US 11,927,128 B2
Rotary machine with hub driven transmission articulating a four bar linkage
William A. Lukaczyk, Fredericksburg, VA (US); William R. Anderson, Fredericksburg, VA (US); and David Gerrish, London (GB)
Assigned to Lumenium LLC, Fredericksburg, VA (US)
Filed by Lumenium LLC, Fredericksburg, VA (US)
Filed on Jun. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/852,751.
Application 17/852,751 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2021/032831, filed on May 17, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/025,790, filed on May 15, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0325661 A1, Oct. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. F02B 53/02 (2006.01); F01C 1/44 (2006.01); F01C 21/08 (2006.01); F02B 53/04 (2006.01); F02B 55/02 (2006.01); F02B 55/14 (2006.01)
CPC F02B 53/02 (2013.01) [F01C 1/44 (2013.01); F01C 21/0836 (2013.01); F02B 53/04 (2013.01); F02B 55/02 (2013.01); F02B 55/14 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rotary machine, comprising:
a) a housing defining an inwardly facing continuously curved surface;
b) front and rear side plates attached to the housing;
c) a central shaft defining a central axis A, the shaft having a first end and a second end;
d) a first hub disposed on the central shaft, the first hub having a body with a volume generally defined between front and rear surfaces that are spaced apart along the central shaft, at least a portion of the first hub being situated axially between the front and rear side plates; and
e) at least one contour assembly pivotally coupled to the first hub in a plurality of discrete locations, the at least one contour assembly being defined at least in part by a convex radially outwardly facing surface, the convex radially outwardly facing surface of the at least one contour assembly, front and rear side plates and the inwardly facing continuous curved surface of the housing cooperating to form at least one working volume that changes in volume as the central shaft rotates about the central axis A, wherein the at least one contour assembly is coupled to the first hub by way of a plurality of linkages, a radially inward end of each linkage of the plurality of linkages being pivotally coupled to the first hub, and a radially outward end of each linkage of the plurality of linkages being pivotally coupled to the at least one contour assembly, wherein the plurality of linkages, the first hub, and the at least one contour assembly cooperate to form a four-bar linkage, wherein the first hub includes a first gearbox that is coupled to the at least one contour assembly by the plurality of linkages in a trapezoidal arrangement.