Double acting reciprocating motor with uni-directional fluid flow

A method of operating a double-acting reciprocating motor with a uni-directional flow path, the motor comprising a movable piston disposed within a cylinder between a cylinder head and a cylinder base with a first variable volume chamber formed between said cylinder base and a first piston pressure surface and a second variable volume chamber formed between said cylinder head and a second piston pressure surface, wherein said second piston pressure surface is larger than said first piston pressure surface, a pass-through valve is operable to allow fluid to flow from said first chamber to said second chamber, and an outlet valve is operable to drain fluid from said second chamber, said method comprising:

• introducing the fluid through an inlet port into said first chamber to cause reciprocating motion of said piston;
• closing said pass-through valve and opening said outlet valve when said piston approaches said cylinder base so that fluid pressure within said first chamber causes said piston to move towards said cylinder head while fluid is drained from said second chamber through said outlet valve;
• opening said pass-through valve and closing said outlet valve when said piston approaches said cylinder head so that fluid pressure within said second chamber causes said piston to move towards said cylinder base;
• and
• electronically controlling the respective opening and closing of said pass-through valve and said outlet valve.

A method of operating a double-acting reciprocating motor, said motor comprising a movable piston disposed within a cylinder between a cylinder head and a cylinder base with a first variable volume chamber formed between said cylinder base and a first piston pressure surface and a second variable volume chamber formed between said cylinder head and a second piston pressure surface, wherein said second piston pressure surface is larger than said first piston pressure surface, said method comprising:

• introducing said fluid into said first chamber through an inlet port associated with said cylinder base to cause reciprocating motion of said piston;
• closing a pass-through valve to prevent fluid flow from said first chamber to said second chamber and opening an outlet valve associated with said cylinder head to allow fluid pressure within said first chamber to act on said piston whereby said piston moves towards said cylinder head while fluid is drained from said second chamber through said open outlet valve;
• and
• opening said pass-through valve and closing said outlet valve to allow fluid pressure within said second chamber to act on said piston whereby said piston moves towards said cylinder base while fluid flows from said first chamber to said second chamber through said open pass-through valve;
• whereby said fluid flows progressively into said first chamber through said inlet port, then through said pass-through valve to said second chamber, and then out through said outlet valve.