Rotary Engine Shroud With Rotating Inner Surface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rotary engine shrouds face challenges in minimizing lubricant leakage and accommodating high rotational speeds due to relative motion between shroud and rotating components, leading to inefficiencies and increased leakage paths.

Innovation Solution

A rotor assembly design featuring a shroud body with an inner spherical surface that rotates with the rotors, utilizing axially or circumferentially split shroud components, and integrated seals such as S-shaped or planar seals to minimize leakage, along with a thrust bearing system to transfer loads and maintain alignment, reducing relative motion and enhancing sealing efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If the shroud is stationary while rotors rotate, then the sealing structure is simple, but relative motion between shroud and rotors causes increased lubricant leakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelubricant leakageVSAvoidshroud rotation mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shroud is merged with the rotor assembly such that they rotate together as a unified structure. The shroud is fixed to the rotors, eliminating relative motion between the shroud and rotors, which significantly reduces lubricant leakage through the sealing interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shroud transitions from a stationary configuration to a dynamic rotating configuration. By making the shroud rotate with the rotors, the system adapts the shroud's motion state to match the rotors, eliminating sliding friction and leakage paths that would exist with relative motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of substance

If the shroud rotates with the rotors to reduce relative motion, then lubricant leakage decreases, but the thrust load management becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelubricant leakageVSAvoidthrust bearing system

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The thrust load management is segmented into multiple thrust bearings positioned at different locations. The first thrust bearing handles thrust from the front rotor while the second thrust bearing handles thrust from the rear rotor, distributing the load management complexity across separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Thrust bearings are introduced as intermediary components between the rotors and the housing. These bearings mediate the thrust loads generated by the rotating rotors, transferring axial forces to the housing while allowing the rotors and shroud to rotate together without direct thrust contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If higher RPM operation is enabled by reducing relative speeds, then productivity increases, but sealing requirements become more stringent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational RPMVSAvoidsealing effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9115646B2Shroud for rotary engine

Publication Date: 2015.08.25 EXPONENTIAL TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Disclosed herein are several embodiments for shroud arrangements to be used in rotary engines using a plurality of rotors within the shroud arrangement. At least one of the rotors is not fixed to the shroud.