US 5,022,310 A · Fluid power transmission

Abstract

This application is for a lightweight variable displacement rotary fluid power machine, including a housing, within which a rotary cylinder barrel shaft is suitably mounted for rotation about a shaft axis. The shaft includes a plurality of open ended cylinder bores disposed in a circumferential array around its longitudinal axis. A tubular shaped fluid conduit telescoping sleeve type compression device, having sliding bearing type piston shoes at each end, is disposed to reciprocate within each cylinder bore, extending therefrom to engage adjustable camming means in sliding contact. A novel fluid valving mechanism is used, which interacts with arcuate slots on the camming surface, to communicate with each telescoping compression device and connect it, in a rotationally phased manner, with inlet and outlet fluid. Load bearing conditions are improved which enhance speed capabilities. Tubular shaped fluid conduit pistons are also used in a non-telescoping manner with the above novel valving apparatus. This device has piston bores, in a rotary cylinder barrel, that are closed at one end. It achieves certain improvements over popular inline piston type fluid power machines. The non-telescoping arrangement is also used in an integrated fluid power motor/pump device which uses common structure to improve load bearing conditions. This arrangement can also be used to construct a fluid pressure intensifier, or dual motor rotary actuator, or integrated double pump, or an integrated electric motor/pump power transformer or other such devices.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A fluid power mechanical valving device comprising;

(a) a plurality of tubular shaped fluid conduits arrayed in a circumferential manner to rotate around a common longitudinal axis, each said tubular shaped fluid conduit has sufficient longitudinal hollow cavity for fluid to flow through from end to end,
(b) a sliding fluid conduit bearing means, disposed in a swivel manner, at one end of each said tubular shaped fluid conduit,
(c) a fluid transfer valve plate which is engaged, in sliding contact, by said sliding fluid conduit bearing means for transferring fluid to and from fluid passages of said valve plate;
axial load from said tubular shaped fluid conduit acts on said bearing means to urge said valve plate to abut a surface of a corresponding plate, in sliding contact, to achieve efficient transfer to fluid between said fluid passages of said valve plate, and ports located on said surface of said corresponding plate,
(d) a sub-assembly enclosure means that grasps said sliding fluid conduit bearings in such a way as to permit limited lateral movement of said bearings on said valve plate surface and also limit axial movement of said bearings,
(e) a torque means which transmits rotational energy to said sub-assembly, by grasping and rotating said tubular shaped fluid conduits about a longitudinal axis, which causes rotational contact between said bearing means and a member of said sub-assembly enclosure means,
(f) whereby a valving device occurs based on the overall cooperation between said rotating tubular fluid conduits, said sliding fluid conduit bearing means, said fluid transfer valve plate, said sub-assembly enclosure means and said torque means.

4 more elements

A rotary fluid power transmission comprising:

(a) a rotary cylinder barrel which has a plurality of cylinder bores arrayed in a circumferential manner around a longitudinal axis, said rotary cylinder barrel is disposed to rotate about said longitudinal axis,
(b) a torque means to transmit rotational energy to and from said rotary cylinder barrel,
(c) a tubular shaped fluid conduit piston, that has sufficient hollow cavity to function as a conduit for fluid to flow through from end to end, and is disposed to reciprocate in each said cylinder bore,
(d) a closure means for said cylinder bores thus completing fluid pumping chambers,
(e) a sliding fluid conduit bearing means that is disposed at one end of each said piston,
(f) a fluid transfer valve plate that is engaged in sliding contact by said sliding fluid conduit bearing means for transferring fluid to and from fluid passages of said bearing means and said fluid transfer valve plate,
(g) an angle plate type camming means, that has fluid passage ports located on its camming surface, which is engaged by said valve plate in sliding contact to efficiently transfer fluid between said fluid passages of said valve plate and said fluid passage ports of said camming surface;
axial load from said pistons acts on said bearings to urge said fluid transfer valve plate to abut said camming surface,
(h) a sub-assembly enclosure means that grasps said sliding fluid conduit bearings, in such a way, as to permit limited lateral movement of said bearings on said valve plate surface, and also limit axial movement of said bearings,
(i) a torque means which transmits rotational energy to said sub-assembly enclosure means, by said rotary cylinder barrel engaging said tubular shaped fluid conduits in sliding contact and rotating them about said longitudinal axis, which causes rotational contact between said bearing means and a member of said sub-assembly enclosure means,
(j) a support means that contain the elements of said rotary fluid power transmission in their correct alignment and position plus accommodates resultant thrust and radial loads,
(k) a fluid communication means, including fluid ports and passages, for handling flow of fluid to and from said fluid passage ports of said angle plate type camming means.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fluid power transmission

Life of this patent

Fluid power transmission

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14