Gear-type positive-displacement machine

Claim 2

A gear-type positive-displacement machine, comprising: a housing having a row of inwardly directed teeth, a central gear in said housing, set coaxially to said housing, said central gear including a row of external outwardly directed teeth thereon; two substantially cylindrically-shaped idle gears symmetrically spaced apart between said row of inwardly directed teeth of said housing and said row of outwardly directed teeth of said central gear, said idle gears including rows of gear teeth meshing and interengaging with the respective rows of teeth of said inwardly directed teeth of said housing and of said outwardly directed teeth of said central gear, said idle gears being mounted with freedom to roll over said outwardly directed teeth of said external teeth of the central gear and said teeth of said housing to impart relative rotation between said housing and said central gear; said interengaging rows of teeth of the idle gears, the housing and the central gear, having respective spaces defined therebetween in said housing; webs within said housing between said housing and said central gear and fixed with respect to either said housing or said central gear and permitting relative movement therebetween, said webs being spaced apart about said central gear and positioned in said spaces so as to define two fluid-tight chambers, said webs including peripheral portions facing said housing adapted for sealing engagement with said housing to make said chambers fluid-tight, said webs including lateral surfaces facing said idle gears; said idle gears being made of an elastic material having a diameter slightly larger than the clearance between said housing and said central gear that upon assembly said idle gears are lightly compressed into a flattened shape to provide for greater engagement between the teeth of said idle gears and said housing and said external teeth of said central gear to increase fluid-tightness between opposite sides of said idle gears; and, fluid supply means forming part of said webs to define a passageway to supply working fluid to said fluid-tight chambers and to discharge the working fluid therefrom, said fluid supply means supplying the fluid through said lateral surfaces to the space between said lateral surfaces and said idle gears and to discharge fluid from the space between said lateral surfaces and said idle gears to impart rotation to said idle gears, said fluid supply means supplying fluid through and discharging fluid from said lateral surfaces to increase the volumetric efficiency of the gear-type machine.

Claim 3

The gear-type machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said lateral surfaces of said webs are portions of a cylindrical surface having a radius approximating that of the addendum circle of said idle gears so that said fluid-tight chambers have a minimum possible dead surface.

Claim 4

The gear type machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the pattern of angular movements between said interengaging rows of teeth is defined by the formula β.sub.1 = 2α.sub.1 (Z.sub.3 + Z.sub.4)/(2Z.sub.3 + Z.sub.4) wherein: β 1 is the angle through which said housing rotates, α 1 is the angle through which said idle gears rotate, Z 3 is the number of teeth on said idle gears, and Z 4 is the number of teeth on said central gear.

Claim 5

The gear type machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing is stationary; said central gear is rotatable; and, said web being fixed with said housing, and said passageways in said web include portions cut-out from said lateral surface to provide a passage between the teeth of said idle gears and said lateral surface when said idle gears are adjacent to said lateral surface.

Claim 6

The gear type machine as set forth in claim 4, wherein the pattern of angular movements between said interengaging rows of teeth is defined by the formula β = 2α (1 + (Z.sub.1 /Z.sub.2) wherein: β is the angle through which said central gear rotates, α is the angle through which the idle gears rotate, Z 1 is the number of teeth on said idle gears, and Z 2 is the number of teeth on said central gear.

Claim 7

The gear type machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing is rotatable; said central gear is stationary, said central gear including first passages; said web being fixed with said central gear; and, said passageways in said web include second passages which pass through said web and open into said fluid-tight chambers through openings in said lateral surface, said first and said second passages being in communication with each other to supply fluid through openings in said lateral surfaces directly to the cylindrical outer surface of said idle gears and to withdraw fluid through said openings in said lateral surfaces directly from the cylindrical outer surface of said idle gears.

Claim 8

The gear type machine as set forth in claim 6, wherein said idle gears are cylinder-shaped.

Claim 9

The gear type machine as set forth in claim 6, wherein the pattern of angular movements between said interengaging rows of teeth is defined by the formula β.sub.1 = 2α.sub.1 (Z.sub.3 + Z.sub.4)/(2Z.sub.3 + Z.sub.4) wherein: β 1 is the angle through which said housing rotates, α 1 is the angle through which said idle gears rotate, Z 3 is the number of teeth on said idle gears, and Z 4 is the number of teeth on said central gear.

Claim 10

A gear-type positive-displacement machine, comprising: a rotatable housing having a row of inwardly directed teeth, a stationary central gear in said housing set coaxially thereto, said central gear including a row of external outwardly directed teeth thereon; two substantially cylindrically-shaped idle gears formed of elastic material symmetrically spaced apart between said row of inwardly directed teeth of said housing and said row of outwardly directed teeth of said central gear, said idle gears including rows of gear teeth meshing and interengaging with the respective rows of teeth of said inwardly directed teeth of said housing and of said outwardly directed teeth of said central gear, said idle gears being mounted with freedom to roll over said outwardly directed teeth of said external teeth of the central gear and said teeth of said housing to impart relative rotation between said housing and said central gear; said idle gears being mounted in the annular space between said rotatable housing and said stationary central gear, the extent of said annular space between said housing and said central gear being less than the diameter of said idle gears; said interengaging rows of teeth of the idle gears, the housing, and the central gear, having respective spaces defined therebetween in said housing; webs within said housing between said housing and said central gear and fixed to said central gear and permitting relative movement between said housing and said central gear, said webs being spaced apart about said central gear and positioned in said spaces so as to define two fluid-tight chambers, said webs including peripheral portions facing said housing adapted for sealing engagement with said housing to make said chambers fluid-tight, said webs including lateral surfaces facing said idle gears; said gears having a slightly flattened shape when mounted in said annular space to provide for increased fluid-tightness between said fluid-tight chambers; and, fluid supply means forming part of said webs to define a passageway to supply working fluid to said fluid-tight chambers and to discharge the working fluid therefrom, said fluid supply means supplying the fluid through said lateral surfaces to the space between said lateral surfaces and said idle gears and to discharge fluid from the space between said lateral surfaces and said idle gears to impart rotation to said idle gears, said fluid supply means supplying fluid through and discharging fluid from said lateral surfaces to increase the volumetric efficiency of the gear-type machine.

Claim 11

A gear-type positive-displacement machine, comprising: a rotatable housing having a row of inwardly directed teeth, a stationary central gear in said housing set coaxially thereto, said central gear including a row of external outwardly directed teeth thereon; two substantially cylindrically-shaped idle gears formed of elastic material symmetrically spaced apart between said row of inwardly directed teeth of said housing and said row of outwardly directed teeth of said central gear, said idle gears including rows of gear teeth meshing and interengaging with the respective rows of teeth of said inwardly directed teeth of said housing and of said outwardly directed teeth of said central gear, said idle gears being mounted with freedom to roll over said outwardly directed teeth of said external teeth of the central gear and said teeth of said housing to impart relative rotation between said housing and said central gear; said idle gears being mounted in the annular space between said rotatable housing and said stationary central gear, the extent of said annular space between said housing and said central gear being less than the diameter of said idle gears; said interengaging rows of teeth of the idle gears, the housing, and the central gear, having respective spaces defined therebetween in said housing; webs within said housing between said housing and said central gear and fixed to said central gear and permitting relative movement between said housing and said central gear, said webs being spaced apart about said central gear and positioned in said spaces so as to define two fluid-tight chambers, said webs including peripheral portions facing said housing adapted for sealing engagement with said housing to make said chambers fluid-tight, said webs including lateral surfaces facing said idle gears; said gears having a slightly flattened shape when mounted in said annular space to provide for increased fluid-tightness between said fluid-tight chambers; and, fluid supply means forming part of said webs to define a passageway to supply working fluid to said fluid-tight chambers and to discharge the working fluid therefrom, said fluid supply means supplying the fluid through said lateral surfaces to the space between said lateral surfaces and said idle gears and to discharge fluid from the space between said lateral surfaces and said idle gears to impart rotation to said idle gears, said fluid supply means supplying fluid through and discharging fluid from said lateral surfaces to increase the volumetric efficiency of the gear-type machine.

Claim 12

The gear type machine as defined in claim 9, wherein said central gear includes first passages; and said passageways in said web include second passages which pass through said web and open into said fluid-tight chambers through openings in said lateral surface, said first and said second passages being in communication with each other to supply fluid through openings in said lateral surfaces directly to the cylindrical outer surface of said idle gears and to withdraw fluid through said openings in said lateral surfaces directly from the cylindrical outer surface of said idle gears.

Claim 13

The gear type machine as set forth in claim 9, wherein the pattern of angular movements between said interengaging rows of teeth is defined by the formula β.sub.1 = 2α.sub.1 (Z.sub.3 + Z.sub.4)/(2Z.sub.3 + Z.sub.4) wherein: β 1 is the angle through which said housing rotates, α 1 is the angle through which said idle gears rotate, Z 3 is the number of teeth on said idle gears, and Z 4 is the number of teeth on said central gear.

Claim 14

A gear-type positive-displacement machine, comprising: a stationary housing having a row of inwardly directed teeth, a rotatable central gear in said housing, set coaxially to said housing, said central gear including a row of external outwardly directed teeth thereon; two substantially cylindrically-shaped idle gears formed of elastic material symmetrically spaced apart between said rows of inwardly directed teeth of said housing and said row of outwardly directed teeth to said central gear, said idle gears including rows of gear teeth meshing and interengaging with the respective rows of teeth of said inwardly directed teeth of said housing and of said outwardly directed teeth of said central gear, said idle gears being mounted with freedom to roll over said outwardly directed teeth of said external teeth of the central gear and said teeth of said housing to impart relative rotation between said housing and said central gear; said interengaging rows of teeth of the idle gears, the housing and the central gear, having respective spaces defined therebetween in said housing; webs within said housing between said housing and said central gear and fixed with respect to said housing and permitting relative movement between said housing and said central gear, said webs being spaced apart about said central gear and positioned in said spaces so as to define two fluid-tight chambers, said webs including peripheral portions facing said housing adapted for sealing engagement with said housing to make said chambers fluid-tight, said webs including lateral surfaces facing said idle gears; said gears having a slightly flattened shape when mounted in the space between the housing and the central gear to provide for increased fluid-tightness between said fluid-tight chambers; fluid supply means forming part of said webs to define a passageway to supply working fluid to said fluid-tight chambers and to discharge the working fluid therefrom, said fluid supply means supplying the fluid through said lateral surfaces to the space between said lateral surfaces and said idle gears and to discharge fluid from the space between said lateral surfaces and said idle gear to impart rotation to said idle gears, said fluid supply means supplying fluid through and discharging fluid from said lateral surfaces to increase the volumetric efficiency of the gear-type machine; and said passageways in said web include portions cut-out from said lateral surface to provide a passage between the teeth of said idle gears and said lateral surface when said idle gear is adjacent to said lateral surface.

Claim 15

A gear-type positive-displacement machine, comprising: a stationary housing having a row of inwardly directed teeth, a rotatable central gear in said housing, set coaxially to said housing, said central gear including a row of external outwardly directed teeth thereon; two substantially cylindrically-shaped idle gears formed of elastic material symmetrically spaced apart between said rows of inwardly directed teeth of said housing and said row of outwardly directed teeth to said central gear, said idle gears including rows of gear teeth meshing and interengaging with the respective rows of teeth of said inwardly directed teeth of said housing and of said outwardly directed teeth of said central gear, said idle gears being mounted with freedom to roll over said outwardly directed teeth of said external teeth of the central gear and said teeth of said housing to impart relative rotation between said housing and said central gear; said interengaging rows of teeth of the idle gears, the housing and the central gear, having respective spaces defined therebetween in said housing; webs within said housing between said housing and said central gear and fixed with respect to said housing and permitting relative movement between said housing and said central gear, said webs being spaced apart about said central gear and positioned in said spaces so as to define two fluid-tight chambers, said webs including peripheral portions facing said housing adapted for sealing engagement with said housing to make said chambers fluid-tight, said webs including lateral surfaces facing said idle gears; said gears having a slightly flattened shape when mounted in the space between the housing and the central gear to provide for increased fluid-tightness between said fluid-tight chambers; fluid supply means forming part of said webs to define a passageway to supply working fluid to said fluid-tight chambers and to discharge the working fluid therefrom, said fluid supply means supplying the fluid through said lateral surfaces to the space between said lateral surfaces and said idle gears and to discharge fluid from the space between said lateral surfaces and said idle gear to impart rotation to said idle gears, said fluid supply means supplying fluid through and discharging fluid from said lateral surfaces to increase the volumetric efficiency of the gear-type machine; and said passageways in said web include portions cut-out from said lateral surface to provide a passage between the teeth of said idle gears and said lateral surface when said idle gear is adjacent to said lateral surface.

Claim 16

The gear type machine as set forth in claim 12, wherein the pattern of angular movements between said interengaging rows of teeth is defined by the formula β = 2α (1 + Z.sub.1 /Z.sub.2) wherein: β is the angle through which said central gear rotates, α is the angle through which the idle gears rotate, Z 1 is the number of teeth on said idle gears, and Z 2 is the number of teeth on said central gear.