Flow path diverter for pneumatic tool
AssigneeSnap-on Incorporated
InventorsRichard Bothmann, Brian King, Raymond E. Kinsley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates broadly to a flow diverter disposed in a plenum area of a motor cylinder chamber (also referred to as kidney ports). The flow diverter acts as a barrier between a main inlet to the motor and an inlet to the cylinder chamber, and directs air or fluid to vane lifter ports of the motor before the air or fluid flows to the inlet to the cylinder chamber. In addition, the flow diverter can serve to regulate air or fluid flowing into the cylinder chamber to control power of the tool. The flow diverter allows for numerous options of where the main inlet to the motor can be positioned and provides a means of regulating the air or fluid flowing into the cylinder chamber.
Claims16
A tool powered by air or fluid and having a rotor including radially extending vanes, the tool comprising:
- a cylinder chamber adapted to receive the rotor, and including:
- a first main inlet port adapted to receive air or fluid;
- a first port in fluid communication with the first main inlet port and a vane lifter port in a motor end cap;
- and
- a first cylinder inlet in fluid communication with the first main inlet port;
- and
- a first flow diverter extending into the first port and that separates the first port into first and second portions, wherein the first flow diverter is adapted to act as a barrier to direct air or fluid into the vane lifter port before the first cylinder inlet.
A motor for a tool powered by air or fluid, the motor comprising:
- a cylinder chamber including:
- a first main inlet port adapted to receive air or fluid;
- a first port in fluid communication with the first main inlet port and a vane lifter port of a motor end cap;
- and
- a first cylinder inlet in fluid communication with the first main inlet port;
- and
- a first flow diverter extending into the first port and that separates the first port into first and second portions, wherein the first flow diverter is adapted to act as a barrier to direct air or fluid into the vane lifter port before the first cylinder inlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.