Low-drag hydro-pneumatic power cylinder and system

A hydro-pneumatic system, comprising:

• a cylindrical body having a first end and a second end;
• a first end plate disposed at the first end and a second end plate disposed at the second end, the first end plate and second end plate being parallel to one another;
• a core support coupled to each end plate and being centrally disposed in the body;
• a plurality of vanes each radially spaced from one another, each of the plurality of vanes being coupled to the core support, the first end plate, and second end plate;
• a plurality of bucket areas each of being defined between two of the plurality of vanes, the core support, and the first and second end plates;
• a vane support coupled to the plurality of vanes and longitudinally spaced between the first end plate and the second end plate;
• a valve body coupled to the first end plate, the valve body having an outer diameter greater than a diameter of the core support;
• a supply line coupled to the valve body for supplying a drive fluid to the cylinder;
• and
• a channel defined in the valve body at a location between the diameter of the core support and the outer diameter of the valve body, the channel having a length equal to a thickness of the valve body and further being oriented in a longitudinal direction toward the second end plate;
• wherein, the channel fluidly couples the supply line and at least one of the plurality of bucket areas.

A hydro-pneumatic cylinder, comprising:

• a body having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a first end plate disposed at the proximal end and a second end plate disposed at the distal end, the first end plate being parallel to the second end plate;
• a drive axle extending along a longitudinal axis defined through the body between the proximal end and distal end, the drive axle passing through the first and second end plates;
• a core support coupled to each end plate and the drive axle, the core support being disposed in the body;
• a plurality of vanes each radially spaced from one another, each of the plurality of vanes being coupled to the core support, the first end plate, and second end plate;
• a plurality of bucket areas each of which is defined between two of the plurality of vanes, the core support, and the first and second end plates;
• a vane support coupled to the plurality of vanes and longitudinally spaced between the first end plate and the second end plate, the vane support defining a plurality of openings formed therein through which a drive fluid can pass for equalizing pressure in each of the plurality of bucket areas;
• a valve body coupled to one of the first end plate and the second end plate, the valve body having an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of the core support;
• a supply line coupled to the valve body for supplying the drive fluid to the valve body;
• and
• an orifice defined in the valve body at a location between the outer diameter of the core support and the outer diameter of the valve body, the orifice being oriented toward the second end plate such that the drive fluid passes through the orifice in the longitudinal direction to fill one or more of the plurality of bucket areas;
• wherein, the orifice fluidly couples the supply line and at least one of the plurality of bucket areas.