US 4,055,106 A · Variable output fluid pump/motor

Abstract

The present invention comprises a fluid pump motor unit and a controller unit which controls the output of the pump/motor irrespective of the speed of the power source driving the pump/motor unit. The pump/motor unit comprises a cylindrical housing within which there is arranged at least one rectangular expansible cylinder assembly mounted on a crankshaft in a radial pattern, the cylindrical assembly being pivotally mounted within the housing for movement about trunnions, the rectangularly adapted piston assembly within said housing being journaled on a crankshaft which crankshaft with respect to the centerline of the cylindrical housing has a rotation parallel to, but spaced from, the centerline of the housing. The pivotal oscillation of each cylinder assembly alternately opens a port for the inflow of a fluid and subsequently closes that port while simultaneously opening another port for the outward flow of the fluid under compression as the piston moves toward the top of the chambers. Novel means are provided to seal the side walls of the cylinder with the end plates of the housing and additional novel means are provided to seal the piston and cylinder during the movement of the piston therein. The invention also provides for intake and outward flow of the fluid within the housing through the end plates by means of conduits contained therein. The controller unit encompassed within the present invention comprises a shaft keyed to the crankshaft of the pump/motor unit, a pair of rotatable sleeves, one within the other, the latter keyed to the shaft keyed to the crankshaft, the sleeves being counter rotatable with reference to each other, each having a helical groove therein substantially disposed 180 degrees along the circumference of each sleeve relative to each other and intersecting each other, the two grooves thus providing a camming surface in which a pin inserted within the two grooves can be moved by another pin operating in an arcuately inclined groove in another sleeve on a control rod which is rotatable between positions which place the crankshaft rotatable between positions which place the crankshaft of the pump/motor unit in aspects ranging from full forward position to neutral.

Claims43

Dependent claims

In combination, a fluid pump/motor unit comprising a cylindrical housing within which there is arranged at least one rectangular expansible chamber assembly mounted on a crankshaft having at least a portion thereof which is adjustably displaceable from the axis of the housing, each end of said displaceable portion being eccentrically mounted in the opposing ends of said housing, and means to supply and receive fluid to and from said unit, a power source having a connection to one end of said shaft, which connection is co-axial with said housing axis;

and means coupled to said unit to control the output of said unit irrespective of the speed of said power source by varying said displacement of said shaft portion the control means comprising a housing connected at one end to said unit, a first shaft journaled in said housing and keyed to the end of the displaceable portion of the shaft in the pump/motor unit, a first camming unit keyed to said first shaft and comprising a concentrically positioned pair of cylindrical sleeves encircling said first shaft, the inner sleeve being secured to said first shaft, the axis of said sleeves being parallel to but spaced from the axis of said first shaft each sleeve having a helical path in the wall of each, said helical paths lying at right angles to each other and forming a moving intersection of said paths so that the inner sleeve can be rotated counter to the rotation of the outer sleeve, means encircling said sleeves with means to engage said paths so as to rotate with said sleeves, a second camming unit holding said first camming unit in rotational relationship to said second unit and mounted on a second shaft in said controller unit housing, said second shaft being parallel to, but spaced from, said first shaft, means to restrain said second camming unit against rotational movement, said second camming unit including means for linear movement along said second shaft to move said encircling means over said sleeves to move said path engaging means along said paths to rotate said first shaft to vary said displacement of said shaft portion.

A fluid pump/motor comprising a cylindrical housing, a rotatable shaft sealably journaled in said housing and having at least one portion thereof which is adjustably displaceable from the axis of said housing, at least one rectangular expansible chamber assembly means pivotally and sealably journaled at one of its ends within said housing on the ends thereof and in sealing relationship with the interior surfaces of said ends, said assembly means being rotatably journaled at its other end on said shaft portion, fluid inlet and outlet means in said ends and operatively connectable to said chamber assembly means, sealing means in said ends and operatively associated with said housing and said chamber assembly means, means for the flow of fluid to and from said pump/motor via said fluid inlet and outlet means and means in said ends operatively connected with said chamber assembly means to conduct lubricating fluid to the moving parts in said housing.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Variable output fluid pump/motor

Life of this patent

Variable output fluid pump/motor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims43