Patent ID: 8056528

Claim:
A rotary machine comprising: a housing; a plurality of rotary shafts five or six in number and each having a central axis about which that rotary shaft rotates, wherein the plurality of rotary shafts are mounted in said housing with their central axes parallel to each other; and a plurality of rotary pistons, each rotary piston being located on a corresponding different one of said plurality of rotary shafts for rotation therewith, wherein the plurality of rotary pistons are arranged relative to each other so that each rotary piston of the plurality of rotary pistons is in tangential sliding contact with at least two other rotary pistons of the plurality of rotary pistons during at least part of a complete cycle of operation, wherein the plurality of rotary pistons together forms a working chamber having a volume which changes as the plurality of rotary pistons rotate; and a gear system including a plurality of rotary gears, each of which is located on one end of a corresponding different one of the plurality of rotary shafts, wherein said gear system synchronizes rotation of the plurality of rotary shafts during operation, wherein the plurality of rotary pistons are shaped so that during at least part of each complete cycle of operation, the plurality of rotary pistons go out of contact with each other thereby opening up the working chamber.