US3120154A

US3120154A - Hydraulic motor

Info

Publication number: US3120154A
Application number: US73026A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lafayette E Gilreath
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-12-01
Filing date: 1960-12-01
Publication date: 1964-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 1981-02-04

Description

Feb. 4, 1964 E. GILREATH HYDRAULIC MOTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 1, 1960 INVENTOR. lav/aye zfe GMreorfi ATTORNEY Feb. 4, 1964 E. GlLREATH HYDRAULIC MOTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 1, 1960 wzz sf United States Patent 3,120,154 HYDRAULIC MGTGR Lafayette E. Gilreath, 7623 Arnim St., Houston, Tex. Filed Dec. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 73,026 2 Claims. (Cl. 91-135) This invention ralates to hydraulically powered motors and more particularly to a hydraulic motor of the vane type.

The invention has for an important object the provision of ahydraulic motor of the vane type embodying means for preventing the leakage of hydraulic fluid past the vanes during the operation of the motor. Another object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic motor having a rotor and a stator within which the rotor is rotatably mounted and including vanes movably mounted on the rotor for radial movement in contact with the stator and means for equalizing the hydraulic pressure exerted on the vanes during the idling movement of the vanes and for causing the exertion of a greater hydraulic pressure radially outwardly on the vanes than the pressure exerted radially inwardly thereon during the power transmitting movement of the vanes.

A further object of the. invention is the provision of a hydraulic motor of the vane type whose directionof rotation may be reversed by reversal of the direction of fiow of fluid through the motor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic motor designed especially for operation at widely varying speeds and fluid pressure conditions md having means for making use of the pressure of the operating fluid for preventing loss of power due to leakage of fluid between the rotor and stator 01 the motor.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a hydraulic motor of the type mentioned, which is of simple design and rugged construction, having few parts, which may be economically manufactured, and in which the parts are easily replaced for purposes of maintenance and repair.

The above and other important objects and advantages of the inventionmay best be understood from the following deta led description, constituting a specification of the same, when considered in conjunction with the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, on a reduced scale, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the motor of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional View, taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and showing details of structure of one part of the stator of the motor;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional View, taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows and showing details of construction of the rotor of the motor and relationship thereto of the fluid passageways of one part of the stator;

FIGURE 4 is a view, similar to that of FIGURE 3, taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 1 showing the relationship of the fluid passageways of the another part of the stator of the motor tothe rotor thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, showing details of the internal structure of one of the stator parts of the motor;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view, on a greatly enlarged scale, taken along the line 66 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing details of structure of the parts and the fluid pressure mechanism by which the vanes of the motor are operated; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective View of one of the vanes of the motor as illustratedin FIGURE 6, removed from the surrounding structure of the motor.

"ice

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, the motor of the invention has a stator or housing made up of two outer, identical, disk-

like parts

10 and 12, and a central, ring-like part 14 positioned between the parts 1%) and 12 to form a somewhat oval shaped, internal cavity, generally indicated at 16 in which the rotor 18 is rotatably mounted. Each of the parts 1% i2 and 18 has a central opening therethrough, through which a drive shaft 2% is extended, which is splined or otherwise secured to the. rotor, as indicated at 22' in FIGURE 3, for rotation therewith, and which is freely rotatable relative to the stator.

The

parts

19, 12 and 14 are secured together, as by means of bolts 24 extending through suitable openings in the parts, suitable means, such as the

gaskets

26 and 28 being positioned between the parts to. form fluid tight seals with the same. T he gaskets 26 and 28 are provided with elongated slots which register with the

slots

36, 40 and. 42. when the motor is assembled.

The parts It! and 12 are of identical construction, each having a passageway 38 which is internally threaded at its outer end for the connection thereto of a fluid pressure supply pipe 32' or a discharge pipe 34 through which fluid under pressure is supplied to or conducted away from the interior of the stator. Elongated

arcuate slots

36 and 38 are provided in each stator part It? and 12 in communication with the passageway 39 at positions to allow the inflow of fluid to the stator and the outflow of fluid therefrom at suitable locations in a manner to be hereinafter pointed out. Each of the stator parts Iii and 12 also has additional elongated, arcuate slots 4i and 42 therein which are in communication with the passageway 36 through branch passageways 4d, and which are for purposes to be hereinafter explained.

The stator parts ill and 12 may be provided with external, centrally located recesses 46 for the reception of suitable bearings, such as those indicated at 43', surrounding the drive shaft 2% to permit the shaft to rotate freely in the stator.

The rotor 13 is of circular shape to fit within and rotate in the cavity 16, to provide oppositely disposed, arcuate, pressure chambers 52 within the stator exteriorly of the rotor. The rotor is also of a thickness to closely fit between the gaskets 25 and 2-8 in sealing contact therewith, so that the rotor may rota-te within the stator without leakage of the pressure fluid from the chambers 52 past the rotor.

The rotor is provided with a plurality of peripherally spaced, radially extending, external, cyiiudrical recesses 56, whose inner ends are closed and whose outer ends open outwardly inrto external slots 58 of rectangular shape in cross-section. Movable vane elements, such as that generally designated 60, in FIGURE 7 are provided for the rotor 18, each of which has a cylindrical piston portion 62 sl-idahl-y fittedinto one of the recesses 56, and a vane portion 64 or" rectangular shape in cross-section which is sliidably disposed in the corresponding one of the external slots 53.. The portion 62is provided with an end recess 5'6 in its inner end, as seen in FIGURE 6,, in which a coil spring 68 is positioned which engages the piston and the bottom of the recess 56 to yieldingly urge the vane radially outwardly into contact with the surrounding wall of the stator part 14. Each vane element carries a roller 76 positioned for rolling contact with the surrounding wall of the stator cavity 16. The vane portion 64 of each vane element has

passageways

72 and 74 therelthrough each of which is provided with a valve 76 which functions to allow the flow of fluid from the cavity 16 inwardly through the vane portion 64, but which prevents the flow of fluid through the vane portion into the cavity 16.

The combined areas of the vane portion 64, and cylindrical portion 62 which is exposed to fluid pressure in the recess 56 and the slot 58, tending to urge the vane radially outwardly into engagement with the surrounding wall of the cavity 16, is greater than the area of the vane which is exposed to pressure in the chamber 52 tending to rotate the rotor. Thus, one side face of the vane in the chamber 52 be exposed to the pressure of fluid entering the chamber through the inlet pipe 32, and the passageway 39 and

elongated slots

36 and 38 associated therewith to apply a force to the vane tending to rotate the rotor. The duration of the application of rotative force to the vane is determined by the lengths of the

slots

36 and 38. All of the rollers 70 are held in rolling contact with the surrounding wall of the cavity 16, during rotation of the rotor, by the coil springs 68, as each of the vanes reaches a position to allow the inlet pressure of fluid to enter the chamber 52 through one of the

slots

36, 38 to apply pressure to one side of the vane to apply 7 a relative force to the rotor, both of the

slots

40 and 42 will then be in communication with the inlet pipe to allow fluid :under pressure to enter the recess 56, beneath the piston portion 62 and the slot 58 beneath the vane pressure 64 to apply a pressure to the vane tending to urge the vane radially outwardly, which is greater than the pressure exerted on the side surface of the vane tending to rotate the rotor, whereby the vane will be held against radial inward movement away from the surrounding wall of the chamber 52, to effectively prevent leakage of fluid past the vane during the power transmitting portion of its movement in the ch amber.

As each vane moves past the

slot

36 or 38 in the chamber'52, the inlet pressure applied thereto will be cut off, and the next vane will be in position for the application thereto of the inlet pressure to apply a rotative force to the rotor.

The inlet pressure applied to the vane in the recess 56 and slot 58, tending to urge the vane radially outwardly is applied only during the time that the vane is moving past the

slots

40 and 42, and when the vane has moved past these slots, pressure in the chamber 52 may flow through

passageways

72 and 74 into the slot 58, beneath the vane portion 64, to equalize the radial inward and outward pressures exerted on the vane. The vane is then urged radially outwardly only by the pressure of the spring 68. Thus, during the time that the rotative force is exerted on the vane, the pressure exerted radially outwardly on the vane will exceed the pressure exerted thereon in the direction of movement of the vane, to hold the vane in sealing contact with the stator to prevent leakage of fluid past the vane during the application of rotative force to the vane.

As soon as each vane passes one of the

inlet slots

36 and 38, the preceding vane will have moved to a position to permit the outflow of fluid through one of the discharge slots, to exhaust fluid from the chamber 52.

It will thus be apparent that the outward pressure exerted on the vanes will be in excess of the inward pressure exerted thereon only during the time that pressure is being applied to the vane tending to rotate the rotor, and during idling movement of the vanes, the vanes are urged outwardly only by the pressure of the coil springs 68. Thus, the force required to hold the vanes in their retracted positions during idling movement of the vanes is reduced to a minimum, while at the same time the vanes will be securely held in sealing contact with the stator during the power transmitting portions of their movement.

Because of the greatly improved sealing etieot accomplished by the application of an outward force to the vanes in excess of the force tending to rotate the rotor during the power transmitting movement of the vanes, it

,will be apparent that the motor of the invention is particularly suitable for use at relatively low speed, without loss due to leakage, and that the motor may be effioiently operated throughout a Wide range of speeds.

It will, of course, be understood that the motor of the invention may be operated from any suitable source of fluid under pressure, such as an hydraulic pump of usual design, by which hydraulic fluid may be circulated through the motor, under the control of the usual valve mechanism.

It will also be apparent that because of the symmetrical arrangement of the inlet and outlet passageways of the motor, the motor may be operated in either direction by merely reversing the direction of flow of the hydraulic fluid therethro-ugh. 1

It will thus be seen that the invention, constructed and arranged as described above describes an hydraulic motor of simple design and rugged construction having few parts, a

which is eflicient in operation and in which the parts may be easily replaced for purposes of maintenance and repair.

The invention is disclosed herein in connection with a certain specific embodiment of the same, but it will be understood that is intended by way of illustration only and that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a hydraulic motor a hollow stator having an internal peripheral wall, a rotor rotatably positioned in the stator and having an external peripheral wall located in radially inwardly spaced relation to said internal wall, peripherally spaced, radially extending, external recesses in the rotor, a vane movably disposed in each recess and extending radially in sealing contact with the rotor and stator to form a seal between said walls, means for ad mitting fluid under pressure into the stator between said walls at one location and for allowing the outflow of fluid from the stator between said walls at another location to apply a force to one side of each of said vanes during rotation of the rotor in a direction to cause the rotor to rotate, each of said vanes having a passageway opening into the interior of the stator on each side of the vane and leading to the interior of the recess radially inwardly of the vane, 21 valve seat in each passageway through which fluid may flow through the passageway and valve means movably disposed in each passageway for movement to one position to close the seat against the outflow of fluid through the passageway and to another position to open the seat.

2. In a hydraulic motor a hollow stator havingan internal peripheral wall, a rotor rotatably positioned in the stator and having an external peripheral wall located in radially inwardly spaced relation to said internal wall, peripherally spaced, radially extending, external recesses in the rotor, a vane movably disposed in each recess and extending radially outwardly from the stator in sealing contact with the rotor and stator and with said internal wall to form a seal between the walls, each of said vanes having radially spaced, radially inwardly facing surfaces in the recess, inlet means for admitting fluid under pressure into the stator between said walls at one location and outlet means for allowing an outflow of fluid from the stator between said walls at another location to apply a force to one side of each vane when the vane is between the inlet and outlet means to cause the rotor to rotate, each of said vanes having a passageway whose inner end opens into the recess through one of said faces and whose outer end opens into the statorbetween said walls at one side of the vane and another passageway whose inner end opens into the recess through the other of said faces and whose outer end opens into the stator between said walls at the other side of the vane, a valve for controlling the flow of fluid through each passageway to allow an inflow of fluid into the recess and to prevent the outflow of fluid therefrom, and means for admitting fluid under pressure from said inlet means into the recess radially inwardly of said faces during the application of such force to the vane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bsekman Jan. 26, 1875 Keavy Aug. 20, 1889 Craig Feb. 6, 1900 Charles Aug. 5, 1902 Dunn Mar. 24, 1903 Walters July 14, 1903 Walters Aug. 4, 1903 Augustine Dec. 6, 1904 Lofton Nov. 14, 1905 McLean Feb. 13, 1906 Kaiser Oct. 30, 1905 Austin July 2, 1907 Tippett et a1 Out. 29, 1907 Nichols *Feb. 7, 1911 Rasmussen Jan. 7, 1919 6 Lambert May 11, 1920 Ensign May 26, 1925 Hott June: 16, 1931 Norling July 4, 1933 Ernst et a1 Nov. 2, 1943 Kay Nov. 30, 1943 Rosen Ian. 15, 1946 Ferris Mar. 24, 1953 Welcn Nov. 10, 1953 Williams Jan. 10, 1956 Adams Jan. 15, 1957 Stewart Oct. 8, 1957 Rystrorn Apr. 17, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Dec. 1, 1923 Germany Jan. 20, 1933

Claims

2. IN A HYDRAULIC MOTOR A HOLLOW STATOR HAVING AN INTERNAL PERIPHERAL WALL, A ROTOR ROTATABLY POSITIONED IN THE STATOR AND HAVING AN EXTERNAL PERIPHERAL WALL LOCATED IN RADIALLY INWARDLY SPACED RELATION TO SAID INTERNAL WALL, PERIPHERALLY SPACED, RADIALLY EXTENDING, EXTERNAL RECESSES IN THE ROTOR, A VANE MOVABLY DISPOSED IN EACH RECESS AND EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY FROM THE STATOR IN SEALING CONTACT WITH THE ROTOR AND STATOR AND WITH SAID INTERNAL WALL TO FORM A SEAL BETWEEN THE WALLS, EACH OF SAID VANES HAVING RADIALLY SPACED, RADIALLY INWARDLY FACING SURFACES IN THE RECESS, INLET MEANS FOR ADMITTING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE INTO THE STATOR BETWEEN SAID WALLS AT ONE LOCATION AND OUTLET MEANS FOR ALLOWING AN OUTFLOW OF FLUID FROM THE STATOR BETWEEN SAID WALLS AT ANOTHER LOCATION TO APPLY A FORCE TO ONE SIDE OF EACH VANE WHEN THE VANE IS BETWEEN THE INLET AND OUTLET MEANS TO CAUSE THE RATOR TO ROTATE, EACH OF SAID VANES HAVING A PASSAGEWAY WHOSE INNER END OPENS INTO THE RECESS THROUGH ONE OF SAID FACES AND WHOSE OUTER END OPENS INTO THE STATOR BETWEEN SAID WALLS AT ONE SIDE OF THE VANE AND ANOTHER PASSAGEWAY WHOSE INNER END OPENS INTO THE RECESS THROUGH THE OTHER OF SAID FACES AND WHOSE OUTER END OPENS INTO THE STATOR BETWEEN SAID WALLS AT THE SIDE OF THE VANE, A VALVE FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF FLUID THROUGH EACH PASSAGEWAY TO ALLOW AN INFLOW OF FLUID INTO THE RECESS AND TO PREVENT THE OUTFLOW OF FLUID THEREFROM, AND MEANS FOR ADMITTING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE FROM SAID INLET MEANS INTO THE RECESS RADIALLY INWARDLY OF SAID FACES DURING THE APPLICATION OF SUCH FORCE TO THE VANE.