Patent Application
20050281698
There are no previously filed, nor currently any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to hydraulic motors and, more particularly, to a low speed, high torque hydraulic motor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hydraulic motors are actuators (like hydraulic cylinders) that simply convert hydraulic pressure into rotary movement. Even though the construction is similar motors differ from pumps in that they are ““pushed”” into rotation by the already active fluid. A hydraulic motor converts hydraulic energy into rotating motion by being pushed by hydraulic fluid. A hydraulic motor is rated by displacement, torque, speed and pressure limits. Further, they are classified as HSLT (High speed/Low torque), LSHT (Low speed/High torque) or Limited Rotation (Torque Actuators). Typical hydraulic motors (actually called a rotary hydraulic actuator) use some form of surface area to receive hydraulic fluid, which cause a shaft to spin, which is connected to various equipment driven by that hydraulic motor. The surface that is ““pushed”” may be rectangular in nature, as in gear, vane and rotary abutment motors, or circular in nature as in rotary and axial piston motors.
However, nowhere in the art is there a teaching that is adaptable to a low speed, high torque hydraulic motor that is capable of producing ultra high pressures, while still remaining light weight an reliably efficient.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related:
Consequently, a need has therefore been felt for an improved but less complex low speed, high torque hydraulic motor
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved rotary abutment motor.
It is a feature of the present invention to provide an improved rotary abutment motor that use a special face metal seal and Turcon-Glid Ring seals designed to hold pressure exceeding 11,600 PSI [800 BAR] while maintaining a low coefficient of friction −0.06-0.07, that will provide a long dependable service life, excellent leakage control.
Briefly described according to the present invention, a rotary abutment motor is provided with:
This design offer unlimited torque to design: 200,000 lb-in [22,600 Nm] and even higher.
Advantages of the present invention include its compact size, higher reliability due to fewer parts, bidirectional operation and scalable size and performance.
The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:
The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the Figures.
1. Detailed Description of the Figures
Referring now to
The first rotor vane 18 and second rotor vane 20 form the main operative valve for the motor. For this to occur, there is a fluid passage 30 located surrounding the outer circumference of the drive shaft 16. This fluid passage 30 is in fluid communications with a first ports 50 and a second port 52 for constant communication in respect thereto. The first fluid passage 30 is interconnected by a first undercut 60 and second undercut 62 placed on the fluid passage lower wall at the intersection of the rotor vane 18, 20 and a first rotary abutment 70 and second rotary abutment 72, respectively. The operation of each undercut 60, 62 will be described in greater detail below.
A first rotary abutment 70 and a second rotary abutment 72 are provided as operating symmetrically. For purposes of brevity, only the detailed description of the first rotary abutment 70 will be provided, it being understood that the second rotary abutment 72 is formed and operates similarly. The rotary abutment 70 is formed of a first wing 74a and a second wing 74b rotatably mounted to an abutment stator 76 that is pivotally affixed about a central wing shaft 78 within the rotary abutment 70. Each rotary abutment 70, 72 rotates in a in an overlapping concentric fashion over the path of each rotor vane 18, 20, such that during impingement between the rotor vane 18,20 and the second wing 74b, the entire rotary abutment 76 will rotate in a pressure sealed manner. As the rotor vane 18, 20 passes through the rotation path of the abutment, the first wing 74a will seal the fluid passage 30 behind the rotary vane 18, 20. In this manner, the undercut 60 can function to equilibrate the pressure about the abutment 70, thereby forcing the stator 76 to its returned position. Additionally, it is anticipated that an urging spring 80 can communicate a return force to each wing 74a, 74b.
2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment
In operation, the two ports 50, 52 interconnect the motor to a source of high pressure and fluid return, with the direction of rotation of the motor dependent upon which port is pressurized. (The motor can also be utilized as a pump by connecting the shaft 16 to a source of power in a known manner.) By way of example, and not as a limitation, and in connection with
It is anticipated that operation of the second rotary abutment 72 would function similarly should pressure be applied to the first port 50 instead of the second port 52.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.
