Low speed, high torque rotary abutment motor

Abstract

An improved low speed, high torque rotary abutment motor is provided that is capable of producing ultra high pressures, while still remaining light weight an reliably efficient.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

There are no previously filed, nor currently any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

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:

U.S. Pat. No.

Inventor

Issue Date

Consequently, a need has therefore been felt for an improved but less complex low speed, high torque hydraulic motor

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

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:

• • Torque max 90,000 lb-in [10170 Nm]
  • Pressure max 10,000 PSI [690 BAR] RPM 100
  • Weight 90 lbs [41 kg]
    The efficiency of this motor is assured by simplicity of design (Just 15 parts), use 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.

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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a rotary abutment motor according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view thereof; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken along section IV-IV of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

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 FIG. 1-4, a rotary abutment type hydraulic motor, generally noted as 10, shows the preferred embodiment of the invention having a housing formed of a housing top 12 and a housing bottom 14 that serves to contain the fluid and moving parts of the motor 10. A drive shaft 16 rotatably mounted centrally within the housing supports a rotor having a first rotor vane 18 radially extended outward therefrom, and symmetric to a second rotor vane 20. The drive shaft 16 provides an input/output mechanical interconnection for the power present in the rotor structure 20, and is a cylindrical member which rotates in respect to the housing 10. It is anticipated that each rotor vane is formed of a pair of vane members 18a, 18b, mated together and having a rotor bolt 22 bolted therethrough such that each vane member is firmly mated together about a wing seal 24. This wing seal 24 forms a seal between the rotor vane 18 and the interior surface of the housing that forms the fluid passage 30, and is anticipated as being of a simple O-ring design. Additionally, a shaft seal 32 forms a face seal between the outer surface of the shaft 16 and the vane 18, 20 such as to provide increased pressure sealing within the fluid passage 30.

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 FIG. 3, as pressurized fluid enters the second port 52, it pressurizes the cavity 30, sealing the second wing 74b of the first rotary abutment 70 and forces the second rotary vane 20 in a counterclockwise direction until it impinges against the second wing 74b. At that orientation, the first rotary vane 18 forms the rear seal to the pressurized portion of the chamber, and as soon as the second rotary vane 20 passes the first port 50 the fluid is discharged therethrough.

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.

Claims

1. A rotary abutment type hydraulic motor comprising:

a housing formed of a housing top and a housing bottom that serves to contain the fluid and moving parts of the motor;

an annular fluid passage formed within said housing, said fluid passage located surrounding the outer circumference of a drive shaft;

a first port and a second port formed by said housing and in fluid communications with said annular fluid passage;

a drive shaft rotatably mounted centrally within said housing;

a rotor, rotatably mounted within said fluid passage and having a first rotor vane radially extended outward from said drive shaft and symmetric to a second rotor vane; and

at least one rotary abutment that rotates in an overlapping concentric fashion over the path of each rotor vane such that during impingement between said rotor vane and said second rotary abutment, said entire rotary abutment will rotate in a pressure sealed manner;

wherein said first rotor vane and said second rotor vane form the main operative valve for said motor.

2. The hydraulic motor of claim 1, wherein said rotary abutment further comprises:

a first wing rotatably mounted to an abutment stator that is pivotally affixed about a central wing shaft within the rotary abutment that seals said fluid passage behind said rotary vane; and

means to equilibrate the pressure about said abutment, thereby forcing said abutment stator to its returned position.

3. The hydraulic motor of claim 2, further comprising an urging spring to communicate a return force to said wing.

4. The hydraulic motor of claim 2, further comprising a second wing similar to said first wing and mounted symmetrically opposite thereto on said stator such as to allow said hydraulic motor to function in a reverse fashion.

5. The hydraulic motor of claim 1, wherein each said rotor vane is formed of a pair of vane members mated together firmly about a wing seal, wherein said wing seal forms a seal between said rotor vane and the interior surface of the housing that forms the fluid passage.

6. The hydraulic motor of claim 1, further comprising a shaft seal forming a face seal between the outer surface of the shaft and said vane such as to provide increased pressure sealing within said fluid passage.

7. In a rotary abutment type hydraulic motor having a housing formed of a housing top and a housing bottom that serves to contain the fluid and moving parts of the motor, an annular fluid passage formed within said housing located surrounding the outer circumference of a drive shaft, a first port and a second port formed by said housing and in fluid communications with said annular fluid passage, and a drive shaft rotatably mounted centrally within said housing, wherein the improvement comprises:

a rotor, rotatably mounted within said fluid passage and having a first rotor vane radially extended outward from said drive shaft and symmetric to a second rotor vane.

8. In the rotary abutment type hydraulic motor of claim 7, wherein the improvement further comprises at least one rotary abutment that rotates in an overlapping concentric fashion over the path of each rotor vane.

9. In the rotary abutment type hydraulic motor of claim 8, wherein during impingement between said rotor vane and said second rotary abutment, said entire rotary abutment will rotate in a pressure sealed manner; wherein said first rotor vane and said second rotor vane form the main operative valve for said motor.

10. In the rotary abutment type hydraulic motor of claim 7, wherein the improvement further comprises said rotary abutment having:

a first wing rotatably mounted to an abutment stator that is pivotally affixed about a central wing shaft within the rotary abutment that seals said fluid passage behind said rotary vane; and

means to equilibrate the pressure about said abutment, thereby forcing said abutment stator to its returned position.

11. In the rotary abutment type hydraulic motor of claim 7, wherein the improvement further comprises each said rotor vane is formed of a pair of vane members mated together firmly about a wing seal, wherein said wing seal forms a seal between said rotor vane and the interior surface of the housing that forms the fluid passage.

12. the rotary abutment type hydraulic motor of claim 7, wherein the improvement further comprises a shaft seal forming a face seal between the outer surface of the shaft and said vane such as to provide increased pressure sealing within said fluid passage.