Rotary fluid devices

• US 4,653,603 A
• Filed: 06/18/1985
• Issued: 03/31/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gordon Rosenmeier
• Original Assignee: Gordon Rosenmeier
• Inventors: DuFrene, Clement O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Love, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Watts, Charles R.
• Application Number:
  US06/746,180
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 180/132, 180/141, 180/146, 180/149, 60/386, 91/375 R, 418/219
• US Class Current: 180/426
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/027 with elastomeric springs A47C7/282 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/70 Upholstery springs ; Upholstery
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 13/00 Steering specially adapted for trailers combined traction and steering hitches B60D
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/083 Rotary valves
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0647 Seats characterised by special upholstery or cushioning features
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/04 Seat modifications
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/366 made of fibre-reinforced plastics, i.e. characterised by their special construction from such materials
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/422 the stressing resulting in flexion of the spring
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2236/02 the stressing resulting in flexion of the spring
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 3/093 the springs being of different materials, e.g. having different types of rubber F16F1/3835 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 3/10 combined with springs made of steel or other material having low internal friction
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 3/12 the steel spring being in contact with the rubber spring F16F1/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

A rotary fluid motor or pump device having opposing cam surfaces and a rotor with vanes shiftable within vane slots of the rotor and riding on the cam surfaces is disclosed. The device includes at least eight vane members circumferentially spaced about the rotor and cam surfaces having diametrically opposed slopes extending over arcs of at least about 130°, with means for the entrance or exit of fluid along the entire length of each such slope of 130° or more. At least six chamber spaces between vanes of the device always function to receive fluid and at least six such chamber spaces always function to exit fluid from the device, regardless of the rotary orientation of the rotor. A device for hydraulically assisting the steering vehicles is provided wherein rotary valve elements and rotary motor elements are concentrically mounted about a steering shaft.

Claims

1. A fluid device for hydraulically assisting the steering of vehicles, comprising:

a housing having a cylindrical central opening extending therethrough for receiving steering shaft means of a vehicle, said housing having annularly therewithin about said central opening a first valve-facing surface and a second valve-facing surface in opposing spaced-apart relationship, and said housing in addition having annularly therewithin about said central opening an interior cavity with opposing contoured annular cam surfaces equi-distantly spaced from each other at all points of equal radii from the axis of said central opening, each said opposing cam surface having a valley portion and a diametrically opposed hill portion with diametrically opposed uniformly graduated slopes between said valley and hill portions, said hill portion of one cam surface being diametrically opposed to the hill portion of the other said cam surface;

an adjustable valve assembly within said housing at a location between said first and second valve-facing surfaces, said valve assembly comprising an annular follower member and an annular driver member interfaced with each other and separately rotatable, said driver member including a hollow extension member coaxial with said central opening for coupling to steering shaft means;

a rotary hydraulic fluid motor within said housing, said motor comprising a hollow shaft member coaxial with said central opening for coupling to steering shaft means, a rotor mounted on said hollow shaft and located within said interior cavity of said housing between said opposing cam surfaces thereof, said rotor mounting being such as to divide said cavity into two opposing chambers with said rotor therebetween and with the opposing side surfaces of said rotor located adjacent the hill portion of each said cam surface, said rotor having a plurality of radial slots equally spaced circumferentially about the peripheral portion thereof, and a slidable vane member in each said slot, each said vane member extending as a wall between said opposing annular cam surfaces,

fluid passage means within said housing, said fluid passage means including

a fluid supply passage between a fluid control means and said first valve-facing surface for conduiting hydraulic fluid to said first valve-facing surface,

a spent fluid passage between said fluid control means and said first valve-facing surfacing for conduiting hydraulic fluid away from said first valve-facing surface,

a first action-fluid passage system for conduiting hydraulic fluid between said second valve-facing surface and diametrically opposed ports in communication with each opposing chamber on the opposite sides of said rotor, said diametrically opposed ports of said first action-fluid passage system being on said slopes of said cam surfaces adjacent one side of the hill portion thereof, and

a second action-fluid passage system for conduiting hydraulic fluid between said second valve-facing surface and diametrically opposed ports in communication with each opposing chamber on the opposite sides of said rotor, said diametrically opposed ports of said second action-fluid passage system being on said slopes of said cam surfaces adjacent the side of the hill portion thereof away from the side on which said ports of said first action-fluid passage systems are located,

said follower member and driver member of said valve assembly being normally in a neutral relationship in which no through passages are formed between said first valve-facing surface and said second valve-facing surface but being altered from said neutral relationship upon steering rotation of said driver member to thereby effectively form fluid passage means through said valve assembly for the passage of hydraulic fluid from said supply passage to either said first or second action-fluid passage system depending upon the direction of rotation of said driver member, said alteration from said neutral relationship being simultaneously effective to form a separate fluid passage means through said valve assembly for return of spent hydraulic fluid from the other of said first or second fluid passage systems to said spent fluid passage, said first and second action-fluid passage systems being so arranged as to cause hydraulic fluid to enter and leave said chambers on opposite sides of said rotor in a manner effecting rotation of said rotor in the same rotary direction as said driver member is rotated upon steering rotation thereof; and

means within said valve assembly for metering a portion of the hydraulic fluid passing therethrough upon alteration of the neutral relationship between said driver member and said follower member to effect subsequent followup rotation by said follower member to reform said neutral relationship and thereby terminate flow of hydraulic fluid through said first and second action-fluid passage systems.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said adjustable valve assembly includes movable parts, and said movable parts consist of said follower member and said driver member.