Patent ID: 8881641

Claim:
A fluid-driven motor comprising: (a) a manifold including a first fluid flow channel and a second fluid flow channel, said manifold providing an arcuate seal defining: (i) a first valve opening in fluid connection with said first fluid flow channel, (ii) a second valve opening in fluid connection with said second fluid flow channel, and (iii) at least one sealing surface; (b) a cylinder having a cylinder head mounted pivotally on said manifold, said cylinder head being providing a facing surface configured to cooperate with said arcuate seal, said facing surface having at least one aperture; and (c) a piston deployed within said cylinder so as to be driven to extend by pressure of a fluid introduced to an internal volume of said cylinder, wherein said arcuate seal and said facing surface cooperate to define a position-responsive valve configuration such that, when said cylinder assumes a neutral position, said at least one aperture is in facing relation with said at least one sealing surface, when said cylinder is angularly displaced in a first direction from said neutral position, said at least one aperture overlaps said first valve opening such that said internal volume of said cylinder is in fluid connection with said first fluid flow channel, and when said cylinder is angularly displaced in a second direction from said neutral position, said at least one aperture overlaps said second valve opening such that said internal volume of said cylinder is in fluid connection with said second fluid flow channel, wherein said manifold further comprises a pressure compensation volume underlying at least part of said at least one sealing surface, said pressure compensation volume being interconnected with at least one of said first flow channel, said second flow channel and said internal volume of said cylinder in such a manner that a pressure within said pressure compensation volume approaches a value no less than a current pressure within said internal volume.