Patent ID: 6022201
Filing Date: 2000-02-08
Classification: F04C

Abstract:
A fluid flow apparatus comprising:a housing including an outer casing with a longitudinal axis and a pair of end plates enclosing the outer casing, a rotor with a plurality of radially extensible vanes within said housing, and means supporting the rotor for rotation about said longitudinal axis relative to the outer casing,a flexible band within said housing surrounding said rotor and in contact with an outer portion of each of said extensible vanes creating a fluid chamber;a plurality of individually controlled shape means abutting said flexible band and spaced around the circumference of said outer casing for controlling the shape of said flexible band;at least two pairs of passageways in communication with said fluid chamber, each pair of said passageways extending through one of said end plates; andsaid rotor and said extensible vanes upon rotation about said longitudinal axis results in differential fluid flow between said two pairs of said passageways according to a selected shape of said flexible band.