Abstract:
A rotary engine having end plates attached to a rotor and moving therewith. A rotor has a plurality of blades reciprocally mounted therein and placed within a housing. A chamber is formed between the blades, the rotor, the end plates, and a cylindrical stator. The end plates move with the rotor, thereby improving sealing. The structure permits easy assembly and manufacture and substantially reduces sealing problems associated with rotary engines. The rotary engine may be applied to many applications where rotational motion is needed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to a rotary engine having a plurality of chambers, and more particularly to a rotary engine with improved sealing. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are many different types of rotary engines. Most rotary engines, however, have difficulty sealing, and therefore have a reduced efficiency. Many rotary engines have the rotor placed within a housing. The chamber is generally formed with a stationary end wall adjacent a rotor. One such rotary engine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,298 entitled “Concentric Rotary Engine” issuing to Schulz on Mar. 29, 1977. Therein disclosed is a concentric rotary engine concentrically disposed within a hollow rotor housing. The rotor is in slidable, sealable and rotatable engagement with the inner surface of the rotor housing. Another rotary engine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,704 entitled “Hinge Valve Rotary Engine With Separate Compression And Expansion Sections” issuing to Slaughter on Aug. 29, 1989. Therein disclosed is a rotary engine with respective smooth surfaced compression and expansion rotors mounted within chambers. The expansion rotor has opposite end faces, which, in cooperation with end face seals, seal against the partitions. 
     While these and other rotary engines have proven satisfactory for their intended use, there is a need for an improved rotary engine that provides better sealing and more efficient operation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a rotary engine that has a substantial portion of a chamber that rotates with the rotor of the rotary engine. A rotor has movable blades contained therein that extend radially inward and outward. The rotor has fixed end walls or plates that rotate with the rotor. The rotor assembly is contained within a cylindrical housing that has a plurality of chamber dividers acting as cam surfaces for moving the movable blades. The chamber dividers have a sealing surface adjacent the rotor. The end plates rotate with the rotor providing improved sealing between the end plate and the chambers of the rotary engine. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a rotary engine having improved efficiency. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a rotary engine that has improved sealing, especially between the rotor assembly and an end plate. 
     It is an advantage of the present invention that it is relatively easy to manufacture and assemble. 
     It is a further advantage of the present invention that it can maintain a high pressure with little seal leakage during extended use and operation. 
     It is a feature of the present invention that end plates are attached to the rotor and move with the rotor. 
     It is a further feature of the present invention that centrifugal force helps to seal the chamber between the movable blade and the housing. 
     These and other objects, advantages, and features will become readily apparent in view of the following more detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a front elevational view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a side elevational view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the rotor assembly of another embodiment. 
     FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a front elevational view of another embodiment. 
     FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of a preferred sealing structure. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the rotary engine  10  of the present invention. The rotary engine  10  has a central shaft  12  with a rotor assembly enclosed in a housing  14 . Bearings  16  are placed between the shaft  12  and the housing  14 . Rotor  18 , which is placed within the housing  14 , is connected to the shaft  12 . Rotor  18  has a pair of end plates  20  attached thereto by rotor bolts  34 . A plurality of movable blades  22  extend between the rotor  18  and a stator  24 . The blades  22  are mounted within rotor  18  so as to move radially in and out. Formed within stator  24  are a plurality of exhaust ports  26 . At the point of contact between the end plates  20  and the stator  24  O-ring seals  28  are placed. Additionally, a sliding surface  30  may be inserted between the stator  24  and the end plates  20  contacting the O-rings  28 . The sliding surface  30  may be made of a friction free material, such as Teflon brand polymer. Bolts  32  connect the stator  24  to the housing  14 . A coupling  36  is attached to one end of shaft  24 . The coupling  36  may then be coupled to other rotary engines or a load. The end plates  20 , which are fixed to the rotor  18  and form a part of the rotor assembly, will rotate together with the rotor  18 . Accordingly, the seal between the blade  22  and the end plate  20  may be made relatively leak free and is less prone to wear, increasing the efficiency and longevity of the rotary engine  10 . 
     FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the interior of the rotary engine  10 . Chambers  38  are formed between blades  22  and the chamber dividers  42 . Chamber dividers  42  have a seal  44  adjacent the surface of rotor  18 . Blades  22  form a seal against the cylindrical surface of stator  24  attached to housing  14 . Springs  46  force the blade  22  radially outward and are advantageous when the rotor  18  is turning at relatively low speed or revolutions. At higher revolutions, the centrifugal force will exert additional pressure radially outward, creating a better seal. The blades  28  reciprocate within blade channels  48 . An inlet valve  40  provides pressurized gas into chamber  38 , causing the rotor  18  to move in the direction of arrow  50 . Accordingly, the exhaust gases are outlet through exhaust ports  26  as the rotor  18  rotates. A suitable valve or timing system may be utilized to time the injection of pressurized gas into the chamber  38  so as to prevent the pressurized gas entering through inlet port  40  from escaping when the chamber  38  also communicates or is open to the exhaust ports  26 . 
     FIG. 3 more clearly illustrates another embodiment of a rotor assembly  111 . The rotor assembly  111  comprises a rotor  118  having end plates  120  attached to the ends of rotor  118 . Seals  128  extend around the peripheral edge of the end plates  120 . A plurality of blades  122  are radially movably mounted on the rotor  118  and the end plates  120 . There may be any number of blades  122 . The blades  122  and the end plates  120  form a chamber  138 . The top surface of chamber  138  is bounded by the surface of a stator, not illustrated. Accordingly, the chamber  138 , defined by the blades  122  and the end plates  120 , moves with the rotor  118 . Rotor  118  may move in the direction of arrow  150 . Since the chamber  138  moves with the rotor  118 , the seal between the blades  122  and the fixed end plates  120  may be made substantially less prone to leakage or wear. This improves the sealing efficiency and longevity of a rotary engine. 
     FIG. 4 schematically illustrates another embodiment of a rotor assembly  211  of the present invention. In this embodiment, blade  222  is positioned diagonally or transverse to the longitudinal axis of rotor  218 . Affixed to rotor  218  are two end plates  220 . The end plates  220  have a seal  228  therein. 
     FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an embodiment of preferred sealing. End plate  320  has a groove or channel  321  therein. Placed within channel  321  is O-ring  328 . The O-ring  328  may be made of a soft elastic or plastic material, such as silicone. Adjacent the O-ring  328  is a sliding surface  330 . Sliding surface  330  may be made of a tough polymer, such as tetrafluoroethylene sold under the trademark Teflon. The sliding surface  330  contacts stator  324 . This sealing structure is very effective in sealing between the end plate  320  attached to the rotor and the stator  324 . The sliding surface  330  and O-ring  328  are retained within channel  321 . Additionally, the sliding surface  330  provides a smooth surface for the O-ring  328 . The O-ring  328  will remain stationary. This reduces friction and provides good long lasting sealing. 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides an improved rotary engine that has increased efficiencies and longevity. A portion of the sealing difficulties in rotary engines is eliminated because a substantial portion of the surfaces forming the chamber of the rotary engine move with the rotor. This eliminates much of the wearing and leaking of seals used in a rotary engine. Therefore, the rotary engine of the present invention operates smoothly and efficiently. Additionally, the structure of the rotary engine of the present invention is relatively easily manufactured and assembled. The present invention may be used in any application where a rotary power source is required. 
     While the present invention has been described with respect to several embodiments, the usefulness of the present invention may be applied to different arts. Additionally, although the preferred embodiment has been illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.