Engine having rotary pistons

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mechanism (1) having rotary pistons (21), said mechanism comprising an outer enclosure (2) forming a stator in which a rotary assembly (20) forming a rotor moves, the rotary assembly (20) including: a plurality of pistons (21) forming a hinged polygon, each piston (21) defining a positive-displacement chamber (35) with the enclosure (2), and first guide (27, 27a, 27b) that are arranged so as to engage with second guide means (7a, 7b) comprising rolling surfaces (10a, 10b) so as to drive the polygon to carry out a predetermined movement, the mechanism (1) being characterized in that it comprises a drawback device (50) that maintains contact between the guide means (27, 27a, 27b) and the rolling surfaces (10a, 10b). The invention also relates to an engine and a pump including such a mechanism (1).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to a rotary piston mechanism as well as an engine and pump using such a mechanism.BRIEF SUMMARY OF RELATED ART[0002]Rotary piston mechanisms, and in particular in their motor application, have been described in many documents, which define the geometric principles of the movement of a polygon articulated at the apices of the sides making it up; each of the sides all having the same length and each of the apices being in geometric contact with a stator shape.[0003]In particular, documents WO 01 / 88341 A1, EP 1 295 012 B1 and US 2004 / 0089251 A1 propose different solutions for resolving the problems of sealing at the apices of the polygon, and transmission of the non-constant continuous movement of the pistons formed by the straight segments defined by the adjacent apices of the polygon.[0004]All of these proposals more or less appropriately resolved all or some of the theoretical operating principles of this type of mechanism.[0005]How...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0024]The first and second guide means allow the pistons to follow a predetermined direction so as to limit the action of the enclosure on the apices of the polygon while the return device makes it possible to offset the machining defects of the guide means as well as the expansion and wear of those elements occurring during operation of the mechanism.

[0056]This arrangement offers the possibility of being able to still further increase the volume ratios between chambers by offering the segment supports and segments the possibility of ensuring sealing of the volume chambers despite substantial spacing of the wall of the stator for certain positions of the pistons.

Problems solved by technology

However, the feedback from tests done has shown difficulties for which no technical solution has yet been proposed.

The difficulties encountered during the exploitation of this type of mechanism first relate to mechanical tightening problems when it is hot as well as during assembly of the mechanism.

Possible compensations by excess play create knocking at the connecting rod assemblies, and pronounced wear of certain points of the mechanism, thereby limiting the lifetime of the pieces thus embrittled.

In fact, one of the origins of tightening problems comes from imprecise machining of the stator profile.

However, after analysis, it was identified that the project as described was proposing a hyperstatic configuration that did not allow any play tolerance.

This trapezoid is undeformable and cannot allow any variation of the length of any one of its sides, as will be the case during the use of the mechanism, which will display expansion phenomena.

These parts will wear prematurely while having created internal friction making the mechanism unsuitable for its purpose.

Furthermore, the shape of the connection between pistons does not appear capable of sustainably bearing the intense pulling, thrust, and centrifugal forces to which it will be subjected.

These bowed collaborating movable interlocking forms are complex in terms of expansions, buttress formation, friction distribution, and their use is as difficult as it is unreliable.

The sealing of such pieces is also more complex to achieve than the sealing of traditional axles and not very effective inasmuch as the stressed orientation of the sealing segment does not correspond to the forces undergone by that piece.

In case of expansion, in cases of temperature variation, this geometric solution is no longer respected, which results in a mechanical stress on the connection of the apex of the diamond without the possibility of absorbing that stress, which will result in a rupture of the connection between pistons, as well as stresses on the connecting rod assemblies, the latter not being able to transmit the expansions.

This will irreversibly cause problems such as, for example, a rupture of a connecting rod bearing, or the destruction of the segment support device or the segment itself, which is already working in a cantilever, which may also result in deterioration of the stator profile by burring of its inner surface.

A machining anomaly, on the rolling surfaces, will result in a positioning error of the apex of the diamond, the sealing piece of which will be the only one to react this additional force.

However, the sealing problem at the apices of the polygon does not appear to have been resolved.

However, this solution does not resolve the problems of machining imprecisions and wear of certain parts of the mechanism as it is used.

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