Rotary sliding vane device with radial bias control

Claim 1

A rotary sliding vane fluid device comprising: a casing having a chamber; a rotor disposed for rotation within said chamber; a vane slidably mounted in a slot within said rotor and extending outward toward the interior wall of said chamber and disposed for outward and inward movement relative to said rotor in response to rotation thereof, said vane having a longitudinal passage therethrough, said vane further comprising: a pair of interlocking elements, each of said pair of interlocking elements is ported to permit fluid flow therethrough to the axial end portions thereof to supply a lubricating film of fluid at said ends of said vane; means disposed between said interlocking elements to bias said interlocking elements apart and toward the side walls of said chamber; and a port in said rotor extending from said the lower end of said slot to the surface of said rotor at a point forward of said vane to permit flow of fluid from said chamber to beneath the lower end of said vane whereby the pressure of said fluid within said chamber is applied to said vane to vary the bias of said vane against said chamber as said rotor rotates within said chamber and to supply fluid through said longitudinal passage in said vane to provide a lubricating film of fluid to the tip regions of said vane.