Axial piston energy converting device

An energy converting device comprising:

• a) port plate means defining inlet and discharge ports;
• b) a cylinder block rotatable relative to said port plate means about an axis passing through said port plate means;
• c) said cylinder block having therein axially oriented cylinders serially communicable with the inlet and outlet ports in said port plate means;
• d) pistons slidable in said cylinders and including bearing slippers pivotably mounted on the ends thereof;
• and
• e) cam plate means at one end of said cylinder block for reciprocating said pistons within said cylinders;
• said cam plate means including:
• a support structure that is deformable when normal hydraulic pressure is present within the cylinders of the device, said support structure also having a relatively smooth and flat supporting surface;
• and
• a thin insert mounted on said supporting surface between said support structure and said bearing slipper;
• said insert being sufficiently thin to resiliently deform against said support surface without undue stress in the insert when normal hydraulic pressure is present within the cylinders of the device;
• said supporting surface of said support structure and a faying surface of said insert bearing against said support structure both having surface finishes of about one micro-inch to thirty-two micro-inches;
• and having a thin coating of fluid disposed between said supporting and faying surfaces for restraining said insert from freely rotating with respect to said support structure about said axis.

In an energy converting device including:

• a) port plate means defining inlet and discharge ports;
• b) a cylinder block rotatable relative to said port plate means about an axis passing through said port plate means;
• c) said cylinder block having therein axially oriented cylinders serially communicable with the inlet and outlet ports in said port plate means;
• d) pistons slidable in said cylinders and including bearing slippers pivotably mounted on the ends thereof;
• and
• e) cam plate means at one end of said cylinder block for reciprocating said pistons within said cylinders;
• said cam plate means including:
• a support structure that is deformable when normal hydraulic pressure is present within the cylinders of the device, said support structure also having a relatively smooth and flat supporting surface;
• and
• a thin insert mounted on said supporting surface between said support structure and said bearing slipper;
• said insert being sufficiently thin to resiliently deform against said support surface without undue stress in the insert when normal hydraulic pressure is present within the cylinders of the device;
• a method for mounting said insert on said supporting surface comprising the steps of:
• (1) polishing both said supporting surface of said support structure and a faying surface of said insert bearing against said support structure to surface finishes of about one micro-inch to thirty-two micro-inches;
• and
• (2) applying a thin coating of fluid to one of said supporting or faying surfaces prior to placing said surfaces in contact with one another.