Rotary Fluid Transfer Apparatus and Associated Methods

Abstract

A fluid transfer device comprising an inner member with a central axis and an outer surface; an outer member coaxially arranged with the inner member, and a space defined radially between the inner and outer members; a first and second axial members; at least one fluid chamber defined in the space having an inlet and an outlet; the first axial member is rotationally fixed relative to the outer member and the second axial member is rotatable about the central axis to vary the volume of the fluid chamber. The relative rotational position of the first and second axial members is defined by a cam arrangement which comprises first and second axial member walls; the first axial member wall forms a first cam track wall which provides a first cam track waveform, the second axial member wall which comprises a second cam track wall; each cam track wall is circumferentially continuous.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A motor comprising:
 an inner member with a central axis and comprising an outer surface;   an outer member arranged co-axially with the inner member and comprising an inner surface radially spaced from the outer surface of the inner member to define a space between the inner and outer members;   a first axial member;   a second axial member;   at least one fluid chamber defined in the space;   a fluid inlet to the at least one fluid chamber, and   a fluid outlet from the at least one fluid chamber,   
       wherein the volume of the fluid chamber is variable such that variance in the volume of the fluid chamber acts to move at least one of the first and second axial members about the central axis to produce a mechanical output. 
     
     
         2 . A motor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the volume of the at least one fluid chamber is variable in response to a fluid pressure. 
     
     
         3 . A motor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the at least one fluid chamber volume is variable in response to a fluid pressure differential. 
     
     
         4 . A motor as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the fluid pressure differential is a differential fluid pressure across the inlet and the outlet. 
     
     
         5 . A motor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the motor is an engine. 
     
     
         6 . A motor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the motor is a combustion engine. 
     
     
         7 . A motor as claimed in  claim 6  wherein at least a portion of the at least one fluid chamber comprises a combustion chamber. 
     
     
         8 . A motor as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the at least one fluid chamber volume varies in response to a change in internal chamber pressure. 
     
     
         9 . A motor as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the at least one outlet may comprise an exhaust outlet. 
     
     
         10 . A motor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the volume of the at least one fluid chamber corresponds to an axial position of the first and/or second axial members. 
     
     
         11 . A motor as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the axial position comprises an axial separation. 
     
     
         12 . A motor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the motor comprises a rotor. 
     
     
         13 . A motor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the second axial member comprises a rotor. 
     
     
         14 . A motor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the second axial member comprises a piston head. 
     
     
         15 . A motor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the motor comprises a stator. 
     
     
         16 . A motor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first axial member comprises a stator. 
     
     
         17 . A motor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first axial member comprises a cylinder. 
     
     
         18 . A motor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein an axial position/s of the first and/or second axial member/s may correspond a rotational position of the first and/or second axial member/s respectively. 
     
     
         19 . A motor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the mechanical output is a rotational movement. 
     
     
         20 . A motor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the mechanical output is a linear axial movement. 
     
     
         21 . A method of generating a motorised mechanical output, the method comprising:
 providing an inner member with a central axis and comprising an outer surface;   providing an outer member arranged co-axially with the inner member and comprising an inner surface radially spaced from the outer surface of the inner member;   defining a space between the inner and outer members;   providing a first axial member;   providing a second axial member;   defining at least one fluid chamber in the space;   providing a fluid inlet to the at least one fluid chamber, and   providing a fluid outlet from the at least one fluid chamber,   varying the volume of the fluid chamber such that variance in the volume of the fluid chamber acts to move at least one of the first and second axial members about the central axis.