical stator means, each said pair of stator means including first and second stator means, a longitudinal axis of said first stator means in spaced parallel relationship with a longitudinal axis of said second stator means; b. at least one pair of cylindrical rotor means, each said pair of rotor means including first and second rotor means, a longitudinal axis of said first rotor means in registration with a longitudinal axis of said second rotor means, said first rotor means rotatable within said first stator means, said second rotor means rotatable within said second stator means, the longitudinal axes of said first and second rotor means being in spaced parallel relationship with the longitudinal axis of said first stator means and the longitudinal axis of said second stator means; c. a plurality of radially disposed slidable vanes mounted to each of said rotor means, said vanes of said first rotor means operative to engage an inner surface of said first stator means and said vanes of said second rotor operative to engage an inner surface of said second stator means, said vanes rotatable about the longitudinal axis of said rotor means associated therewith, said plurality of vanes in conjunction with the inner surface of each said stator means defining a plurality of chambers wherein compression and expansion of a working fluid occur in accordance with a thermodynamic cycle, said chambers in which compression occurs define compression chambers and said chambers in which expansion occurs define expansion chambers, said compression chambers disposed at one side of each said stator means and said expansion chambers disposed at an opposite side of each said stator means, said expansion chambers having a volume greater than the volume of said compression chamber; and d. means operatively communicating with said stator means, and said rotor means for controlling said thermodynamic cycle; e. each said first and second stator means including: i. first and second inlet ports, a cool working fluid entering said compression chambers of each said first and second stator means through said first inlet port, a hot working fluid entering said expansion chambers of each said first and second stator means through said second inlet port; ii. first and second outlet ports, a compressed working fluid exiting said compression chambers of each said first and second stator means through said first outlet port, a hot expanded working fluid exiting said expansion chambers of each said first and second stator means through said second outlet port; and f. said means for controlling including duct means; g. said first inlet port and said first outlet port communicating with said compression chambers, said second inlet port and said second outlet port communicating with said expansion chambers, said first outlet port of said first stator means communicating with said second inlet port of said second stator means via said duct means, said first outlet port of said second stator means communicating with said second inlet port of said first stator means via said duct means; h. said means for controlling includes regenerator means disposed between said first and second stator means, said compressed fluid exiting said first outlet port of said first stator means directed by said duct means through said regenerator means to said second inlet port of said second stator means, said compressed fluid exiting said first outlet port of said second stator means directed by said duct means through said regenerator means to said second inlet port of said first stator means; i. said means for controlling includes first and second heater means, said first heater means operative to heat said working fluid passing through said regenerator means to said second inlet port of said first stator means, said second heater means operative to heat said working fluid passing through said regenerator means to said second inlet port of said second stator means; j. said hot expanded working fluid exiting said second outlet ports of said first and second stators is directed by said duct means through said regenerator means and passes out to the atmosphere, said gas engine characterized by an open cycle.