Patent GB-191227093-A (GB)
Title: Hydraulic Mechanism for the Transmission of Power.
Inventor: MICHELL ANTHONY GEORGE MALDON
IPC: F16H41/22
Filed: 1912-11-25
Granted: 1913-11-20
Abstract: 27,093. Michell, A. G. M., and Newton, H. C. Sept. 17, [Convention date]. Combined-flow type; casings; regulating; reversing; working-fluid supply.-Apparatus for the hydraulic transmission of power comprises a centrifugal pump delivering liquid through specially-formed helical conduits to turbine motors of the inward-flow reaction type, the mouth of each pump helix being arranged to discharge into the mouth of the corresponding turbine helix. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the pump 2 and motor 3 are surrounded by a common casing forming helical chambers 4, 5, around both pump and turbine. The liquid flows from the helix 5 through the guide-vanes 6 to the turbine 3. The axial outlet 8 of the turbine is directly connected by a chamber 7 to the axial inlet 9 of the pump. The helices 4, 5 may not extend around the whole of the pump or motor, but auxiliary guide-blades JO may be arranged between the pump and the motor. Fig. 3 shows the pump and motor combined to give opposite directions of rotation Fig. 4 shows a compound turbine motor consisting of two sections 3, 3<a> used for forward and reverse drive, and the two sections being mounted either on separate co-axial shafts 11, 11<a> or on one shaft which is driven in either direction according to the part of the rotor in action. The pump and rotors are surrounded by helical chambers 4, 5, and return chambers 7, 7<a> are provided. The reverse part 3<a> of the turbine and its guide-vanes 6<a> are constructed as shown in Fig. 5. Control gates are used to put one or other parts of the rotor out of action. Fig. 6 shows the application to the driving of a number of spindles by means of a single pump element 2. The casing may be divided into two parts, and the turbine rotors may be duplicated somewhat in the manner shown in Fig. 4 to produce reversed drive. Figs. 8 and 9 show a single pump element 2 driving two parallel shafts 11. The pump rotor 2 is double having two inlets 9, 9<a> but in the present case both inlets are in operation simultaneously. Each turbine has a two-part rotor 3, 3<a> for forward and reverse running. The forward and reverse parts 3, 3<a> take opposite relative positions in the two turbines so that the fluid discharged from the turbines goes to both pump inlets 9, 9<a>. The guide-vanes 6, 6<a> of each turbine may be constructed in one cylindrical sleeve or gate G carrying blank annular portions 24<a>, 24b, 24<c>. These sleeves or gates are operated from a lever 26 by rods 25, and when in the position shown in Fig. 8 for forward running delivers liquid to the parts 3, the reverse parts 3<a> being closed by the blank annuli 24b. The liquid from the parts 3 passing through the outlets 8 reach the pump inlets 9, 9<a>, the return chambers 7, 7<a> being shut out of direct communication with the helices 5 by internal walls 28. 28<a> and by the annuli of the gates G. When the gates G are moved to their other extreme position, as shown for the righthand turbine in Fig. 10, the inlets for the reverse turbine are open to the helices 5. Intermediate positions of the gates give varying degrees of power, including zero to the shafts 11. Braking may be obtained by opening the parts 3<a> to the pump when the vehicle or boat is moving in the forward direction. The reverse turbine may be constructed as shown in Fig. 11 with its peripheral outlet 3<c> of larger diameter than its inlet 3<b>, the blank portions 24<c>, Fig. 10, of the gates being then dispensed with. With this construction, the reverse part 3<a> of the turbine at high speeds tends to pump the fluid through the system and thus drive the pump 2 in the normal direction. The reverse part 3<a> is then put in action at high vehicle speeds on down grades to keep the pump running when the engine throttle is closed. Figs. 12, 13, 14, and 15 show the application of the invention to a pair of coaxial independent shafts such as the driving-shafts of a differential gear in a motor-vehicle. The pump rotor 2 is driven by the usual propeller shaft, and the casing 1 is divided into two parts jointed together at 17. The pump rotor is surrounded by two helical chambers 4, 4a, Fig. 14, delivering respectively into the helical chambers 33, 34, Figs. 12 and 13, and thence alternatively into the forward guide-vanes 35<a>, 36<a> or reverse guide-vanes 35<b>, 36<b> of the two turbine rotors 37, 38. These rotors are carried by shafts 39, 40, which may each carry a pinion 46 gearing with a larger pinion 47 mounted on the road axle 30 or 31. The spindle 39<a> of one of the turbine rotors is journaled in an extension 39<b> carried by the boss of the other rotor. Thrust washers 56, Fig. 12, may be inserted between the driving-pinions 46 and the casing of the gears. The pump chamber 4, Figs. 14 and 15, may deliver at its mouth 58 into the mouth of the turbine helix 33. The chamber 4<a> delivers at its mouth 59 into the mouth of the helix 34. The liquid discharged from the rotor 2 through the chamber 4<a> is supplemented by that discharged from the rotor between the mouth 59 and the commencement of the chamber 4. In order to deliver the latter part to the mouth 59 without loss cf kinetic energy, guide-vanes 60, Fig. 15, analogous to the guide-vanes 10 of Figs. 1 and 2 are arranged in the chamber 4<b>. In order to ensure, as far as possible that the sectional area of each helix shall be proportional at each point to the quantity of fluid flowing through it, ribs such as 64, 64<a> may be formed on the interior walls of the casing 1. The forward and reverse guide-vanes 35<a>, 35<b>, 36<a>, 36<b> are preferably formed in two stationary cylindrical sleeves 35, 36. Fluid entering the vanes 35<a>, 36<a> is thus delivered upon the forward turbine rotors 37<a>, 38<a>, from which it is discharged directly into the return chamber 65, while fluid delivered to the reverse blades 37<b>, 38<b> is discharged through the blades 35<c>, 36<c> and thence to the chamber 65 which opens directly to the pump inlet 66. Holes 71 are formed in the body of the pump rotor to equalize the pressure on both sides of the rotor, To control the speed and direction of the turbine rotors, turbine gates 72, 73, Fig. 13, are provided. These are operated by forked levers 91, 92 engaging pins 76, 77 on the gates. The spindles actuating the levers 91, 92 are operated by intermeshed gear quadrants 88, 89, which in turn are rotated by the lever 90. The gates are each provided with two blank annular portions 72<a>, 72<b>, 73<a>, 73<b> connected by annular series of bars 78a, 78<b>, 79<a>, 79<b>. The parts 72<a>, 73" are of sufficient length to cover at once both series of guide-vanes 35<a>, 35<b>, 36<a>, 36<b> in order to produce no motion of the driven axles. The annuli 72<b>, 73<b> may cover the outlets of the forward-running rotors 37, 38 to produce reversed running. The position for 'forward running is that shown in the Figures. The case 1 may be fitted with a branch opening 95 for furnishing a supply of pressure liquid for auxiliary purposes, Filling and emptying orifices 97, 98 may also be provided. The orifice 99 may be used for the insertion of the Pitot tube. The orifice 100 may be used to supply liquid to a liquid-pressure engine governor for maintaining constant the pressure at the branch 100. To compensate for leakage the branch 95 may be connected to the reservoir.