US 12,146,411 B2
Rotary machine
William Lukaczyk, Fredericksburg, VA (US); William Anderson, Fredericksburg, VA (US); and Riccardo Meldolesi, Shoreham-by-Sea (GB)
Assigned to Lumenium LLC, Fredericksburg, VA (US)
Filed by Lumenium LLC, Fredericksburg, VA (US)
Filed on Feb. 7, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/435,081.
Application 18/435,081 is a continuation in part of application No. 18/176,012, filed on Feb. 28, 2023, granted, now 11,920,476.
Application 18/435,081 is a continuation in part of application No. 18/055,164, filed on Nov. 14, 2022, abandoned.
Application 18/176,012 is a continuation of application No. 17/828,348, filed on May 31, 2022, granted, now 11,725,515, issued on Aug. 15, 2023.
Application 18/435,081 is a continuation of application No. 17/488,858, filed on Sep. 29, 2021, abandoned.
Application 18/055,164 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/US2021/032831, filed on May 17, 2021.
Application 17/828,348 is a continuation of application No. 17/012,342, filed on Sep. 4, 2020.
Application 17/012,342 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2019/063762, filed on Nov. 27, 2019.
Application 17/488,858 is a continuation of application No. 16/252,837, filed on Jan. 21, 2019, granted, now 11,168,608, issued on Nov. 9, 2021.
Application 16/252,837 is a continuation of application No. 15/097,928, filed on Apr. 13, 2016, granted, now 10,184,392, issued on Jan. 22, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/281,058, filed on Nov. 18, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/025,790, filed on May 15, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/771,961, filed on Nov. 27, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/146,958, filed on Apr. 13, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2024/0191626 A1, Jun. 13, 2024
Int. Cl. F01C 21/00 (2006.01); F01C 1/22 (2006.01); F01C 1/32 (2006.01); F02B 53/14 (2006.01); F02B 55/02 (2006.01); F02B 55/08 (2006.01); F16H 1/28 (2006.01); F16H 57/02 (2012.01); F16H 57/04 (2010.01); F16J 1/14 (2006.01); F01C 21/10 (2006.01); F02B 53/10 (2006.01)
CPC F01C 1/22 (2013.01) [F01C 21/008 (2013.01); F02B 53/14 (2013.01); F02B 55/02 (2013.01); F02B 55/08 (2013.01); F16H 57/02 (2013.01); F16H 57/0454 (2013.01); F16J 1/14 (2013.01); F01C 1/32 (2013.01); F01C 21/10 (2013.01); F02B 53/10 (2013.01); F02B 2730/011 (2013.01); F16H 1/28 (2013.01); F16H 2057/0203 (2013.01); F16H 2057/02039 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rotary machine, comprising:
a) a stationary housing defining an inwardly facing continuously curved surface;
b) front and rear side plates attached to the stationary housing component;
c) a rotatable shaft defining a central axis A, the rotatable shaft having a first end and a second end, the rotatable shaft having a first hub disposed thereon, the first hub having a body with a volume generally defined between front and rear surfaces that are spaced apart along the rotatable shaft, the perimeters of the front and rear surfaces defining at least one radially outwardly facing concavity through the first hub configured to slidably mate with at least a portion of a first contour assembly, the first hub being situated axially between the front and rear side plates;
d) a plurality of rollers coupled to the first contour assembly; and
e) wherein the first contour assembly is movably disposed on the plurality of rollers and the plurality of rollers are configured to ride on a circumferential radially inwardly facing surface operably coupled to the stationary housing, the first contour assembly being defined by a pair of opposed outwardly facing front and rear surfaces and convex radially inwardly facing and convex radially outwardly facing surfaces, the convex radially inwardly facing surface of the first contour assembly facing the at least one radially outwardly facing concavity of the first hub, the convex radially outwardly facing surface, the front and rear side plates and the inwardly facing continuous curved surface of the stationary housing cooperating to form a working volume, the rotatable shaft and first hub being configured to rotate with respect to the stationary housing and front and rear side plates, wherein:
the first contour assembly oscillates within said at least one radially outwardly facing concavity defined on the first hub as the first hub and rotatable shaft rotate; and
first and second lateral ends of the first contour assembly seal against the inwardly facing continuous curved surface of the housing component as the rotatable shaft rotates.