Patent ID: 7399167
Filing Date: 2008-07-15
Classification: B60H,F01C,F01K,F02G,F04B,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A fluid machine, which is operable in a pump mode for pressurizing fluid and discharging the pressurized fluid from the fluid machine and is also operable in a motor mode for converting fluid pressure of fluid into kinetic energy and thereafter outputting the kinetic energy as mechanical energy, the fluid machine comprising: a housing; at least one movable member that is received in the housing, wherein each movable member defines a working chamber having a variable volume in the housing; and a valve mechanism that opens and closes at least one communication passage arranged in the housing, wherein each communication passage communicates between the corresponding working chamber and a high pressure chamber, wherein: the valve mechanism enables flow of fluid from each working chamber to the high pressure chamber and blocks backflow of fluid from the high pressure chamber to each working chamber at time of operation of the fluid machine in the pump mode; the valve mechanism opens at least one of the at least one communication passage at time of operation of the fluid machine in the motor mode; the at least one movable member is drivable by an external drive force to change the volume of the corresponding working chamber and thereby to compress the fluid in the corresponding working chamber in the pump mode; and the at least one movable member is drivable by an expansion energy of the fluid, which is supplied into and is expanded in the corresponding working chamber to change the volume of the corresponding working chamber, so that the kinetic energy is generated in the motor mode.