Various embodiments describe modifications to X-engines, which would utilize a dedicated chamber to implement bottoming Rankine cycle as well as additional improvements in sealing and combustion efficiency—all contributing to high efficiency. Improvements in sealing include a face seal having multiple surfaces.

In an exemplary embodiment, a sealing member 11 is provided between a rotating body 5 rotating while whirling within an accommodating chamber 4 partitioned by a housing and a side wall 3 of the accommodating chamber 4 and has a sliding surface S sliding on the side wall 3, and the sliding surface S includes a first lubrication mechanism 21 arranged on one side in the longitudinal direction, and a second lubrication mechanism 22 arranged on the other side in the longitudinal direction and exhibiting lubrication performance in a sliding direction different from that of the first lubrication mechanism 21, thereby improving sealing performance of the sealing member.

In an exemplary embodiment, a sealing member 11 is provided between a rotating body 5 rotating while whirling within an accommodating chamber 4 partitioned by a housing and a side wall 3 of the accommodating chamber 4 and has a sliding surface S sliding on the side wall 3, and the sliding surface S includes a first lubrication mechanism 21 arranged on one side in the longitudinal direction, and a second lubrication mechanism 22 arranged on the other side in the longitudinal direction and exhibiting lubrication performance in a sliding direction different from that of the first lubrication mechanism 21, thereby improving sealing performance of the sealing member.

Prime movers are provided that can include: a fixed member in operational relationship to a rotating member; a reciprocating vane assembly operationally engaged with the rotating member; and a track member about the rotating member and engaging the reciprocating vane assembly. Engines are provided that can include: a stator in operational relationship to a rotor; a reciprocating vane assembly operationally engaged with the rotor; and a track member about the rotor and engaging the reciprocating vane assembly. Processes for powering a prime mover are also provided, the processes can include engaging vanes between a fixed member and rotating member to create compression and expansion zones, the engaging comprising guiding the vanes from a track member about the rotating member.

An oil seal member is provided at an outside surface of a member performing whirling motion such as a rotary engine rotor. A sliding face of the oil seal member that slides relatively to a stationary-side member is provided with a step extending circumferentially, and has a relatively high surface formed on one radial side with respect to the step and a relatively low surface on the other radial side. The high surface is provided with pumping grooves to pump oil tending to leak from the high surface side into the low surface side, into the high surface side by sliding relatively to the stationary-side member.

An oil seal member is provided at an outside surface of a member performing whirling motion such as a rotary engine rotor. A sliding face of the oil seal member that slides relatively to a stationary-side member is provided with a step extending circumferentially, and has a relatively high surface formed on one radial side with respect to the step and a relatively low surface on the other radial side. The high surface is provided with pumping grooves to pump oil tending to leak from the high surface side into the low surface side, into the high surface side by sliding relatively to the stationary-side member.

One of a pair of a fixed scroll and an orbiting scroll is the scroll including a step portion provided only at a predetermined position along a spiral direction on a blade bottom surface of a spiral wrap, and the other one of the scrolls is the scroll including a step portion provided only at a predetermined position along a spiral direction on a blade tip surface of a spiral wrap. A blade bottom surface of an end plate of the fixed scroll is set as a reference surface for setting a chip gap between both the scrolls. When a wrap height of the spiral wrap of the orbiting scroll is represented by (L) (Lo, Li) and a wrap height of the spiral wrap of the fixed scroll is represented by (lo, li), L (Lo, Li)>1 (lo, li) is satisfied.

A sealing arrangement for a sliding vane machine for compressing or expanding a fluid, for sealing between a rotating plane surface on a rotor and a machine housing to prevent flow of process fluid between an internal volume to an external volume of said vane machine a seal pocket located at a housing end and said seal pocket opens towards the direction of the external volume and the internal volume, an assembly arranged for mounting in said seal pocket, said assembly comprising: a piston arrangement, a sealing bearing ring between said piston arrangement and said plane surface, a fluid supply line for a pressurized lubrication fluid through said housing to a piston cavity, said piston arrangement further having piston fluid channels and said bearing sealing ring having lubrication conduits through said bearing seal ring, corresponding with said piston fluid channels, said pressurized lubrication fluid arranged for moving said piston against said sealing bearing ring and thus moving said sealing bearing ring against said sealing surface thus forming a sealing arrangement.

The scroll compression device includes a first scroll element (11) having a first base plate (13) and a first spiral wrap (14); a second scroll element (12) having a second base plate (15) and a second spiral wrap (16), one of the first and second scroll elements (11, 12) being configured to perform an orbiting movement in relation to the other one of the first and second scroll elements, the first and second scroll elements (11, 12) intermeshing with each other and delimiting compression chambers (17); and a sealing device (28) arranged in an end face (19) of the first spiral wrap (14) and having a sealing surface configured to cooperate with the second base plate (15). The sealing device (28) is configured to allow fluid flow from an upstream compression chamber to a downstream compression chamber through the sealing surface when the pressure in the upstream compression chamber exceeds the pressure in the downstream compression chamber, and the sealing device (28) is configured to prevent fluid flow from a downstream compression chamber to an upstream compression chamber through the sealing surface when the pressure in the downstream compression chamber exceeds the pressure in the upstream compression chamber.

The scroll compression device includes a first scroll element (11) having a first base plate (13) and a first spiral wrap (14); a second scroll element (12) having a second base plate (15) and a second spiral wrap (16), one of the first and second scroll elements (11, 12) being configured to perform an orbiting movement in relation to the other one of the first and second scroll elements, the first and second scroll elements (11, 12) intermeshing with each other and delimiting compression chambers (17); and a sealing device (28) arranged in an end face (19) of the first spiral wrap (14) and having a sealing surface configured to cooperate with the second base plate (15). The sealing device (28) is configured to allow fluid flow from an upstream compression chamber to a downstream compression chamber through the sealing surface when the pressure in the upstream compression chamber exceeds the pressure in the downstream compression chamber, and the sealing device (28) is configured to prevent fluid flow from a downstream compression chamber to an upstream compression chamber through the sealing surface when the pressure in the downstream compression chamber exceeds the pressure in the upstream compression chamber.