A fluid machine, heat exchanger, and operating method of fluid machine. The fluid machine includes: a rotation shaft (10), a cylinder (20), and a piston assembly (30). The rotation shaft (10) and the cylinder (20) are eccentrically disposed relative to each other and an eccentric distance is fixed. The piston assembly (30) has a variable volume chamber (31). Because the eccentric distance between the rotation shaft (10) and the cylinder (20) is fixed, the rotation shaft (10) and the cylinder (20) rotate about their respective axes thereof during motion and the position of center of mass remains unchanged, so that the piston assembly (30) is allowed to rotate stably and continuously when moving in the cylinder (20); and vibration of the fluid machine is mitigated, a regular pattern for changes in the volume of the variable volume cavity is ensured.

A compressor and waste heat recovery system is disclosed in which mechanical work from a prime mover along with work generated from the waste heat recovery system are used to operate the compressor. A gas producing system is heated by waste heat from operation of the compressor to produce a stream of gas used to drive a turbine. The turbine is in work communication with the compressor. In one embodiment the gas producing system is a metal hydride. An overrunning clutch can be used with the turbine. In one form multiple gas producing systems are used, one of which to emit gas while the other is used to receive and capture the emitted gas.

A fluid expander is disclosed as used in conjunction with an air compressor that is driven by a prime mover. The fluid expander is structured to extract useful work from a fluid stream and add that work to the work provided by the prime mover to the compressor. In some embodiments a clutch can be used to decouple the expander from the compressor if insufficient work is developed by the expander. A gear train can also be used to change the rotational speed prior to work being delivered to the compressor.

A hydraulic motor includes a rotor and a stator, wherein the rotor and the stator define a plurality of motor pockets for receiving a flow of hydraulic fluid, and the rotor rotates relative to the stator based on a pressure differential between the motor pockets. A commutator having porting controls the flow of hydraulic fluid into the motor pockets. The rotor rotates about a first axis and the stator orbits about a second axis, and the stator is configured to orbit such that the second axis orbits about the first axis. The commutator is eccentrically piloted about the first axis and the second axis so that the commutator both rotates and orbits to control the flow of hydraulic fluid into the motor pockets. With such configuration, an output shaft is driven by rotation of the rotor about the first axis without orbiting, obviating the need for a drive link.

A hydraulic camshaft adjuster of the vane cell type, including a rotor and a stator and including a cover having fastening holes extending all the way through for accommodating fasteners. Via the fasteners the cover is fastened at an end face to the stator. The cover has a locking hole, into which a locking pin accommodated in the rotor can be displaced in an axial direction in order to lock the rotor in relation to the stator. The position of the locking pin in the rotor is pivoted about the axis of rotation by an angle in relation to a fastener when the camshaft adjuster is used as an exhaust adjuster, the position of the locking pin in the rotor is pivoted about the axis of rotation by an angle in relation to a fastener when the camshaft adjuster is used as an intake adjuster, and the position of the locking hole in the cover is pivoted about the axis of rotation by an angle in relation to the position of a fastening hole, wherein the rotor and the stator are coordinated with each other in such a way that the angles , , and are equal in magnitude and the pivoting directions of the angle and are oppositely directed.

A hydraulic camshaft adjuster of the vane cell type, including a rotor and a stator and including a cover having fastening holes extending all the way through for accommodating fasteners. Via the fasteners the cover is fastened at an end face to the stator. The cover has a locking hole, into which a locking pin accommodated in the rotor can be displaced in an axial direction in order to lock the rotor in relation to the stator. The position of the locking pin in the rotor is pivoted about the axis of rotation by an angle in relation to a fastener when the camshaft adjuster is used as an exhaust adjuster, the position of the locking pin in the rotor is pivoted about the axis of rotation by an angle in relation to a fastener when the camshaft adjuster is used as an intake adjuster, and the position of the locking hole in the cover is pivoted about the axis of rotation by an angle in relation to the position of a fastening hole, wherein the rotor and the stator are coordinated with each other in such a way that the angles , , and are equal in magnitude and the pivoting directions of the angle and are oppositely directed.