Abstract:
An axial-vane rotary device with a rotor assembly having a rotor core and a plurality of removable end blocks attached to the core, end blocks having recesses to encapsulate a vane restraint mechanism, and a removable end wall on one or more of the end blocks.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A typical axial vane rotary device of the prior art (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,084) includes a stator with a cylindrical internal chamber having an annular outer wall and end side walls. Each end wall has an annular cam surface. A rotor is rotatably mounted within the chamber. The rotor has an annular outer wall and a plurality of singularly spaced apart, axially extending slots extending therethrough. A vane is slidably received in each slot. The vanes reciprocate axially and alternatively expand and compress spaces between adjacent vanes and the cam surfaces as the rotor rotates. The cam surfaces have alternating first portions and second portions. The second portions are further from the rotor than the first portions. The first portions of one cam surface are aligned with second portions of another cam surface at the opposite end of the device. The slots extend radially outwards on the rotor to the outer wall thereof. The outer end of each vane slidably engages the annular outer wall of the stator. The outer wall of the stator may have a guide cam and the vanes may have a follower received by the guide cam. The guide cam is shaped to cause the vanes to reciprocate axially with respect to the rotor as the rotor rotates. Each of the vanes may have resiliently biased first seals extending along the inner edge and second seals along end edges thereof 
     In the above prior art device, the vanes, during rotation of the rotor, move outwardly due to centrifugal force and ride on a film of oil or water on the surface of the annular outer wall. This action is adequate on small axial vane rotary devices or in axial vane rotary devices operating at low speeds, but it is not adequate in large axial vane rotary devices or in axial vane rotary devices operating at high speeds. In such large or high speed axial vane rotary devices, the centrifugal forces build up to such a degree that the annular outer wall cannot withstand these forces and the action of the vanes on the annular outer wall causes excessive wear or damage to these components. 
     Therefore, a primary objective of the present invention is to provide a means of restraining the vanes from moving outwardly during rotation. 
     A further objective of the present invention is to provide this restraining action for the vanes in a manner that is independent of the action of the prior art axial vane rotary device. 
     A still further objective of the present invention is to provide this restraining action on the vanes in a manner that is completely automatic and which does not require any direct control mechanism. 
     A still further objective of the present invention is to provide this restraining action for the vanes in a manner that will not adversely affect the efficiency or operation of the prior art axial vane rotary device. 
     A still further objective of the present invention is to provide this restraining action for the vanes in a manner that will not adversely affect the safety or reliability of the prior art axial vane rotary device. 
     A still further objective of the present invention is to provide this restraining action for the vanes in a manner that will permit economical manufacture and installation in the prior art axial vane rotary device. 
     These and other objectives will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention of a vane restraint mechanism for an axial vane rotary mechanism includes a rotor core block which is drilled and tapped to permit the installation of a number of removable rotor end block assemblies. Each of these removable end block assemblies has side portions which are configured to provide a transverse surface parallel to the rotor transverse centerline. Each of the prior art transversely slidable vanes is modified to permit the installation of one or more fixed slide blocks, rotatable rollers, or pivotably mounted rocker assemblies. Each fixed slide block, roller, or rocker assembly bears against the interior surface of these rotor end block assemblies and prevents the rotor from moving outwardly due to centrifugal force. 
     The fixed mounting of the slide blocks or the rotatable structure of the rollers or rockers of the present invention permit the vanes to operate in the manner similar to the prior art, but prevents any excessive outward travel of the vane that could be caused by centrifugal force. 
     The attachment of the fixed slide bearing blocks or the rollers or rockers to the vane may be accomplished by any convenient means, but the preferred method is with stainless steel or equivalent pins with stainless steel snap rings. 
     The use of a rotor core block with a number of individually removable rotor end blocks permits the vane restraint mechanism on each vane to be enclosed completely and allows the seals of the prior art axial vane rotary device to be applied as originally designed at the ends of the vanes and at the surfaces of the annular outer ring. When the vane restraint mechanism is of the two-tier configuration, the removable rotor end blocks are equipped with a removable end panel on two of the rotor end blocks. These removable end panels permit the vane and its attached vane restraint mechanism components to be removed or installed after or while the rotor end blocks are in place on the rotor core block. The removable side panel of the rotor end blocks is not necessary on one-tier vane restraints such as the rockers. 
     Access for installation or removal of the vanes and vane restraint mechanisms is made possible by means of a removable cover on the annular outer wall and end portions of the casing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A is a half front view and a half section of an axial-vane rotary device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 1B is a sectional elevation of an axial-vane rotary device of the present invention taken on line  1 B— 1 B of FIG. 1A; 
     FIG. 1B-1 is a sectional elevational view taken on lines  1 B- 1  of FIG. 1B; 
     FIG. 1B-2 is an elevational view taken on line  1 B- 2  of FIG. 1B-1; 
     FIG. 1C is a sectional view taken at 90 degrees with respect to FIG. 1B; 
     FIG. 1D is an elevational view of an axial-vane rotary device showing the end of the drive shaft. 
     FIG. 2A is a half front view and a half section of an axial-vane rotary device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2B is a sectional elevation of an axial-vane rotary device of the present invention taken on line  2 B— 2 B of FIG. 2A; 
     FIG. 2B-1 is a sectional elevational view taken on lines  2 B- 1  of Fig  2 B; 
     FIG. 2B-2 is an elevational view taken on line  2 B- 2  of FIG. 2B-1; 
     FIG. 2C is a sectional view taken at 90 degrees with respect to FIG. 2B; 
     FIG. 2D is an elevational view of an axial-vane rotary device showing the end of the drive shaft. 
     FIG. 3A is a half front view and a half section of an axial-vane rotary device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3B is a sectional elevation of an axial-vane rotary device of the present invention taken on line  3 B— 3 B of FIG. 3A; 
     FIG. 3B-1 is a sectional elevational view taken on lines  3 B- 1  of FIG. 3B; and 
     FIG. 3B-2 is an elevational view taken on line  3 B- 2  of FIG. 3B-1; 
     FIG. 3C is a sectional view taken at 90 degrees with respect to FIG. 3B; 
     FIG. 3D is an elevational view of an axial-vane rotary device showing the end of the drive shaft. 
     FIG. 4A is a half front view and a half section of an axial-vane rotary device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4B is a sectional elevation of an axial-vane rotary device of the present invention taken on line  4 B— 4 B of FIG. 4A; 
     FIG. 4B-1 is a sectional elevational view taken on lines  4 B- 1  of FIG. 4B; and 
     FIG. 4B-2 is an elevational view taken on line  4 B- 2  of FIG. 4B-1; 
     FIG. 4C is a sectional view taken at 90 degrees with respect to FIG. 4B; 
     FIG. 4D is an elevational view of an axial-vane rotary device showing the end of the drive shaft. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1A is a half front view and a half sectional view cut generally along on line  1 A— 1 A in FIG.  1 B. This half sectional view shows a rotor core  200  and segmental individual rotor end blocks  202  which are attached to rotor core  200  by means of fasteners  206 . Two of the segmental individual rotor end blocks  204  have removable end plate  204   a.  In the assembly of the axial-vane rotary device of the present invention, the drive shaft  30  with rotor core  200  is installed in the cylindrical internal chamber  34 . Vane and rotor access cover  224  is not secured to the cylindrical internal chamber  34  as it is required to be removed for access. Through the opening in the cylindrical internal chamber  34  made possible by vane and rotor access cover  224 , a segmental individual rotor end block  202  is secured to the rotor core  200  by a plurality of fasteners  206  and properly torqued. Then a vane assembly comprised of vane  218  and four each slide blocks  212  secured to the vane by pins  214  and stainless steel snap rings  216  is set in place on the rotor block  200  adjacent to the previously installed segmental individual rotor end block  202 . 
     Another segmental individual rotor end block  202  is installed through the rotor access opening by means of fasteners  206  and properly torqued. The remaining vane assemblies and segmental individual rotor end blocks are installed in this manner until only two vanes and segmental individual rotor end blocks remain to be installed. At this time, one of the segmental individual rotor end blocks  204  is installed without its removable end plate  204   a.  The vane assembly for the position adjacent this segmental individual rotor end block  204  is not installed. The last segmental individual rotor end block  204 , without its end plate  204   a,  is installed with a vane assembly next to the first segmental rotor end block  202  installed. At this time the rotor is revolved until the space between the two segmental individual rotor end blocks  204  is correctly aligned with the rotor access opening. The last vane assembly  218 , with its attached slide blocks  212  is inserted through the end portion of the vane rotor access opening into the space between the two segmental individual rotor end blocks  204 . The two segmental individual rotor end block end plates  204   a  are attached with threaded fasteners  206   a.  The vane and access cover  224  is then secured to the cylindrical internal chamber  34  by means of threaded fasteners  206   b.  To disassemble the axial-vane rotary device of the present invention, this process is reversed. 
     FIG. 1B is a sectional view showing the vanes  218  and their slide blocks  212  in the extreme left-hand position. The center of the vane  218  and the slide blocks  212  are at the location of the guide cam  96  and follower  98 . 
     FIG. 1C is a sectional view taken at 90 degrees rotation from the view shown in FIG.  1 B. This view shows the vanes  218  extended to the extreme right hand position and the slide blocks  212  have also shifted to the extreme right hand position within the cavities in the segmental individual rotor end blocks  202  or  204 . Again, the centerlines of the vanes and the slide blocks are in line with the centerlines of the guide cam  96  and follower  98 . 
     FIG. 1D is an elevational view of the drive end of the present invention of an axial-vane rotary device. 
     It is to be noted that the reason the segmental individual rotor end blocks  204  have removable end plates  204 i a is that the two-tier ledge configuration of the rotor end blocks prevents these parts from being removed outwardly when a vane  218  with its restraint devices (slide blocks  212 ) is in place. Therefore, the last two segmental individual rotor end blocks must have provision for installing the vane assembly between them from the side of the rotor  200 , through the vane and rotor access opening. The vane restraint ledges  210  are shown in FIGS. 1A,  2 A and  1 C. 
     It is also to be noted that the slide blocks  212  may be made integral with vanes  218  without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
     FIG. 2A is a half front view and a half sectional view similar to that of FIG. 1 a.  The rotor parts shown are identical to those shown in FIG.  1 A. The only difference is that the vanes  218  are fitted with individual rollers (as shown in FIG. 2B)  226  on each side of the vane, rotatably mounted on axles  228  and secured by means of stainless steel snap rings  230 . Assembly or disassembly of the vane assemblies  218  and segmental individual rotor end blocks  202  and  204  are as previously outlined for the adaptation with slide blocks. 
     FIG. 2B is a sectional elevation showing the vanes  218  and their rollers  226  in the extreme left-hand position. The center of the vanes  218  and the group of a plurality of rollers is centered at the location of the guide cam  96  and follower  98 . 
     FIG. 2C is a sectional view taken at 90 degrees rotation from the view shown in FIG.  2 B. This view shows the vanes  218  extended to the extreme right-hand position and the rollers  226  have also shifted to the extreme right-hand position within the cavities in the segmental individual rotor end blocks  202  or  204 . Again, the centerlines of the vanes and the roller  226  group remain oriented with the centerlines of the guide cam  96  and follower  98 . 
     FIG. 2D is an elevation view of the drive end of the present invention of an axial-vane rotary device. 
     FIG. 3A is a half front view and a half sectional view cut generally along view line  3 A— 3 A in FIG.  3 B. The rotor core  200  is equipped with a plurality of segmental individual rotor end blocks  232 , each with a one-tier retainer ledge  210  at the outer extremities adjacent to the vane assemblies  242 . Because there is no second retainer ledge midway inside the side cavities, these segmental individual rotor end blocks may be installed or removed from the rotor core  200  radially through the vane and rotor access opening under vane and rotor access cover  224 . In this design there is no need for removable end plates as were required in the versions with slide blocks  212  or rollers  226 , shown in FIGS. 3B and 4B respectively. 
     FIG. 3B is a sectional view showing the vanes  242  and rockers  234  mounted on axles  236  with bearings  238  and secured by stainless steel snap rings  240 , all moved to the extreme left-hand position. Rockers  234  are designed to have a rolling surface corresponding to the stroke length of the vanes. The centerline of the rocker axle  236  coincides with the location of the vane  242  vertical centerline and the location of the guide cam  96  and follower  98 , when the vane assembly  242  is in the extreme left-hand position. When the vane assembly  242  moves to the extreme right-hand position, the centerline of the rocker axle  236  follows and stays aligned with the guide cam  96  and follower  98 . The rocker  234  bears on the retainer ledge  210  shown in FIG.  3 A and is always in compression. The relatively large radius of the rockers  234  compared to the shorter, radius of the rollers  226  shown in FIG. 2B reduces the amount of rotation required to achieve the necessary motion required by the stroke of the axial-vane rotary device. 
     FIG. 3C is a sectional view taken at 90 degrees from the view shown in FIG. 3B, and shows the vanes assemblies  242  moved to their extreme right-hand position. Rockers  234  have also moved to the extreme right-hand position in the cavities on each side of segmental individual rotor end blocks  232 , and the centerline of rocker axle  236  again coincides with the location of the vane  242  vertical centerline and the location of the guide cam  96  and follower  98 . 
     FIG. 3D is an elevation view of the drive end of the present invention of an axial-vane rotary device. 
     FIG. 4A is a half front view and a half sectional view similar to FIG.  1 A. The rotor core  200  is equipped with a plurality of segmental individual rotor end blocks  232 , each with a one-tier retainer ledge  210  at the outer extremities adjacent to the vane assemblies  244 . Because there is no second retainer ledge midway inside the side cavities, these segmental individual rotor end blocks may be installed or removed from the rotor core  200  radially through the vane and rotor access opening under vane and rotor access cover  224 . In this design there is no need for removable end plates as were required in the versions with slide blocks  212  or rollers  226 , shown in FIGS. 1A and 2B respectively. 
     FIG. 4B is a sectional elevation showing the vanes  244  and a plurality of pairs of rockers  234  mounted on axles  236  with bearings  238  and secured by stainless steel snap rings  240 , all moved to the extreme left-hand position. The plurality of pairs of rockers permits the centrifugal force load on each rocker to be reduced substantially. The centerline of the rocker group coincides with the vertical centerline of the vane assembly. In this design, due to the additional length of the vane assembly  244 , two guide cams  96  and followers  98  are provided to reduce the forces on these components. The centerline of the rocker group and the vertical centerline of the vane assembly  244  are aligned with the centerline between the pair of guide cams  96  and followers  98 . In addition to providing additional centrifugal force restraint, the plurality of rocker pairs  234  prevent the vane from rotating about its transverse centerline. 
     FIG. 4C is a sectional view taken at 90 degrees from the view shown in FIG. 4B, and shows the vane assemblies  244  moved to their extreme right-hand position. Rocker groups  234  have also moved to the extreme right-hand position in the cavities on each side of the segmental individual rotor end blocks  232 , and the centerline of the rocker groups  236  again coincides with the centerline of the multiple guide cams  96  and followers  98 . 
     FIG. 4D is an elevation view of the drive end of the present invention of an axial-vane rotary device. 
     It will be appreciated that the interfacing surfaces of the restraining ledges  210  and rockers  234  may be equipped with registering means such as gear teeth or pins, etc., to prevent the rockers from slipping out of proper position with respect to their positions in the end cavities of the segmental individual rotor end blocks due to loss of contact with the restraining ledges for any reason. Rockers becoming disoriented with respect to their proper position in the end cavities could result in the ends of these cavities becoming damaged by the uncontrolled rotation. 
     It will also be appreciated that the restraining ledges  210  formed by the end cavities in the segmental individual rotor end blocks  202 ,  204 , or  232  could alternatively be provided as transverse projections on the side portions of these segmental individual rotor end blocks without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
     It is to be noted that all of the alternative vane restraint mechanisms shown use a common retaining means, i.e., the transversely oriented retainer ledge  210 . The slidable bearing blocks, rollers and rockers are provided to meet the requirements of various applications. 
     Also, in all of the vane restraint mechanisms shown, it will be appreciated that all are in compression and none are in tension, to avoid circumstances of material fatigue and subsequent failure in severe service applications and high speed operation. In all cases, it will be understood that mechanical equivalents of the components or configurations shown or described may be utilized without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
     It will be understood that guide cams  96  and followers  98  are prior art and not controlling upon this invention. Alternate vane actuation mechanisms may be used without departing from the spirit of this invention, in all cases. 
     It will be further understood, that where rollers or rockers are employed, the bearings, if any, may be located in the vane blades, or the rollers or rockers, or both, to suit the individual applicaton, without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
     From the foregoing it can be seen that a means for providing restraint to laterally slidable vanes against centrifugal forces generated by a rotating rotor in an axial-vane rotary device has been accomplished by the present invention, and that it accomplishes at least all of the stated objectives.