Fluid pressure operated piston engine assembly
First Claim
1. A fluid pressure operated piston engine assembly comprising:
- a fluid pressure operated piston engine including a piston chamber, a piston reciprocable in the chamber, and a drive shaft attached to the piston and reciprocable therewith through a drive shaft stroke having a first end and a second end;
fluid valve means for coupling fluid under pressure to alternative portions of the piston chamber, including a valve spool translatable to (a) a first position in which the valve means is operable to couple fluid under pressure to a first portion of the piston chamber, tending to move the drive shaft toward the second end of its stroke and (b) a second position in which the valve means is operable to couple fluid under pressure to a second portion of the piston chamber, tending to move the drive shaft toward the first end of its stroke;
first means for coupling to the fluid valve means, mounted externally from the piston chamber, for reciprocal movement, and including a pair of diametrically opposed magnets; and
second means for mechanically coupling the first means to the piston engine drive shaft such that as the drive shaft approaches the first end of a stroke, the first means is moved to a first position relative to the valve spool and such that as the drive shaft approaches the second end of its stroke the first means is moved to its second position relative to the valve spool, wherein, as the drive shaft approaches each end of its stroke, fluid under pressure is coupled to one of said portions of the piston chamber to effect reversal of the direction of travel of the drive shaft.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid pressure operated piston engine assembly, such as a pump assembly, including a fluid pressure operated piston engine and a fluid valve for coupling fluid under pressure to alternative portions of the piston chamber of the piston engine. The fluid valve includes a valve spool which is translated to effect the alternative modes of coupling pressurized fluid to the piston chamber. The translation is accomplished by a shifter assembly having a shifter rod attached to the valve spool. The shifter rod includes a pair of diametrically opposed magnets attached thereto. A fork is attached to the piston engine drive shaft at one end and is mounted for limited movement along the shifter rod between the pair of magnets of the shifter rod. The interaction between the flux generated by a magnet carried by the fork with one of the magnets of the shifter rod causes the shifter rod, and in turn the valve spool, to shift from one position to another, thereby re-directing the flow of fluid to the piston chamber to effect the reversal of direction of travel of the piston and its associated drive shaft.
46 Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A fluid pressure operated piston engine assembly comprising:
-
a fluid pressure operated piston engine including a piston chamber, a piston reciprocable in the chamber, and a drive shaft attached to the piston and reciprocable therewith through a drive shaft stroke having a first end and a second end; fluid valve means for coupling fluid under pressure to alternative portions of the piston chamber, including a valve spool translatable to (a) a first position in which the valve means is operable to couple fluid under pressure to a first portion of the piston chamber, tending to move the drive shaft toward the second end of its stroke and (b) a second position in which the valve means is operable to couple fluid under pressure to a second portion of the piston chamber, tending to move the drive shaft toward the first end of its stroke; first means for coupling to the fluid valve means, mounted externally from the piston chamber, for reciprocal movement, and including a pair of diametrically opposed magnets; and second means for mechanically coupling the first means to the piston engine drive shaft such that as the drive shaft approaches the first end of a stroke, the first means is moved to a first position relative to the valve spool and such that as the drive shaft approaches the second end of its stroke the first means is moved to its second position relative to the valve spool, wherein, as the drive shaft approaches each end of its stroke, fluid under pressure is coupled to one of said portions of the piston chamber to effect reversal of the direction of travel of the drive shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. An assembly comprising:
-
a fluid valve having an inlet for coupling to a source of fluid under pressure, first and second discharge outlets, and a valve spool translatable between a first and second position such that in the first position the inlet is coupled to the first discharge outlet and in the second position the inlet is coupled to the second discharge outlet; and a shifter including a shifter rod coupled to the valve spool, a pair of diametrically opposed magnets carried by the shifter rod, and a means movable between said magnets and adapted for coupling to a shaft of a piston engine, for causing the shifter rod to move from either a first position relative to the valve spool to a second position or from the second position relative to the valve spool to the first position, wherein coupling of the inlet to a discharge outlet of the fluid valve is shifted from either the first to the second outlet or from the second to the first outlet. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26)
-
-
24. An assembly for pumping heated adhesives comprising:
-
a pump including a piston chamber, a piston reciprocable in the chamber, and a pump shaft attached to the piston and reciprocable therewith through a pump shaft stroke having a first end and a second end; an air valve mounted externally from the piston chamber, capable of operating at temperatures of at least 350°
, for coupling air under pressure to alternative portions of the piston chamber, including a valve spool disposed within a valve sleeve and mounted for translatable movement between a first position in which the air valve is operable to couple air under pressure to a first portion of the piston chamber, tending to move the pump shaft toward the second end of its stroke and a second position in which the air valve is operable to couple air under pressure to a second portion of the piston chamber, tending to move the pump shaft toward the first end of its stroke, the valve spool having a stepped outer surface having a plurality of larger diameter portions, the larger diameter portions having a 1/2 inch diameter and a tolerance of about 0.0005 inches; anda shifter mounted externally from the piston chamber, capable of operating at temperatures of at least 350°
, including a shifter rod attached to the valve spool, a pair of diametrically opposed magnets, comprising samarian cobalt, carried by the shifter rod, and a means moveable between said magnets, but spaced from said shifter rod and coupled to the pump shaft, for causing the shifter rod to move between first and second positions such that the movement of the shifter rod to the first position causes the valve spool to move to the valve spool first position, while the movement of the shifter rod to the second position causes the valve spool to move to the valve spool second position, wherein, as the pump shaft approaches each end of its stroke, fluid under pressure is coupled to one of said portions of the piston chamber to effect reversal of the direction of travel of the pump shaft.
-
Specification