Patent ID: 6371743
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: F01C,F02B

Abstract:
Rotary positive displacement apparatus of the type having a toroidal cylinder formed in a cylinder housing assembly about a driveshaft having a driveshaft axis concentric with the axis of the toroidal shaped cylinder and coupled to juxtaposed rotor assemblies supporting pistons in he toroidal shaped cylinder whereby rotation of the driveshaft rotates the rotors in a manner which causes the pistons to move cyclically toward and away from one another during their rotation forming expanding and contracting working chambers therebetween within the toroidal cylinder and inlet and outlet port means extending through the cylinder housing assembly for entry and exit of fluid to and from the working chambers, and wherein the coupling means coupling the pistons in the toroidal shaped cylinder to the driveshaft includes:drive means for coupling one rotor assembly to the driveshaft; a crankpin offset from the driveshaft; a planetary member driven for rotation about the crankpin at a predetermined rotational speed relative to the driveshaft whereby the planetary member is supported on the crankpin for epicyclic movement about the driveshaft, and a direct drive connection between the other rotor assembly and the planetary member offset from their respective axes whereby the differential angular velocity of the drive connection about the driveshaft axis resultant from its epicyclic motion causes the pistons of the other rotor assembly to move cyclically toward and away from the pistons of the one rotor assembly as it rotates about the driveshaft.