US 4,194,437 A · Hydraulic servo mechanism

Abstract

A base structure defining a generally hemispherical seat and a generally spherically shaped body mounted in seating engagement with the seat. The base defines a pair of diametrically opposed guide channels each of which receives a portion of a different one of a pair of trunnions, another portion of each trunnion being received in a first circumferentially extending channel in the body. The body has a second circumferentially extending channel at right angles to the first circumferentially extending channel for sliding and rotating reception of a portion of each of a pair of second trunnions that have other portions each journaled in the base between respective ends of the guide channels and in diametrically opposed relationship. The channels in the body each have circumferentially spaced inner ends that cooperate with respective pairs of the trunnions to define opposite ends of circumferentially extending fluid chambers that longitudinally expand and contract responsive to rotary movements of said body on its center and relative to the base structure. The base structure defines fluid passageways for connection to a source of fluid under pressure and each communicating with a different one of said fluid chambers. A drive arm projects radially outwardly from the body for imparting rotary movements of the body to a device to be driven.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A fluid-servo mechanism comprising:

(a) a base structure defining a generally hemispherical seat and a pair of opposed radially inwardly opening circumferentially extending guide channels disposed in a plane passing through the radial center of said seat;
(b) a generally spherical body rotatably mounted in seating engagement with said seat and having a pair of intersecting, radially outwardly opening channels extending circumferentially of said body and disposed in planes extending through the center of said body and normal to each other;
(c) a pair of trunnion elements mounted in said structure in said first mentioned plane and having portions thereof disposed in diametrically opposite portions of one of said radially outwardly opening channels;
(d) and a second pair of trunnion elements having portions disposed in said radially inwardly opening guide channels and other portions disposed in diametrically opposite portions of the other one of said radially outwardly opening channels;
(e) said base structure having fluid ports for connection to a source of fluid under pressure, and fluid passageways communicating with different ones of said ports and respective portions of said radially outwardly opening channels.

2 more elements

A fluid servo mechanism comprising:

(a) a base structure defining a generally hemispherical seat and a pair of opposed radially inwardly opening circumferentially extending guide channels disposed in a plane passing through the radial center of said sheet;
(b) a generally spherical body rotatably mounted in seating engagement with said seat and having a pair of intersecting radially outwardly opening channels extending circumferentially of said body and disposed in planes extending through the center of said body and normal to each other;
(c) a pair of trunnion elements mounted in said base structure in said first mentioned plane and having portions thereof disposed in diametrically opposite portions of one of said radially outwardly opening channels;
(d) and a second pair of trunnion elements having portions disposed in said radially inwardly opening guide channels and other portions disposed in diametrically opposite portions of the other one of said radially outwardly opening channels;
(e) said base structure having two opposed pairs of fluid ports for connection to a source of fluid pressure, a pair of fluid passageways communicating with one pair of said fluid ports and circumferentially spaced portions of one of said radially outwardly opening channels, and another pair of fluid passageways communicating with the other pair of said fluid ports and said radially inwardly opening guide channels, said radially inwardly opening guide channels communicating with circumferentially spaced portions of the other of said radially outwardly opening channels.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hydraulic servo mechanism

Life of this patent

Hydraulic servo mechanism

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13