US3610786A - Valve system means for fluid pressure operating means - Google Patents

Abstract

Stationary and rotary valve means are provided in combination with fluid pressure operation means, in which the stationary valve has a stationary valve face and a plurality of fluid openings communicating with the fluid pressure operation means. The rotary valve is hollow and has a rotary valve face sealingly engaging the stationary valve face. Externally of the hollow rotary valve is a first fluid chamber or gallery and internally of the hollow rotary valve is a second fluid chamber or gallery. First and second alternate series of commutating fluid conduction means respectively extend from the first and second fluid chambers through the rotary valve face with each series commutating with and being one less in number than said plurality of fluid openings. A series of land are circumferentially and respectively disposed between said first and second series. Said lands and said first and second series each have substantially the same circumferential width and are spaced at substantially uniform circumferential intervals relative to each other around the rotary valve face and are respectively positioned in substantially direct opposed diametrical locations relative to each other. The rotary valve terminates in flange means comprising an external-rim flange and an internal-rim flange interconnected by a common intermediate cylindrical body portion which has an end face defining substantially a circular sealing band disposed between said first and second series of commutating fluid connection means commutatingly registering with the fluid openings in the stationary valve face.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor George V. Woodling Prima ry Eraminen-Carlton R. Croyle 22077 W. Lake Road, Rocky River, Ohio Assistant Examiner-Wilbur .l. Goodlin 44116 Attorney-Woodling, Krost, Granger and Rust [21] App1.N0. 23,204 [22] Filed Mar. 27, 1970 Di i of s N 715,147 M 2'2, ABSTRACT: Stationary and rotary valve means are provided 19 3 531 225 in combination with fluid pressure operation means, in which [45] Patented Oct. 5, 1971 the stationary valve has a stationary valve face and a plurality of fluid openings communicating with the fluid pressure operation means. The rotary valve is hollow and has a rotary valve face sealingly engaging the stationary valve face. Exter nally of the hollow rotary valve is a first fluid chamber or gallery and internally of the hollow rotary valve is a second fluid [54] VALVE SYSTEM MEANS FOR FLUID PRESSURE chamber 01' gallery. FitSt and second alternate series of com- OPERATING MEANS mutating fluid COildUCUOll means respectively extend from the 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs first and second fluid chambers through the rotary valve face with each series commutating with and being one less in [52] 1.1.5. C1. 418/61 number than Said plurality of fluid openings. A Series of land [51] Int. Cl Folc 1/10, are circumferentiany and respectively disposed between said F04: 1/06 first and second series. Said lands and said first and second se- [50] Fleld of Search 418/61 ties each have Substantially the same circumferential width and are spaced at substantially uniform circumferential inter- [56] Reierences cued vals relative to each other around the rotary valve face and are UNHED STATES PATENTS respectively positioned in substantially direct opposed diamet- 3,272,142 9/1966 585m" 418/61 rical locations relative to each other. The rotary valve ter- 3,283,034 l 1/1966 while, e1 31 41 1 minates in flange means comprising an external-rim flange and 12/1966 Fikse 413/61 an internal-rim flange interconnected by a common inter- 3,405,603 10/1968 Woodling.. 418/61 mediate cylindrical body portion which has an end face defin- 3,446,153 1969 Easlofl 41 1 ing substantially a circular sealing band disposed between said 3,452,680 7/ 1969 White, Jr. 418/61 first and second series of commutating fluid connection means 3,531,225 9/1970 Wood1ing..... 418/61 commutatingly registering with the fluid openings in the sta- 3,531,226 9/1970 \Voodling 418/61 tionary valve face.

4 3 A 29 2 I II/IIII/I/I/ 35 es 7 4 49 U VALVE SYSTEM MEANS FOR FLUID PRESSURE OPERATING MEANS This application is a division of my application, Ser. No. 7l5,247, filed Mar. 22, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,531,225.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Valving with full-flow capacity and short flow distances to minimize fluid pressure drop are two major critical requirements in the operation and manufacture of a fluid valve for controlling the flow of fluid to and the exit of fluid from a fluid pressure operating means.

In the prior an, the valving is substantially universally deficient in meeting these major critical requirements, primarily due to the lack of sufficient circumferential and radial room for locating unrestricted flow ducts or to the stacking of too many side-by-side valve parts, resulting in a longer flow path with increased opportunity for excessive leakage. The above requirements become increasingly critical in commutative valving where inlet fluid is caused to flow from an inlet chamber or gallery through a first series (excessively restricted in the prior art) of flow conduction means to the fluid pressure operating means and where the exhaust fluid is caused to flow from the fluid pressure operating means through a second series (also excessively restricted in the prior art) of flow conduction means to an exhaust chamber or gallery.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide commutative valving with minimum fluid pressure drop.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in commutative valving, full-flow capacity and short flow distances for the first and second series of flow conduction means.

Another object is the provision of commutative valving which is simple in construction and efficient in performance.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a hollow rotary valve with a first fluid chamber or gallery on the outside thereof and with a second fluid chamber or gallery on the inside thereof.

Another object is the provision of a valve system which does not necessarily restrict the flow of fluid to and from the fluid pressure operating means.

Another object is to provide an enlarged fluid-line reservoir or fluid conducting channel at the valve entrance and an enlarged fluid-line reservoir or fluid conducting channel at the valve exit.

Another object is the provision of a valve system having fluid commutating characteristics, and includes a stationary valve member and a rotary valve member disposed for rotational movement relative to the stationary valve member.

Another object is the provision wherein the rotary valve has a common intermediate cylindrical body portion which separates the first and second series of commutating fluid connection means.

Another object is the provision wherein the common intermediate cylindrical body portion has an end face defining a circumferential surface area band disposed between and sealingly separating the first and second series of commutating fluid connection means.

Another object is the provision wherein the radially extending, elongated fluid openings in the stationary valve extend across the circumferential surface area band.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention constitutes fluid pressure means having pressure-operating means, first and second fluid connection means for conducting fluid to and from said fluid pressure operating means, said first and second fluid connection means including stationary valve means and rotary valve means, actuating means for rotating said rotary valve means relative to said stationary valve means, said stationary valve means having a stationary valve face, said rotary valve means having a rotary end portion with a rotary valve face sealingly engaging said stationary valve face, said first and second fluid connection means extending through said stationary and rotary valve faces and including a plurality of circumferentially disposed fluid openings in said stationary valve means extending from said stationary valve face and communicating with said fluid pressure operating means, said rotary valve means having external cylindrical wall means extending externally therearound and having external flange body portion means extending outwardly from said external cylindrical wall means, said external flange body portion means having first and second opposed wall, said rotary valve face including said first opposed wall, said first connection means having connection wall means including said external cylindrical wall means and said second opposed wall, said rotary valve means having internal cylindrical wall means, said second connection means having connection wall means including said internal cylindrical wall means, said first and second fluid connection means respectively including first and second alternate series of commutating fluid conduction means extending through said rotary valve face, said first and second series each commutating -with and being one less in number than said plurality of fluid openings, at least said first series extending through said external flange body portion means at spaced circumferential intervals, said external and internal cylindrical wall means being concentrically disposed with respect to each other and defining a cylindrical annular body integrally connected to rotary end portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a fluid pressure device, in which my invention may be incorporated, parts being shown in vertical section to illustrate the rotary valve for controlling the entrance of fluid to and the exit of fluid from the stator-rotor mechanism, the section through the rotary valve means being taken along the line l-l of FIG. 5;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. I, under the end cap, showing the stator-rotor mechanism;

FIG, 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. I, with the rotary valve being omitted, the view being principally a righthand end view of the hollow housing showing the fluid ports and the bearing support means for the rotary valve, including a cross section of the actuating shaft;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1, and showing the side of the stationary valve member against which the rotary valve sealingly engages; and

FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, showing only the rotary valve face which sealingly engages the stationary valve face of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Briefly, the fluid pressure device comprises a main housing 20, a main shaft 25 rotatively mounted in the housing, a statorrotor mechanism 31 having a stator element 32 and a rotor element 33, a stationary valve member 29 and a rotary valve member 28. An end cap 34 enclosed the stator-rotor mechanism. The end cap may be held by a screw 35. An actuating shaft 39 drivingly interconnects the main shaft 25 to the rotor element 33. The actuating shaft 39 has an intermediate portion 38 disposed to rotate the rotary valve 28 through rotationaldrive means indicated by the dotted line 40. The stationary valve member 29 has face wall means including a stationary valve face 81 abutting against the end wall of the housing 20, whereby the housing and the stationary valve member constitute enclosure means for the rotary valve. The stationary valve member 29 may be secured to the end of the housing 20 by screws 30. The housing 20 is hollow from end-to-end, and intermediate the ends of the hollow housing, there is provided an internal rib 21, which generally separates the hollow housing into a left-hand end compartment in which the main shaft 25 is rotatively mounted and a right-hand end compartment in which the rotary valve is rotatively mounted.

Pressed against the internal rib 21 is a bushing 22 having a right-hand stationary end face 17 disposed substantially parallel to and spaced axially from the stationary valve face 81. The

rotary valve 28 is mounted between the stationary valve face 81 and the stationary end face 17 and has a rotary valve face 82 which makes a fluid-sealing engagement with the stationary valve face 81 and a rotary end face 66 which makes a fluidsealing engagement with the stationary end face 17. The rotary valve 28 is mounted within a counter bore having an internal wall surface 68 surrounding and radially spaced from the rotary valve member 28 and defines therewith external (first) annular fluid chamber means which extends all the way around the rotary valve member. The external annular fluid chamber is connected in constant fluid communication with a fluid port 23 provided in the housing 20, see FIG. 3. The fluid port 23 extends through the housing wall and intersects with the internal wall surface 68, next adjacent the right-hand side of the bushing 22.

The rotary valve member 28 has a hollow shaft 13 with inside and outside surfaces. The hollow shaft 13 extends from the rotary valve member and has a bearing portion mounted with an antifriction roller bearing unit 14. The bearing unit 14 comprises a plurality of roller bearings encompassing the bearing portion of the hollow shaft 13 and mounted within a cup 15 which is pressed into the inner surfaces of the rib 21 and the bushing 22. The hollow shaft 13 extends through, and has a terminating end portion provided with a boss 26 projecting in an axial direction beyond the roller bearing unit 14.

The rotary valve member 28 has a ceritral opening defined by internal wall surface means 76. This opening, including also the opening in the hollow shaft 13, constitutes internal (second) annular fluid chamber means connected in constant fluid communication with a fluid port 24 provided in the housing 20, see FIG. 3. The fluid port 24 extends through the housing wall and intersects with an internal bore 18, next adjacent the left-hand side of the internal rib 21.

The length of the rotary valve 28 must match the axially fixed length between the stationary end face 17 of the bushing 22 and the stationary valve face 81. To this end, the rotary valve 28 is provided with built-in axial fixation means, whereby its effective length may be varied to match the axially fixed length between the stationary end face 17 and the stationary valve face 81. As shown in FIG. 1, the hollow shaft 13 of the rotary valve 28 has an external annular flange 42 connected thereto and is provided with a sealing surface constituting the rotary end face 66 in fluid sealing engagement with the stationary end face 17 of the bushing 22. The hollow shaft 13, between the stationary end face 17 and the stationary valve face 81, may be characterized as comprising an annular valve body having a terminating end portion 44 with an end face constituting an annular surface area band 43, see FIG. 5, where the band 43 is indicated by the concentric dash-dot lines. The terminating end portion 44 has an external flange rim 45 extending outwardly therefrom and an internal flangerim 46 extending inwardly therefrom. Preferably, there isa clearance 49 between the outside of the external flange-rim 45 and the internal wall surface 68, with the result the rotary valve is solely supported for rotation by the antifriction bear ing unit 14. The external flange-rim 45 separates fluid in the external (first) annular fluid chamber from the stationary valve face 81 and the internal flange-rim 46 separates fluid in the internal (second) annular fluid chamber from the stationary valve face 81. The external flange-rim 45 and the internal flange-rim 46 define a rotary face which, together with the annular surface area band 43, constitutes the rotary valve face 82. The terminating end portion 44 of the annular valve body from which the external and internal flange- rims 45 and 46 extend, may be characterized as a common intermediate annular body portion having a diameter greater than that of the hollow shaft 13. Interconnecting the common intermediate annular body portion and the hollow shaft 13 is a sloping annular connection disk 48 which may be resistingly deformable (bent) in an axial direction to fix the effective axial length of the rotary valve to match the axial distance between the stationary end face 17 and the stationary valve face 81. In assembly, the rotary valve 28 may be axially compressed until the rotary'valve face 82 is flush with the end wall face of the housing and then, when the stationary valve member 29 is bolted to the end wall face of the housing, there is provided the right amount of axial fluid sealing clearance between the rotary valve face 82 and the stationary valve face 81. As the disk 48 is axially deformed in the compression operation, the rotary valve face 82 is maintained parallel to the stationary valve face 81 since the common intermediate annular body portion 44 is free to bend where it is connected to the disk 48. The axially deformable connection disk 48 constitutes a built-in axial fixation means by which the efiective length of the rotary valve may be fixed by a compression operation.

In this application, the term stator" and rotor are not used in a limited sense. The term stator" is applied to the element which has a fixed axis and the term rotor is applied to the element which has a movable axis characterized in that said rotor is disposed for rotational movement about its own movable axis and for orbital movement about said fixed axis of the stator. Thus, in this application, the outer surrounding element, usually referred to as the stator, may be either the stator or the rotor, depending upon whether it has a fixed axis or a movable axis and the inner element, usually referred to as the rotor, may be either the rotor or the stator depending upon whether it has a movable axis or a fixed axis.

In the description, my device will be described as a fluid motor, but it is understood that it may be utilized for any other related purpose, particularly a pump.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the stator element 32 has seven internal teeth which defines the outer wall of a fluid compartment. The rotor element 33 has six external teeth, one less than that of the stator element. The stator element may be described as having (n) number of internal teeth and the rotor element may be described as having (n -l) number of external teeth. The stator element has a center 69, usually referred to as the fixed or stationary axis since the stator element is stationarily mounted and does not rotate. In this application and claims, the expression fixed stator axis" or simply fixed ax is, includes not only the fixed axis of the rotor, but also any axis which coincides, or is in alignment therewith.

The rotor 33 has a movable axis, identified by the reference character 70, and is radially spaced from and moves in a orbital path about the fixed axis 69 of the stator. The orbital path of the movable axis 70 is a true circle with its center coinciding with the fixed axis of the stator. The diameter of the true circle, orbital path, is equal to the difference in the radial dimension between the crest contour and the root contour of a stator tooth. Upon relative movement between the rotor and the stator, the movable axis 70 of the rotor orbits in a true circle about the fixed axis of the stator. As the rotor moves within the stator, the intermeshing teeth of the rotor and stator divide the fluid compartment confined therebetween into high and low-pressure chambers along a revolving divisional line passing substantially diametrically through the fixed axis of the stator. For the position in FIG. 2, the divisional line is substantially diametrically vertical. For the position shown in FIG. 2, the divisional line may be more properly described as a divisional tapering band rather than a line and comprises substantially a slender triangle having an apex at the point where the top rotor tooth in FIG. 2 touches or contacts the arcuate surface of the stator contour and having a base defined by the distance between the sealing contact engagement on opposite sides of the bottom rotor tooth when fitting full-depth into the bottom stator tooth. To rotate the rotor 33 in a clockwise direction, the chambers on the lefthand side of the revolving divisional line or tapering band become high-pressure chambers and the chambers on the right-hand side become lowpressure chambers. The high and low pressure chambers, which may be referred to as operating chambers, alternately expand and contract as the rotor and stator move relative to each other. The divisional line or tapering band continually revolves in a counterclockwise direction as the rotor rotatesin a clockwise direction within the stator.

As shown in FIG. 1, the actuating shaft 39 has a right-hand end portion provided with male spline teeth 71 which fit within female spline teeth 72 in the rotor, being referred to herein as first connection means. Thus, the right-hand end portion of the actuating shaft 39 is disposed for rotational movement about its own movable axis and for orbital movement about the fixed axis of the stator. The connection means between the left-hand end portion of the actuating shaft 39 and the main shaft 25, herein referrred to as second connection means, also comprises male spline teeth 73 on the actuating shaft 39 which fit within female spline teeth 74 in the central core of the main shaft 25. The left-hand end portion of the actuating shaft, that is the second connection means, is disposed for rotational movement substantially free from orbital movement about the fixed axis of the stator. A third connection means comprises drive means indicated by the dotted line 40 which interconnects the intermediate shaft portion 38 with the boss 26 for rotating the rotary valve 28 one rotation for each rotation of the actuating shaft.

In operation there is a disposition for the rotary valve to have a circumferential rotational phasing with respect to the rotation of the actuating shaft 39. During certain portions of the orbit movement of the actuating shaft, the rotational phasing has the effect of subtracting from the rotation of the actuating shaft, with the result that the speed of rotation of the rotary valve is reduced. During other portions of the orbit movement, the rotational phasing has the effect of adding to the rotation of the actuating shaft, with the result that the speed of rotation of the rotary valve is increased. The rotational phasing makes a fresh start at the beginning of each orbit and terminates at the end of each orbit. The amount of the circumferential displacement resulting from the rotational phasing is a function of the radius of the orbital movement at the intermediate portion 38 of the actuating shaft. The rotational phasing has the effect of varying the timing of the rotary valve with respect to the movements of the rotor within the stator and produces a new valving action.

The valve system means in the present application, comprising the rotary valve member 28 and the stationary valve member 29 operates substantially the same as that shown and described in my above mentioned application. To this end, the external flange-rim 45 has a first series of six commutating fluid connection means 83 extending therethrough and connects the external (first) annular fluid chamber means, outside of the rotary valve, in constant fluid communication with the stationary valve face 81. The internal flange-rim 46 has a second series of six commutating fluid connection means 84 extending therethrough and connects the internal (second) annular fluid chamber means, inside the rotary valve, in constant fluid communication with the stationary valve face 81. The annular surface area band 43 is disposed between and sealingly separates the first and second series of commutating fluid connection means 83 and 84. it will also be seen that the common intermediate annular body portion 44 separates the first and second series of commutating fluid connection means 83 and 84. The first and second series of commutating connection means are alternately dipsosed with respect to each other and are circumferentially disposed relative to the fixed axis and spaced at annular intervals thereabout at substantially 30 from each other. The stationary valve member 29 has seven fluid openings 80 communicating respectively with the operating fluid chambers in the stator-rotor mechanism. The seven fluid openings 80 in the stationary valve member 29 terminate respectively in the stationary valve face 81, with the fluid opening being circumferentially disposed about the fixed axis and spaced at annular intervals thereabout at 51 25/7 from each other.

ln operation as a fluid motor, high-pressure fluid from the high-pressure port 23 commutatively flow through the first series of commutating fluid connection means 83 of the rotary valve into the fluid openings 80 of the stationary valve member 29 and thence into the expanding pressure fluid chambers in the stator-rotor mechanism and drives the rotor 33 in a clockwise rotational direction with the stator 32. As the rotor is driven, the exhaust fluid in the low-pressure contracting chambers commutatively flows through the fluid openings of the stationary valve 29 into the second series of fluid commutating connection means 84 of the rotary valve and thence to the low-pressure port 24. As the rotor is driven by the high-pressure fluid, it operates the main shaft 25 through the actuating shaft 39.

The registration of the fluid connection means provided by the rotating valve face 82 in sealing engagement with the stationary valve face 81 is such that there is a first series of commutating fluid connections between the high pressure port 23 and the expanding fluid chambers in the stator-rotor mechanism and a second series of commutating fluid connections between the contracting fluid chambers and the lowpressure port 24. in FIG. 4, the place where the annular surface area band 43 rotates against the stationary valve face 81, is illustrated by the concentric dash-dot lines being the same as'the dash-dot lines in FIG. 5. Thus, the terminal openings 80 have an outer portion and an inner portion 91 respectively residing outside and inside the place where the annular surface area band 43 rotates against the stationary valve face 81. As will be seen, the outer portion 90 and the external (first) annular fluid chamber, outside of the rotary valve, are commutatively connected together, and the inner portion 91 and the internal (second) annular fluid chamber, inside of the rotary valve, are commutatively connected together. In this construction, the terminal openings 80 have an elongated dimension in a radial direction extending across the annular band 43, whereby fluid may commutatively flow through both the first and second series of fluid connection means 83 and 84. The elongated dimension of the terminal openings 80 are such that they radially overlap the first and second series of fluid connection means 83 and 84 during commutation movement.

The rotating valve 28 is independent of any radial thrust or of any end thrust to which the main shafl 25 may be subjected. Also the rotating valve 28 is substantially free from any radial thrust or any end thrust due to fluid pressure acting thereupon. ln summary, the valve system means, including the rotary valve 28 and the stationary valve member 29, controls the entrance of fluid to and the exit of fluid from the operating chambers of the stator-rotor mechanism.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

1 Claim:

1. In fluid pressure means having fluid pressure operating means, first and second fluid connection means for conducting fluid to and from said fluid pressure operating means, said first and second fluid connection means including stationary valve means and rotary valve means, actuating means for rotating said rotary valve means relative to said stationary valve means, said stationary valve means having a stationary valve face, said rotary valve means having a rotary end portion with a rotary valve face sealingly engaging said stationary valve face, said first and second fluid connection means extending through said stationary and rotary valve faces and including a plurality of circumferentially disposed fluid openings in said stationary valve means extending from said stationary valve face and communicating with said fluid pressure operating means, said rotary valve means having external circumferentially complete annular wall means extending externally therearound and having external flange body portion means extending outwardly from said external circumferentially complete annular wall means, said external flange body portion means having first and second opposed walls, said rotary valve face including said first opposed wall, said first connection means having connection wall means including said external circumferentially complete annular wall means and said second opposed wall, said rotary valve means having internal circumferentially complete annular wall means, said second connection means having connection wall means including said internal circumferentially complete annular wall means, said first and second fluid connection means respectively including first and second alternate series of commutating fluid conduction means extending through said rotary valve face, said first and second series each commutating with and being one less in number than said plurality of fluid openings, at least said first series extending through said external flange body portion means at spaced circumferential intervals, said external and internal circumferentially complete annular wall means being concentrically disposed with respect to each other and defining a circumferentially complete annular body integrally connected to said rotary end portion.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said rotary valve means has internal flange body portion means extending inwardly from said internal wall means, at least said second series extending through said internal flange body portion means at spaced circumferential intervals.

3. The structure of claim 2, wherein said rotary valve face has substantially a circular fluid sealing band having outer and inner circumferential dimensions disposed between said first and second series of commutating fluid conduction means, said plurality of fluid openings respectively having an outer dimension and an inner dimension defining substantially the length thereof in generally a radial direction, said outer circumferential dimension of said band being less that the outer dimension of said plurality of fluid openings and said inner circumferential dimension of said band being greater than the inner dimension of said plurality of fluid openings.

4. In a fluid pressure device having first and second fluid port means and fluid pressure operating means, first and second fluid connection means for respectively connecting said first and second fluid port means commutatively with said fluid pressure operating means, said first and second fluid connection means including stationary valve means and rotary valve means having first and second end portions, said stationary valve means having a stationary valve face and a plurality of circumferentially disposed fluid openings extending from said stationary valve face and communicating with said fluid pressure operating means, wall body means including face wall means disposed substantially parallel to and spaced axially from said stationary valve face, said first end portion of said rotary valve means having a rotary valve face sealing engaging said stationary valve face, said second end portion of said rotary valve means having a rotary end face sealingly engaging said face wall means, said first and second fluid connection means extending through said stationary and rotary valve faces, said first fluid connection means including first fluid chamber means in constant fluid communication with said first fluid port means, said rotary valve means having first surface wall means extending externally therearound and axially disposed between said first and second end portions, said first fluid chamber means having first chamber wall means including said first surface wall means, said first and second end portions of said rotary valve means respectively having first and second body portion means extending outwardly from said first surface wall means, said first fluid connection means extending through said first body portion means, said first body portion means having first and second opposed walls, said rotary valve face including said first opposed wall, said second body portion means having third and fourth opposed I walls, said rotary end face including said third opposed wall,

said first chamber wall means also including said second opposed wall of said first body portion means and said fourth opposed wall of said second body portion means, said first surface wall means extending between said second opposed wall of said first body portion means and said fourth opposed wall of said second body portion means and defining with said second and fourth opposed walls an external annular fluid channel extending around said rotary valve means.

5. The structure of claim 4, wherein said first fluid connection means includes a first series of circumferentially disposed commutating fluid conduction means extending through said first body portion means and commutating with said plurality of fluid openings.

6. The structure of claim 5, wherein said first series of commutating fluid conduction means comprises one less in number than said plurality of fluid openings.

7. The structure of claim 4, wherein said rotary valve means has second surface wall means extending internally therearound, said first and second end portions of said rotary valve means respectively having third and fourth body portion means extending inwardly from said second surface wall means, said third and fourth body portion means havingfacing walls, said second surface wall means extending between and defining with said facing walls of said third and fourth body portion means an internal annular fluid channel within said rotary valve means, said second fluid connection means including second fluid chamber means in constant fluid communication with said second fluid port means, said second fluid chamber means having second chamber wall means including said second surface wall means and said facing walls of said third and fourth body portion means.

8. The structure of claim 7, wherein said second fluid connection means has a second series of circumferentially disposed commutating fluid conduction means extending through said third body portion means and commutating with said plurality of fluid openings.

9. The structure of claim 8,- wherein said second series of commutating fluid conduction means comprises one less in number than said plurality of fluid openings.

10. The structure of claim 9, wherein said rotary valve face has substantially a circular fluid sealing band having outer and inner circumferential dimensions disposed between said first and second series of commutating fluid conduction means, said plurality of fluid openings respectively having an outer dimension and an inner dimension defining substantially the length thereof in generally a radial direction, said outer circumferential dimension of said band being less than the outer dimension of said plurality of fluid openings and said inner circumferential dimension of said band being greater that the inner dimension of said plurality of fluid openings.

Claims (10)

1. In fluid pressure means having fluid pressure operating means, first and second fluid connection means for conducting fluid to and from said fluid pressure operating means, said first and second fluid connection means including stationary valve means and rotary valve means, actuating means for rotating said rotary valve means relative to said stationary valve means, said stationary valve means having a stationary valve face, said rotary valve means having a rotary end portion with a rotary valve face sealingly engaging said stationary valve face, said first and second fluid connection means extending through said stationary and rotary valve faces and including a plurality of circumferentially disposed fluid openings in said stationary valve means extending from said stationary valve face and communicating with said fluid pressure operating means, said rotary valve means having external circumferentially complete annular wall means extending externally therearound and having external flange body portion means extending outwardly from said external circumferentially complete annular wall means, said external flange body portion means having first and second opposed walls, said rotary valve face including said first opposed wall, said first connection means having connection wall means including said external circumferentially complete annular wall means and said second opposed wall, said rotary valve means having internal circumferentially complete annulAr wall means, said second connection means having connection wall means including said internal circumferentially complete annular wall means, said first and second fluid connection means respectively including first and second alternate series of commutating fluid conduction means extending through said rotary valve face, said first and second series each commutating with and being one less in number than said plurality of fluid openings, at least said first series extending through said external flange body portion means at spaced circumferential intervals, said external and internal circumferentially complete annular wall means being concentrically disposed with respect to each other and defining a circumferentially complete annular body integrally connected to said rotary end portion.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said rotary valve means has internal flange body portion means extending inwardly from said internal wall means, at least said second series extending through said internal flange body portion means at spaced circumferential intervals.

3. The structure of claim 2, wherein said rotary valve face has substantially a circular fluid sealing band having outer and inner circumferential dimensions disposed between said first and second series of commutating fluid conduction means, said plurality of fluid openings respectively having an outer dimension and an inner dimension defining substantially the length thereof in generally a radial direction, said outer circumferential dimension of said band being less that the outer dimension of said plurality of fluid openings and said inner circumferential dimension of said band being greater than the inner dimension of said plurality of fluid openings.

4. In a fluid pressure device having first and second fluid port means and fluid pressure operating means, first and second fluid connection means for respectively connecting said first and second fluid port means commutatively with said fluid pressure operating means, said first and second fluid connection means including stationary valve means and rotary valve means having first and second end portions, said stationary valve means having a stationary valve face and a plurality of circumferentially disposed fluid openings extending from said stationary valve face and communicating with said fluid pressure operating means, wall body means including face wall means disposed substantially parallel to and spaced axially from said stationary valve face, said first end portion of said rotary valve means having a rotary valve face sealing engaging said stationary valve face, said second end portion of said rotary valve means having a rotary end face sealingly engaging said face wall means, said first and second fluid connection means extending through said stationary and rotary valve faces, said first fluid connection means including first fluid chamber means in constant fluid communication with said first fluid port means, said rotary valve means having first surface wall means extending externally therearound and axially disposed between said first and second end portions, said first fluid chamber means having first chamber wall means including said first surface wall means, said first and second end portions of said rotary valve means respectively having first and second body portion means extending outwardly from said first surface wall means, said first fluid connection means extending through said first body portion means, said first body portion means having first and second opposed walls, said rotary valve face including said first opposed wall, said second body portion means having third and fourth opposed walls, said rotary end face including said third opposed wall, said first chamber wall means also including said second opposed wall of said first body portion means and said fourth opposed wall of said second body portion means, said first surface wall means extending between said second opposed wall of said first body portion means and said fourth opposeD wall of said second body portion means and defining with said second and fourth opposed walls an external annular fluid channel extending around said rotary valve means.

5. The structure of claim 4, wherein said first fluid connection means includes a first series of circumferentially disposed commutating fluid conduction means extending through said first body portion means and commutating with said plurality of fluid openings.

6. The structure of claim 5, wherein said first series of commutating fluid conduction means comprises one less in number than said plurality of fluid openings.

7. The structure of claim 4, wherein said rotary valve means has second surface wall means extending internally therearound, said first and second end portions of said rotary valve means respectively having third and fourth body portion means extending inwardly from said second surface wall means, said third and fourth body portion means having facing walls, said second surface wall means extending between and defining with said facing walls of said third and fourth body portion means an internal annular fluid channel within said rotary valve means, said second fluid connection means including second fluid chamber means in constant fluid communication with said second fluid port means, said second fluid chamber means having second chamber wall means including said second surface wall means and said facing walls of said third and fourth body portion means.

8. The structure of claim 7, wherein said second fluid connection means has a second series of circumferentially disposed commutating fluid conduction means extending through said third body portion means and commutating with said plurality of fluid openings.

9. The structure of claim 8, wherein said second series of commutating fluid conduction means comprises one less in number than said plurality of fluid openings.

10. The structure of claim 9, wherein said rotary valve face has substantially a circular fluid sealing band having outer and inner circumferential dimensions disposed between said first and second series of commutating fluid conduction means, said plurality of fluid openings respectively having an outer dimension and an inner dimension defining substantially the length thereof in generally a radial direction, said outer circumferential dimension of said band being less than the outer dimension of said plurality of fluid openings and said inner circumferential dimension of said band being greater that the inner dimension of said plurality of fluid openings.

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