US1995646A - Hydraulic torque transmitting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

March 26, l935.

T. W. PATERSON HYDRAULIC TORQUE TRANSMITTING APPARATUS Filed April 12, 1953 5 Sheets-She'et l INVENTOR h 5 HTTORNEXS.

March 26, 1935 T, w. PATERSON 1,995,646

HYDRAULIC TORQUE TRANSMITTING APPARATUS Filed April 12, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 uvvzuros m m FQIQISOTL/ .0 viii h is HTTORNEYJ.

March 26, 1935. "r. w. PATERSON 1,995,646

HYDRAULIC TORQUE TRANSMITTING APPARATUS INVENTORL 111 s firromlaxs.

March 26, 1935. T. w. PATERSON HYDRAULIC TORQUE TRANSMITTING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April i2. 1933 Patented Mar. 26, 1935 v UNITED STATES? PATENT orrlcs HYDRAULIC TORQUE TRANSMITTING APPARATUS Thomas Watson Paterson, Allerton, Liverpool,

. England Application April 12, 1933, Serial No. 665,624

" In Great Britain April 26, 1932 7 15 Claims. (01. 192-59) This invention relates to the'transmission of able members being maintained by the pistons power from a drivingelement to a driven e1epermanently in operative engagement with said ment by means of a hydraulic torquetransmitting tracks. apparatus using oil or othersuitable liquid me- Said movable members of the pistons each 5 dium (hereinafter, for convenience of reference, conveniently consist of toothed or plain-surfaced 5 generally designated oil) and having a rotor rollers which are mounted at the outer ends of provided with a plurality of intercommunicating pivotal connecting rods of the pistons or engage cylinders wherein pistons are arranged to operoo-operating rollers mounted on the outer ends ate and a confining chamber or casingenclosing of the pistons and are articulated with the the rotor and guiding means whereby reciprocal rotor by link plates, the arrangement being such 10 motion may be imparted to the pistons when the that angular displacement of each piston within driving element is rotated relatively to the its cylinder is prevented and the rollers themdriven element; and which transmitter is also selves or certain of the rollers move through a preferably provided with a valve member adaptpath deviating only slightly from the axis of ed to manually control or regulate the passage movement of each piston throughout a complete 15 of the oil into and out of the respective rotor reciprocal movement of the latter. The pairs of cylinders whereby infinitely variable relative concentrically-arranged rotor cylinders are also speeds as between the driving and driven eleconveniently produced by fitment of intermediments, ranging from free rotation of the driving atepartitioning discs in through passages of the element relative to the driven element to solid rotor-liners being inserted in the passages if re- 20 or positive rotation of both driving and driven quired-and the necessary longitudinal spacing elements, may be effected at the will of the of each pair of pistons to ensure synchronized operator. v movement of the same within their respective My invention, however, has particular reference cylinders is maintained by a spacing rod passto torque transmitters oi the kind in which the ing through a central aperture in the partition 25 rotor is journalled within the confining chamber disc into engagement with the respective inner or casing and carries a plurality of pistons arends of the pair of pistons, such spacing rods ranged in opposed pairs concentrically' disposed being either attached to the pistons, or arranged around the axis of the rotor, such pairs of pisas an abutment, in which case a spring may be tons being located between a pair of cam-like mounted at one end or the respective ends of 30 I guide tracks mounted one at each side of the each spacing rod to bear against the inner end rotor to rotate conjointly with the confining of the adjacent piston. Preferably, a controlling chamber and being adapted to be reciprocated by valve of tubular or cupshaped form is used such tracks in a direction parallel to the rotor in the apparatus to control at will the passage axis Within longitudinally-arranged companion of oil into and out of the respective rotor cylin- 35 cylinders of the rotor, and is characterized by ders, such valve being situated in a central chaman improved construction of transmitter of the ber or cavity of the rotor and conveniently proabove kind in which synchronized movement of vided with circumferentially spaced ports which each pair of opposed pistons is effected without are adapted to be moved into and out of register the aid of oil in the apparatus and the necessity with radially arranged oil ducts leading from the 40 for angular or pivotal displacement of the-guide rotor cylinders to the rotor cavity by means of tracks, the pistons being operated mechanically a valve rod or spindle extending longitudinally through relative rotary movements of the guide hrou a axial passage of the t r S aft and tracks and rotor whi1st the oil in th r t associated with suitable external Valve-operating serves merely as a means ofhydraulically conmeans- 45 trolling the rate of movement of the pairsof The rotor itself is splined to or otherwise suitpistons within their companion cylinders. ably connected with the rotor shaft which pro- According to my invention, such synchronized jects through a central bearing passage in the movement of the pairs of pistons is effected by confining chamber and is provided with a tapered the provision of a constant or uniform spacing conical, or other suitably shaped closure element 50 between the operative faces of the respective adapted to be maintained permanently in operacam-like guide tracks and between the operative engagement or contactwith a correspondtive faces of each pair of opposed pistons and ingly formed internal seating of the confining also by the provision of movable members bechamber by pressure of the oil and/or spring tween the pistons and the guide tracks, said movmeans in order to prevent leakage of oil from the confining chamber by way of the shaft passage thereof. The valve operating rod or spindle is likewise splined to or otherwise suitably connected with the valve and provided with a tapered, conical, or other suitably shaped closure element adapted to be normally maintained permanently in operative engagement or contact with a correspondingly formed internal seating of the rotor shaft by the pressure of the oil and/or spring means in order to prevent leakage of oil from the rotor by way of said axial passage of the rotor shaft. The valve itself may also be provided with a tapered, conical, or other suitably shaped closure element adapted to operate in reverse direction to the closure portions of the rotor shaft and valve rod or spindle, such closure being normally maintained in operative engagement or contact with a correspondingly formed seating of the rotor by reactive effort of the oil and/or the spring means before referred to in order to prevent leakage of oil past the working faces of the controlling valve and the rotor.

I will further describe my invention with the aid of the accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings, which illustrate, by way of examples only, three modes of carrying the same into effect- In said drawings:-

Fig. l is a longitudinal section of one constructional form of hydraulic transmitter embodying my improvements; and Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, one of the end walls of the confining chamber and the associated driving mechanism having been removed to expose the internal construction of the unit.

Figs. 3 to '7, inclusive, are detail illustrations of certain of the component parts used in the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 8 is a section, similar to Fig. 1, of another constructional form of the transmitter, and Figs. 9 and 10 are views taken at right angles to each other of one of the rotor driving plates shown in Fig. 8.

Figs. 11 to 13, inclusive, illustrate a further arrangement of transmitter, Fig. 11 being a longitudinal section, and Fig. 12 a transverse section, of the transmitter, whilst Fig. 13 is a detail illustration of a fragment of the apparatus.

In the several views like characters of reference denote like or equivalent parts wherever they occur.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to '7, inclusive, the transmitter therein illustrated comprises a driven shaft 1 associated with a rotor 2 having a plurality of intercommunicating cylinders 3 wherein pistons 4 are reciprocally disposed, a driving shaft 5 associated with a confining chamber or casing 6 enclosing the rotor and provided with guiding means whereon the pistons 4 are arranged to operate, and a valve 7 situated within the rotor 2 to control the circulation of oil between the respective cylinders of the rotor whereby infinitely variable speeds as between the driving and driven shafts, ranging from independent rotation of the driven shaft to solid drive of both shafts, may be obtained at will. The rotor 2, as shown, is journailed to revolve between spaced bearing bushes 8, 9 provided within the confining chamber 6, and an axially-disposed controlling valve '7 of cup-shaped form having circumferentially spaced ports 10 in its annular wall is connected with an operating rod or spindle 11 extending longitudinally through an axial passage 12 in the rotor shaft 1 in order to control or regulate the flow of oil into and out of the respective cylinders 3 of rotor 2.

The rotor cylinders 3 are arranged in opposed pairs in equidistantly spaced concentric disposition around the axis of the rotor and confining chamber 6, one set of cylinders 3 being disposed parallel to the axis of the rotor shaft 1 at one side of the rotor and located in longitudinal alignment with the similarly-arranged companion cylinders 3 at the opposite side of the rotor. The pistons 4 in one set of cylinders 3 are fitted at their outer ends with movable members incorporating small plain-surfaced rollers or wheels 13 arranged to operate on a plain-surfaced camlike ring guide track 14 provided on and constituting an integral part of the adjacent end wall 15 of the confining chamber 6, whilst the pistons 4 in the opposed set of cylinders are similarly furnished at their outer ends with small plainsurfaced rollers or wheels 13 arranged to operate on a second plain-surfaced cam-like ring guide track 14 formed on the opposite end wall 15 of the confining chamber 6, such pistons having their operative faces constantly or permanently maintained in spaced relationship to the operative faces of their opposed companion pistons of the first-mentioned set by the aid of spacing rods 16 which at their ends abut against or are connected to the inner ends of the respective pairs of pistons 4 so as to definitely maintain said end rollers or wheels 13 of the sets of pistons 4 in operative engagement or contact with the respective guide tracks 14 which are themselves situated at the opposed ends of the confining casing 6 and have a constant or uniform spacing between their operative faces as shown. By these means it is ensured that each pair of pistons 4 will be mechanically reciprocatedi. e. without the aid of the oil in the apparatus-in corresponding or synchronized fashion and in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor and confining chamber within their respective longitudinally-arranged companion cylinders 3 when the valve 7 is in a position permitting free or restricted circulation of oil between the cylinders, and such mechanical operation of the pistons is effected by relative rotary movements of the guide tracks 14 and rotor 2 and without angular or pivotal displacement of the tracks.

Since it is more convenient to detachably secure both end walls 15 of the confining chamber 6 to the cylindrical body portion thereof as shown, and to provide, if necessary, suitable packing rings at the point of attachment of these parts, it is preferable to employ spacing rods 16 which merely bear against the heads of co-operating pairs of pistons 4 and to fit a small spring 17 at one end of each spacing rod between a shoulder or flange 18 thereof and the head of the adjacent piston to automatically compensate for any slight variations in the thicknesses of different packing washers. Moreover, in order to simplify and cheapen cost of production, cylinder passages are bored completely through the rotor 2 and apertured partitioning discs 19 are inserted into said cylinder passages to create the respective pairs of longitudinally-arranged companion cylinders 3 and to provide central bearings or mountings for the spacing rods 16, such discs being locked in position intermediate of the cylinder passages by screwed blanking studs 20 or in other convenient manner.

The inner portions of the respective rotor cylinders 3 between the heads of the pistons 4 accommodated therein and the adjacent faces of the intermediate partitioning discsl9 communicate with the hollow central cavity or chamber 21 of the rotor 2 by way of radially-arranged oil ducts 22 which are adapted to co-operate or register with the correspondingly spaced ports of the controlling valve '7 situated Within said rotor cavity so that, by appropriate actuation of the valve, the passage of oil into and out of the respective cylinders 3 may be restricted or completely obstructed at the will of the operator to vary the relative speeds of the driving and driven shafts 5,-1, respectively, or toobtain solid drive, or free rotation of the driving shaft relative to the driven shaft, theoil, of course, being used merely as a means of hydraulically controlling the rate of movement of the pairs of pistons 4 within their companion cylinders. It is, however, to be understood that anyv other suitable form of control valve may be employed, and that in cases where automatic variable relative speeds Within only a limited predetermined range are required the valve 7 may, if desired, be omitted, the set ports 22 providing the necessary variation if the prime mover be accepted as a variable factor and the drive load constant. Alternatively, in conjunction with, or in lieu of said ports 22, set ports may be constituted by stress-relieving passages 26 in the blanking studs 20, such studs being readily replaceable by other studs. having larger or smaller passages as may be desired.

In order that the pistons 4 in their driving effort against the confining chamber 6 may not be subjected to backthrust .or angular displacement within their cylinders 3 the piston rollers or wheels 13 which operate on the respective ring guide tracks 14 provided at the opposed ends of the confining chamber are revolubly mounted in pairs at the outer ends of connecting rods 23 pivotally associated with the pistons, the connecting rods themselves being also articulated or pivotally secured at their outer ends with the rotor 2 by the aid of pairs of short link plates 24 attached tospaced lugs 25 fixed to or, as shown, forming integral partsof the rotor 2. Consequently, backthrust is absorbed, by said pivotal connecting plates or links 24 and their anchoring pins 26 and the pistons may reciprocate freely and truly within their cylinders without being subjected to -such thrust. It is to be noted that the connecting rods 23 and links 24 are so arranged and their points of anchorage with the pistons and rotor so determined that the rollers or wheels 13 of each piston move through a path deviating only slightly from the axis of movement of the piston throughout each complete reciprocal movement, as illustrated more particularly in Fig. 3. The wheels or rollers 13 at the outer end of each piston 4 are also mounted to revolve independently of each other on axle, pins or bearing sleeves 27 so that over-running of the outer wheels relative to the inner wheels may occur during the operation of the transmitter. Any suitable means may, of course, be provided to permit easy and rapid replenishment of the rotor 2 and confining chamber 6 of the apparatus, both the rotor and casing being normally maintained filled to their maximum capacity with oil and being in communication with each other by way of apertures in the end wallsof the rotor: the confining chamber is also. preferably provided externally with circumferential ribs 28 which serve both to straighten and strengthen the casing and as cooling fins.

The controlling valve '7 is provided at its end adjacent to the rotor shaft with an internally splined bearing boss or sleeve portion 29 which accommodates the similarly-splined inner portion 30 of the valve operating rod 11 and is also fitted within the hollow interior of the valve with a screw cap or housing 31-'or a suitable cagewherein a coiled spring 32 is situated to press against the end of the splined portion 30 of the valve rod and so maintain a tapered or conical closure element 33 thereof permanently in operative engagement or contact with 2. correspondingly-formed seating 34 on. the adjacent end of rotor shaft 1, such closure element 33 being created by the inclined face of said splined flange or enlargement 30 of the valve spindle, whilst the seating 34 is created by enlargement of the valvespindle passage 12. Thus leakage of oil from the rotor is prevented by the co-operating closure 33 and seating 34.

The rotor shaft 2 itself is provided with a similarly formed tapered or conical closure element 35 which is directly pressed against and so permanently maintained in operative engagement with an internal seating 36 on the confining casing 6 by a'spring washer 3'7 interposed between the adjacent end of the controlling valve 7 and an inner splined portion 38 of the rotor shaft 1. and also by-the spring 32 accommodated in the cap or housing 31 before referred to, in order to prevent leakage of oil from the confining chamber 6. Said inner portion 38 of the rotor shaft extends into a similarly splined por tion 39 of a tubular bearing member 40 forming an integralpart of an end driving plate 41 fixedly secured to the rotor: the tubular member 40 also extends over and is journalled to a bearing boss 42 on the adjacent part of the confining chamber 6 to revolubly support the rotor 2 at this end.

The rim portion of the'controlling valve '7 is provided with a tapered or conical rim closure element 43 created by the inclined face of an annular lip or flange of the valve and which closure is maintained permanently in operative engagement or contact with a similarly-formed seating 44 on the rotor 2 adjacent to said rotor driving plate 41 by reactive effort of the spring washer 37 acting on the side of the controlling valve 7 and the coiled spring 32 operating on the housing 31 associated with said valve in order to prevent leakage of oil past the working faces of the controlling valve and rotor. A lateral pin or projection 45 is provided on said rotor plate 41 to extend into a circumferential slot 46 in the controlling valve 7 and thereby limit the angular or rotary movement of the same relatively to the rotor 2 when the axial valve rod 11 is operated by hand or foot from the exterior of the apparatus inany convenient manner, for example, by sliding along the rotor shaft 1 a sleeve or collar having a pin engaging in cooperating axially and'inclinedly arranged slots 4'", 48 of the valve rod and rotor shaft, respectively, to impart the necessary movement to the rod.

The rotor shaft 1 passes through said tubular portion 42 of the confining chamber 6 and in said bearing is fitted a metallic bearing sleeve or bushing 49 and a gland cap 50, such gland cap being provided to maintain a plurality of suitably tapered metallic packing rings 51 disposed in the shaft passage in contact with the sleeve or bushing 49 and the rotor shaft 2, Whilst the bushing itself is tapered at its inner end to are-- ate the tapered annular seating 36 for the correspondingly-formed closure element 35 of the all rotor shaft. Similar packing means may also, of course, be provided in the axial passage of the rotor shaft, if so desired.

In the operation of the apparatus, when said spaced ports 10 of valve 7 are in register or coincidence with the cylinder ports 22, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the oil contained in the several cylinders 3 is permitted to freely circulate from cylinder to cylinder so that rotor 2 and pistons 4 will revolve with shaft 1 without imparting rotary motion to casing 6, the opposed pairs of pistons being merely maintained in operative contact with guide tracks 14 of said casing by their connecting rods 16, whilst the oil is continually injected into and ejected from the working cylinders 3 due to the fact that each piston recedes into and proceeds along its cylinder-thereby making one complete reciprocal movement within its cylinder-in travelling once around guide track 14.

On the other hand, when the ports 10 of valve '7 are moved out of register with the cylinder ports 22 the latter are sealed or closed by the annular wall portions of the valve, and the oil then contained in each cylinder 3 is trapped; further movement of the respective pairs of pistons 4 is thus prevented and the wheels 13 of those pistons projecting somewhat from their cylinders will, in the continued rotation of driven shaft 1 and rotor 2, become locked with guide tracks 14 of casing 6 and so rotate shaft 5 solid with shaft 1.

Now if restriction be imposed to the free passage of the oil from cylinder to cylinder by partial rotation of valve '7, retardation of the pistons reciprocal function is produced, and as the pistons are proceeding rotationally in unit time, retardation of reciprocal movement must result in either one or other of two actions, namely, rotational movement of easing 6 is effected, or driven shaft 1 is retarded in its rotational speed. This will apply throughout the workable range of the apparatus, from the state of free passage of oil between the several cylinders 3, proceeding by controllably small differences of restriction until there is finally reached a state where total obstruction to oil transference from cyl inder to cylinder is established, and at this stage positive connection or direct drive between rotor and easing 6 is reached, as previously described the small differences of restriction to free flow of the oil are thereby responsively reflected in relative variations in speed between shafts 1 and 5 at the will of the operator, by actuation of valve 7. In short, by a simple regulation of said valve, the available area of cylinder ports 22 may be minutely varied at will and as each minute variation in the available area of the ports causes a slight difference of speed between rotor 2 and casing 6, any desired speed ratios-- ranging from free movement of the driving element relative to the driven element to positive or direct coupling of these elementsmay be selected according to increase or decrease in the size of cylinder ports 22.

It will, however, be realized that if the speed of rotation of the power-producing element coupled to the rotor 2 is capable of variation, as in the case of an internal combustion engine of a motor road vehicle, an infinitely variable speed ratio within any predetermined range may be obtained with appropriately set cylinder ports 22. Under certain conditions, therefore, the manually operable valve '7 may be omitted, al-

though it is desirable to employ this valve as a means of slightly varying the setting of cylinder ports 22 to compensate for differences in working conditions, as it will be readily apparent that the viscosity of the oil in rotor 2 and so its speed of transference from cylinder to cylinder will be effected by differences in the temperature of the apparatus and variations in the load, respectively.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 8 to 10, inclusive, reference may be had to the above description pertaining to Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive for explanation of the parts not hereinafter specially mentioned and designated. The rotor shaft 1 extends longitudinally through the central cavity or chamber 21 of the rotor and terminates in the bearing bush 8 on the end wall 15 of the confining chamber 6 remote from that through which the rotor shaft protrudes, and the rotor 2 itself is of ring-like formation and is journalled within the confining chamber between the bearing bushes 9 at one end wall 15 of the chamber and an additional bearing bush 52 at the opposite end wall of the chamber by means of a pair of driving plates 41 fitted to the respective ends of the rotor, operative connection between the rotor and its shaft 1 being made by engagement of appropriately spaced splined portions 38 of the latter with the similarly-formed splined portions 39 of said end driving plates 41.

The closure elements 33, 35 of the valve operating rod or spindle 11* and the rotor shaft 1 respectively, are maintained permanently in operative engagement or contact with their corresponding seatings 34, 36 by pressure of oil on the splined portion 38 of the rotor shaft bearing the closure 35 and by the coiled spring 32 which, in this case, is accommodated within an extended portion of the rotor shaft passage 12 and interposed between the inner enlarged end of the valve spindle 11 and a grub screw 53 fitted in said passage: a bearing disc 54 is also conveniently situated within the shaft passage 12 at each end of the spring 32 and a metallic ring 49 having a suitably tapered or inclined face constitutes the annular seating 36 for closure element 35. The annular seating 34 for the closure element 33 is also created in the rotor shaft 1 by enlargement of its axial passage 12 as shown.

Further, in this arrangement, the valve '7 is of tubular form and is adapted to be actuated from the exterior of the apparatus, in order to control the passage of oil into and out of the respective rotor cylinders 3 through the medium of a transverse pin 55 projecting through circumferential slots 56 in the rotor shaft 1 to connect the valve with its axially disposed operating rod or spindle 11, the rotary movement of'said connecting pin relatively to the rotor 2 being limited by the circumferential slots, just referred to.

The rotor 2 may be made of aluminium or similar metal and provided with end driving plates 41 of steel or other suitable material, in which case the cylinder passages and the registering apertures 5'7 of said driving plates will be fitted with steel or other suitable liners 58 to accommodate the reciprocating pistons 4 of the apparatus.

This apparatus, of course, functions in similar manner to the apparatus described in Figs, 1 to 7, inciusive.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 11 to 13, inclusive, reference may be had to the above descriptionpertaining to Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive for explanation of the parts not hereinafter specially mentioned and designated. The primary differentiation resides in the employment between the spaced guide tracks 14* and the outer ends or operative faces of the spaced'pistons 4 of movable members each of which consists of a single roller or wheel l3 carried by-a forked link plate24 pivotally attached by a pin 26 to therotor 2 and a second roller 59* co-operating with said first-mentioned roller or wheel and mounted on a pin .60 between a pair ofappropriately spaced lugs 61 formed on the outer end of the piston 4 the relative proportions of said rollers 13 59 and lugs 61 being such that the roller 13 projects somewhat into the space between the lugs and so constitutes a means of preventing rotary displacement of the piston, in addition to serving as a spacing medium between the adjacent guide track 14'" and the roller 59*? carried by the nearby end of the piston. In this arrangement also, the backthrust or drag imposed on the rollers 13 59 is absorbed by and distributed over the anchoring pins 26* 60 of both rollers 13 59 and the carrier links 24* of the former rollers. Further, the spacing members 16 between the pairs of opposed pistons are in the form of socketed rods containing a pair of springs 1'7 each of which is located between a socket base of the rod and the inner end of the adjacent piston for the purpose of positively maintaining'operative engagement between the piston roller 59 and guide track 14 through the medium of the interposed link roller 13*. V

This apparatus, ofcourse, functions in similar manner to the apparatus described in Figs. 1 to '7, inclusive.

It is to be understood that whilst the invention has been described in relation to its preferred forms, various alterations or modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the same as defined by the claims.

What I now-claim as myinvention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

. 1. ,A hydraulic torque transmitter having a confining casing; a rotor mounted to operate within said casing, a plurality of intercommunie eating cylinders-in said rotor, said cylinders being arranged parallel to and disposed concentrically around the rotor axis; a plurality of pistons arranged in pairs in companion cylinders of said rotorya pair of corresponding cam-like guide tracks mounted one at each side of said rotor to impart reciprocal movement to the pairs of pistons, said tracks being arranged to rotate with the confining casing and having a constant spacing between their operativesurfaces; meansbetween the respective pairs of pistons to maintain a constant spacing between their operative faces and further means engaging the pistons with the spaced guide tracks, whereby each pairofpistons will reciprocate truly within their companion cylinders and synchronized movement will be imparted to opposed pistons irrespective of the liquid medium in ,theapparatus.

2. In a hydraulic torque transmitter having a rotor confined within a casing; a plurality of pistons arranged in spaced pairs within intercommunicating rotor cylinders extending parallel to and disposed concentrically around the rotor axis; and a pair of corresponding cam-like guide tracks rotatable with the confining casing and disposed one at each side of the rotor to effect synchronized movement of each opposed pair of pistons within-their companion cylinders: roll able elements between the outer ends of the pistons and the guide tracks and linkedto the rotor and means carried by the pistons to maintain said rollable elements permanently in operative engagement with the guide tracks, whereby said pistons-will truly reciprocate within their cylinders and. without undue deviation of said rollable elements from a path in line with the axis of movement of the pistons.

3. In a hydraulic torque transmitter having a rotor confined within a casing; a plurality of pistons arranged in'spaced pairs within intercommunicating rotor cylinders extending parallel to and disposed concentrically around the rotor axis; and a pair of. corresponding cam-like guide tracks rotatable with the confining casing and disposed one at each side of the rotor to effect synchronized movement of each opposed pair of pistons within their companion cylinders; connecting rods pivotally attached at their inner ends to the pistons, rollable elements mounted at the outer ends of said connecting rods and operating on said guide tracks, and plates of determined length linking the outer ends of said connecting rods with adjacent parts of the rotor.

, 4; In a hydraulic torque transmitter having a rotor confined within a casing; a plurality of pistons arranged in spaced pairs within intercommunicating rotor cylinders extending parallel to and disposed concentrically around the rotor axis; and a pair of corresponding cam-like guide tracks rotatable with the confining casing and disposed one at each side of the rotor to efifect synchronized movement of each opposed pair of pistons within their companion cylinders: rollable elements mounted onthe outer ends of the pistons, further rollable elements interposed between the spaced guide tracks and said first mentioned rollable elements, and plates of determined length linking said second mentioned rollable elements with adjacent parts of the rotor.

5. In a hydraulic torque transmitter having a rotor confined within a casing; a plurality of pistons arranged in spaced pairs within intercommunicating rotor cylinders extending parallel to and disposed concentrically around the rotor axis; and a pair of corresponding cam-like guide tracks rotatable with the confining casing and disposed one at each side of the rotor to efiect synchronized movement of each opposed pair of pistons within their companion cylinders: a spacing member disposed between each pair of opposed pistons and extending freely through a partitioning member separating the companion cylinders accommodating the opposed pistons and spring means associated with such spacing members and engaging the heads of adjacent pistons to positively ensure working contact between the pistons and spaced guide tracks through the medium of the rollable elements.

6. In a hydraulic torque transmitter having a rotor confined within a casing; a plurality of pistons arranged in spaced pairs within intercommunicating rotor cylinders extending parallel to and disposed concentrically around the rotor axis; and a pair of corresponding cam-like guide tracks rotatable with theconfining casing and disposed one at each side of the rotor to effect synchronized movement of each opposed pair of pistons within their companion cylinders: a shaft extending into said confining casing through an end wall thereof and connected with the rotor in such manner as to rotate therewith and be capable of axial displacement relative thereto, and co-operating closure means on said rotor shaft and said end wall of the confining casing to seal the shaft passage against leakage of liquid medium from the confining casing.

'7. In a hydraulic torque transmitter having a rotor confined within a casing; a plurality of pistons arranged in spaced pairs within intercommunicating rotor cylinders extending parallel to and disposed concentrically around the rotor axis; and a pair of corresponding cam-like guide tracks rotatable with the confining casing and disposed one at each side of the rotor to effect synchronized movement of each opposed pair of pistons within their companion cylinders: a shaft extending into said confining casing through an end wall thereof and splined to the rotor, a conical shoulder on said rotor shaft, a conical seating bordering the shaft passage in said end wall, packing means located in said shaft passage at that side of the seating remote from said conical shoulder of the rotor shaft, and spring means operating on said rotor shaft at the opposite side of the conical shoulder thereof to maintain the latter permanently in engagement with said conical seating of the shaft passage.

8. In a hydraulic torque transmitter having a rotor confined within a casing; a plurality of pistons arranged in spaced pairs within intercommunicating rotor cylinders extending parallel to and disposed concentrically around the rotor axis; and a pair of corresponding cam-like guide tracks rotatable with the confining casing and disposed one at each side of the rotor to effect synchronized movement of each opposed pair of pistons within their companion cylinders: a chamber within the rotor between the cylinders, and a radial passage leading from said rotor chamber into that part of each rotor cylinder between the inner end thereof and the head of the piston accommodated therein, whereby liquid medium may pass into and out of the rotor cylinders to provide variable relative speeds as between the confining casing and the rotor within a limited range.

9. In a hydraulic torque transmitter having a rotor confined within a casing; a plurality of pistons arranged in spaced pairs within intercommunicating rotor cylinders extending parallel to and disposed concentrically around the rotor axis; and a pair of corresponding cam-like guide tracks rotatable with the confining casing and disposed one at each side of the rotor to effect synchronized movement of each opposed pair of pistons within their companion cylinders: a chamber within the rotor between the cylinders, a radial passage leading from said rotor chamber into that part of each rotor cylinder between the inner end thereof and the head of the piston accommodated therein, and a further radial passage leading from the inner end of each rotor cylinder to the interior of the confining casing.

10. In a hydraulic torque transmitter having a rotor confined within a casing; a plurality of pistons arranged in spaced pairs within intercommunicating rotor cylinders extending parallel to and disposed concentrically around the rotor axis; and a pair of corresponding cam-like guide tracks rotatable with the confining casing and disposed one at each side of the rotor to effect synchronized movement of each opposed pair of pistons within their companion cylinders: a chamber within the rotor between the cylinders, a radial passage leading from said rotor chamber into that part of each rotor cylinder between the inner end thereof and the head of the piston accommodated therein, and valve means mounted in said rotor chamber and adapted to be operated from the exterior of the apparatus to control the passage of liquid medium into and out of the rotor cylinders by way of said radial passages whereby variable relative speeds as between the confining casing and the rotor, ranging from free rotation of one element relative to the other element to solid rotation of both elements, may be effected at will.

11. In a hydraulic torque transmitter having a rotor confined within a casing; a plurality of pistons arranged in spaced pairs within intercommunicating rotor cylinders extending parallel to and disposed concentrically around the rotor axis; and a pair of corresponding cam-like guide tracks rotatable with the confining casing and disposed one at each side of the rotor to effect synchronized movement of each opposed pair of pistons within their companion cylinders; a shaft extending into said confining casing and connected with the rotor, a valve spindle extending through an axial passage of said rotor shaft and connected with a tubular valve member mounted in a central chamber of the rotor and provided with circumferentially spaced ports, radial passages leading from said valve member into the inner ends of the rotor cylinders, means on the outer end of said spindle externally of the confining casing whereby the valve ports may be moved into and out of register with said intercommunicating passages of the rotor cylinders to control at will the passage of liquid medium into and out of the respective cylinders, and co-operating closure means on said valve spindle and said spindle passage of the rotor shaft to seal said shaft passage against leakage of liquid medium from the rotor.

12. In a hydraulic torque transmitter having a rotor confined within a casing; a plurality of pistons arranged in spaced pairs within intercommunicating rotor cylinders extending parallel to and disposed concentrically around the rotor axis; and a pair of corresponding cam-like guide tracks rotatable with the confining casing and disposed one at each side of the rotor to effect synchronized movement of each opposed pair of pistons within their companion cylinders: a chamber within the rotor between the rotor cylinders, a valve mounted in said rotor chamber to control the passage of liquid medium into and out of said rotor cylinders, a shaft extending through an end wall of the confining casing and connected with the rotor, a spindle extending through an axial passage of said rotor shaft and connected in axially displaceable manner to said valve whereby the latter may be operated at will from the exterior of the apparatus, a conical shoulder on said valve spindle, a conical seating bordering said axial passage of the rotor shaft, and spring means operating on the inner end of said valve spindle to maintain the conical shoulder thereof permanently in engagement with the conical seating of the rotor shaft.

13. In a hydraulic torque transmitter having a rotor confined within a casing; a plurality of pistons arranged in spaced pairs within intercommunicating rotor cylinders extending parallel to and disposed concentrically around the rotor axis; and a pair of corresponding cam-like guide tracks rotatable with the confining casing and disposed one at each side of the rotor to effect synchronized movement of each opposed pair of pistons within their companion cylinders: a chamber within the rotor between the rotor cylinders, a tubular valve mounted within said rotor chamber and adapted to be actuated from the exterior of the apparatus to control the passage of liquid mediuminto and out of the respective rotor cylinders, and cooperating closure means on said valve and rotor, said means comprising a conical flange on the valve, a conical seating on the rotor, and spring means within the rotor chamber whereby said flange is maintained permanently in engagement with said rotor seating.

14. A hydraulic torque transmitter comprising, in combination, a confining casing, a rotor mounted to operate within said casing, a plurality of intercommunicating cylinders in said ro-- tor, said cylinders being arranged parallel to and disposed concentrically around the rotor axis, a plurality of pistons arranged in pairs in companion cylinders of said rotor, a pair of corresponding cam-like guide tracks mounted one at each side of said rotor, said tracks being arranged to rotate with the confining casing and having a constant spacing between their operative surfaces, means between the respective pairs of pistons to maintain a constant spacing between their operative faces and rollable elements located at the outer ends of the pistons and engaging the spaced guide tracks to impart true reciprocation and synchronized movement to each pair of opposed pistons within their companion cylinders irrespective of the liquid medium in the apparatus, a shaft extending into said confining casing and connected with the rotor, and co-operating closure means on said rotor shaft and confining casing to prevent leakage of liquid medium from the apparatus where said rotor shaft protrudes through the confining casing.

15. A hydraulic torque transmitter comprising, in combination, a confining casing, a rotor mounted to operate within said casing, a plurality of cylinders in said rotor, said cylinders being arranged parallel to and disposed concentrically around the rotor axis, a chamber within said rotor between the cylinders thereof, a radial passage leading from said rotor chamber to the inner end of each cylinder, a plurality of pistons arranged in pairs in companion cylinders of said rotor, a pair of corresponding camlike guide tracks mounted one at each side of the rotor, said tracks being arranged to rotate with the confining casing and having a constant spacing between their operative surfaces, spacing means between the respective pairs of pistons and rollable elements between the pistons and spaced guide tracks to impart true reciprocation and synchronized movement of each pair of opposed pistons within their companion cylinders irrespective of the liquid medium in the apparatus, a shaft extending into said confining casing and connected with the rotor, co-operating closure means on said rotor shaft and confining casing, a valve mounted in said rotor chamber and provided with spaced ports adapted to be moved into and out of register with said radial intercommunicating passages of the rotor cylinders to control the passage of liquid medium between the cylinders and said intermediate chamber of the rotor, a valve spindle extending through an axial passage of the rotor shaft and provided with means whereby said valve may be actuated from the exterior of the apparatus, and further co-operating closure means on said valve spindle and said axial passage of therotor shaft to prevent leakage of liquid medium from the apparatus by way of said rotor shaft passage.

THOMAS WATSON PATERSON.

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