Patent Grant
7284495
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improved shaftless radial vane rotary device such as a fluid motor, fluid pump, compressor or the like, and to an improved marine propulsion system using the device as a drive motor. The propulsion system includes a propeller having its blade tips rigidly joined to the inner periphery of an open-center tubular rotor of the device, with the stator being adapted to be joined to and supported on the hull of a marine vessel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Radial vane rotary devices such as motors, pumps and compressors are known in which a plurality of equally spaced vanes are mounted in radial slots in a cylindrical rotor body and are biased outwardly from the rotor into contact with the inner surface of a stator. Various configuration of the rotor and stator are known; for example, a cylindrical rotor may be mounted with its axis offset relative to the central axis of the stator, or the rotor and stator may be coaxial, with the stator having a contoured surface cooperating with the movable vanes to provide expanding and contracting chambers upon rotation of the rotor. For example, the stator surface may be or oval an elliptical shape or may have a number of lobes around its inner surface.
The vane-supporting slots of the known device have been difficult and expensive to produce in that they have generally been machined into a relatively large body of rigid material, usually metal, and smooth surfaces are necessary to minimize friction with the sliding vanes. Also, the grooves have to be accurately dimensional to control the flow of fluid along the surfaces of the vanes in the grooves. To assure continuous contact while avoiding excessive pressure between the vane edges and the stator surface, it is known to vent the bottoms of the grooves.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,106,255 discloses a radial vane rotary motor in which the vanes are supported in radial slots in a rotor body supported on a shaft for rotation in a rotor chamber defined by a cylindrical stator body having its ends closed by end plates. Grooves in the end plates are provided to facilitate venting of trapped fluid from beneath the movable vanes. This patent also discloses the use of grooves in the vanes for relieving excess pressure from beneath the slots.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,629,829 also discloses a radial vane rotary motor including vents through spring biased end plates to vent the vane supporting grooves. The vents communicate with a pressurized fluid chamber in the stator body.
Various systems have also been developed in a attempt to improve propeller performance and propeller drive efficiency in marine vessel propulsion. The shrouded rudder in which the propeller is driven inside a fixed or pivotable shroud, such as the well-known Kort rudder, is one example.
It is also known to rigidly join the propeller blade tips to the inside surface of a peripheral rim in spoke-like fashion, with the rim being driven for rotation to apply the driving force to the propeller. U.S. Pat. No. 472,199 discloses such an arrangement in which the outer periphery of the rim is provided with vanes, or buckets, with nozzles directing streams of pressurized water into the vanes to drive the propeller in waterwheel fashion.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,487,805 discloses a propulsion system in which a propeller-supporting rim is mounted for rotation in a nozzle by a water-lubricated rubber bearing and is driven by a gear mechanism including a drive gear extending around the periphery or the rim. The rim-supported propeller rotates about a fixed axis, and a blade rudder is positioned behind the propeller for steering.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,864 discloses a rim-mounted propeller in which the rim is the rotor of a tubular hydraulic motor. Sleeve bearings are used to rotatably support the rotor in the stator, but no bearing arrangement is disclosed for transferring the propeller thrust to the stator and from the stator support struts to the vessel. Rubber seals are employed to keep water out of the motor. Movable vanes are employed on the rotor, with camming means on the stator depressing the vanes between the inlet and exhaust ports.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,297 discloses a propeller drive system in which the propeller blade tips are mounted on the inner periphery of a tubular rotor disposed inside the stator of an electric motor. Hubs at each end of the stator have spoke-like members attached to and supporting the rotor, and a flange is provided on one hub for rigidly mounting the structure to a vessel. This rotor and propeller are rotatably supported by a cylindrical, or journal bearing on a shaft extending between the two stator hubs.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,749 discloses a marine vessel propulsion system in which a variable pitch propeller has the inner ends of its blades pivotably supported on a shaft-mounted hub and its outer ends joined by pins to first and second surrounding rings. Permanent magnets are mounted on one of the rings, and coils on the other ring may be supplied with current to rotate the rings relative to one another to vary the pitch. As with the other patents mentioned above, a separate rudder system would be required for steering the vessel.
While the rimmed propellers of the prior art, discussed above, would appear to be efficient in converting the propeller drive force to thrust, these devices have not met with wide-spread acceptance for various reasons. For example, all would appear to present severe maintenance problems, particularly in the use of sleeve bearings or the like for transmitting thrust, as well as in providing adequate lubrication of movable parts. The prior art sealing arrangements, particularly for electrically driven systems, present serious problems. Further, the known rim mounted propellers generally require separate rudder systems for steering, and generally have not been energy efficient. Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a hydraulic motor driven rimmed propeller system which overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art systems.
Another object is to provide such a system suitable for use both as a primary propulsion system and as a side thruster for vessels.
Another object is to provide a rim mounted propeller system driven by a hydraulic motor, utilizing the rim as a rotor, which is economical both to manufacture and to maintain.
Another object is to provide such a system in which the rotor is mounted in the stator utilizing ball bearing assemblies on each end which are capable of carrying both radial and axial thrust loads and which are lubricated by the hydraulic fluid used to drive the motor.
Another object is to provide such a system which utilizes a standard spring loaded, self-adjusting marine packing gland as a water/oil seal, thereby avoiding the use of custom-made rubber seals.
Another object is to provide such a system utilizing a hydraulic motor having movable, spring loaded vanes which have pressure ports assisting the springs in maintaining the movable portion of the vanes in contact with the stator inner surface, and pressure relief ports which assist in lubricating the face of the vane which contacts the stator surface.
Another object is to provide such a system including a pivotal mounting structure rigidly joined to the stator for supporting the motor for rotation about its vertical axis, thereby eliminating the need for a separate steering rudder for the vessel.
Another object is to provide such a system in which the major components of the hydraulic motor are constructed from standard structural shapes to thereby reduce manufacturing costs.
Another objection is to provide an improved radial vane rotary device having spring-loaded vanes supported for substantially radial movement on the rotor, which vanes have pressure ports and/or shuttle valves for assisting the springs in maintaining the vanes in contact with stator surface while assuring freedom of movement of the vanes during rotation of the rotor.
Another object is to provide such a device which is economical to manufacture and easy to maintain.
Another object is to provide such a device in which the radial vanes are mounted in guides attached to the outer cylindrical surface of a rotor body mounted within the stator.
In the attainment of the foregoing and other objects of the invention, an important feature resides in providing a radial vane rotary device having an open ended generally cylindrical rotor rotatably mounted in a generally cylindrical stator. The rotor comprises a cylindrical drum or shaft having a plurality of rotor vanes mounted in equally spaced relation around it's outer surface rotor. The vanes each include an elongated guide member or members mounted on the drum outer surface by suitable means such as mounting pins or by welding to define an outwardly open, elongated channel for receiving and guiding a radially movable stator contact member or vane. A plurality of spring members are positioned in the channel continuously urge the contact members radially outward into continuous contact with the inner surface of the stator.
In a first embodiment in which the radial vane rotary device is employed as a drive motor for delivering axial thrust as in a marine propulsion system, a pair of thrust bearings capable of transmitting both radial and axial loads are mounted one in each end of the stator and support the rotor for rotation therein. The thrust bearings each comprise an inner race in the form of a rigid ring mounted adjacent the end of the rotor for rotation therewith, and an outer race rigidly attached to the stator, with bearing elements such as balls or rotors disposed between the inner and outer races for rotatably supporting the rotor and transferring axial thrust loads from the rotor to the stator.
A seal cap is mounted on each outer race and cooperates therewith to define a packing gland for receiving a marine packing material to seal the interior of the motor chamber. Resilient means is provided to mount the seal cap to the outer race to thereby maintain the desired pressure on the packing material to assure a reliable seal.
In a first embodiment, a plurality diameter reducing elements or ramps, are mounted on the inner surface of the stator and extend the length thereof between the thrust bearings. The ramps have arcuate inner and outer surfaces concentric with the opposed stator and rotor cylindrical surfaces, and have their longitudinal edges tapered to provide ramp areas enabling the contact member of the vanes to be cammed inwardly and to smoothly expand as the rotor rotates in the stator.
In this embodiment, two channel-shaped hydraulic fluid conduits extend around the outer circumference of the stator in axially spaced relation to one another, and a conduit connected to each channel provides a flow path to or from the channels. Fluid ports extend from the channels through the stator wall and through the diameter reducers in the ramp areas. Depending on the direction of rotation, all ports from one channel extend through the leading edge ramp portions of the diameter reducers, and all ports from the other channel extend through the trailing edge ramp portion. The vanes divide the annular space between the rotor and stator into a plurality of pressure chambers, and the number of vanes and the distance between the ports in the leading and trailing ramps of each diameter reducer are selected such that at least one vane is in contact with and compressed by a diameter reducer and at least one is in contact with the stator surface between each pair of diameter reducers at all times. Thus, when pressure fluid is directed through a port adjacent a compressed vane having a reduced area exposed to the fluid pressure, the rotor will be driven by the adjacent vane which is not compressed and therefore has a greater area exposed to the pressure.
By directing pressure fluid through its connecting conduit to one of the pressure channels and connecting the other channel, via its connecting conduit, to a sump, as a vane defining a pressurized chamber moves into contact with a ramp, the port on that ramp will be opened to the sump and a portion of the fluid will be returned as the vane defining the trailing edge of the chamber moves over the diameter reducer. At the same time, fluid pressure will enter the proceeding chamber as that vane progresses over the diameter reducer.
In a second embodiment which is particularly well suited for use as a pump or as a motor for delivering rotary drive force to a driven component, but which is equally well suited for delivering axial thrust as in the marine propulsion system, the generally cylindrical stator surface contacted by the vanes has an elliptical or oval shape in cross section, with the portion of the oval having the longer radius of curvature acting as the diameter reducers. In this embodiment, only two inlet and two outlet ports are used, wherein in the first embodiment referred to above, a greater number—for example, four—inlet and outlet ports, with an equal number of diameter reducers, may be employed. When employed as a pump or rotary drive motor, axial thrust bearings may be employed.
In a marine propulsion system embodying a drive motor according to this invention, the rotor drum is in the form of a cylindrical drum or pipe section which surrounds a marine propeller which may be of conventional blade design and have its blade tips rigidly joined, as by welding or bolting, to the inner periphery of the drum so that the rotor and propeller form a rigid assembly.
A support post, preferably in the form of cylindrical pipe or tube, is rigidly joined, as by welding, to the outer periphery of the stator for supporting the motor and propeller. This support post may extend through the hull of a vessel and be mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis to turn the motor and propeller in any direction, thereby eliminating the need for a rudder to steer the vessel or the need to stop and reverse the motor for backing thrust. Also, the pressure conducts connected to the pressure channels, which conduits preferably pass through the support post, are capable of being rotated, as by a suitable swivel connection. Alternatively, flexible conduits may be employed which enable limited rotation of the propeller and motor about the support post axis. By rotating the motor and propeller through 180°, reverse thrust is applied to the support post. Alternatively, the motor and propeller may be reversed by reversing the flow of hydraulic fluid through the motor.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description contained herein below, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
Referring now to the drawings in detail, a first embodiment of a radial vane rotary motor embodying the invention is illustrated as a drive unit for a marine propulsion system designated generally at 10 in
As best seen in
Rotor 20 is rotatably mounted by a pair of anti-friction bearing assemblies 30, one at each end portion of the rotor body 26, in the stator 18. The stator includes a cylindrical body 32, also preferably a length of standard seamless pipe or tubing of suitable corrosion resistant metal, with a pair of axially spaced, channel shaped hydraulic fluid supply rings 34, 36 extending around its periphery in belt-like fashion, one offset in each direction from the transverse center plane of the motor. A pair of fluid conduits 38, 40 are connected one to each of the rings 34, 36 for supplying fluid under pressure to the motor 12 and to return the fluid to a supply source, not shown. Conduits 38, 40 preferably are located in the support post 14 and are connected in a reversible fluid circuit to a high pressure pump not shown, located in the vessel.
A plurality of elongated diameter-reducing element 42 are mounted on the inner surface of stator body 32 in equally spaced relation around its periphery. The elements 42 have arcuate inner and outer surfaces 44, 46, respectively, with their center of curvature corresponding to that of the rotor body 26 and stator body 32, and with the inner arcuate surface 44 having a width less than that of the outer surface 46. The lateral edges of the diameter reducers 42 are tapered to provide ramp areas 48, 50 which act as cam surfaces guiding the movable vanes 28 for radial movement as more fully described below. The diameter reducers 42 may be formed from flat metal stock bent to the desired curvature, or may be formed from segments of a metal pipe or tubing having the desired outside diameter and wall thickness, and having their opposed side edges tapered to provide the desired cam curvature.
Referring now to
Referring now to
To seal the motor, a seal cap 82 mounted on the outwardly directed surface of the outer bearing race 76 has a groove 84 formed in its inwardly directed end face at its inner periphery in opposition to a similar groove 86 formed on the outwardly directed face of outer race 76, with grooves 84 and 86 cooperating to form a packing gland receiving a standard marine packing 88. A plurality of bores 90 extend through the seal cap, and threaded fasteners 92 extend through these bores and are received in aligned threaded bores (not numbered) in the outer race 76. Helical springs 94 disposed in counterbores 96 between the heads of fasteners 92 and the seal cap provide a spring-biased pressure through the seal cap to the packing seal. A resilient, compressible washer or gasket 98 may be provided between the seal cap and the adjacent face of the outer race 76.
Referring now to
A fluid pressure port 100 is formed in and extends through the rotor body 26 and through the ramp portion 48 of each diameter reducer 42 from channel 34, and another pressure port 102 is formed in and extends through rotor body 26 and ramp portion 50 of each diameter reducer 42 from channel 36. Thus, pressure fluid in channel 34 will flow through the ports 100 into the annular space between the stator and rotor and, since for each port 100, a vane is in contact with the corresponding diameter reducer 42, the preceding vane, which is not in contact with a pressure reducer will have a greater surface area exposed to fluid pressure, and the rotor will rotate in the direction of the vane with the greater exposed area.
As the rotor rotates to move each vane past the leading edge of a ramp 50, pressure fluid in the chamber between that vane and the next following vane can escape through the port 102 into the channel 36 which now functions as a fluid return. As a vane moves past each return port 102, and is compressed by the diameter reducer, the preceding vane moves past the pressure port 100 to drive the rotor. In one embodiment with four diameter reducers and twelve collapsible vanes, the surface area of the collapsed vanes is ten square inches less than the vanes which are not collapsed. By supplying hydraulic fluid at 1,000 psi to the motor, a theoretical force of 400,00 pounds may be applied to the rotor to drive the propeller. Ignoring friction and pressure losses, with four diameter reducers, four such pressure chambers will act on the rotor shaft at all times, providing a theoretical driving force of 1,600,000 pounds.
It is believed apparent that, by supplying pressure to the channel 36 and connecting channel 34 to sump, the motor will be driven in the opposite direction in the same manner.
Referring now to
When the device 108 is used as a pump, or as a stationary motor to deliver rotary power to a driven element, the bearings 126 may be radial bearings, with appropriate seals to contain the fluid pressure within the device. Alternatively, a combined radial and axial thrust bearing such as the bearing assembly 30 described above may be employed to support the rotor body 128.
Four fluid inlets or conduits 130, 132, 134 and 136 are in communication with the fluid chamber 138 between rotor body 128 and stator body 112 at spaced points around the body for delivering fluid to and withdrawing fluid from the device in the conventional manner. For example, when the device is used as a motor, and pressure fluid is delivered through conduits 130, 134 the device will be driven clockwise, and fluid will be discharged through conduits 132, 136 for return to sump. Similarly, when pressure fluid is delivered through conduits 132, 136 the device will be driven counterclockwise and the fluid returned to sump through conduits 130, 134.
When the rotor body is driven clockwise as a pump, the fluid will be aspirated into the device through conduits 132, 136 and pressure fluid discharged through conduits 130, 134, and when driven counterclockwise, fluid is aspirated into the device through conduits 130, 134 and pressurized fluid is delivered from the pump through conduits 132, 136.
A plurality of elongated radial vane assemblies 140 are mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the rotor body 128 at equally spaced intervals therearound. Vane assemblies 140 may be similar in construction to vane assemblies 28 described above or alternatively may be of the less complex and more economical construction more clearly seen in
Fluid under pressure is maintained in the channels 146 between the rotor body and the vanes to continuously urge the vanes 148 into sealing contact with the inner surface of stator body 112. To maintain this pressure fluid in the channels while enabling the vanes to move radially in and out in their elliptical path around the stator, at least one shuttle valve 152 is mounted in and extends through each pair of flat bars and the channel defined therebetween. As seen in
Again referring to
Referring now to
Fluid under pressure is directed to motor 108 and returned from the motor through the fluid supply conduits 38, 40 connected to channel shaped supply rings 34, 36 mounted on and extending partially around stator 112. Rings 34, 36 are in fluid communication with the fluid ports 130, 132, 134 and 136 in the marine. In this embodiment, it is only necessary for the supply conduits 38, 40 to each extend slightly over one half the circumference of the stator body and provide a fluid communication with the two ports providing inlets and outlets, respectively, to the chambers 138.
In operation, as fluid under pressure enters the chamber 138 through ports 130, 134, this fluid pressure will move the shuttle valve ball to the end of valve body opposite the portion of the chamber being pressurized to prevent the flow of pressure fluid through the valve. At the same time, the pressure fluid can flow from outlet 158 to apply pressure to the radial inner edge of vane 148 to assure sealing contact between the vane and the inner surface of stator 112. As the rotor moves the vanes toward the reduced radius of the elliptical stator and the vanes are cammed inward, the fluid can flow back out of the valve without producing undesired pressure build-up beneath the vane. When the motor is driven in reverse, the ball in the shuttle valve will simply shift to the other end of the valve body and function in the same manner. Thus, a substantially constant fluid pressure is maintained beneath the radial inner edge of the vanes urging them into contact with the stator surface regardless of the direction of rotation or the position around the stator surface.
While preferred embodiments have been disclosed and described, it is to be understood that this invention is not so limited. For example, while the motor/pump assembly has been described specifically in conjunction with a marine propulsion system the device may generally be used where ever fluid motors a pump are used. Further other systems employing shaftless propellers may have use, for example for stirring or mixing of liquids in storage tanks or the like. Accordingly, it is intended to include all embodiments of the invention which would be apparent to one skilled in the art and which come within the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application is based on U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/594,394 filed on Apr. 4, 2005.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3441088 | Levy | Apr 1969 | A |
| 3918389 | Shima | Nov 1975 | A |
| 5722864 | Andiarena | Mar 1998 | A |
| 5733113 | Grupping | Mar 1998 | A |
| 6769886 | Henderson | Aug 2004 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20060222526 A1 | Oct 2006 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60594394 | Apr 2005 | US |
