Fluid operated engine

A fluid operable engine, comprising:

• (a) a frame structure;
• (b) a pair of confronting spaced apart disc-like plate members respectively mounted on said frame for rotation about a right-angled axis of rotation, said plate members being relatively oppositely inclined with respect to each other and relatively oriented on their axes to position points of maximum spacing on one side of their axes and points of minimum separation on an opposite side;
• (c) a plurality of pressurized fluid actuated axially expansile and retractile devices extending between and being connected to corresponding circumferentially spaced points of said members, each of said devices comprising a cylinder and piston assembly, the piston having a swivel-pivot connection with one of said plate members, and the cylinder having a swivel-pivot connection with the other of said plate members, said connections enabling independent removal and replacement of said devices;
• (d) rotatable shaft means connecting said members for simultaneous rotation comprising independently rotatably supported separate shaft sections having adjacent ends interconnected by a universal joint, one of said shaft sections constituting a power delivery shaft, and the other of said shaft sections being formed with a plurality of separate axial passages therein;
• (e) removably mounted flow conduits respectively connecting said devices with said axial passages;
• and
• (f) valve means operable in response to the rotation of said interconnected shaft sections for sequentially controlling the flow of actuating fluid through said axial passages and flow conduits for said devices so as to cause rotation of said members and the connected shaft sections.

A fluid operable engine, comprising:

• (a) a frame structure;
• (b) a pair of confronting spaced apart disc-like plate members respectively mounted on said frame for rotation about a right-angled axis of rotation, said plate members being relatively oppositely inclined with respect to each other and relatively oriented on their axes to position points of maximum spacing on one side of their axes and points of minimum separation on an opposite side;
• (c) a plurality of pressurized fluid actuated axially expansile and retractile devices extending between and being connected to corresponding circumferentially spaced points of said members, each of said devices comprising a cylinder and piston assembly, the piston having a swivel-pivot connection with one of said plate members, and the cylinder having a swivel-pivot connection with the other of said plate members;
• (d) power delivery shaft means connecting said members for simultaneous rotation;
• and
• (e) valve means operable in synchronized timed relation to said rotation for sequentially controlling the actuating fluid for said devices so as to cause rotation of said members and the connected power delivery shaft, said valve means comprising:
• a stationary valving element having a fluid inlet connection and a fluid discharge connection, and a manifold element driven by said shaft concentrically surrounding the valving element and being provided with a plurality of flow ports respectively communicating with said cylinders,
• said valving element and said manifold element being relatively rotatable and operatively coacting to sequentially connect said flow ports with said inlet and discharge connections,
• said valving element being of cylindrical configuration and being provided with a pair of radial circumferentially extending arcuate recesses having their opposite adjacent ends in spaced relation, one of said recesses being in communication with the fluid inlet connection and the other recess being in communication with the discharge connection, and
• circumferential sealing means between the valving element and manifold element for sealingly isolating the recesses from one another.