Rotary Engine Vane Head Sealing and Pressure Relief

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Solution Overview

Problem

Internal combustion engines suffer from poor efficiency and pollution due to incomplete combustion, while external combustion engines are more complex and costly due to high rotational speeds and vibration issues in turbine and reciprocating engines.

Innovation Solution

A rotary engine design featuring a vane rotating with a rotor about a shaft, incorporating sealing elements, pressure relief cuts, and boosters to enhance efficiency and reduce chatter, allowing for more effective conversion of adiabatic expansive energy into rotational power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If internal combustion engines are used, then rotational power is generated, but efficiency is poor and pollution is high due to incomplete combustion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecombustion efficiencyVSAvoidpollution

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The combustion process is segmented into multiple stages with separate fuel injection and combustion phases. Fuel is injected during the compression stroke and burns during the expansion stroke, allowing more complete combustion and reducing harmful emissions while improving energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The engine operates on a periodic cycle with distinct phases: intake, compression, combustion, and expansion. This periodic action allows optimized fuel-air mixing during compression and complete combustion during expansion, reducing pollution and improving efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Loss of energy

If external combustion engines are used, then combustion efficiency improves, but device complexity increases due to high rotational speeds and vibration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecombustion efficiencyVSAvoidengine complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the advantages of external combustion (complete burning) with the simplicity of internal combustion engine design. The combustion chamber is integrated within the engine structure, and the working fluid circulates through the system, combining efficiency with reduced complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

A working fluid (water/steam) serves as an intermediary between the heat source and the engine mechanism. The fluid absorbs heat during evaporation and transfers it mechanically during expansion, reducing direct thermal stress and simplifying the engine structure while maintaining high combustion efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Power

If high rotational speeds are used, then power output increases, but vibration and instability increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotational powerVSAvoidengine stability

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The engine uses a counterbalancing mechanism with weights positioned opposite the rotating components. This counterweight system offsets the centrifugal forces and vibrations generated during high-speed rotation, maintaining engine stability while allowing high power output.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The engine employs dynamic balancing where counterweights rotate in opposition to the main rotor. This dynamic counterbalancing adapts to varying rotational speeds and loads, reducing vibration and maintaining stability across different operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The rotary engine design improves power and efficiency by reducing pressure build-up and vibration, leading to increased rotational force and torque, and reduces engine complexity and cost.

Implementation Method 1

conversion of adiabatic expansive energy into rotational power

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdiabatic expansion: Adiabatic Heating

Implementation Method 2

Rotation of the rotor within the housing generates a centrifugal force of the vane toward the housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 3

one or more seals for providing a seal between the leading chamber and expansion chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 4

one or more pressure relief cuts for reducing pressure build-up between the vane tips and the inner wall of the housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure relief: Pressure Drop

Data Source

PatentUS8955491B2Rotary engine vane head method and apparatus

Publication Date: 2015.02.17 PEKRUL MERTON W

AI summary

A rotary machine is described with a vane carried by a rotor in a housing. The vane includes: a central vane axis extending radially outward along a y-axis from a center of the rotor through the vane to the housing. A centrifugal force of the vane against the housing is primarily distributed with a first sealing element mounted on an end of the vane, such as a rotatable element supported by a rigid support. The rigid structure of the first sealing element facilitates use of a second flexible sealing element mounted on the vane end. The second flexible sealing element performs as a sliding seal between a trailing expansion chamber and a leading expansion chamber on opposite sides of the vane. The rigid seal and the flexible sliding seal typically function independently of each other as separate constituents of the tip or end of a given vane.