Peripherally pivoted oscillating vane machine

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a peripherally pivoted oscillating vane machine (OVM). The OVM has been optimized for performance and efficiency. This has been accomplished by reducing loads on the drive mechanism and by employing de-phased motion of the peripherally pivoted vanes in conjunction with improved porting configurations as well as valve actuation and manufacture.

1 . An oscillating vane machine comprising:
 (a) a stator  1  having a central stator  1  axis;   (b) a plurality of main chambers  16  housed in said stator  1  and arranged about said central stator  1  axis;   (c) a plurality of peripherally pivoted vanes  2 , wherein each one of said plurality of peripherally pivoted vanes  2  is positioned in one of said plurality of main chambers  16 ;   (d) at least one drive mechanism which drives one or more of said plurality of peripherally pivoted vanes  2 ;   (e) at least one inlet port  8  in fluid communication with each main chamber  16 ; and   (f) at least one discharge port  9  in fluid communication with each main chamber  16 .   
   
   
       2 . The oscillating vane machine of  claim 1  wherein actuation of the peripherally pivoted vanes  2  is de-phased. 
   
   
       3 . The oscillating vane machine of  claim 1  wherein the inlet 8 and discharge 9 ports are located or positioned at one or more external surfaces of the oscillating vane machine. 
   
   
       4 . The oscillating vane machine of  claim 1  wherein the discharge ports  9  are configured such that they are centrally located. 
   
   
       5 . The oscillating vane machine of  claim 1  wherein the driver is a master/slave radial drive mechanism  54 . 
   
   
       6 . The oscillating vane machine of  claim 3  wherein the inlet 8 and/or discharge 9 ports are valves  18 . 
   
   
       7 . The oscillating vane machine of  claim 6  wherein the valves are servo-actuated rotary valves  43 . 
   
   
       8 . The oscillating vane machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of fluid inlet ports  8  and a pair of discharge ports  9  provided in each of said plurality of main chambers  16 . 
   
   
       9 . The oscillating vane machine of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of main chambers  16  are in a unidirectional configuration. 
   
   
       10 . An integrated vane  2  and shaft  7  assembly for use in an oscillating vane machine comprising
 (a) a vane 2 body having an integral shaft  7 ;   (b) one or more end caps  11  for attachment to each end of said vane 2 body; and   (c) seal glands  10 , wherein said glands are machined into all outer surfaces of (a) and (b) and coincident with a plane parallel to the central long axis of the vane  2 .   
   
   
       11 . The oscillating vane machine of  claim 1  wherein the drive mechanism is a crank rocker with gears  28 . 
   
   
       12 . The oscillating vane machine of  claim 1  wherein the drive mechanism is a crank slider with gears  27 . 
   
   
       13 . The oscillating vane machine of  claim 1  wherein the drive mechanism is a scotch yoke  29 . 
   
   
       14 . The oscillating vane machine of  claim 1  wherein the driver is a crank slider with linkage  53 . 
   
   
       15 . The oscillating vane machine of  claim 1  wherein the valves are servo[ 41 ]-actuated rotary valves  43 .