U.S. patent number 3,708,241 [Application Number 05/170,234] was granted by the patent office on 1973-01-02 for fluid engine.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Hollymatic Corporation. Invention is credited to Harry H. Holly, John B. McCord, James V. Theis, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,708,241 |
Theis, Jr. , et al. |
January 2, 1973 |
FLUID ENGINE
Abstract
A pressurized fluid engine operable at high efficiency and in
which pressure fluid flows therethrough with low pressure and fluid
losses, having a pressure fluid passage to a rotor which has a
hollow confined interior bounded on substantially its entire inner
periphery by inclined surfaces facing the axis of rotation, and an
annular self-centering seal whose central passage is in
communication with the rotor. A pressurized fluid engine having a
rotor subjected to internal fluid pressure with a conduit portion
to the rotor in which is positioned an annular seal that is
self-centering and held in position by the pressure of the fluid
and which is substantially free of rotational friction wear.
Inventors: |
Theis, Jr.; James V. (Park
Forest, IL), McCord; John B. (Evanston, IL), Holly; Harry
H. (Olympia Fields, IL) |
Assignee: |
Hollymatic Corporation
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
22619100 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/170,234 |
Filed: |
August 9, 1971 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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93288 |
Nov 27, 1970 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
415/80; 415/204;
416/186R |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01D
15/065 (20130101); F03B 5/00 (20130101); F01D
1/32 (20130101); Y02E 10/20 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F01D
15/06 (20060101); F01D 1/32 (20060101); F01D
1/00 (20060101); F01D 15/00 (20060101); F03B
5/00 (20060101); F01d 015/06 (); F04d 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;415/204,206,211,97,17A,147,81,80,214 ;416/186 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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164,576 |
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Aug 1904 |
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DD |
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202,939 |
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Aug 1923 |
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GB |
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286,171 |
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Jul 1915 |
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DD |
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Primary Examiner: Raduazo; Henry F.
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending
application Ser. No. 93,288, filed Nov. 27, 1970.
Claims
1. A pressure fluid engine, comprising: a rotor rotatable about a
central axis, said rotor being hollow and bounded by end walls with
a peripherally circular border wall therebetween, said rotor having
a central opening in one of said end walls, a plurality of nozzles
in said border wall, a smooth vaneless inner chamber portion
adjacent said central opening and a plurality of peripherally
successive outer vaned impelling portions in said border wall, each
of said vanes comprising an airfoil section having an arcuately
curved airfoil surface leading to and directing fluid through a
said nozzle, each nozzle being located between an adjacent pair of
said impelling portions; projecting means defining a smooth axial
flow surface extending from the other of said rotor end walls
toward said one end wall in the region of said axial opening
whereby fluid flow in a path including said central opening and
said inner chamber portion has axial and radial components lying at
about 90.degree. to each other; a fixed base member adjacent said
rotor having a fluid opening communicating with said central
opening in said rotor, the base member having a surface around its
said fluid opening and adjacent the outer surface of said one end
wall of said rotor; a self-centering seal having opposite ends
adjacent said base member and rotor surfaces and a fluid flow
passage through the seal aligned with said rotor central opening
and said base member opening for passage of said pressure fluid
through the seal; and means for subjecting one said seal end to
said pressure fluid to press the other said end in sealing
engagement with the adjacent said surface, thereby resulting in
full fluid pressure being applied to said airfoil vanes of said
rotor impelling portions for maximum turning torque about said
axis.
2. The engine of claim 1 wherein said seal is positioned at said
one end within a cylindrical chamber having a side wall closely
adjacent to the corresponding side of said seal.
3. The engine of claim 2 wherein said chamber is in said rotor and
said other end of the seal bears against said base member
surface.
4. The engine of claim 2 wherein said chamber is in said base
member and said other end of the seal bears against said rotor
outer surface.
5. The engine of claim 2 wherein said seal is tubular with an inner
cylindrical surface substantially parallel to said cylindrical
outer surface and with opposite ends substantially parallel to each
other.
6. The engine of claim 1 wherein said impelling portions and
nozzles are symmetrically arranged around said rotor, and each said
nozzle is of circular cross section.
7. The engine of claim 1 wherein said rotor is coaxially mounted on
a shaft rotatable therewith, the rotor and shaft are rotatably
mounted in an enclosing casing having an end wall adjacent said
rotor comprising said fixed base member.
8. A fluid pressure engine operable at high efficiency with
pressure fluid flowing therethrough and with low pressure and fluid
losses, comprising: a fluid passage means for said pressure fluid
having a fixed base member therearound and sealed thereto; a rotor
having a surface adjacent to said base member and said fluid
passage means rotatable about an axis of rotation that is coaxial
with said fluid passage means, said rotor having a hollow interior
with mechanical energy conversion means therein subjected to said
pressure fluid flowing therethrough, a substantially circular axial
fluid portal communicating with said rotor interior and said fluid
passage means; means forming an annular axial chamber in one of
said base member and said rotor surface and adjacent the other,
said chamber communicating with said fluid passage means and said
rotor portal; an axially movable pressure fluid operated, annular,
floating seal having a central opening aligned with said fluid
inlet means for fluid flow therethrough into the rotor, a
cylindrical outer surface snugly and floatingly received in said
chamber, an end sealing means for bearing in sealing engagement
against the other of said base member and rotor surface adjacent
said chamber to prevent fluid leakage; and means for subjecting
said seal to said pressure fluid to maintain said sealing
engagement.
9. The engine of claim 8 wherein said seal is tubular, the chamber
is in said rotor, and the seal bears against said base member with
the rotor rotating relative to the seal.
10. The engine of claim 8 wherein said seal is tubular, the chamber
is in said base member, and the seal bears against said rotor and
rotates therewith substantially clear of said chamber means.
11. The engine of claim 8 wherein said rotor is coaxially mounted
on a shaft rotatable therewith, the rotor and shaft are rotatably
mounted in an enclosing casing having an end wall adjacent said
rotor in which said fluid conduit entrance means is located with a
portion of said end wall comprising said fixed base member.
12. A pressure fluid engine comprising a rotor rotatable about a
central axis, said rotor being hollow and bounded by end walls with
a peripherally circular wall therebetween, said rotor having a
central opening in one of said walls, said rotor having a smooth
vaneless inner chamber portion adjacent said central opening and an
outer vaned impelling portion, each of said vanes being of airfoil
section having a substantially rounded leading edge, and an inner
surface spiraling smoothly, arcuately outwardly and terminating in
a trailing end lying in said peripheral circular wall, said
adjacent vanes having cooperating relation and defining tangential
substantially unrestricted discharge nozzles therebetween. each of
said vanes extending substantially 180.degree. about the axis of
said rotor; projecting means defining a smooth outwardly extending
flow surface from said other of said end walls toward said central
opening whereby fluid flow into the hollow rotor from said central
opening is turned smoothly from an axial direction to radial in
said vaneless portion of the rotor to enter said vaned portion with
a radial component; a fixed base member adjacent said rotor having
a fluid opening communicating with said central opening in said
rotor, the base member having a surface around its said fluid
opening and adjacent the outer surface of said one end wall of said
rotor; a self-centering seal having opposite ends adjacent said
base member and rotor surfaces and a fluid flow passage through the
seal aligned with said rotor central opening and said base member
opening for passage of said pressure fluid through the seal; and
means for subjecting one said seal end to said pressure fluid to
press the other said end in sealing engagement with the adjacent
said surface, thereby resulting in full fluid pressure being
applied to said airfoil vanes of said rotor impelling portions for
maximum turning torque about said axis.
13. The engine of claim 12 wherein said seal is positioned at said
one end within a cylindrical chamber having a side wall closely
adjacent to the corresponding side of said seal and wherein said
chamber is in said rotor and said other end of the seal bears
against said base member surface.
14. The engine of claim 12 wherein said seal is positioned at said
one end within a cylindrical chamber having a side wall closely
adjacent to the corresponding side of said seal and wherein said
chamber is in said base member and said other end of the seal bears
against said rotor outer surface.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
One of the features of this invention is to provide a high
efficiency, low pressure and fluid loss rotary engine operated by
or operating on pressure fluid, either gaseous or liquid, flowing
through a rotor, a self-centering floating seal and with the rotor
having an interior construction that efficiently cooperates with
the pressure fluid and in which the combination including the seal,
rotor interior and low friction loss fluid passages in the rotor
provides high efficiency power development with low losses both in
pressure and fluid.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Two prior patents of which applicants are aware are U.S. Pat. No.
3,387,564 issued June 11, 1968 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,495,841 issued
Feb. 17, 1970 . Both of these are for pressure fluid devices with
fluid seals but neither is related to an engine such as a fluid
motor turbine operating at high efficiency and with low pressure
and fluid losses and using the combination of elements that are
present in applicants' invention to achieve these results.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a shortened side elevational view partially in
longitudinal section illustrating one embodiment of the
invention.
FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG.
1.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken
substantially along line 3--3 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a transverse rear sectional view taken substantially
along line 4--4 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating a second embodiment of
the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The engine 10 of the illustrated embodiment comprises an elongated
casing 11 having a rotatable shaft 12 therein whose forward end
extends from the casing and may be used for operating a small metal
grinding wheel 13 for example.
The engine, a term used generically to indicate a device for
converting fluid pressure into power, is designed to operate on
compressed gas such as compressed air although the invention is
operable with pressurized fluids generally including gases and
liquids. The illustrated embodiment shows an engine casing 11
provided with a fluid inlet means 14 in the form of a rearwardly
extending tubular extension integral with and substantially
centrally of a rear cover 15 for the casing 11. This tube 14 is
knurled as illustrated and receives the end 16 of a flexible
compressed air pressure hose.
The rear cover 15 to the casing 11 comprises a fixed base member
with an inner surface 17 around the fluid inlet passage 18 in the
tube 14.
The casing 11 is transversely enlarged at its rear end or the end
adjacent the tube 14 to provide a chamber 19 in which is positioned
a hollow rotor 20. This rotor is of rigid plastic of which nylon is
a good example and is attached to the knurled rear end 21 of the
metal drive shaft 12 so that the rotor 20 and shaft 12 as well as
the fluid inlet passage 18 are all coaxial with each other and with
the central axis of rotation 27.
The shaft 12 is mounted for rotation on spaced ball bearing devices
22 of which one is located adjacent the rotor 20 as shown and
another (not shown) is located adjacent the forward end of the
casing 11.
The pressure fluid engine 10 has therefore as the power producing
part the rotor 20 rotatable about its axis of rotation 27 by fluid
pressure forces including reaction on the fluid foil surfaces 25.
The rotor 24 is hollow and is bounded by end walls which as
illustrated are front 46 and rear 48 walls. Between these walls 46
and 48 is a peripherally circular wall 49. In one of the end walls
46 and 48, here shown as the front wall 46, there is provided a
central opening 54 through which the pressure fluid flows as
indicated at 44 into the hollow interior 24 of the rotor.
Inwardly of the central opening 54 is a smooth vaneless inner
chamber portion 55 and adjacent and outwardly thereof is the outer
vaned impelling portion 56 in which are located the plurality of
vanes 57 of which two are shown in the illustrated embodiment. Each
vane 57 comprises a fluid foil section as shown in FIG. 2 each
having an arcuately curved air foil surface 25. Each surface 25
leads to and directs fluid through a nozzle 29 and each nozzle is
located between an adjacent pair of the impelling portion surfaces
25. Thus the adjacent vanes 57 have cooperating relation and define
the nozzles 29 therebetween.
In the illustrated embodiment each fluid foil section vane 57 has a
leading edge shown at 42 in FIG. 2 that is shaped so as not to
constitute a substantial obstacle to, or retarder of, fluid flow
over and around the leading edge.
Each vane 57 has its impelling surface 25 curved smoothly and
arcuately outwardly relative to the axis of rotation 27 and each
terminates in a trailing end shown at 58 in FIG. 2 lying in the
peripheral circular wall 49.
In the illustrated embodiment each vane 57 extends substantially
180.degree. about the axis 27 and each discharge nozzle 29 is
straight, short, unrestricted and substantially tangential as
illustrated by the discharge flow arrow 39.
The rotor 20 at the central opening 54 is provided with projecting
means embodied in the shaft end 21 that extends from one end wall
48 toward and to the opposite end wall 46. This shaft end 21 or
projecting means is provided with the large internal and axial
fluid passage 23 and large side openings 59 so that the projecting
means 21 with the internal passage 23 and openings 59 along with
its end opening 60 define smooth outwardly extending flow surfaces
whereby fluid flow into the hollow rotor 20 from the central
opening 54 is turned smoothly from an axial direction 44 to radial
as illustrated by the flow arrows 61 to enter the vaned portion 56
of the rotor with a radial component as illustrated by the headed
ends 62 of the flow arrows 61.
The fluid inlet means to the interior 24 of the rotor not only
includes the fluid inlet passage 18 but also includes the fluid
entrance means or chamber 31 aligned with the passage 18 and of
larger diameter. Positioned within this chamber 31 is an annular
floating seal 32 having a central opening 33 aligned with the fluid
inlet passage 18, a cylindrical outer surface 34 snugly and
floatingly received in the fluid entrance chamber 31 and an end 35
for bearing against the base member 17 around the fluid inlet
passage 18 to make sealing engagement therewith. The seal 32 also
includes means comprising the inner end surface 36 that is within
the chamber 31 for subjecting the seal to the pressure fluid within
the interior 24 of the rotor. This is achieved by having the fluid
inlet passage 18 which supplies fluid to the rotor interior in
communication not only with the rotor interior but also with the
fluid entrance chamber 31 and the fluid passage 23.
With this construction the slight clearance between the seal outer
surface 34 and the outer cylindrical wall of the fluid entrance
chamber 31 permits the rotor 20 and the shaft 12 to which it is
attached to rotate around and relative to the seal 32. Because of
the small spacing of the rotor around the seal 32 there is very
little fluid loss in the space 37 and there is also very little
loss of pressure. The short exit passages 29 in the rotor 20 also
have low friction losses so that the result is that the rotor 20
and shaft 12 rotate relative to the floating seal 32 and the
combination comprising the seal 32, inclined inner surface means 25
of the rotor and the short exit means 29 which are free of fluid
compressing restrictions convert the energy of the flowing fluid 38
to the rotary power in a highly efficient manner with negligible
losses of pressure and fluid.
The exhaust fluid 39 from the rotating rotor flows into the casing
chamber 19 in which the rotor is located and then rearwardly
through a number of openings 40 in the rear cover 15 as illustrated
in FIG. 4.
As can be seen in FIG. 2 the inclined surface means comprises a
linear series, here two, of inclined surfaces 25 symmetrically
arranged around the inner periphery of the rotor 20 and each is
provided with its own exit passage 29. These exit passages may be
of uniform diameter as shown or they may be outwardly flaring but
in any event are substantially free of fluid compressing flow
restrictions as would be true of an exit with a converging
throat.
In the preferred construction each rotor surface 25 lies at least
approximately along a spiral, and preferably an Archimedes spiral,
whose center is substantially at the axis of rotation 27.
The base member surface 17 which in the illustrated embodiment is
the inner rear surface of the cover 15 and the sealing end 35 of
the floating seal 32 are complementary in that they engage each
other in sealing relationship over the entire end sealing surface
35 of the seal. The opening 33 in the seal is a cylindrical surface
that is substantially parallel to the outer cylindrical surface 34
of the seal. The end surfaces 35 and 36 of the seal are
substantially parallel to each other.
The fluid exit passages 29 from the rotor interior 24 are defined
by substantially cylindrical surfaces as illustrated by the lower
passage 29 in FIG. 1. The side 41 of each passage 29 that is
furthest from the axis of rotation 27 is substantially a smooth
continuation of the inclined surface 25 that leads to the
particular exit passage 29. The inner side or the entrance portion
42 of each passage that is closest to the axis 27 is rounded as
illustrated in FIG. 2 to reduce resistance to rotation by
engagement of this entrance portion 42 with fluid flowing from the
interior 24 through the exits 29. In the illustrated embodiment
this rounded surface portion is substantially the leading edge of
an airfoil.
The fluid entrance means or chamber 31 shown most clearly in the
enlarged detail section of FIG. 3 is defined by an inner annular
flange 43 that is positioned inwardly of the floating seal 32 when
the interior 24 of the rotor is subjected to fluid pressure. This
spacing of the flange 43 from the inner end surface 36 of the seal
provides the pressure chamber 31 in which the pressurized fluid
acts to press the seal 32 to the right as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3
and hold the seal in engagement with the surface 17 so that the
rotor rotates around the seal 32. Because the seal 32 can move
laterally on the surface 17 when necessary the seal is not only
floating but is self-centering. This is true because assuming that
the seal is off center at the beginning of operation when the
pressurized fluid 44 is first admitted the initial rotation of the
rotor 20 immediately centers the seal. As can be seen particularly
in FIG. 3 the inner or entrance opening 33 of the seal is aligned
with the fluid inlet passage 18 as well as with the inner openings
45 defined by the inner circumference of the flange 43. The
diameter of this opening 45 in the illustrated embodiment is
substantially the same as the diameter of the opening 33 in the
floating seal.
The fluid engine of this invention converts the pressure of a fluid
flowing through a rotatable rotor to rotary power at high
efficiency with low pressure loss and fluid loss. A very important
feature of the invention is the provision of the floating seal 32
which is self-aligning as it is held either against the casing
cover 15 in the first embodiment or adjacent the rotor and rotates
therewith in the second embodiment. In both embodiments fluid
pressure holds the seal against its sealed surface.
The seal which may be made of a synthetic plastic such as a
phenol-formaldehyde resin operates in both embodiments with only
very small clearance in the vicinity of the outer surface 34 and 53
of the seal with a typical clearance in both embodiments being
0.0005 inch. Both the leakage of fluid and wear on the seal is very
low and there is very little drag caused by the seal which as
stated immediately becomes self-centered. This seal permits lateral
expansion of the rotor 20 under internal pressure without binding
even at its outer surface 47 that is adjacent the end cover 15 and
115. The seal although preferably a phenolic resin may also contain
additional desirable materials such as lubricating graphite,
reinforcing fibers and the like.
The fluid force on the seal holding it in sealing engagement does
not vary substantially during operation. Thus it does not
materially vary with the speed of rotation and the fluid flow is
substantially constant.
The illustrated embodiments have been shown in combination with a
small grinder wheel 13 as one important use of this invention is in
operating such a grinder at very high speeds. When used as a
grinder the dimensions are quite small so that the unit can be
easily held with one hand by the operator.
In the embodiment of FIG. 5 the seal 50 is located in a chamber 51
in the rear cover 115 and bears against the rear surface 52 of the
rotor 120. Pressure fluid from the inlet passage 118 enters the
chamber space 51 behind the seal 50 and presses it against the
rotating rotor so that the seal after becoming self-centered or
self-aligned rotates with the rotor 120 and clear of the chamber 51
side and end walls.
The invention described and claimed herein is applicable to an
engine broadly defined as any machine by which physical power is
applied to produce a physical effect. Thus the pressurized fluid
engine of this invention may be either a fluid motor in which the
pressure of the fluid is used to exert mechanical power or a pump
in which mechanical or physical power is applied to the fluid
itself. Thus in the case of the fluid motor the pressure of the
fluid itself produces the physical effect while with the pump the
physical power is used to apply pressure to the fluid.
Having described our invention as related to the embodiments shown
in the accompanying drawings, it is our intention that the
invention be not limited by any of the details of description,
unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within
its spirit and scope as set out in the appended claims.
* * * * *