This class relates to devices which include a working chamber the volume of which is progressively variable into which fluid alternately enters and exhausts and which is formed by a surface (or surfaces) of a moving solid member having relative movement with another solid surface (or surfaces), a
portion of the working chamber boundary being substantially fixed, and in which:
(1) The working member has rotary motion in a single direction about a fixed or movable axis thereby to expand and contract the volume of the working chamber, there being relative rotation between the said working member and surface at some time during the expansion and contraction of the working chamber.
(2) The working member is circular and causes a change in the volume of the working chamber as it is progressively tilted in a single direction about a point on its axis to progressively contact said other surface, the central axis of the working member describing a cone whose apex is the point about which the working member oscillates or wobbles.
(3) The working member causes a change in the volume of the working chamber but does not have absolute rotation, the working member being provided with means having an axis offset from and parallel to the central axis of the working member about which the central axis moves in an orbit whereby the working member has planetary movement within the working chamber.
LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES
COMBINATIONS WITH LOAD DEVICES
Inasmuch as a mechanical force output of a rotary expansible chamber device within the definition of this class is to operate or move a load the inclusion of the load in the claim by name only or in general terms will not exclude a patent from this class. An exception to this general rule exists where the load on the expansible chamber device is a valve. The combination of a rotary expansible chamber device and a valve as the load moved thereby even if claimed by name only, is excluded from this class. (See References to Other Classes, below.)
This line also applies where the load is a tool: that is, a named tool moved by a rotary expansible chamber device will not exclude a patent from this class if no tool details are recited. However, if a support for the work being acted upon by the tool is claimed, classification in the appropriate tool class results even though both the tool and the support are claimed by name only. Also see the Search Class notes, below for the line with regard to a nominally claimed tool driven by a rotary expansible chamber device combined with other features such as work cleansing or tool feeding. No attempt has been made to review the classification of all patents found in classes relating to loads adapted to be moved by a rotary expansible chamber device. Thus, it is to be noted that the original classification of all patents is not consistent with the above statement as to nominally claimed loads and this particularly applies as to classes not
recently reclassified. In those instances in which a body of art is known to exist in a given class in which the load adapted to be moved by the rotary expansible chamber device is claimed only nominally, and especially where the classification of that class provides for a fluid pressure actuator for the device, currently issuing patents will not be classified as original in this class (418) even though the load is only nominally claimed.
The means which transmits power from the working member of the rotary expansible chamber device to the load to be moved (e.g., linkage, gearing, etc.), is not considered to be the load to be moved by the expansible chamber device. Also see the Search Class notes below for a further discussion of this subject.
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
15, Brushing, Scrubbing, and General Cleaning, for pumps claimed in combination with a work-contacting suction or blast nozzle.
73, Measuring and Testing,
253+, for rotary cylinder or piston type expansible chamber devices used in volume or rate of flow meters. Class 73 includes rotary expansible chamber meters combined with registering mechanism and meters incapable of general use as an expansible chamber device. A meter is considered to be incapable of such general use if there is no disclosed means to take power therefrom for external use such as to a registering mechanism. Therefore Class 418 takes a rotary expansible chamber device having means to take power therefrom such as for an unclaimed registering mechanism.
74, Machine Element or Mechanism, appropriate subclasses for machine elements and mechanisms, per se, and in combination with a nominally claimed rotary expansible chamber device. In general, gearing or linkage included as part of the power means either to drive or be driven by a rotary expansible chamber device is considered to be basic subject matter of the rotary expansible chamber device and would not preclude classification in Class 418.
96, Gas Separation: Apparatus, for the combination of a rotary expansible chamber device and a specifically claimed separator or filter not specifically disclosed for protecting the rotary expansible chamber device. For a further statement of the line between Classes 96 and 418, see Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, in the class definition to Class 96 for the line between Classes 96 and 417, the line between Classes 96 and 418 being the same.
123, Internal-Combustion Engines, appropriate subclasses for a rotary piston and cylinder combination claimed with
significant internal-combustion structure such as fuel injection means, ignition means, fuel charge treatment means, or compression means with transfer means to an expansion means. 137, Fluid Handling, for the combination of a rotary expansible chamber device and a valve as the load moved thereby even if claimed by name only. (Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, Combinations With Load Devices.)
173, Tool Driving or Impacting, appropriate subclasses for a rotary expansible chamber device for operating an impact delivering means or for operating a tool combined with work cleaning or feed means.
210, Liquid Purification or Separation, appropriate subclasses and especially
416.1+, for the combination of a rotary expansible chamber device and a specifically claimed filter not specifically disclosed for protecting the rotary expansible chamber device whether or not the filter is upstream or downstream of the device. For a further statement of the line, see the search class note in the definition to subclass 416.1 of Class 210 for the line between Classes 210 and 417, the line between Classes 210 and 418 being the same.
222, Dispensing, appropriate subclasses, for the combination of a pump and a significantly claimed supply container and see section 9 of the class definition to Class 222 for an elaboration of the line between Classes 222 and 418.
251, Valves and Valve Actuation, for the combination of a rotary expansible chamber device and a valve as the load moved thereby even if claimed by name only. (Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, Combinations With Load Devices.)
277, Seal for a Joint or Juncture, for a generic sealing means or process that may include a nominally claimed rotary expansible chamber device. Class 277 takes a nominally claimed rotary piston and cylinder combination, or a nominally claimed rotary piston or cylinder, per se, where the claim is otherwise directed to a packing or sealing means between relatively movable surfaces of said cylinder and rotary piston or on said cylinder or rotary piston. Class 418 takes such devices, where some details of the cylinder or rotary piston is set forth in the claim. However, structure of such device which is solely intended to cooperate with the packing or sealing means is not considered a detail of the device for Class 418, and is classified in Class 277. A device including either a flexible cup or flange type sealing member combined with a supporting body structure is classified in Class 418 where such device is disclosed as a rotary piston for either a pump or a motor.
417, Pumps, appropriate subclasses for a rotary expansible chamber pump that is; (1) driven by a significantly claimed motor, (2) operated by an art device, (3) claimed in combination with another type of pump and (4) provided with valving other than in-line valving or valving operating merely to perfect the operation of some part of the pump and see the Search Class note to Class 418 in the class definition of Class 417 for an elaboration of the line between these classes.
475, Planetary Gear Transmission Systems or Components, for planetary gearing per se, and in combination with a nominally claimed rotary expansible chamber device. The line between Class 418 and Class 475 is the same as the line between Class 418 and Class 74.
GLOSSARY:
ABUTMENT A partition member having relative movement with a cylinder or reaction member of which it is a part and moving incident to the expansion and contraction of the working chamber, the cylinder or reaction member not constituting the working member in this case.
CYLINDER
An external member having wall or surface portions forming part of the working chamber of the rotary expansible chamber device, the member being either fixed or movable and may surround a fixed reaction member to move or be moved by the working fluid and may also include an abutment or reaction surface against which working fluid acts. However, the abutment or reaction surface for the rotary expansible chamber device need not necessarily be formed by the cylinder but may be formed by relatively movable opposed rotating members within the cylinder at least one of which is a working member.
PARTITION MEMBER
A member either fixed or movable on either the cylinder working member or other reaction member having a surface portion forming part of the working chamber to either (1) separate the working chamber into a plurality of working fluid compartments or (2) separate the inlet from the outlet of the rotary expansible chamber device.
VANE
A partition member which generally moves with the working member but also has movement relative to the working member incident to the expansion and contraction of the chamber. The vane may be on the cylinder if the cylinder is the working member.
WORKING CHAMBER
The space in an expansible chamber device which includes the working member and which is adapted to receive working fluid for acting upon the working member or for being acted upon by the working member, the chamber expanding and contracting incident to movement of the working member.
WORKING FLUID
The fluid (expansible or inexpansible) which is introduced into and withdrawn from the working chamber of the rotary expansible chamber device either to act upon or be acted upon by the working member. Fluid which is withdrawn from the working fluid supply for perfecting the operation of the device is considered to be working fluid even though it never enters the working chamber of the device. A fluid combined with working fluid introduced into and exhausted with the working fluid from the working chamber of the device used merely to perfect the operation of the device (i.e., cooling, sealing, lubricating, etc.), is considered to be a nonworking fluid. WORKING MEMBER
A movable member in a rotary expansible chamber device having a surface portion disposed to either receive the energy of a working fluid directed thereagainst for moving the member to thereby produce a mechanical force output, or which, may move a working fluid by the application of a mechanical force to the movable member whereby fluid is admitted into and exhausted from the expansible chamber. The working member may include a movable vane thereon having a surface portion for either receiving energy from or energizing a working fluid passing through the expansible chamber.