Patent ID: 6176695
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: F01C

Abstract:
A rotary device, the device comprising:a first rotor rotatable about a first axis and having at its periphery a recess bounded by a curved surface;a second rotor counter-rotatable to said first rotor about a second axis, parallel to said first axis, and having a radial lobe bounded by a curved surface;the first and second rotors being coupled for rotation and being intermeshed;a housing in which the rotors are enclosed, the housing having a first arcuate recess which is coaxial with the first rotor, an edge of the recess of the first rotor forming a sliding seal with the first arcuate recess during a portion of the rotation of the first rotor, and the housing having a second arcuate recess which is coaxial with the second rotor, the lobe of the second rotor forming a sliding seal with the second arcuate recess during a portion of the rotation of the first rotor, such that, for a portion of the rotation of the rotors, there is defined between the first and second rotors and the arcuate recesses of the housing transient chamber of volume which progressively decreases on rotation of the rotors; and,said rotor recess, said rotor lobe, and said housing arcuate recesses extending helically in the axial direction, and the housing arcuate recesses being formed in a section of the housing which is axially movable relative to said housing and said rotors, whereby axial movement of said movable section varies the maximum volume of the transient chamber.