Bimodal hydraulic reciprocating torque actuator

An apparatus for applying rotational force to a workpiece, comprising:

• a cylindrical driving member having an opening sized to engage a workpiece on which rotational force is to be applied;
• a first outer cylindrical member disposed concentrically about said driving member;
• means for forcing said driving member to rotate in a first direction in response to rotation of said first outer cylindrical member in said first direction and means for permitting said driving member to slip with respect to said first outer cylindrical member in response to rotation of said first outer cylindrical member in a second direction opposite said first direction;
• a second outer cylindrical member disposed concentrically about said driving member;
• means for forcing said driving member to rotate in said first direction in response to rotation of said second outer cylindrical member in said first direction and means for permitting said driving member to slip with respect to said second outer cylindrical member in response to rotation of said second outer cylindrical member in said second direction;
• at least on hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement in operative connection with each of said first and second outer cylindrical members to drivingly rotate them in either of a first or a second direction in series to apply relatively continuous rotational force to said driving member or in parallel to apply intermittent force to said driving member,
• wherein each of the pistons and cylinders in said hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangements is oval in shape.

An apparatus for applying rotational force to a workpiece, comprising:

• a cylindrical driving member having an opening sized to engage a workpiece on which rotational force is to be applied;
• a first outer cylindrical member disposed concentrically about said driving member;
• means for forcing said driving member to rotate in a first direction in response to rotation of said first outer cylindrical member in said first direction and means for permitting said driving member to slip with respect to said first outer cylindrical member in response to rotation of said first outer cylindrical member in a second direction opposite said first direction;
• a second outer cylindrical member disposed concentrically about said driving member;
• means for forcing said driving member to rotate in said first direction in response to rotation of said second outer cylindrical member in said first direction and means for permitting said driving member to slip with respect to said second outer cylindrical member in response to rotation of said second outer cylindrical member in said second direction;
• at least one hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement in operative connection with each of said first and said second outer cylindrical members to drivingly rotate them in either of a first or a second direction;
• a coaxial valving system for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangements, which comprises
• an inner disk having a series of ports connected by passageways for the flow of hydraulic fluid;
• an outer disk concentrically disposed about said inner disk, having a series of ports connected by passageways for the flow of hydraulic fluid;
• and
• a manifold disposed abutting said inner disk and said outer disk, having a series of ports connected by passageways for the flow of hydraulic fluid, said manifold having a first and a second port disposed on a first side thereof in operative fluid connection with said arrangement and a third and a fourth port disposed on a second side thereof in operative fluid connection with said arrangement, wherein said rotation of said inner disk and said outer disk with respect to each other will cause alignment of said inner disk ports and said outer disk ports through said manifold ports to control the flow of hydraulic fluid through said inner disk passageways and said outer disk passageways such that the flow of hydraulic fluid from said manifold to said hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangements can be controllably varied.

An apparatus for applying rotational force to a workpiece comprising:

• a cylindrical driving member having means for engaging said workpiece on which rotational force is to be applied;
• a first member for imparting rotational force to said cylindrical driving member;
• a second member for imparting rotational force to said driving member;
• means for forcing said driving member to rotate in a first direction in response to movement of said first member in a first direction and means for permitting said driving member to slip with respect to said first member in response to movement of said first member in a second direction opposite said first direction;
• means for forcing said driving member to rotate in said first direction in response to movement of said second member in said first direction and means for permitting said driving to slip with respect to said second member in response to movement of said second member in said second direction;
• means for moving said first and second members in alternating directions to apply a relatively continuous rotational force to said driving member;
• and
• means for moving said members in the same direction to apply intermittent rotational force with increased power to said driving member.