US3722546A

US3722546A - Fluid pressure device having outside inside rotary valve means

Info

Publication number: US3722546A
Application number: US00166547A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Woodling
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-07-27
Filing date: 1971-07-27
Publication date: 1973-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 1990-03-27

Abstract

Fluid pressure device including housing means having first and second fluid port means and operable fluid pressure means secured to said housing means. Fluid flow between said operable fluid pressure means and said first and second fluid port means is controlled by outside-inside rotary valve means rotatively supported by hollow shaft means. Said rotary valve means has on the outside thereof outside fluid chamber means in constant fluid communication with said first fluid port means and has on the inside thereof inside fluid chamber means in constant fluid communication with said second fluid port means through said hollow shaft means which has an unrestricted fluid passageway.

Description

United States Patent 1 Woodling [54] FLUID PRESSURE DEVICE HAVING OUTSIDE-INSIDE ROTARY VALVE 21 Appl. No.: 166,547

[52] U.S. Cl ..137/625.21 [51] Int. Cl ..F16k 11/02 [58] Field of Search ..418/61; l37/625.21, 625.22,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,405,603 10/1968 Woodling ..418/61 3,552,892 1/1971 W0odling..... 3,592,233 7/1971 Woodling ..418/6l X 1 Mar. 27, 1973 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 6,715,227 5/1968 Netherlands Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek Attorney-Woodling, Krost, Granger and Rust [5 7] ABSTRACT Fluid pressure device including housing means having first and second fluid port means and operable fluid pressure means secured to said housing means. Fluid flow between said operable fluid pressure means and said first and second fluid port means is controlled by outside-inside rotary valve means rotatively supported by hollow shaft means. Said rotary valve means has on the outside thereof outside fluid chamber means in constant fluid communication with said first fluid port means and has on the inside thereof inside fluid chamber means in constant fluid communication with said second fluid port means through said hollow shaft means which has an unrestricted fluid passageway.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHARZYIBH ,722,546

2o 29 f I/ E ,34 35 INVENTOR.

GEORGE V. WOODLING FLUID PRESSURE DEVICE HAVING OUTSIDE- INSIDE ROTARY VALVE MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application relates to an outside-inside rotary valve and the unrestricted flow of fluid between the fluid ports in the housing and the rotary valve.

Unrestricted flow and short flow distances increase the efficiency of the valving in a fluid pressure device. High efficiency is accomplished in applicant's device by rotatively mounting an outside-inside rotary valve upon a hollow shaft in a fluid housing having first and second fluid port means. The fluid flow between the outside of the rotary valve and the first fluid port means is very short and unrestricted. The hollow shaft has a large passageway which provides fluid communication between the inside of the rotary valve and the second fluid port means and thus the fluid flow therethrough is very short and unrestricted.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide an unrestricted and a short fluid flow between the valving and the inlet and outlet fluid ports of a fluid pressure device.

Another object is to provide high efficiency to the fluid flow.

Another object is to utilize a hollow shaft which rotatively supports the valving as a passageway to provide an unrestricted flow of the fluid to and from the valv- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention constitutes a fluid pressure device including housing means having first and second fluid port means, outside-inside rotary valve means in said housing means, hollow shaft means in said housing means for rotatively supporting said rotary valve means, said rotary valve means having around the outside thereof first fluid chamber means in constant fluid communication with said first fluid port means and having on the inside thereof second fluid chamber means in constant fluid communication with said second fluid port means through said hollow shaft means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and a fuller understanding of this invention may be had be referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a fluid pressure device embodying the features of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 1, except that the section through the fluid ports and rotary valve is taken along a line other than a vertical center line, and showing the fluid ports in the housing in section as well as illustrating both the outside and inside rotary valve communicating ports which appear unshaded;

FIG. 3 is a left-hand side view of the rotary valve only, taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, showing principally a female socket of non-circular configuration, the rotary valve being rotated 90 from the position shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a representation of a male shank provided on a terminal portion of a hollow shaft adapted to DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For clarity of invention, the usual static seals and the 0 seal for the rotating shaft are not shown. Also, all wear parts are made of hardenable surfaces and are well lubricated by the operating fluid.

With reference to the drawing, the fluid pressure device in which my rotary valving means may be incorporated, comprises generally a main housing 20 having substantially a square cross-section. A mounting flange 21 may be secured to the left-hand end of the housing by means of suitable screws 26 (one of which is shown in FIG. 1). The housing 20 is hollow from end-to-end, and intermediate the ends of the hollow housing there is provided an annular internal rim 22 which generally separates the hollow-housing into a left-hand end compartment and a right-hand end compartment. Rotatively mounted in the left-hand end compartment is a main load shaft 25 having an axis substantially coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the fluid pressure device. A bushing 27 and a rotary valve 28 are mounted in the right-hand end compartment. On the right-hand end of the hollow-housing, there is mounted a square stationary valve member 29 by means of suitable screws 30. The rotary valve is adapted to be rotated relative to the stationary valve member 29 for controlling the entrance of fluid to and the exit of fluid from a statorrotor mechanism 31 comprising a stator 32 and a rotor 33. An end cap 34 encloses the stator-rotor mechanism 31. The stator-rotor mechanism 31 and the end cap 34 are secured to the stationary valve member 29 by means of screws 35. Fluid is delivered to and from the housing 20 through a pair of

fluid ports

23 and 24. An actuating shaft 36 interconnects the main shaft 25 with the rotor 33 of the stator-rotor mechanism 31 and is adapted to transmit torque therebetween.

The main shaft 25 comprises an enlarged internal portion having a reduced external portion 41 extending axially outwardly of the main housing 20 through the mounting flange 21. The enlarged internal portion of the main shaft is supported preferably by

tapered roller bearings

42 and 43 disposed side-by-side with the bearing 42 disposed oppositely to that of the tapered roller bearing 43. Thus, the

tapered roller bearings

42 and 43, in combination with each other, provide for radial thrust as well as for end thrust in both axial directions, with the tapered roller bearing 42 disposed to take the greater part of the radial load. A tightening nut 54 which threadably engages male threads 55 secures the

bearings

42 and 43 against axial movement upon the main shaft. The tightening nut 54 may be provided with a built-in locking feature to prevent loosening.

As shown, the

bearings

42 and 43 are secured against axial movement in the housing by axial fixation means, indicated by the reference character 60. The axial fixation means 60 is located within a bore 62 of the flange and comprises an annular V-shaped or pointed rib which axially abuts against a transversely disposed solid abutment wall of the bearing 42. The rib may be constructed either integrally with or as a separate part from the flange 21. By pressing the flange 21 against the end of the housing during assembly, the pointed rib is coined against the bearing 42, with the result that the fixation means accommodates for axial tolerance in matching the position of the bearings in the housing. The pressure required to coin the axial fixation means is greater than the end-wise thrust load to which the bearing means 42 may be subjected in operation, in which case the

bearings

42 and 43 are resisted against axial movement in operation. The main shaft is entirely supported by the two

tapered roller bearings

42 and 43. The reduced external shaft portion 41 where it passes axially through the end mounting flange 21 is not journalled therein but rotates therein with a small radial clearance which is adapted to be sealed off by suitable shaft seal means, not shown. The axial fixation-means 60, after being coined, provides a fluid seal between the housing and the flange.

The

bearings

42 and 43 constitute common bearing means for the main shaft 25 and the rotary valve 28. The common bearing means directly support the main shaft 25 and indirectly support the rotary valve 28 through extension drive means comprising a hollowshaft 44 carried by the load shaft 25. The hollow shaft 44 extends axially from the load shaft 25 in the lefthand compartment into the right-hand compartment for driving connection with the rotary valve 28 for rotating same relative to the stationary valve 29. The hollow shaft 44 terminated with a male shank 45 which slidably fits within a female socket 46 provided in the rotary valve 28, see FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. This connection comprises a non-rotatable connection and rotates the rotary valve upon rotation by the main shaft. The connection also provides slidable axial movement between the rotary valve 28 and the hollow shaft 44 to accommodate for axial movement of the load shaft without interfering with the operation of the rotary valve. The axial slidably movement which is permitted between the male shank 45 and the female socket 46 is greater than the maximum distance that the load shaft 25 may move in an axial direction during operation. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the rotary valve 28 and the second compartment means in which it is mounted has a radial clearance 47 therebetween to accommodate for radial movement of the load shaft 25 without interfering with the operation of the rotary valve. The radial clearance 47 is greater than the maximum distance that the load shaft 25 may move in a radial direction during operation.

The operation of the rotary valve relative to the stationary valve provides for controlling the entrance of fluid to and the exit of fluid from the stator-rotor mechanism. The action of the rotary valve 28 in commutation with the stationary valve is such that there is a first series of commutating fluid connections between the fluid port 23 and the stator-rotor mechanism and a second series of commutating fluid connections between the stator-rotor mechanism and the fluid port 24. The stationary valve 29 has a plurality of circumferentially disposed openings 48 which extend therethrough to provide for fluid communication between the rotary valve 28 and the stator-rotor mechanism. The commutating valve action, and the flow of fluid between the

fluid ports

23 and 24 and the stator-rotor mechanism is substantially the same as that shown and described in my US. Pat. No. 3,405,603. Thus, in the present application, the annular channel around the outside of the rotary valve is in constant communication with the fluid port 23 and the central space inside the rotary valve is in constant communication with the fluid port 24 through the hollow shaft 44, which includes side openings 50 extending through the wall thereof. The fluid flow between the channel around the outside of the rotary valve and the fluid port 23 is very short and unrestricted. The hollow shaft 44, as well as the side openings 50 comprise a large fluid passageway, whereby the fluid flow between the inside of the rotary valve and the fluid port 24 is likewise very short and unrestricted.

As shown and described in the present invention, the rotary valve 28 functions without interference from axial and radial thrust loads on the load shaft 25, even though it is rotatively supported by the same bearings that support the load shaft.

Unrestricted fluid flow between the right-hand end compartment in which the rotary valve 28 is mounted and the left-hand end compartment in which the load shaft 25 and the

bearings

42 and 43 are mounted is provided by a relatively large passageway means indicated by the reference character 51, being the inside diameter of the bushing 27 and of the rim 22. Major fluid flow from the chamber inside of the rotary valve 28 to the left-hand end compartment is through the inside of the hollow shaft 44 and through the openings 50 whichextend through the side walls thereof. This major fluid flow is substantially unrestricted. Minor fluid flow from the chamber inside of the rotary valve to the left-hand end compartment is through an annular clearance space between the passageway means 51 and the outside of the hollow shaft 44. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the left-hand side of the rotary valve 28 is provided with slots 52 whereby minor flow of fluid may pass therethrough and enter the annular clearance space around the hollow shaft 44. From the foregoing description, it is observed that the chamber inside the rotary valve is in constant fluid communication with the left-hand end compartment. The

fluid ports

23 and 24 are respectively in constant fluid communication with the external fluid chamber surrounding the rotary valve and with the internal fluid chamber internally of the rotary valve and the constant communication provided thereby is substantially unrestricted. There is ample fluid space around the actuating shaft 36 and inside the hollow shaft 44 to provide unrestrictive flow of the fluid.

The rotary valve 28 and the stationary valve 29 provide a metal-to-metal, hardenable confronting engagement therebetween for defining a fluid seal between the fluid chamber means on the outside of the rotary valve and the fluid chamber means on the inside of the valve.

Since the confronting surface of the valving are metal-.

and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. Fluid pressure device including housing means having first and second fluid port means, outside-inside rotary valve means in said housing means, hollow shaft means in said housing means for rotatively supporting said rotary valve means, said rotary valve means having around the outside thereof first fluid chamber means in constant fluid communication with said first fluid port means and having on the inside thereof second fluid chamber means in constant fluid communication with said second fluid port means through said hollow shaft means.

2. Fluid pressure device including housing means having first and second fluid port means, operable pressure means secured to said housing means, valve means including outside-inside rotary valve means for controlling the flow of fluid between said operable pressure means and said first and second fluid port means, hollow shaft means in said housing means for rotatively supporting said rotary valve means, said rotary valve means having around the outside thereof first fluid chamber means in constant fluid communication with said first fluid port means and having on the inside thereof second fluid chamber means in constant fluid communication with said second fluid port means through said hollow shaft means.

3. In a fluid pressure device having first and second fluid port means, fluid compartment means, first and second fluid chamber means respectively in constant fluid communication with said first and second fluid port means, valve means including movable valve means defining a fluid seal between said first and second fluid chamber means, one of said fluid chamber means and said fluid compartment means having fluid passageway means therebetween, shaft means for actuating said movable valve means, said shaft means extending through said passageway means, said one of said fluid chamber means and said fluid compartment means being in constant fluid communication with each other through said passageway means.

4. In a fluid pressure device having first and second fluid port means, fluid compartment means, first and second fluid chamber means respectively in constant fluid communication with said first and second fluid port means, valve means including movable valve means defining a fluid seal between said first and second fluid chamber means, one of said fluid chamber means and said fluid compartment means having fluid passageway means therebetween, shaft means for actuating said movable valve means, said shaft means extending through said passageway means, and including hollow shaft means extending from said fluid compartment means to said one of said fluid chamber means, said one of said fluid chamber means and said fluid compartment means being in constant fluid communication with each other through said hollow shaft means.

5. The structure of claim 4, wherein, said hollow shaft means defines with said passageway means an annular clearance space, said one of said fluid chamber means and said fluid compartment means being in constant fluid communication with each other through both said hollow shaft means and said clearance space.

6. The structure of claim 5, wherein said rotary valve means has slot means to provide fluid communication to said clearance space.

7. In a fluid pressure device having first and second fluid port means, fluid compartment means, first and second fluid chamber means respectively in constant communication with said first and second fluid port means, valve means including first and second relatively movable valve means confrontingly engaging each other and defining a fluid seal between said first and second fluid chamber means, said first valve means comprising stationary valve means fixedly mounted in an axial direction, said second valve means comprising movable valve means confrontingly engaging said stationary valve means, said stationary valve means and said movable valve means including hardenable surfaces whereby said movable valve means has an axial position fixed by said stationary valve means against which it confrontinly engages, hollow shaft means extending from said fluid compartment means to one of said fluid chamber means, said one of said fluid chamber means and said fluid compartment means being in constant fluid communication with each other through said hollow shaft means, said hollow shaft means and said movable valve means having a mechanical connection therebetween, said mechanical connection including an axially slidable connection.