Inventors:
Arnold J. Beal - Knoxville TN
International Classification:
F04C 200
Abstract:
A guided-vane type rotary apparatus including a housing, a rotor rotatably mounted within the housing for rotation about an axis, and vanes associated with the rotor for movement radially with respect thereto between alternative radial positions utilizes an endless groove defined in the housing and cam follower elements which are joined to the vanes and captured between the walls of the groove. As the rotor is rotated about its axis and the vanes are forced to rotate within the housing in conjunction with the rotor, the cam follower elements are guided along the groove and force the vanes to move radially of the rotor between alternative radial positions. Thus, the walls of the groove and each mechanism joined to a vane cooperate as cam and cam follower, respectively, to move the corresponding vane between alternative radial positions as the rotor is rotated within the housing.