Partition and partition chamber for rotary engines

Abstract

A device and method for selectively maintaining pressure in a toroidal cylinder having an internal wall and a piston moving in the toroidal cylinder, the device including at least one partition plate pivotally mounted in the internal wall for selective sealing engagement of the internal wall of the cylinder, whereby a selected portion of the cylinder between the partition plate and the piston is selectively maintained at high pressure.

1 . A device for selectively maintaining pressure in a toroidal cylinder having an internal wall and a piston moving in the toroidal cylinder, the device comprising:
 at least one partition plate pivotally mounted in the internal wall for selective sealing engagement of the internal wall of the cylinder,   whereby a selected portion of the cylinder between the partition plate and the piston is selectively maintained at high pressure.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a partition chamber mounted in said internal wall, wherein said partition plate is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis in a wall of said partition chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a partition chamber mounted in said internal wall, wherein said partition plate is eccentrically mounted in said partition chamber about a pivot axis outside said partition chamber. 
     
     
         4 . A toroidal cylinder for a rotary compressor or engine, the toroidal cylinder including:
 a rotor defining at least one lobe piston;   a housing mounted about the rotor;   the toroidal cylinder having internal walls defined between said rotor and said housing;   at least one partition plate pivotally mounted in said housing for selective sealing engagement of said internal walls of the toroidal cylinder;   said lobe piston being disposed in said toroidal cylinder so as to pivot said partition plate during rotation of said rotor;   whereby a selected portion of the cylinder between the partition plate and the lobe piston is selectively maintained at high pressure.   
     
     
         5 . The toroidal cylinder according to  claim 4 , wherein said partition plate is mounted for selective seating in a recess in said housing. 
     
     
         6 . The toroidal cylinder according to  claim 4 , further comprising an external mechanism for pivoting said partition plate synchronized with said rotor. 
     
     
         7 . The toroidal cylinder according to  claim 4 , wherein said partition plate includes an external layer of heat resistant material. 
     
     
         8 . The toroidal cylinder according to  claim 4 , wherein said partition plate includes a layer of fluid channels for cooling and/or lubrication fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The toroidal cylinder according to  claim 4 , wherein an outer surface of said partition plate defines at least one recess for receiving engine parts protruding from said housing into said toroidal cylinder. 
     
     
         10 . The toroidal cylinder according to  claim 4 , further comprising a partition chamber mounted in said housing, wherein said partition plate is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis in a wall of said partition chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The toroidal cylinder according to  claim 4 , further comprising a partition chamber mounted in said housing, wherein said partition plate is eccentrically mounted in said partition chamber about a pivot axis outside said partition chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The toroidal cylinder according to  claim 10 , wherein said partition chamber is mounted in said housing and includes:
 an entrance wall and an exit wall, each defining apertures for passage of the lobe pistons;   side walls; and   a bottom section with a slot for the rotor.   
     
     
         13 . A rotary compressor comprising:
 a toroidal cylinder defined between a housing and a rotor;   a lobe piston defined on said rotor and protruding into said toroidal cylinder;   an intake aperture into said toroidal cylinder;   a compressed charge transfer channel; and   a partition plate, having a profile complementary to a profile of said toroidal cylinder, for selective sealing engagement of the cylinder, pivotally mounted in said housing before said intake aperture and behind said a compressed charge transfer channel, relative to a direction of rotation of said rotor.   
     
     
         14 . The rotary compressor of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a second toroidal cylinder defined between a second housing and a second rotor, said second rotor being co-axial with said first rotor and coupled for synchronized rotation therewith, thereby forming a rotary engine;   at least one lobe piston protruding from said second rotor into said second toroidal cylinder;   a compressed charge inlet in said second toroidal cylinder coupled to said compressed charge transfer channel;   an igniter for combustion of a compressed charge from said compressed charge inlet;   an exhaust aperture for release of exhaust gases; and   a second partition plate having a profile complementary to a profile of the second cylinder for sealing engagement of the second cylinder, pivotally mounted at an orientation rotated by  180  degrees relative to said first partition plate, behind said exhaust aperture and before said igniter, relative to a direction of rotation of said rotor.   
     
     
         15 . A method for selectively maintaining pressure in a selected portion of a toroidal cylinder formed between a housing and a rotor having at least one lobe piston protruding into the cylinder, the method comprising:
 pivotally mounting a partition plate in the toroidal cylinder;   rotating the rotor by means of differential pressure in the cylinder;   selectively sealing the cylinder by the partition plate, thereby maintaining high pressure in a portion of the cylinder between the partition plate and the lobe piston; and   pivoting said partition plate by the lobe piston as the rotor rotates, until the piston passes the partition.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said step of pivotally mounting includes:
 mounting a partition chamber in said housing; and   pivotally mounting said partition plate in said partition chamber.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said step of pivotally mounting includes pivotally mounting said partition plate in a wall of said partition chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said step of pivotally mounting includes eccentrically mounting said partition plate in said partition chamber about a pivot axis outside said partition chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said step of selectively sealing is implemented by an external mechanism coupled to said partition plate and synchronized with said rotor. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said step of selectively sealing is implemented by said pressure differential in said cylinder.