Variable volume chamber devices are disclosed. The chambers may be defined by the space between two complementary rotors. The volume of the chambers may vary as a function of the variation of relative rotational speeds of the two rotors.

A variable volume chamber device is disclosed. The chambers may be defined by the space between four pivotally connected vanes contained within two side plates. The vanes may be connected so as to create a sealed interior chamber that may be used as a combustion chamber in an internal combustion engine, or as a pumping chamber in a pump or compressor. The four vane assembly may also form additional variable volume chambers between the vanes and a surrounding structure. The plurality of variable volume chambers may be interconnected to progressively act on a working fluid.

A variable volume chamber device is disclosed. The chambers may be defined by the space between four pivotally connected vanes contained within two side plates. The vanes may be connected so as to create a sealed interior chamber that may be used as a combustion chamber in an internal combustion engine, or as a pumping chamber in a pump or compressor. The four vane assembly may also form additional variable volume chambers between the vanes and a surrounding structure. The plurality of variable volume chambers may be interconnected to progressively act on a working fluid.

A supercharged internal combustion engine is drivably connected to a variable displacement supercharger operable to continuously supply varying amounts of an air mass to the engine in response to the varying power requirements of the engine. The variable displacement capability eliminates blowdown losses of fixed displacement superchargers and substantially reduces the need for throttling of the intake air. The device also presents an air-motoring mode that can recover a portion of the engine throttling losses as positive power returned to the engine crankshaft when the engine intake manifold is below atmospheric pressure.

A supercharged internal combustion engine is drivably connected to a variable displacement supercharger operable to continuously supply varying amounts of an air mass to the engine in response to the varying power requirements of the engine. The variable displacement capability eliminates blowdown losses of fixed displacement superchargers and substantially reduces the need for throttling of the intake air. The device also presents an air-motoring mode that can recover a portion of the engine throttling losses as positive power returned to the engine crankshaft when the engine intake manifold is below atmospheric pressure.

A supercharged internal combustion engine has a supercharger operable to selectively supply a mass of air from below through above atmospheric air pressure according to the operating requirements of the engine. The supercharger has a shuttle combined with a throttle valve that controls the mass of air directed to an air mass bypass opening and supplied to the internal combustion engine. The shuttle has rollers that ride on rails that allow the shuttle to move to open and close the air mass bypass opening in communication with a casing that directs a mass of atmospheric air and a bypass mass of air interfused with the mass of atmospheric air to an air mass inlet of the supercharger.

A supercharged internal combustion engine has a supercharger operable to selectively supply a mass of air from below through above atmospheric air pressure according to the operating requirements of the engine. The supercharger has a shuttle combined with a throttle valve that controls the mass of air directed to an air mass bypass opening and supplied to the internal combustion engine. The shuttle has rollers that ride on rails that allow the shuttle to move to open and close the air mass bypass opening in communication with a casing that directs a mass of atmospheric air and a bypass mass of air interfused with the mass of atmospheric air to an air mass inlet of the supercharger.

A supercharger that receives and/or generates high pressure boost air and contains gear lubrication includes a housing, a rotor coupled to a rotor shaft rotatably supported in the housing, and a high pressure rotor seal disposed about the rotor shaft. The high pressure rotor seal includes a primary lip configured to contact the rotor shaft and be exposed to the gear lubrication, and at least one boost pressure blocking lip configured to contact the rotor shaft and maintain a seal against the rotor shaft when the high pressure boost air acts thereon.

A supercharger that receives and/or generates high pressure boost air and contains gear lubrication includes a housing, a rotor coupled to a rotor shaft rotatably supported in the housing, and a high pressure rotor seal disposed about the rotor shaft. The high pressure rotor seal includes a primary lip configured to contact the rotor shaft and be exposed to the gear lubrication, and at least one boost pressure blocking lip configured to contact the rotor shaft and maintain a seal against the rotor shaft when the high pressure boost air acts thereon.

A supercharger comprising a series of parallel rotors disposed within adjacent compartments within the housing of the supercharger. The rotors are designed to physically compress air that is drawn into the system in a gradual, linear manner, rather than in a stepped manner as is common to most conventional superchargers, in order to reduce the amount of energy loss to thermal energy and reduce the stress imparted upon the system via the compression of the air. The rotors comprise a shaft and a helical thread. The diameter of the shaft increases and the pitch of the helical thread decreases from the position of the inlet of the chamber in which the rotor is disposed to the position of the outlet of the chamber in which the rotor is disposed.