Piston machine apparatus, and method of varying a volume of a chamber of the apparatus

Abstract

A method of varying a volume of a chamber defined by a first rotor, a second rotor, and a piston in a housing of a piston machine apparatus involves: causing the first rotor to rotate around a first axis of rotation; causing the second rotor to rotate around a second axis of rotation different from the first axis of rotation; and causing the piston to slide, in response to rotation of the second rotor around the second axis of rotation, along a first linear path relative to a first coupling portion of the first rotor coupled to the piston. Causing the second rotor to rotate around the second axis of rotation involves causing a second coupling portion of the second rotor coupled to the piston to revolve around the second axis of rotation in a path around the first coupling portion. Piston machine apparatuses and uses thereof are also disclosed.

1 . A method of varying a volume of a chamber defined by a first rotor, a second rotor, and a piston in a housing of a piston machine apparatus, the method comprising:
 causing the first rotor to rotate around a first axis of rotation;   causing the second rotor to rotate around a second axis of rotation different from the first axis of rotation; and   causing the piston to slide, in response to rotation of the second rotor around the second axis of rotation, along a first linear path relative to a first coupling portion of the first rotor coupled to the piston;   wherein causing the second rotor to rotate around the second axis of rotation comprises causing a second coupling portion of the second rotor coupled to the piston to revolve around the second axis of rotation in a path around the first coupling portion.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein causing the piston to slide along the first linear path comprises maintaining a relative orientation of the piston relative to the first rotor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising causing the piston to slide along a second linear path relative to the second coupling portion in response to rotation of the first rotor around the first axis of rotation and in response to rotation of the second rotor around the second axis of rotation. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the second linear path extends generally parallel to a plane of rotation of the second rotor and generally perpendicular to a radius perpendicular to the second axis of rotation. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein causing the piston to slide along the first linear path comprises varying a separation distance between the second path and the first axis of rotation. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein causing the piston to slide along the second linear path relative to the second coupling portion comprises causing the piston to slide along the second linear path between the second coupling portion and a third coupling portion of the second rotor opposite and spaced apart from the second coupling portion and coupled to the piston. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the first linear path extends generally parallel to a plane of rotation of the first rotor and generally perpendicular to a radius perpendicular to the first axis of rotation. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first linear path extends generally parallel to a plane of rotation of the first rotor and at an acute angle to a radius perpendicular to the first axis of rotation. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein varying the volume of the chamber comprises expanding the chamber when the chamber is in fluid communication with a fluid inlet defined by the housing of the piston machine. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein expanding the chamber comprises revolving the second coupling portion away from the inlet along the path around the first coupling portion. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising controlling fluid flow through the fluid inlet in response to rotation of the first rotor around the first axis of rotation. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising controlling fluid flow through the fluid inlet in response to rotation of the second rotor around the second axis of rotation. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein varying the volume of the chamber comprises contracting the chamber when the chamber is in fluid communication with a fluid outlet defined by the housing of the piston machine. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein contracting the chamber comprises revolving the second coupling portion towards the outlet along the path around the first coupling portion. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising controlling fluid flow through the fluid outlet in response to rotation of the first rotor around the first axis of rotation. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising controlling fluid flow through the fluid outlet in response to rotation of the second rotor around the second axis of rotation. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein varying the volume of the chamber comprises causing movement of:
 at least one surface of the first rotor that defines the chamber and that intersects a plane through the chamber and perpendicular to the first and second axes of rotation; 
 at least one surface of the second rotor that defines the chamber and that intersects the plane through the chamber and perpendicular to the first and second axes of rotation; and 
 at least one surface of the piston that defines the chamber and that intersects the plane through the chamber and perpendicular to the first and second axes of rotation. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein varying the volume of the chamber comprises varying a fluid barrier that extends from a location where the first rotor contacts the housing to a location where the second rotor contacts the housing. 
     
     
         19 . A piston machine apparatus comprising:
 a housing defining a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;   a piston in the housing;   a first rotor comprising a first coupling portion coupled to the piston, the first rotor rotatable in the housing around a first axis of rotation; and   a second rotor comprising a second coupling portion coupled to the piston, the second rotor rotatable in the housing around a second axis of rotation different from the first axis of rotation;   wherein the second coupling portion has a position that revolves around the second axis of rotation in a path around the first coupling portion in response to rotation of the second rotor around the second axis of rotation;   wherein the piston is slidable along a first linear path relative to the first coupling portion in response to rotation of the second rotor around the second axis of rotation;   wherein the first rotor, the second rotor, and the piston are positionable to define a first chamber, in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, that expands in volume in response to revolving the second coupling portion in the path around the first coupling portion and away from the fluid inlet; and   wherein the first rotor, the second rotor, and the piston are positionable to define a second chamber, different from the first chamber and in fluid communication with the fluid outlet, that contracts in volume in response to revolving the second coupling portion in the path around the first coupling portion and towards the fluid outlet.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the piston and the first coupling portion maintain a relative orientation of the piston relative to the first rotor when the piston slides along the first linear path relative to the first coupling portion in response to rotation of the second rotor around the second axis of rotation. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the piston is slidable along a second linear path relative to the second coupling portion in response to rotation of the first rotor around the first axis of rotation and in response to rotation of the second rotor around the second axis of rotation. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the second linear path extends generally parallel to a plane of rotation of the second rotor and generally perpendicular to a radius perpendicular to the second axis of rotation. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein rotation of the first rotor around the first axis of rotation and rotation of the second rotor around the second axis of rotation vary a separation distance between the second linear path and the first axis of rotation and cause the piston to slide along the first linear path. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the second rotor comprises a third coupling portion opposite and spaced apart from the second coupling portion and coupled to the piston, and wherein the piston is slidable along the second linear path between the second and third coupling portions. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the first linear path extends generally parallel to a plane of rotation of the first rotor and generally perpendicular to a radius perpendicular to the first axis of rotation. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the piston comprises first and second opposite and non-parallel side edges, the piston coupled to the first coupling portion such that the first side edge is slidable along the first linear path, and the piston coupled to the second coupling portion such that the second side edge is slidable along the second linear path. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the first linear path extends generally parallel to a plane of rotation of the first rotor and at an acute angle to a radius perpendicular to the first axis of rotation. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the first rotor defines a recess having a position that controls fluid flow through the fluid inlet in response to rotation of the first rotor around the first axis of rotation. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the first rotor defines a recess having a position that controls fluid flow through the fluid outlet in response to rotation of the first rotor around the first axis of rotation. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the second rotor defines a recess having a position that controls fluid flow through the fluid inlet in response to rotation of the second rotor around the second axis of rotation. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the second rotor defines a recess having a position that controls fluid flow through the fluid outlet in response to rotation of the second rotor around the second axis of rotation. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the housing defines a generally annular inner surface. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32  wherein the first rotor comprises a curved outer surface positioned to slide, in response to rotation of the first rotor around the first axis of rotation, along a first portion of the generally annular inner surface of the housing between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 32  wherein the second rotor comprises a curved outer surface proximate the second coupling portion and positioned to slide, in response to rotation of the second rotor around the second axis of rotation, along a second portion of the generally annular inner surface of the housing. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the first rotor defines a recess sized to receive at least a portion of the piston. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein at least one surface of the first rotor, at least one surface of the second rotor, and at least one surface of the piston intersect a common plane through the first and second chambers and perpendicular to the first and second axes of rotation. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36  wherein the first rotor, the second rotor, and the piston are positionable to define the first chamber with surfaces comprising the at least one surface of the first rotor, the at least one surface of the second rotor, and the at least one surface of the piston. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 36  wherein the first rotor, the second rotor, and the piston are positionable to define the second chamber with surfaces comprising the at least one surface of the first rotor, the at least one surface of the second rotor, and the at least one surface of the piston. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the first rotor, the second rotor, and the piston define a fluid barrier that extends from a location where the first rotor contacts the housing to a location where the second rotor contacts the housing. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 39  wherein the first chamber expands in volume in response to varying the fluid barrier. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 39  wherein the second chamber contracts in volume in response to varying the fluid barrier. 
     
     
         42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A method of pumping a fluid using the apparatus of  claim 19 , the method comprising causing the first rotor to rotate around the first axis of rotation or causing the second rotor to rotate around the second axis of rotation. 
     
     
         44 . (canceled)