Abstract:
An improved low speed, high torque rotary abutment motor is provided that is capable of producing ultra high pressures, while still remaining light weight an reliably efficient.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     There are no previously filed, nor currently any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to hydraulic motors and, more particularly, to a low speed, high torque hydraulic motor.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Hydraulic motors are actuators (like hydraulic cylinders) that simply convert hydraulic pressure into rotary movement. Even though the construction is similar motors differ from pumps in that they are ““pushed”” into rotation by the already active fluid. A hydraulic motor converts hydraulic energy into rotating motion by being pushed by hydraulic fluid. A hydraulic motor is rated by displacement, torque, speed and pressure limits. Further, they are classified as HSLT (High speed/Low torque), LSHT (Low speed/High torque) or Limited Rotation (Torque Actuators). Typical hydraulic motors (actually called a rotary hydraulic actuator) use some form of surface area to receive hydraulic fluid, which cause a shaft to spin, which is connected to various equipment driven by that hydraulic motor. The surface that is ““pushed”” may be rectangular in nature, as in gear, vane and rotary abutment motors, or circular in nature as in rotary and axial piston motors.  
         [0006]     However, nowhere in the art is there a teaching that is adaptable to a low speed, high torque hydraulic motor that is capable of producing ultra high pressures, while still remaining light weight an reliably efficient.  
         [0007]     A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related:  
                                                           U.S. Pat. No.   Inventor   Issue Date                      
 
         [0008]     Consequently, a need has therefore been felt for an improved but less complex low speed, high torque hydraulic motor  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved rotary abutment motor.  
         [0010]     It is a feature of the present invention to provide an improved rotary abutment motor that use a special face metal seal and Turcon-Glid Ring seals designed to hold pressure exceeding 11,600 PSI [800 BAR] while maintaining a low coefficient of friction −0.06-0.07, that will provide a long dependable service life, excellent leakage control.  
         [0011]     Briefly described according to the present invention, a rotary abutment motor is provided with: 
        Torque max 90,000 lb-in [10170 Nm]    Pressure max 10,000 PSI [690 BAR] RPM 100     Weight 90 lbs [41 kg]
 
 The efficiency of this motor is assured by simplicity of design (Just 15 parts), use special face metal seal and Turcon-Glid Ring seals designed to hold pressure exceeding 11,600 PSI [800 BAR] while maintaining a low coefficient of friction −0.06-0.07, that will provide a long dependable service life, excellent leakage control. 
       
 
         [0015]     This design offer unlimited torque to design: 200,000 lb-in [22,600 Nm] and even higher.  
         [0016]     Advantages of the present invention include its compact size, higher reliability due to fewer parts, bidirectional operation and scalable size and performance. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a rotary abutment motor according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view thereof;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a horizontal cross sectional view thereof; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a vertical cross sectional view taken along section IV-IV of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the Figures.  
         [0000]     1. Detailed Description of the Figures  
         [0023]     Referring now to  FIG. 1-4 , a rotary abutment type hydraulic motor, generally noted as  10 , shows the preferred embodiment of the invention having a housing formed of a housing top  12  and a housing bottom  14  that serves to contain the fluid and moving parts of the motor  10 . A drive shaft  16  rotatably mounted centrally within the housing supports a rotor having a first rotor vane  18  radially extended outward therefrom, and symmetric to a second rotor vane  20 . The drive shaft  16  provides an input/output mechanical interconnection for the power present in the rotor structure  20 , and is a cylindrical member which rotates in respect to the housing  10 . It is anticipated that each rotor vane is formed of a pair of vane members  18   a ,  18   b , mated together and having a rotor bolt  22  bolted therethrough such that each vane member is firmly mated together about a wing seal  24 . This wing seal  24  forms a seal between the rotor vane  18  and the interior surface of the housing that forms the fluid passage  30 , and is anticipated as being of a simple O-ring design. Additionally, a shaft seal  32  forms a face seal between the outer surface of the shaft  16  and the vane  18 ,  20  such as to provide increased pressure sealing within the fluid passage  30 .  
         [0024]     The first rotor vane  18  and second rotor vane  20  form the main operative valve for the motor. For this to occur, there is a fluid passage  30  located surrounding the outer circumference of the drive shaft  16 . This fluid passage  30  is in fluid communications with a first ports  50  and a second port  52  for constant communication in respect thereto. The first fluid passage  30  is interconnected by a first undercut  60  and second undercut  62  placed on the fluid passage lower wall at the intersection of the rotor vane  18 ,  20  and a first rotary abutment  70  and second rotary abutment  72 , respectively. The operation of each undercut  60 ,  62  will be described in greater detail below.  
         [0025]     A first rotary abutment  70  and a second rotary abutment  72  are provided as operating symmetrically. For purposes of brevity, only the detailed description of the first rotary abutment  70  will be provided, it being understood that the second rotary abutment  72  is formed and operates similarly. The rotary abutment  70  is formed of a first wing  74   a  and a second wing  74   b  rotatably mounted to an abutment stator  76  that is pivotally affixed about a central wing shaft  78  within the rotary abutment  70 . Each rotary abutment  70 ,  72  rotates in a in an overlapping concentric fashion over the path of each rotor vane  18 ,  20 , such that during impingement between the rotor vane  18 , 20  and the second wing  74   b , the entire rotary abutment  76  will rotate in a pressure sealed manner. As the rotor vane  18 ,  20  passes through the rotation path of the abutment, the first wing  74   a  will seal the fluid passage  30  behind the rotary vane  18 ,  20 . In this manner, the undercut  60  can function to equilibrate the pressure about the abutment  70 , thereby forcing the stator  76  to its returned position. Additionally, it is anticipated that an urging spring  80  can communicate a return force to each wing  74   a ,  74   b.    
         [0026]     2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment  
         [0027]     In operation, the two ports  50 ,  52  interconnect the motor to a source of high pressure and fluid return, with the direction of rotation of the motor dependent upon which port is pressurized. (The motor can also be utilized as a pump by connecting the shaft  16  to a source of power in a known manner.) By way of example, and not as a limitation, and in connection with  FIG. 3 , as pressurized fluid enters the second port  52 , it pressurizes the cavity  30 , sealing the second wing  74   b  of the first rotary abutment  70  and forces the second rotary vane  20  in a counterclockwise direction until it impinges against the second wing  74   b . At that orientation, the first rotary vane  18  forms the rear seal to the pressurized portion of the chamber, and as soon as the second rotary vane  20  passes the first port  50  the fluid is discharged therethrough.  
         [0028]     It is anticipated that operation of the second rotary abutment  72  would function similarly should pressure be applied to the first port  50  instead of the second port  52 .  
         [0029]     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.