Balanced rotary internal combustion engine or cycling volume machine

Abstract

A balanced rotary cycling machine suitable for use as an internal combustion engine, compressed gas or steam engine, compressor or pump is disclosed herein. The rotor assembly consists of four articulating pistons where the opposite pistons are inter-linked with each other by pivoted rods comprising a parallelogram mechanism and therefore eliminating a need for pivots between pistons. The rotor assembly rotates inside or outside of a circular or non-circular stator depending on the configuration chosen. A variety of mechanisms for shape deformation of four piston assembly during its rotating cycle is also disclosed herein, as well as detailed descriptions of preferred embodiments, including a four cycle internal combustion engine with circular stator, marine engine with polymer parts and a four cycle automobile rotary engine with conventional oil pan. In addition, a method of operation of external rotary combustion engine, employing a high-pressure compressor and an external combustion chamber, is disclosed. This invention also teaches a novel lubrication system for rotary engine providing low emissions. The engine has few moving parts, simplified circular or semi-circular stator shape and utilizes simple and effective sealing techniques. It is fully balanced, has very low friction and heat losses and can employ a pre-designed configuration of the combustion chamber for a desired compression ratio and power output.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A rotary cycling machine for producing mechanical energy from pressurized fluid as well as to pump, vacuum and compress fluids, comprising: 
 a hollow housing having an internal contour wall and side covers parallel to each other and perpendicular to a central axis of the housing;    ports in communication with said interior of said housing for intake, exhaust, lubrication or cooling;    a flexible piston assembly mounted for rotational movement within said housing;    deformation means independent of said contour wall for deforming said piston assembly; and    continuous sealing means between pistons of said piston assembly for providing a continuous seal between all pistons of said assembly during rotation.    
     
     
         2 . The machine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said flexible piston assembly is a continuous assembly.  
     
     
         3 . The machine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said flexible piston assembly is a one piece assembly.  
     
     
         4 . The machine as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said one piece assembly is an extruded assembly.  
     
     
         5 . The machine as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said one piece assembly is an etched assembly.  
     
     
         6 . The machine as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said one piece assembly is a molded assembly.  
     
     
         7 . The machine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said internal contour wall comprises a stator wall and includes a flexible liner.  
     
     
         8 . A rotary cycling machine for producing mechanical energy from pressurized fluid as well as to pump, vacuum and compress fluids, comprising: 
 a hollow housing having a stator wall and having side covers parallel to each other and perpendicular to a central axis of the housing;    ports in communication with said interior of said housing for intake, exhaust, lubrication or cooling;    a piston assembly surrounding said stator wall;    deformation means independent of said stator wall for deforming said piston assembly;    linkage means connected to opposed pistons for permitting relative movement of oppositely linked pistons, said linkage means being connected to said deformation means; and    sealing means between pistons of said piston assembly for providing a continuous seal between each piston and said stator of said assembly.    
     
     
         9 . The machine as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said stator wall is ovular in shape.  
     
     
         10 . The machine as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said stator wall is substantially cylindrical.  
     
     
         11 . The machine as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said stator wall includes a flexible liner for cooperation with said sealing means.  
     
     
         12 . A linkage mechanism for linking piston members in a rotary engine, said engine having a stator and piston members, comprising: 
 first linkage arms having spaced apart ends;    second linkage arms having spaced apart ends arranged in a parallel plane relative to said first linkage arms;    connection means at each end of said spaced apart ends of said arms for movably connecting opposed pairings of said piston members;    roller means connected to arms of said first arms and said second arms for facilitating movement between connected arms of said first arms and said second arms; and    cam means against which said rollers orbit for movement of said piston members.    
     
     
         13 . The linkage mechanism as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said cam means has an ovular shape.  
     
     
         14 . The linkage mechanism as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said first arms and said second arms each comprise a plurality of arms.  
     
     
         15 . The linkage mechanism as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said mechanism includes three first arms and three second arms.  
     
     
         16 . The linkage mechanism as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein alternating similar arms of said first arms and said second arms are connected by axles of said rollers.  
     
     
         17 . The linkage mechanism as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said linkage arms, connection means, roller means and cam means are disposed between said pistons.  
     
     
         18 . The linkage mechanism as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said first linkage arms are connected to a first pair of opposed pistons.  
     
     
         19 . The linkage mechanism as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said second linkage arms are connected to a second pair of opposed pistons.  
     
     
         20 . The linkage mechanism as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said arms are connected to said pistons for movement of said pistons about said stator.  
     
     
         21 . The linkage mechanism as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said arms are connected to said pistons for movement of said pistons within said stator.  
     
     
         22 . The linkage mechanism as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said mechanism is self contained within said interior volume.  
     
     
         23 . The linkage mechanism as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said mechanism is connected to define a parallelogram and movable to cycle from a substantially square configuration to a substantially rhomboidal configuration.  
     
     
         24 . A method for effecting movement of pistons within a rotary engine having a rotor and a quartet of spaced apart pistons arranged to define an internal volume housed within a housing, comprising; 
 providing a plurality of linkage arms for connecting opposed pairings of pistons where said linkage arms of one opposed pairing of pistons intersects with linkage arms of a second opposed pairing of said pistons;    connecting linkage arms of said one opposed pairing of pistons with linkage arms of a second opposed pairing of said pistons to permit reciprocal movement there between;    positioning a cam member between points of connection of said linkage arms to enable orbital travel of said linkage arms about said cam;    effecting movement of said rotor; and    rotating said pistons during which connected linkage arms alternate between a rhomboidal and square configuration within said interior volume.    
     
     
         25 . A rotary cycling machine for producing mechanical energy from pressurized fluid as well as to pump, vacuum and compress fluids, comprising: 
 a pair of rotary machines where said machines comprise: 
 a hollow housing having an internal contour wall and having side covers parallel to each other and perpendicular to a central axis of the housing;  
 ports in communication with said interior of said housing for intake, exhaust, lubrication or cooling;  
 a piston assembly having pistons in spaced relation and mounted for rotational movement within said housing;  
 deformation means independent of said contour wall for deforming said piston assembly;  
 linkage means connected to opposed pistons for permitting relative movement of oppositely linked pistons, said linkage means being connected to said deformation means; and  
 sealing means between pistons of said piston assembly for providing a continuous seal between all pistons of said assembly during rotation;  
   a first machine of said machines for compressing a fuel;    a combustion vessel for combusting compressed fuel from said first machine;    a second machine of said machines for receiving energy from combustion; and    a mechanical link between said first machine and said second machine.    
     
     
         26 . The machine as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein said second machine is an expansion machine.