Patent ID: 8904991
Filing Date: 2014-12-09
Classification: F01C,F02B,F04C,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A rotary mechanism with articulating rotor, comprising: a case having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the case defiling a two-lobe epitrochoidal chamber therein, wherein the epitrochoidal chamber is defined by: a first end plate disposed upon the first end of the case; a second end plate disposed upon the second end of the case; an articulating rotor disposed within the case, the rotor having: first, second, third, and fourth rotor segments, each of the segments having mutually opposed first and second ends, wherein each of the rotor segments has an outer periphery, the outer periphery being defined by the equations x(θ)=(3r−ho)cos(θ)−h cos(3θ) and y(θ)=(3r−ho)sin(θ)−h sin(3θ), where ho is the clearance distance between the periphery of the epitrochoidal chamber and the outer periphery of each of the rotor segments, θ being limited to 45° symmetrically about the minor axis; first, second, third, and fourth knuckles pivotally connecting the first end of each of the segments to the second end of the adjacent one of the segments, each of the knuckles having an alignment rod socket and a diametrically opposed apex seal receptacle defined therein; an apex seal adjustably extending from the apex seal receptacle of each of the knuckles; a central shaft disposed through the case and the rotor; a central hub rotationally affixed to the rotor, the hub having four mutually orthogonal and radially disposed alignment rod receptacles defined therein; and a seal alignment rod telescopically extending from each of the alignment rod receptacles of the hub, each of the rods having a distal end installed in the alignment rod socket of a corresponding one of the knuckles, wherein each of the apex seals is held in axial alignment with the corresponding seal alignment rod and torque is transferred between the rotor and the shaft through the seal alignment rods and the hub.