Importance

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Abstract

A cooperating rotor device having a first rotor supported for rotation about a first rotation axis (R1) and a second rotor supported for rotation about a second rotation axis (R2). A cylinder rotor (32), supporting a plurality of radially aligned cylinders (33) spaced apart and supported for collective rotation about one rotation axis (R1). Each cylinder (33) having a piston (39) slidable within. A piston rotor (61) has a number of piston rollers (64) corresponding to the number of cylinders (33), each radially supporting a piston (39), with each piston roller (64) independently rotatably supported and all piston rollers (64) collectively rotatable about the other rotation axis (R2). Members including the piston rollers (64), pistons (39), cylinders (33), and cylinder ports (34), all sharing a common plane of rotation about diametrically opposed non-rotating valve ports (74a) and (74b). In embodiments providing controlled variable displacement, a arm (20) or paired housing covers (53), independently and rotatably support one of the rotors (61) or (32) and is rotatably attached to and supported by a linear actuator (90) by a linkage pin (92) pivotably supporting arm (20) or housing covers (53). Cooperative rotor coupling is primarily accomplished by contact between coupling guides (35) furnished by the cylinder rotor (32) and the piston rollers (64) radially supporting each piston (39) furnished by the piston rotor (61). A share of the cooperative rotor coupling function can be, and normally is, also performed by rolling contact between each piston roller (64) and each piston (39).

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First Claim