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US 6,572,344 B1Granted
Compact pump or motor with internal swash plate
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsThomas J. Hajek, Jr., David P. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid translating device is provided that includes a first member having fluid inlet/outlet ports and a second member having a plurality of pistons disposed therein secured to a stationary central shaft. A camplate and port plate is disposed in the fluid translating device about the stationary central shaft and located between the first and second members. The camplate is in communication with the fluid inlet/outlet ports and the plurality of pistons is in mating contact with the port plate. An outer input/output member is secured about the camplate and is rotatably disposed about the first and second members to form a compact arrangement.
Claims26
A fluid translating device, comprising:
- a stationary central shaft having first and second end portions and a center portion with a reference axis extending through the first, second, and center portions;
- a first member securely connected to the first end portion of the stationary central shaft about the reference axis and having an end face and first and second inlet/outlet ports in communication with the end face thereof;
- a second member securely connected to the second end portion of the stationary central shaft about the reference axis and having a face surface and a plurality of equally spaced blind bores defined therein about the reference axis and extending from the face surface thereof parallel to the reference axis;
- a camplate rotatably disposed about the reference axis of the stationary central shaft between the first and second members and having a first end face portion in abutting contact with the end face of the first member and a second end face portion angled with respect to the reference axis and having a recess defined therein, a face surface is disposed in the recess and the face surface therein is in communication with the first end face portion thereof;
- a port plate having a bearing assembly disposed thereabout and being located within the recess of the camplate, the port plate has first and second opposed faces and a plurality of equally spaced formed cavities defined therein about the reference axis between the first and second opposed faces and disposed with the first opposed face thereof being in mating contact with the face surface of the recess in the camplate;
- a plurality of hollow pistons with each piston thereof having first and second end portions with the first end portion being slideably disposed within the respective blind bores of the second member to define pressure chambers therein and the second end portion thereof being in contact with the other opposed face of the port plate;
- and
- an outer input/output member disposed about the camplate and the first and second members, the outer input/output member being secured to the camplate and rotatable about the first and second members.
5 more elements
A fluid translating device adapted for use in a fluid system, comprising:
- a stationary central shaft having first and second end portions and a center portion with a reference axis defined therein extending through the first, second, and center portions and a reference plane defined therein perpendicular to the reference axis thereof;
- a first member securely connected to the first end portion of the stationary central shaft about the reference axis and having an end face with first and second spaced apart circular grooves defined therein about the reference axis and first and second inlet/outlet ports connected to respective ones of the first and second circular grooves;
- a second member securely connected to the second end portion of the stationary central shaft about the reference axis and having an end face and a plurality of bores defined therein extending parallel to the reference axis and disposed equally spaced from each other, each bore has a bottom surface at a predetermined distance from the end face of the second member;
- a camplate rotatably disposed about the reference axis of the stationary central shaft between the first and second members, the camplate has a first end face portion with first and second spaced apart circular grooves defined therein about the reference axis and located in contact with the end face of the first member and adjacent to the respective ones of the first and second circular grooves of the end face of the first member and a second end face portion angled with respect to the first end face portion and to the reference axis, the second end face portion has a face surface disposed in a recess with a first arcuate groove extending about the reference axis at a predetermined distance and in communication with the first circular groove of the first end face portion thereof and a second arcuate groove extending about the reference axis at the same predetermined distance of the first arcuate groove and in communication with the second circular groove of the first end face portion thereof;
- a port plate having opposed faces and a bearing assembly disposed thereabout and being located in the recess of the camplate, the port plate has a plurality of spaced apart formed cavities defined therethrough about the reference axis at the same predetermined distance of the first and second arcuate grooves and is disposed in the recess of the camplate in abutting contact with the face surface in the recess;
- a plurality of pistons, each piston of the plurality of pistons having a first end portion, a second end portion and a reference piston axis, the second end portion of each piston is enlarged and has a piston face surface that is in mating contact with the port plate at the predetermined distance from the reference axis of the stationary central shaft and the first and second end portions of each piston has a cavity extending therethrough parallel to the reference piston axis of the respective piston and the first end portion thereof is slideably disposed in the respective bores within the second end member to define a chamber between the first end portion of the piston and the bottom surface of the respective bores;
- a hold down mechanism is secured to the port plate and operative to hold the plurality of pistons in intimate contact with the port plate;
- and
- an outer input/output member is disposed about and secured to the camplate and is rotatably disposed about the first and second members.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.