Planetary rotor machine with synchronizing mechanism

Abstract

Various examples of planetary rotor machines and synchronizing mechanisms are provided. In one example, a planetary rotor machine comprises a plurality of helical rotors for compressing or expanding a fluid. Each of the helical rotors is configured to rotate about a rotor rotational axis, and each of the rotor rotational axes is equally spaced from a central axis of the planetary rotor machine. A rotor shaft is fixedly coupled to each of the helical rotors and extends axially along the rotor rotational axis. A rotor crank is coupled to each of the rotor shafts and comprises a rotor crank arm that extends away from the rotor rotational axis. Each rotor crank arm comprises a rotor crankpin at a distal end that is laterally spaced from the rotor rotational axis. A synchronizing plate is rotatably coupled to each of the rotor crankpins for non-rotative epicyclic oscillation with respect to the plurality of rotor shafts and the helical rotors. A driver crank is rotatably coupled to a central bearing in a geometric center of the synchronizing plate. A driveshaft is fixedly coupled to the driver crank and located coaxial with the central axis of the planetary rotor machine

1 . A planetary rotor machine, comprising:
 a plurality of helical rotors for compressing or expanding a fluid, wherein each of the helical rotors is configured to rotate about a rotor rotational axis, wherein each of the rotor rotational axes is equally spaced from a central axis of the planetary rotor machine;   a plurality of rotor shafts, wherein each of the rotor shafts is fixedly coupled to one of the helical rotors and extends axially along the rotor rotational axis;   a plurality of rotor cranks, wherein each of the rotor cranks is coupled to one of the rotor shafts, each of the rotor cranks comprising a rotor crank arm that extends away from the rotor rotational axis, each of the rotor crank arms comprising a rotor crankpin at a distal end that is laterally spaced from the rotor rotational axis;   a synchronizing plate rotatably coupled to each of the rotor crankpins for non-rotative epicyclic oscillation with respect to the plurality of rotor shafts and the helical rotors;   a driver crank rotatably coupled to a central bearing in a geometric center of the synchronizing plate; and   a driveshaft fixedly coupled to the driver crank and located coaxial with the central axis of the planetary rotor machine.   
     
     
         2 . The planetary rotor machine of  claim 1 , wherein the driver crank further comprises a driver crankpin lobe and a driver crankpin that is centered on a driver crankpin axis, the driver crankpin rotatably coupled to the central bearing of the synchronizing plate. 
     
     
         3 . The planetary rotor machine of  claim 2 , wherein a first radius of the driver crankpin axis relative to the driveshaft rotational axis is equal to a second radius of a rotor crankpin axis relative to the rotor rotational axis for each of the rotor cranks. 
     
     
         4 . The planetary rotor machine of  claim 1 , wherein each of the rotor cranks has an equal throw, wherein a radius of each rotor crankpin axis relative to the rotor rotational axis is equal for each of the rotor cranks. 
     
     
         5 . The planetary rotor machine of  claim 1 , wherein each of the rotor crank arms of each of the rotor cranks remains angularly fixed relative to one another during rotation of the helical rotors. 
     
     
         6 . The planetary rotor machine of  claim 1 , wherein each of the rotor cranks comprises a rotor crank counterweight lobe spaced laterally from the rotor rotational axis and located opposite to the rotor crank arm. 
     
     
         7 . The planetary rotor machine of  claim 6 , further comprising a rotor crank counterweight coupled to the rotor crank counterweight lobe. 
     
     
         8 . The planetary rotor machine of  claim 1 , wherein each of the rotor crank arms comprises a straight neck extending parallel to a plane of rotation of the rotor crank arm and connecting a rotor crank base portion at the rotor rotational axis with the distal end of the rotor crank arm. 
     
     
         9 . The planetary rotor machine of  claim 1 , wherein each of the rotor crank arms comprises a spacer neck that is angled with respect to a plane of rotation of the rotor crank arm and connects a rotor crank base portion at the rotor rotational axis with the distal end of the rotor crank arm. 
     
     
         10 . The planetary rotor machine of  claim 9 , wherein the spacer neck comprises 2 or more angled portions that are each angled with respect to the plane of rotation of the rotor crank arm and connect the rotor crank base portion at the rotor rotational axis with the distal end of the rotor crank arm. 
     
     
         11 . The planetary rotor machine of  claim 1 , wherein the planetary rotor machine utilizes 4 helical rotors and 4 rotor cranks with 4 crankpins, and the synchronizing plate comprises 4 bearings symmetrically oriented around the geometric center of the synchronizing plate at 90 degree intervals, with each of the bearings rotatably coupled to one of the 4 crankpins. 
     
     
         12 . The planetary rotor machine of  claim 1 , wherein the planetary rotor machine utilizes 3 helical rotors and 3 rotor cranks with 3 crankpins, and the synchronizing plate comprises 3 bearings symmetrically oriented around the geometric center of the synchronizing plate at 120 degree intervals, with each of the bearings rotatably coupled to one of the 3 crankpins. 
     
     
         13 . A 4-rotor synchronizing mechanism for a 4-rotor planetary rotor machine, the 4-rotor planetary rotor machine comprising 4 helical rotors for compressing or expanding a fluid and 4 rotor shafts, wherein each of the helical rotors is fixedly coupled to one of the rotor shafts and configured to rotate about a rotor rotational axis, and wherein each of the rotor rotational axes is equally spaced from a central axis of the 4-rotor planetary rotor machine, the 4-rotor synchronizing mechanism comprising:
 4 rotor cranks that are each coupled to one of the 4 rotor shafts, each of the rotor cranks comprising a rotor crank arm that extends away from the rotor rotational axis, each of the rotor crank arms comprising a rotor crankpin at a distal end that is laterally spaced from the rotor rotational axis;   a synchronizing plate comprising 4 bearings symmetrically oriented around a geometric center of the synchronizing plate at 90 degree intervals, with each of the bearings rotatably coupled to one of the 4 crankpins for non-rotative epicyclic oscillation of the synchronizing plate with respect to the 4 rotor shafts and the 4 helical rotors;   a driver crank rotatably coupled to a central bearing in the geometric center of the synchronizing plate; and   a driveshaft fixedly coupled to the driver crank and located coaxial with the central axis of the planetary rotor machine.   
     
     
         14 . The 4-rotor synchronizing mechanism of  claim 13 , wherein each of the rotor crank arms comprises a straight neck extending parallel to a plane of rotation of the rotor crank arm and connecting a rotor crank base portion at the rotor rotational axis with the distal end of the rotor crank arm. 
     
     
         15 . The 4-rotor synchronizing mechanism of  claim 13 , wherein each of the rotor crank arms comprises a spacer neck that is angled with respect to a plane of rotation of the rotor crank arm and connects a rotor crank base portion at the rotor rotational axis with the distal end of the rotor crank arm. 
     
     
         16 . The 4-rotor synchronizing mechanism of  claim 15 , wherein the spacer neck comprises 2 or more angled portions that are each angled with respect to the plane of rotation of the rotor crank arm and connect the rotor crank base portion at the rotor rotational axis with the distal end of the rotor crank arm. 
     
     
         17 . A 3-rotor synchronizing mechanism for a 3-rotor planetary rotor machine, the 3-rotor planetary rotor machine comprising 3 helical rotors for compressing or expanding a fluid and 3 rotor shafts, wherein each of the helical rotors is fixedly coupled to one of the rotor shafts and configured to rotate about a rotor rotational axis, and wherein each of the rotor rotational axes is equally spaced from a central axis of the 3-rotor planetary rotor machine, the 3-rotor synchronizing mechanism comprising:
 3 rotor cranks that are each coupled to one of the 3 rotor shafts, each of the rotor cranks comprising a rotor crank arm that extends away from the rotor rotational axis, each of the rotor crank arms comprising a rotor crankpin at a distal end that is laterally spaced from the rotor rotational axis;   a synchronizing plate comprising 3 bearings symmetrically oriented around a geometric center of the synchronizing plate at 120 degree intervals, with each of the bearings rotatably coupled to one of the 3 crankpins for non-rotative epicyclic oscillation of the synchronizing plate with respect to the 3 rotor shafts and the 3 helical rotors;   a driver crank rotatably coupled to a central bearing in the geometric center of the synchronizing plate; and   a driveshaft fixedly coupled to the driver crank and located coaxial with the central axis of the planetary rotor machine.   
     
     
         18 . The 3-rotor synchronizing mechanism of  claim 17 , wherein each of the rotor crank arms comprises a straight neck extending parallel to a plane of rotation of the rotor crank arm and connecting a rotor crank base portion at the rotor rotational axis with the distal end of the rotor crank arm. 
     
     
         19 . The 3-rotor synchronizing mechanism of  claim 17 , wherein each of the rotor crank arms comprises a spacer neck that is angled with respect to a plane of rotation of the rotor crank arm and connects a rotor crank base portion at the rotor rotational axis with the distal end of the rotor crank arm. 
     
     
         20 . The 3-rotor synchronizing mechanism of  claim 19 , wherein the spacer neck comprises 2 or more angled portions that are each angled with respect to the plane of rotation of the rotor crank arm and connect the rotor crank base portion at the rotor rotational axis with the distal end of the rotor crank arm.