Patent ID: 6976832

Claim:
A fluid rotary machine comprising: an inner housing comprising: a sleeve having first and second opposite axial ends, said first axial end forming an inlet for a working fluid and said second axial end forming an outlet for a working fluid such that working fluid enters and exits the machine axially, and a manifold disposed in said sleeve which directs said working fluid through said machine; an outer housing rotatably coupled with the inner housing to facilitate rotational motion of the outer housing relative to the inner housing, with at least one working chamber through which the working fluid can flow being defined between the inner housing and outer housing; and, a plurality of gates supported on the outer housing, each gate being able to swing along its respective longitudinal axis between a sealing position in which the gate forms a seal on the outer circumferential surface of the inner housing to thereby divide the at least one working chamber and, a retracted position in which the gate is swung to lie adjacent the inner circumferential surface of the outer housing.