Toroidal compressor

Abstract

A rotary machine includes a rotor and a disk-shaped valve that contra-rotate within a cylindrical housing while in non-slipping contact with each other. The rotor includes one or more pistons. In one embodiment of the rotary machine, the valve includes a recess that is shaped epitrochoidally to accommodate the pistons as the pistons pass the valve. Each piston includes a seal that is in sliding contact with the surface of a lining of the recess as the piston passes the valve and that is otherwise in sliding contact with the surface of an inner lining of the housing. The linings and the seal are coated with a polishing composition, so that the seal and the lining are continuously polished as the machine operates. In another embodiment of the rotary machine, the rotor and the valve are shaped to be in constant mutual rolling contact. The rotor and the valve are linked mechanically by a rotor gear, with diagonal teeth, that is rigidly attached to the rotor and by two valve gears, also with diagonal teeth, that engage the rotor gear. One valve gear is rigidly attached to the shaft of the valve. The other valve gear slides along the shaft to positively engage the rotor gear. The rotor and the housing define a toroidal chamber. The pistons and the valve cooperate to define a compression regions in the chamber. When the machine is used as a compressor, as the pistons approach the valve, the air, or other compressible fluid, in the compression region is compressed, until a mechanism such as a throttle valve releases the compressed fluid.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A rotary machine, comprising: 
 (a) a housing having a surface;    (b) a rotor, rotatably mounted within said housing, said rotor and said housing defining between them a toroidal chamber, said rotor including a piston projecting into said toroidal chamber, said piston including a seal that contacts said surface of said housing as said rotor rotates within said housing;    (c) a valve, rotatably mounted within said housing, said valve including a circular disk having a recess shaped to accommodate said piston as said piston moves past said valve, said recess having a surface, said piston seal contacting said surface of said recess as said piston moves past said valve; and    (d) a polishing composition applied to said surfaces and to said seal.    
     
     
         2 . The rotary machine of  claim 1 , wherein said polishing composition includes molybdenum disulfide.  
     
     
         3 . The rotary machine of  claim 1 , wherein said polishing composition includes graphite.  
     
     
         4 . The rotary machine of  claim 1 , wherein said polishing composition includes a silicone resin.  
     
     
         5 . The rotary machine of  claim 1 , wherein said polishing composition includes sodium silicate.  
     
     
         6 . The rotary machine of  claim 1 , wherein said seal includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, graphite and molybdenum disulfide.  
     
     
         7 . The rotary machine of  claim 1 , wherein said seal includes polytetrafluoroethylene.  
     
     
         8 . The rotary machine of  claim 1 , wherein said seal includes brass.  
     
     
         9 . The rotary machine of  claim 1 , wherein said seal includes an alloy of copper and silver.  
     
     
         10 . The rotary machine of  claim 1 , wherein said seal includes a nickel-based alloy.  
     
     
         11 . The rotary machine of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (e) a mechanism for urging said seal against said surface of said housing as said rotor rotates within said housing, and against said surface of said valve recess as said piston moves past said valve.    
     
     
         12 . The rotary machine of  claim 11 , wherein said mechanism includes a spring.  
     
     
         13 . The rotary machine of  claim 1 , wherein said rotor includes a channel wherein said piston is slidably mounted.  
     
     
         14 . The rotary machine of  claim 1 , wherein said housing had a lining, said surface of said housing being a surface of said housing lining, and wherein said valve recess has a lining, said surface of said valve recess being a surface of said valve recess lining.  
     
     
         15 . The rotary machine of  claim 14 , wherein said linings and said seal include at least one material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, graphite and molybdenum disulfide.  
     
     
         16 . The rotary machine of  claim 14 , wherein said lining s and said seal include polytetrafluoroethylene.  
     
     
         17 . Th e rotary machine of  claim 14 , wherein said linings and said seal include brass.  
     
     
         18 . The rotary machine of  claim 14 , wherein said linings and said seal include an alloy of copper and silver.  
     
     
         19 . The rotary machine of  claim 14 , wherein said linings and said seal include a nickel-based alloy.  
     
     
         20 . The rotary machine of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 (e) a mechanism for urging said seal against said surface of said housing lining as said rotor rotates within said housing, and against said surface of said valve recess lining as said piston moves past said valve.