Patent ID: 7284495

Claim:
A shaftless radial vane rotary device comprising, a stator adapted to be mounted to a support structure, a rotor mounted for coaxial rotation within said stator, said rotor including an elongated generally tubular body with a cylindrical outer surface and open ends, said stator including an elongated generally tubular body having open ends and a smooth inner surface contoured to provide successive portions of increased and reduced spacing between its inner surface and the outer cylindrical surface of said rotor, a plurality of radially moveably vane assemblies mounted on and projecting outwardly from the outer surface of said rotor body at equally spaced intervals therearound, bearing means between said rotor and stator bodies supporting each end of said rotor body for coaxial rotation within said stator, seal means axially outboard of each said bearing means sealing the space between said stator inner surface and said rotor outer surface, a pressure fluid port extending through said stator body adjacent the leading longitudinal edge of each increased spacing portion and an exhaust fluid port extending through said stator body adjacent the trailing edge of each said decreased spacing portion around said stator body, first conduit means for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to each of said pressure fluid ports to produce rotation of said rotor; second conduit means for conducting hydraulic fluid from said exhaust ports upon rotation of said rotor, means urging said radially movable vane assemblies into continuous contact with said inner surfaces of said stator, said bearing means comprises a first race rigidly joined to and projecting outwardly from the outer surface of said rotor body and a second race mounted on and extending radially inward from said stator body in overlapping relation to said first race, and ball members disposed between said first and second races, and said seal means comprises a seal can mounted on said second bearing race, and a marine packing contained in a packing gland between said seal cap and said second bearing race.