Patent ID: 8915726

Claim:
A pneumatic motor comprising: a stator; a rotor disposed such as to define a gap between the rotor and the stator, and disposed for rotation with respect to the stator, the rotor having a plurality of openings extending in a radial direction of the rotor; and a plurality of vanes disposed in the plurality of openings, respectively, each of the plurality of vanes being moveable in the radial direction within a respective one of the plurality of openings between a contact position, wherein the respective vane contacts the stator, and a non-contact position, wherein the respective vane does not contact the stator, wherein the rotor is configured for rotation with respect to the stator by air flow against the plurality of vanes, and wherein each of the plurality of vanes is constructed of a single integral piece and includes a flexible branch portion that is permanently located in the gap and does not retract into the respective one of the plurality of openings, the flexible branch portion extending beyond an orthogonal extent of the respective one of the plurality of openings.