Axial cam air motor

A motor comprising:

• a cylindrical body fixedly mounted to a motor base, said body comprising a plurality of cylindrical bores disposed radially around and parallel to a timing bore and comprising a plurality of air channels extending radially outward from said timing bore;
• a plurality of substantially hollow pistons comprising a conical nose, each of said plurality of pistons slidably coupled within each of said respective cylindrical bores;
• a timing shaft coupled to an air source and rotatably coupled within said timing bore, said timing shaft having a circular mounting flange at a first end and a plurality of timing ports at a second end, said timing ports in flow communication with said plurality of air channels, said timing shaft comprising an axis of rotation, said first end, said second end, and a timing shaft body extending therebetween, a first air passage extending longitudinally inward from said first end of said timing shaft partially through said timing shaft body in a first direction, a second air passage originating at said second end of said timing shaft and extending longitudinally inward and partially through said timing shaft body in a second direction opposite first direction such that said second air passage and said first air passage axially aligned with said timing shaft axis of rotation;
• a flat, circular cam plate coupled to said timing shaft mounting flange, said cam plate having a plurality of symmetrical cam lobes on a face opposite said timing shaft mounting flange, said cam lobes configured to engage each said piston conical nose;
• and
• an output mechanism configured to transmit torque generated by said pistons.

A method for assembling an air motor, said method comprising:

• providing a body comprising a plurality of cylinders and a plurality of air channels;
• slidably coupling a conical shaped piston within each cylinder;
• coupling a timing shaft to an air source so that the air source is in flow communication with the plurality of air channels, wherein the timing shaft comprises an axis of rotation, a first end, a second end, and a timing shaft body extending therebetween, a first air passage extending longitudinally inward from the first end of the timing shaft partially through the timing shaft body in a first direction, a second air passage originating at the second end of the timing shaft and extending longitudinally inward and partially through the timing shaft body in a second direction opposite first direction, the second air passage coaxially aligned with the first air passage, said second air passage and said first air passage axially aligned with said timing shaft axis of rotation;
• and
• coupling a cam plate to the timing shaft and to the conical shaped pistons.