The present invention relates to a vane heat engine and in particular to a vane heat engine efficiently utilizing potential energy and having an adjustable expansion chamber wall so that the volume of the expansion chamber is adjustable. The engine has a housing with an inlet and an outlet. A rotor with a plurality of vanes is provided to rotate within the housing. An adjuster is provided for adjusting the location of an expansion chamber wall. The position or location of the expansion chamber wall determines the volume within a plurality of compartments bound by the rotor, the expansion chamber wall and two of the plurality of vanes. The expansion wall can be made of a plurality of members, whereby the expansion wall is flexible along its longitudinal dimension yet strong perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension.

A pump is formed by a housing (10) having a fluid inlet (11) and a fluid outlet (12) and containing a rotor (15) forming with the housing (10) chambers (17a, 17b) that, on rotation of the rotor (15) by a drive, convey fluid from the inlet (11) to the outlet (12) to pump the fluid. A seal assembly (14) is arranged between the outlet (12) and the inlet (11). The seal assembly (14) includes a membrane (21) that contacts the rotor (15) and a flexible resilient spring member (22, 28, 35, 37, 40) that provides a force urging the membrane (21) against the rotor (15). The spring member (22, 28, 35, 37, 40) thus, on rotation of the rotor (15), moves radially relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor (15) and is arranged to provide a force on the rotor (15) via the membrane (21) that is constant and a minimum to maintain a seal between the rotor (15) and the seal (14) for a given outlet pressure of the pumped fluid.

A pump is formed by a housing (10) having a fluid inlet (11) and a fluid outlet (12) and containing a rotor (15) forming with the housing (10) chambers (17a, 17b) that, on rotation of the rotor (15) by a drive, convey fluid from the inlet (11) to the outlet (12) to pump the fluid. A seal assembly (14) is arranged between the outlet (12) and the inlet (11). The seal assembly (14) includes a membrane (21) that contacts the rotor (15) and a flexible resilient spring member (22, 28, 35, 37, 40) that provides a force urging the membrane (21) against the rotor (15). The spring member (22, 28, 35, 37, 40) thus, on rotation of the rotor (15), moves radially relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor (15) and is arranged to provide a force on the rotor (15) via the membrane (21) that is constant and a minimum to maintain a seal between the rotor (15) and the seal (14) for a given outlet pressure of the pumped fluid.

A free-mold stator for a progressing cavity pump can comprise a housing include an inner housing surface defining an uninterrupted helical profile, and a liner including an inner liner surface and an outer liner surface. The inner liner surface and the outer liner surface can each define an uninterrupted helical profile, and the inner housing surface of the housing can be adapted to receive the outer liner surface to prevent lateral and rotational movement between the liner and the housing.

A free-mold stator for a progressing cavity pump can comprise a housing include an inner housing surface defining an uninterrupted helical profile, and a liner including an inner liner surface and an outer liner surface. The inner liner surface and the outer liner surface can each define an uninterrupted helical profile, and the inner housing surface of the housing can be adapted to receive the outer liner surface to prevent lateral and rotational movement between the liner and the housing.

A pump comprising a housing and a rotor rotatably accommodated in the housing and having an axis of rotation. The housing comprises a resilient seal member, an inlet and an outlet for fluid. The rotor comprises first and second surface areas, and the rotor and housing are cooperatively configured such that the second surface area is radially recessed from the first surface area, forming a chamber with an interior surface of the housing, and the first surface area seals against the interior surface. The seal member is located azimuthally between the outlet and the inlet. The seal member will engage the first and second surface areas, operative to prevent the passage of fluid from the outlet to the inlet as the rotor rotates. An edge of the seal member is coterminous with an aperture through which the fluid can flow.

A tool (100) for working the internal bore of a tube comprises a motor (10), having a housing with a rotary output; a housing sleeve (14a) and shaft (22); a first bearing housing (16), having a rotatably journalled first spindle (102), mounted on the housing sleeve; and an end sleeve and shaft connected to a tool head. The motor output drives, along a common axis (1), the housing shaft, first bearing spindle, end shaft and tool head. A change mechanism (56,58) is in the tool head to change direction of said drive to transverse said common axis. An output (60) is adapted to receive a tool bit. Gauge means (18,18) is disposed on said tool head and is adapted, in use, to bear against the bore of the tube and maintain the tool head located radially with respect to the tube axis; and support means (24,24) is disposed on one or more of said housing shaft, first bearing housing and end sleeve adapted, in use, to bear against the bore of the tube and support the tool. A long length of tool can work the inside of long tubes.

A tool (100) for working the internal bore of a tube comprises a motor (10), having a housing with a rotary output; a housing sleeve (14a) and shaft (22); a first bearing housing (16), having a rotatably journalled first spindle (102), mounted on the housing sleeve; and an end sleeve and shaft connected to a tool head. The motor output drives, along a common axis (1), the housing shaft, first bearing spindle, end shaft and tool head. A change mechanism (56,58) is in the tool head to change direction of said drive to transverse said common axis. An output (60) is adapted to receive a tool bit. Gauge means (18,18) is disposed on said tool head and is adapted, in use, to bear against the bore of the tube and maintain the tool head located radially with respect to the tube axis; and support means (24,24) is disposed on one or more of said housing shaft, first bearing housing and end sleeve adapted, in use, to bear against the bore of the tube and support the tool. A long length of tool can work the inside of long tubes.

A pump includes a housings and a rotor capable of rotating within the housing. The rotor engages an interior surface of the housing in use, with at least two radially-inward shaped surfaces on the rotor forming respective chambers with the interior surface. In use, the chambers transport fluid from an inlet in the housing to an outlet in the housing as the rotor rotates. A seal provided between the inlet and the outlet will engage each of the shaped surfaces to prevent fluid passing from the outlet to the inlet as each shaped surface travels from the outlet to the inlet. The rotor includes a surface portion extending axially and circumferentially between respective edges of the shaped surfaces. On planes normal to an axis of rotation of the rotor, the surface portion of the rotor has a greater curvature than that of the interior surface of the housing.

A pump includes a housings and a rotor capable of rotating within the housing. The rotor engages an interior surface of the housing in use, with at least two radially-inward shaped surfaces on the rotor forming respective chambers with the interior surface. In use, the chambers transport fluid from an inlet in the housing to an outlet in the housing as the rotor rotates. A seal provided between the inlet and the outlet will engage each of the shaped surfaces to prevent fluid passing from the outlet to the inlet as each shaped surface travels from the outlet to the inlet. The rotor includes a surface portion extending axially and circumferentially between respective edges of the shaped surfaces. On planes normal to an axis of rotation of the rotor, the surface portion of the rotor has a greater curvature than that of the interior surface of the housing.