Hydraulic blocking rotary actuator with continuous seal extending to radial locations

A rotary actuator, comprising:

• a rotor having a first diameter portion forming a well within a second diameter portion;
• a static rotary piston having an inner vane extending an inward radial distance from an interior wall that extends into the well formed by the first diameter portion of the rotor, the static rotary piston defining a seal groove that runs along a peripheral face of the inner vane and lateral and longitudinal ends of the interior surface of the static rotary piston;
• a continuous seal configured to seat in the seal groove;
• and
• wherein the continuous seal is in sealing contact with the rotor such that the continuous seal forms a vane seal transition from a face seal located at the inner vane surface perpendicular to a rotary axis of the rotor to a radial seal located at the lateral end of the interior wall of the static rotary piston in parallel with the rotary axis of the rotor thereby dividing the well into a first and a second pressure chamber;
• wherein the continuous seal is configured as a dynamic seal to prevent leakage between the first and second pressure chambers;
• wherein the static rotary piston comprises a first static rotary piston and a second static rotary piston each formed as a half-cylinder shell;
• wherein the rotor has two of the first diameter portions, and wherein the well formed within the second diameter portion includes a first and a second well formed opposite one another within the second diameter portion, and wherein the first static rotary piston and the second static rotary piston each have an associated inner vane extending an associated inward radial distance from an associated interior wall that extends into an associated well of the rotor, and wherein each of the first static rotary piston and the second static rotary piston has an associated continuous seal in sealing contact with the rotor such that each of the associated continuous seals form an associated vane seal transition from an associated face seal located at an associated inner vane surface perpendicular to the rotary axis of the rotor to an associated radial seal located at an associated lateral end of an associated interior wall of each of the associated static rotary piston in parallel with the rotary axis of the rotor thereby dividing the first well into a first and a second pressure chamber and the second well into a third and fourth pressure chamber;
• wherein the second pressure chamber and the third pressure chamber are in fluid communication to rotate the rotor in a first direction when fluid pressure is supplied thereto, and wherein the first pressure chamber and the fourth pressure chamber are in fluid communication to rotate the rotor in a second direction when fluid pressure is supplied thereto;
• and
• wherein the first pressure chamber and the fourth pressure chamber are in fluid communication via a connecting passage through the rotor, and wherein the second pressure chamber and the third pressure chamber are in fluid communication via an exterior of the rotor.