VANE PUMPS AND METHODS OF OPERATING SAME
A vane pump (20) including: a housing (21), a first motor (23) arranged to rotate a shaft (22) mounted about the shaft axis, a rotor (24) mounted for rotation with the shaft, and a member (28) having a surface (29) and having a member axis. The member is movable relative to the shaft axis through a permissible range of motion which includes portions on either side of a null position. A vane (32) is movably mounted in each rotor slot, and has a distal end arranged to engage the member surface. The vanes define with the rotor and surface a plurality of chambers (33A-33F). The individual volumes of the chambers vary as a function of the relative position between the rotor and surface. A second motor (31) is operatively arranged to selectively move the member relative to the shaft axis through the permissible range of motion. Movement of the member off-null in one direction along the range of motion will enable fluid flow in a first direction between the ports, while movement of the member off-null in the opposite direction along the range of motion will enable fluid flow in the opposite direction between the ports.
The present invention relates generally to vane pumps, and, more particularly, to improved stackable over-center vane pumps and methods of operating the same.
BACKGROUND ARTVane pumps are, of course, known. These devices generally have a rotor mounted for rotation within a cavity in a body or member. A plurality of circumferentially-spaced slots extends radially into the rotor from its outer surface. A vane is slidably mounted in each slot, and has a distal end operatively arranged to engage a portion of the member wall defining the cavity. Often, the vanes are urged to move outwardly from the rotor by centrifugal force when the rotor rotates. These vanes define with the rotor and the member, a series of circumferentially-spaced chambers between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The volumes of these chambers progressively increase or decrease, depending on the direction of rotation, as the rotor rotates within the member. These chambers carry fluid from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. Examples of such vane motors are representatively shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,594, U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,283 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,797.
However, with such prior art vane pumps, it is normally necessary to reverse the direction of rotor rotation to change the direction of fluid flow through the pump.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide improved vane pumps that would allow the direction of fluid flow through the pumps to be reversed without having to change the direction of rotor rotation.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTIONWith parenthetical reference to the corresponding parts, portions or surfaces of the disclosed embodiment, merely for purposes of illustration and not by way of limitation, the present invention broadly provides improved vane pumps.
In one form, the improved vane pump (20) includes: a housing (21); a shaft (22) having a shaft axis (y1-y1), the shaft being mounted on the housing for rotation about the shaft axis; a first motor (23) operatively arranged to selectively rotate the shaft; a rotor (24) mounted for rotation with the shaft, the rotor having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced slots (26); a member (28) having a surface (29) and having a member axis (y2-y2), the member being movable relative to the shaft axis through a permissible range of motion (30) which includes portions (“−1”, “+1”) on either side of a null position (“0”); wherein the member axis (y2-y2) is coincident with the shaft axis (y1-y1) when the member is in the null position; a vane (32) movably mounted in each rotor slot and having a distal end arranged to sealingly and wipingly engage the member surface; the vanes defining with the rotor and surface a plurality of chambers (33A-33F), the individual volumes of the chambers varying as a function of the relative position between the rotor and surface; the housing having two fluid passageways (34, 34) operatively arranged to communicate with two of the chambers as a function of the angular position of the rotor relative to the housing; a second motor (31) operatively arranged to selectively move the member relative to the shaft axis through the permissible range of motion; wherein movement of the member off-null in one direction along the range of motion will enable fluid flow in a first direction between the ports; and wherein movement of the member off null in the opposite direction along the range of motion will enable fluid flow in the opposite direction between the ports.
The improved pump may further include a boundary seal (54) separating a wet portion (55) of the second motor from a dry portion (56) of the second motor. The second motor may have one portion (58) arranged on one side of the seal, and may have another portion (59) arranged on the other side of the seal. The one portion may include a permanent magnet (58), and the other portion may include a coil (59).
The member may be mounted on the housing.
In one form, the member may be mounted on the housing by a flexure member (40).
The range of member motion may be arcuate, linear or rotational.
A resilient member (41) may be arranged to act between the housing and the member for urging the member to move toward the null position.
In another form, the improved vane pump (20) may include: a housing (21); a shaft (22) having a shaft axis (y1-y1), the shaft being mounted on the housing for rotation about the shaft axis; a first motor (23) mounted on the housing and operatively arranged to selectively rotate the shaft; a plurality of rotors (24 in
The members may be stacked at axially-spaced locations along the shaft.
The fluid output of each member may be controllable independently.
The improved pump may further include a plurality of boundary seals (54). Each boundary seal may separate a wet portion (55) of an associated second motor from a dry portion (56) of such associated second motor. Each second motor may have one portion arranged on one side of the associated seal, and may have another portion arranged on the other side of such associated seal. The one portion may include a permanent magnet (58), and the other portion may include a coil (59).
Each member may be mounted on the housing by a flexure member (40).
The range of motion of each member may be arcuate, linear or rotational.
The pump may further include a resilient member (41) acting between the housing and each member for urging such member to move toward the null position.
In a third form, the improved vane pump (20) may include: a housing (21); a shaft (22) having a shaft axis (y1-y1), the shaft being mounted on the housing for rotation about the shaft axis; a first motor (23) operatively arranged to selectively rotate the shaft; a rotor mounted for rotation with the shaft, the rotor having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced slots (26); a member (28) having a surface (29) arranged to face the rotor and having a member axis (y2-y2), the member being movable relative to the shaft axis through a permissible range of motion (30) which includes portions (“−1”, “+1”) on either side of a null position (“0”); wherein the member axis is coincident with the shaft axis when the member is in the null position; a vane (30) movably mounted in each rotor slot and having a distal end arranged to engage the member surface; a second motor (31) operatively arranged to selectively move the member relative to the shaft axis through the permissible range of motion; the vanes defining with the rotor and surface a plurality of chambers (33A-33F), the individual volumes of the chambers varying as a function of the relative position between the rotor and surface; the housing having two fluid passageways (34, 34) operatively arranged to communicate with two of the chambers as a function of the angular position of the rotor relative to the housing; and wherein the direction of flow between the passageways is a function of the position of the member axis (y2-y2) relative to the shaft axis (y1-y1).
The direction of fluid flow between the passageways may be in one direction when the member has been moved off-null in one direction along the range of motion, and may be in the opposite direction when the member has been moved off-null in the opposite direction along the range of motion.
The pump may further include a boundary seal (54) separating a wet portion (55) of the second motor from a dry portion (56) of the second motor. The second motor may have one portion arranged on one side of the seal, and may have another portion arranged on the other side of the seal. The one portion may include a permanent magnet (58), and the other portion may include a coil (59).
In a fourth form, the improved vane pump (20 in
The one portion may include a permanent magnet (58), and the other portion may include a coil (59).
Also provided is an improved method of operating a vane pump (20) that includes a housing (21), a rotor (24) having a rotor axis (y1-y1) and being rotatably mounted on the housing, the rotor having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced slots (26); a member (28) having a surface (29) arranged to face the rotor and having a member axis (y2-y2), the member being movable relative to the rotor axis through a permissible range of motion (30); wherein the member axis (y2-y2) is coincident with the rotor axis (y1-y1) when the member is in the null position; a vane (32) movably mounted in each rotor slot and having a distal end arranged to engage the member surface; the vanes defining with the rotor and surface a plurality of chambers (33A-33F), the individual volumes of the chambers varying as a function of the relative position between the rotor and surface; comprising the steps of: rotating the rotor in one angular direction about the rotor axis; selectively moving the member relative to the rotor; and varying the direction of fluid flow between the ports as by varying the position between the rotor and member axes.
The method may further include the step of varying the magnitude of the fluid flow between the ports by varying the position between the rotor and member axes.
The position between the rotor and member axes may be varied by moving the member relative to the rotor.
Accordingly, the general object of the invention is to provide an improved vane pump.
Another object is to provide an improved vane pump having a plurality of stackable pump elements.
Another object is to provide an improved vane pump having a plurality of stackable pump elements that may be controlled independently of one another.
Still another object is to provide an improved method of operating a vane pump.
These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the foregoing and ongoing written specification, the drawings and the appended claims.
At the outset, it should be clearly understood that like reference numerals are intended to identify the same structural elements, portions or surfaces consistently throughout the several drawing figures, as such elements, portions or surfaces may be further described or explained by the entire written specification, of which this detailed description is an integral part. Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read (e.g., cross-hatching, arrangement of parts, proportion, degree, etc.) together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written description of this invention. As used in the following description, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up” and “down”, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”, “upwardly”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawing figure faces the reader. Similarly, the terms “inwardly” and “outwardly” generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate.
Referring now to the drawings, the present invention broadly provides improved vane pumps, and improved methods of operating same.
In
The rotor is shown as being a vertically-elongated cylindrical member having an outwardly-facing vertical cylindrical surface 25 of radius R1. A plurality of circumferentially-spaced radial slots, severally indicated at 26, extend into the rotor from surface 25. Motor 23 is arranged to rotate rotor 24 at the appropriate angular speed in either angular direction, as desired, relative to the housing. However, unlike prior art vane pumps, the direction and speed of rotor rotation does not have to be changed or modified to reverse the direction of fluid flow between fluid ports C1, C2, as discussed infra.
An annular member, generally indicated at 28, surrounds the rotor. This member has an inwardly-facing vertical cylindrical surface 29 generated about a member axis y2-y2. In
A vane 32 is shown as being movably mounted in each rotor slot and as having a distal end arranged to sealingly and wipingly engage the member surface 29. The vanes define with the rotor and the surface a plurality of circumferentially-spaced chambers. In the embodiment shown, there are six vanes that subdivide the space between the rotor and the member into six chambers, severally indicated at 33 and individually identified with the suffix A, B, C, D, E and F. These vanes may be spring-biased into engagement with surface 29, or they may be moved outwardly by centrifugal force when the rotor rotates and/or may be fluid-biased into engagement with surface 29.
In
In this arrangement, a second motor 31 is shown as being operatively arranged to selectively move member 38 either leftwardly or rightwardly off null, as desired relative to the shaft axis through a horizontal permissible range of motion which includes portions on either side (i.e., to the left and right of) of a null position “0”. Unlike the first embodiment in which the member was mounted for pure linear motion relative to the housing, in the embodiment shown in
Therefore, the present invention broadly provides an improved vane pump that broadly includes a housing, a shaft, a first motor, a rotor mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith, and a member having a surface and a member axis. The member axis is defined as being that location on the member when the member is in a null position relative to the rotor. Vanes are mounted on the rotor, and have distal ends arranged to engage the member surface. These vanes define with the rotor and surface a plurality of fluid chambers, the individual volumes of which vary as a function of relative position between the rotor and the member surface. The housing also has two fluid passageways that are operatively arranged to communicate with two of the chambers as a function of the angular position of the rotor relative to the housing. A second motor is operatively arranged to selectively move the member relative to the shaft axis through a permissible range of motion. Movement of the member off-null in one direction along the range of motion will enable fluid flow in the first direction between the ports, and movement of the member off-null in the opposite direction along the range of motion will enable fluid flow in the opposite direction between the ports.
One unique feature of the invention is that the direction of fluid flow through the vane pump may be changed by simply moving the member relative to the rotor, but without changing the direction or speed of rotation of the rotor about the shaft axis. In other words, the direction of fluid flow through the vane pump may be changed without adversely affecting the inertia of the moving rotor.
The present invention contemplates that may changes and modifications may be made. The shape and configuration of the rotor may be readily changed or modified. In the embodiment shown, the rotor has six slots, each of which is provided with a vane. This subdivides the space between the rotor and the member into six vane chambers. However, the size, configuration and shape of the rotor, as well as the number of vane slots, may be changed. The vanes may be moveable outwardly by centrifugal force. Alternatively, they may be spring-biased, or may be pushed outwardly by means of a fluid pressure.
Similarly, the shape and configuration of the member may be changed. In the embodiment shown, the member is shown as having a cylindrical inwardly-facing surface against which the distal ends of the vanes act. However, the invention is not limited to a member having an inwardly-facing cylindrical surface. Indeed, the member surface might be cylindrical, or might have some other shape, as desired. The member may be movable along a linear path, an arcuate path, or a rotational path. The arrangement and shape of the member and housing ports may be readily changed or modified as desired.
Therefore, while several forms of the improved vane pumps have been shown and described, and several modifications thereof discussed, persons skilled in this art will readily appreciate that various additional changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined and differentiated by the following claims.
Claims
1. A vane pump, comprising:
- a housing;
- a shaft having a shaft axis, said shaft being mounted on said housing for rotation about said shaft axis;
- a first motor operatively arranged to selectively rotate said shaft;
- a rotor mounted for rotation with said shaft, said rotor having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced slots;
- a member having a surface and having a member axis, said member being movable relative to said shaft axis through a permissible range of motion which includes portions on either side of a null position;
- wherein said member axis is coincident with said shaft axis when said member is in said null position;
- a vane movably mounted in each rotor slot and having a distal end arranged to engage said member surface;
- said vanes defining with said rotor and surface a plurality of chambers, the individual volumes of said chambers varying as a function of the relative position between said rotor and surface;
- said housing having two fluid passageways operatively arranged to communicate with two of said chambers as a function of the angular position of said rotor relative to said housing;
- a second motor operatively arranged to selectively move said member relative to said shaft axis through said permissible range of motion;
- wherein movement of said member off null in one direction along said range of motion will enable fluid flow in a first direction between said ports; and
- wherein movement of said member off null in the opposite direction along said range of motion will enable fluid flow in the opposite direction between said ports.
2. A vane pump as set forth in claim 1 wherein said member has passageways that communicate with said housing passageways and that terminate in ports at said surface.
3. A vane pump as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising:
- a boundary seal separating a wet portion of said second motor from a dry portion of said second motor; and
- wherein said second motor has one portion arranged on one side of said seal and has another portion arranged on the other side of said seal.
4. A vane pump as set forth in claim 3 wherein said one portion includes a permanent magnet, and said other portion includes a coil.
5. A vane pump as set forth in claim 1 wherein said member is mounted on said housing.
6. A vane pump as set forth in claim 5 wherein said member is mounted on said housing by a flexure member.
7. A vane pump as set forth in claim 6 wherein said range of motion is arcuate.
8. A vane pump as set forth in claim 1 wherein said range of motion is linear.
9. A vane pump as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising:
- a resilient member acting between said housing and said member for urging said member to move toward said null position.
10. A vane pump, comprising:
- a housing;
- a shaft having a shaft axis, said shaft being mounted on said housing for rotation about said shaft axis;
- a first motor mounted on said housing and operatively arranged to selectively rotate said shaft;
- a plurality of rotors mounted for rotation with said shaft at spaced locations therealong, each rotor having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced slots;
- a plurality of members, each member having a surface and having a member axis, each member being associated with a respective one of said rotors and being movable relative to said shaft axis through a permissible range of motion which includes portions on either side of a null position;
- wherein each member axis is coincident with said shaft axis when the associated member is in said null position;
- a vane movably mounted in each rotor slot and having a distal end arranged to engage the surface of the associated member;
- said vanes defining with the associated rotor and surface a plurality of chambers, the individual volumes of said chambers varying as a function of the relative position between said associated rotor and surface;
- said housing having two fluid passageways operatively arranged to communicate with two of said chambers for each member as a function of the angular position of said rotor relative to said housing;
- a plurality of second motors operatively arranged to selectively move the associated member relative to said shaft axis through its permissible range of motion;
- wherein movement of each member off null in one direction along the range of motion of such member will enable fluid flow in a first direction between the ports of such member; and
- wherein movement of each member off null in the opposite direction along the range of motion of such member will enable fluid flow in the opposite direction between the ports of such member.
11. A vane pump as set forth in claim 10 wherein said member has passageways that communicate with said housing passageways and that terminate in ports at said surface.
12. A vane pump as set forth in claim 10 wherein said plurality of members are stackable at axially-spaced locations along said shaft.
13. A vane pump as set forth in claim 10 wherein the fluid output of each member is controllable independently.
14. A vane pump as set forth in claim 10, and further comprising:
- a plurality of boundary seals, each boundary seal separating a wet portion of an associated second motor from a dry portion of such associated second motor; and
- wherein each second motor has one portion arranged on one side of the associated seal and has another portion arranged on the other side of such associated seal.
15. A vane pump as set forth in claim 14 wherein said one portion includes a permanent magnet, and said other portion includes a coil.
16. A vane pump as set forth in claim 10 wherein each member is mounted on said housing by a flexure member.
17. A vane pump as set forth in claim 10 wherein the range of motion of each member is arcuate.
18. A vane pump as set forth in claim 10 wherein the range of motion of each member is linear.
19. A vane pump as set forth in claim 10, and further comprising:
- a resilient member acting between said housing and each member for urging such member to move toward said null position.
20. A vane pump, comprising:
- a housing;
- a shaft having a shaft axis, said shaft being mounted on said housing for rotation about said shaft axis;
- a first motor operatively arranged to selectively rotate said shaft;
- a rotor mounted for rotation with said shaft, said rotor having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced slots;
- a member having a surface and having a member axis, said member being movable relative to said shaft axis through a permissible range of motion which includes portions on either side of a null position;
- wherein said member axis is coincident with said shaft axis when said member is in said null position;
- a vane movably mounted in each rotor slot and having a distal end arranged to engage said member surface;
- a second motor operatively arranged to selectively move said member relative to said shaft axis through said permissible range of motion;
- said vanes defining with said rotor and surface a plurality of chambers, the individual volumes of said chambers varying as a function of the relative position between said rotor and surface;
- said housing having two fluid passageways operatively arranged to communicate with two of said chambers as a function of the angular position of said rotor relative to said housing; and
- wherein the direction of flow between said passageways is a function of the position of said member axis relative to said shaft axis.
21. A vane pump as set forth in claim 20 wherein said member has passageways that communicate with said housing passageways and that terminate in ports at said surface.
22. A vane pump as set forth in claim 20 wherein the direction of fluid flow between said passageways is in one direction when said member has been moved off null in one direction along said range of motion, and is in the opposite direction when said member has been moved off null in the opposite direction along said range of motion.
23. A vane pump as set forth in claim 20, and further comprising:
- a boundary seal separating a wet portion of said second motor from a dry portion of said second motor; and
- wherein said second motor has one portion arranged on one side of said seal and has another portion arranged on the other side of said seal.
24. A vane pump as set forth in claim 23 wherein said one portion includes a permanent magnet, and said other portion includes a coil.
25. A vane pump, comprising:
- a shaft having a shaft axis, said shaft being mounted for rotation about said shaft axis;
- a first motor operatively arranged to selectively rotate said shaft about said shaft axis;
- a rotor mounted for rotation with said shaft, said rotor having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced slots;
- a member having a surface and having a member axis, said member being movable relative to said shaft axis through a permissible range of motion which includes portions on either side of a null position;
- wherein said member axis is coincident with said shaft axis when said member is in said null position;
- a vane movably mounted in each rotor slot and having a distal end arranged to engage said member surface;
- said vanes defining with said rotor and surface a plurality of chambers, the individual volumes of said chambers varying as a function of the relative position between said rotor and surface
- a second motor operatively arranged to selectively move said member relative to said shaft axis through said permissible range of motion; and
- a boundary seal separating a wet portion of said second motor from a dry portion of said second motor; and
- wherein said second motor has one portion arranged on one side of said seal and has another portion arranged on the other side of said seal.
26. A vane pump as set forth in claim 20 wherein said member has passageways that communicate with said housing passageways and that terminate in ports at said surface.
27. A vane pump as set forth in claim 25 wherein said one portion includes a permanent magnet, and said other portion includes a coil.
28. The method of operating a vane pump that includes a housing, a rotor having a rotor axis and being rotatably mounted on said housing, said rotor having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced slots; a member having a surface and having a member axis, said member being movable relative to said rotor axis through a permissible range of motion; wherein said member axis is coincident with said shaft axis when said member is in said null position; a vane movably mounted in each rotor slot and having a distal end arranged to engage said member surface; said vanes defining with said rotor and surface a plurality of chambers, the individual volumes of said chambers varying as a function of the relative position between said rotor and surface; comprising the steps of:
- rotating said rotor in one angular direction about said rotor axis;
- selectively moving said member relative to said rotor; and
- varying the direction of fluid flow between said ports as by varying the position between said rotor and member axes.
29. The method as set forth in claim 28, and further comprising the additional step of:
- varying the magnitude of the fluid flow between said ports by varying the position between said rotor and member axes.
30. The method as set forth in claim 28 wherein the position between said rotor and member axes is varied by moving said member relative to said rotor.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 16, 2012
Publication Date: Oct 15, 2015
Inventor: John Kopp (West Seneca, NY)
Application Number: 14/443,088