US3486460A - Gaging vane construction - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 1969 s, K. SMITH ETAL 3,

GAGING'V'ANE CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 25, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F|G.l 43 I3 45 4l A STANLEY K. SMITH .ATTQRNEY United States Patent 3,486,460 GAGING VANE CONSTRUCTION Stanley K. Smith, Baltimore, and Lee W. Ramstrom,

Joppa, Md., assignors to The Black and Decker Manufacturing Company, Towson, Md., a corporation of Maryland Filed Sept. 25, 1968, Ser. No. 762,488 Int. Cl. F04c 1 /00, 3/00; B23q 17/00 US. Cl. 103-436 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The device disclosed herein is a pneumatic tool which includes a housing having a pneumatic motor disposed therein. An output spindle is coupled to the motor and the latter is powered by pressurized air admitted thereto through suitable conduit means and valving. The motor includes a rotor and stationary cylinder and the former has radially slidable vanes which engage the latter. The vanes are novelly constructed to provide a built-in gaging feature for each of the other vanes.

Summary of the invention The present invention is directed to a novel vane construction for use in rotary, fluid handling devices such as pumps, motors and the like. The vane has gage means integrated therewith for readily determining whether other, like vanes are worn sufiiciently to warrant replacement. This construction obviates the need for any special gages Or even any special skill on the part of the one examining the vanes to determine whether or not vane replacement is needed.

Main objects of the present invention, therefore, are to provide a novel vane construction for use in rotary, fluid handling pumps, motors and the like, which construction includes gaging means integrated therewith for determining whether other ones of the vanes have Worn sufliciently to warrant replacement, and which construction may readily be provided in a number of installations with no significant cost factor, and which has no significant effect on vane performance.

Further important objects of the invention are to provide a novel vane construction of the above character which obviates the need for special vane gages and which requires no special skill to use.

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent from a consideration of the detailed description to follow taken together with the drawings annexed hereto.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a view, partly broken away and partly in section, illustrating a pneumatic tool embodying a preferred form of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along the line 2-2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the novel vane of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view, similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the technique of vane gaging employed with this embodiment and showing a gaged vane which has not worn sufiiciently to warrant replacement;

FIG. 5 is a view, similar to FIG. 4, but showing a gaged vane which needs replacement;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a modified vane construction and the technique of vane gaging employed therewith;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another modified vane construction;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the technique of vane gaging employed with the vane of FIG. 7;

ice

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating another modified form of vane construction;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the technique of vane gaging employed with the vane of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating still another modified form of vane construction;

FIG. 12 is an elevational view illustrating the technique of vane gaging employed with the view of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating yet another modified form of vane embodying the present invention; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating the technique of vane gaging employed with the vane of FIG. 13.

Broad statement of the invention Broadly described, the present invention relates to a rotor vane adapted for use in a fluid handling pump, mo-. tor and the like which includes a stationary cylinder having end plate means at opposite ends thereof and a rotor journaled for rotation between said end plate means and eccentrically within said cylinder, said vane being slidably disposed in a radial slot in said rotor and comprising an elongated, generally flat body having an outer longitudie nal edge adapted to slide around the inner surface of said cylinder during rotor rotation and held in engagement therewith by centrifugal force, a pair of generally parallel transverse edges one at either end of said outer longitudinal edge and disposed in face-to-face relation with said end plate means, and an inner edge, recess means in said vane having a longitudinal dimension substantially equal to the minimum acceptable dimension of said vane measured along a predetermined transverse portion thereof, whereby the transverse dimension of said vane may be gaged by placing said vane transversely in said recess means of another, like vane.

Detailed description Referring now more specifically to the drawings, a portable, pneumatic tool embodying the present invention is illustrated generally at 11 in FIG. 1. It should be understood, however, that this installation is exemplary only and that the vane of the present invention finds use in the general class of rotary, fluid handling devices which includes pumps and motors both portable or stationary.

With this in mind, the illustrated tool 11 is seen to include a mot-or housing 13 having a pendent-type handle 15 integral therewith. A pneumatic motor 17 is disposed within the motor housing 13 and powers an output spindle 19 through an impact mechanism (not shown) disposed within an impact housing 21. The motor 17 is accessible by means of a cover plate 23 secured to the motor housing 13 by bolts 25 which also hold the impact housing 21 to the motor housing 13. Pressurized air is supplied to the motor 17 through a conduit 27 connected to the handle 15 and is controlled by suitable valving (not shown) in response to pivotal movement of a trigger 29 mounted on the handle 15.

The motor 17 is seen to include a cylinder 31 fixed within the motor housing 13 and having a pair of end plates 33, 35, one at either end thereof. A rotor 37 i journaled for rotation between the end plates 33, 35 and eccentrically within the cylinder 31. The rotor 37 has one or more radial slots 39 which extend the final axial length thereof and in each of which is disposed a rotor vane 41.

In use, pressurized air is admitted to the cylinder 31 preferably through inlet openings (not shown) therein and bears against one side of the vanes 41 causing the rotor 37 to turn. Air is exhausted from the cylinder 31 through discharge openings (not shown) in the usual manner.

It will be appreciated that during rotor rotation, cen- 3 trifugal force acts radially on the vanes 41 and causes them to move partially out of the slots 39 and to slide around the inner surface of the cylinder 31. At the same time, air pressure tends to bend the vanes 41 in the direction of rotor rotation during compression whereas frictional forces tend to bend the vanes 41 in the opposite direction during exhaust. As a result, the vanes 41 flex back and forth in the slots 39.

As the vanes 41 wear, they are able to move further out of the slots 39 until eventually they lose enough stability and the flexing action causes them to break along their length. Thereafter, the broken vane parts can wedge between the rotor 37 and the cylinder 31 causing the motor to jam.

It is desirable then to have a gage so that one may readily determine whether or not the vane or vanes need be replaced. To this end, each of the vanes 41 of the present invention is constructed so that it may be used to gage the transverse dimension of other like vanes and quickly indicates whether the other vanes need be replaced Thus, as shown in FIGS. 13, each of the vanes 41 comprises an elongated, flat body having an outer longitudinal edge 43, a pair of transverse edges 45, 47 and an inner longitudinal edge 49. The outer longitudinal edge 43 engages the inner wall of the cylinder 31 and is the edge which wears with use while the transverse edges 45, 47 confront the end plates 33, in face-to-face relation as shown in FIG. 1. The longitudinal dimension of each vane 41, or the distance from edge 45 to edge 47, is slightly less than the distance between end plates 33, 35 to provide a small amount of clearance and prevent excessive frictional forces during rotor rotation.

As the longitudinal edge 43 of each vane 41 wears, the

transverse dimension of the vane 41 is reduced. In order to gage the tranverse dimension of each of the vanes 41, the inner longitudinal edge 49 of each vane 41 has a re cess 51 formed therein intermediate the edges 45, 47 and having a dimension corresponding to the minimum acceptable transverse dimension for the vanes 41 measured at a predetermined point.

To perform the gaging sequence then, each vane 41 is placed transverse in the recess 51 of another vane 41. As shown in FIG. 4, a vane 41 which has not worn sufficient to warrant replacement will not fit in the recess 51 while one which has so worn will fit as seen in FIG. 5. For most accurate results, each vane 41 is gaged at each end thereof, i.e., adjacent each transverse edge 45, 47, since if uneven wear has occurred, maximum Wear (and the minimum transverse vane dimension) will occur at one of these edges.

Thus, each of the vanes 41 may quickly and easily be gaged either by other ones of the vanes 41 in the particular installation such as the other vanes 41 in the motor 17, or by like replacement vanes 41. No special or separate gage is necessary and no special skill is required of the person performing the gaging.

A modified form of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 6. There, the vanes 41A are provided with a recess 51A along the inner longitudinal edge adjacent each of the transverse edges 45A, 47A. Two such recesses 51A are provided so that the vane 41A is balanced. Each of the recesses 51A is dimensioned equal to the minimum acceptable transverse dimension of a smilarly shaped vane 41A measured long the edges 45A, 47A from edge 43A to the adjacent recess 51A. Thus, these vanes 41A are easily gaged, as shown in FIG. 6, by placing them in one of the recesses 51A. If the gaged vane 41A overhangs the edge 47A, it need not be replaced. If no overhang exists, then the gaged vane should be replaced.

Another modified form of the invention is seen in FIG. 7 and 8. There, the vanes 41B are substantially the same as the embodiment of FIG. 6 except that the inner edge 49B of the vanes 41B is arcuate instead of straight. The vanes 41B are provided with recesses 51B, one adjacent each side edge 45B, 473, respectively, and each of the recesses 51B have a longitudinal dimension substantially equal to the minimum acceptable transverse dimension of each of the vanes 41B measured along the edges 45B, 47B from edge 43B to the adjacent recess 51B.

The gaging sequence for this embodiment is shown in FIG. 8 and if, as shown, the gaged vane 41B overhangs the edge 47B, it need not be replaced. If, on the other hand, there is no overhang, the vane 41B should be replaced.

Still another modified form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Here, the vane 41C has a gaging recess 510 formed in one transverse face thereof from the edge 43C to the edge 49C. Since the edge 49C is arcuate in configuration, the recess 51C is dimensioned substantially equal to the minimum acceptable transverse dimension of the vane 41C measured substantially across the midpoint thereof.

The vanes 41C are gaged by placing them in one of the recesses 51C as shown in FIG. 10. If, as shown there, the gaged vane 41C does not fit in the recess 51C, it need not be replaced. If the gaged vane 410 does fit in the recess 51C, replacement is warranted. Were the edge 49C straight, the recess 51C preferably would be dimensioned to gage the vane 41C adjacent each transverse edge 45C, 47C.

Yet another modified form of the invention is illus trated in FIGS. 11 and 12. There, the vanes 41D have a tapered gaging recess 51D formed in one transverse face thereof. However, unlike in the vanes 41C, the recess 51D does not extend to the outer vane edge 43D which rides around the inner edge of the cylinder 43.

The gaging recess 51D is dimensioned to receive other ones of the vanes 41D when the transverse dimension of the latter is reduced to a level which warrants vane replacement. Thus, as shown in FIG. 12, the vanes 41D are generally rectangular in configuration which facilitates gaging adjacent the transverse edges 45D, 47D. The gaged vane 41D is so gaged, as was done in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, and is replaced when its transverse dimension, adjacent either edge 45D, 47D, is such that it fits wholly in the recess 51D.

Still another modified form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. There, the vane gaging recess comprises an aperture 51E which is dimensioned to allow free passage of the vane 41E therethrough when the transverse dimension thereof has fallen below the minimum acceptable level.

By the foregoing, there has been disclosed a novel vane for use in rotary, fluid handling devices, which vane is calculated to fulfill the inventive objects hereinabove set forth, and while a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described in detail, various additions, substitutions, modifications and omissions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as encompassed by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A rotor vane adapted for use in a fluid handling pump, motor and the like which includes a stationary cylinder having end plate means at opposite ends there of and a rotor journaled for rotation between said end plate means and eccentrically within said cylinder, said vane being slidably disposed in a radial slot in said rotor and comprising an elongated, generally fiat body having an outer longitudinal edge adapted to slide around the inner surface of said cylinder during rotor rotation and held in engagement therewith by centrifugal force, a pair of generally parallel transverse edges one at either end of said outer longitudinal edge and disposed in faceto-face relation with said end plate means, and an inner edge, recess means in said vane having a longitudinal dimension substantially equal to the minimum acceptable dimension of said vane measured along a predetermined transverse portion thereof, whereby the transverse dimension of said vane may be gaged by placing said vane transversely in said recess means of another, like vane.

2. A vane as defined in claim 1 wherein said recess means comprises a recess formed in said inner edge intermediate said transverse edges and adapted to gage the transverse dimension of said vane adjacent each of its transverse edges.

3. A vane as defined in claim 1 wherein said recess means comprises a recess formed in said inner edge adjacent each of said transverse edges and adapted to gage the transverse dimension of said vane adjacent each of said transverse edges.

4. A vane as defined in claim 2 wherein said recess is dimensioned to fully receive said vane when so placed therein if said vane has a transverse dimension less than said minimum acceptable dimension.

5. A vane as defined in claim 3 wherein said recesses are dimensioned so that when said vane is so placed in one of said recesses, none of said gaged vane will overhang said one recess if said gaged vane has a transverse dimension less than said minimum acceptable dimension.

6. A vane as defined in claim 1 wherein said recess means includes a recess formed in a transverse face thereof.

7. A vane as defined in claim 6 wherein said recess extends from said outer to said inner edge.

8. A vane as defined in claim 6 wherein said recess extends from said inner edge and is spaced from said outer edge.

9. A vane as defined in claim 8 wherein said recess is tapered from said transverse face to said inner edge.

10. A vane as defined in claim 1 wherein said recess means comprises an aperture formed therethrough.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,692,473 11/1928 Smith 103-136 1,833,026 11/1931 Langford 29401 3,252,212 5/1966 Bell 29407 3,354,537 11/1967 OConnor 29401 3,417,664 12/1968 Brucker 91121 FOREIGN PATENTS 729,901 5/ 1932 France.

HENRY F. RADUAZO, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

Images