Fluid device with flexible ring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9133830-B2
Application number	US-200913126400-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 30, 2009
Priority date	Oct 31, 2008
Publication date	Sep 15, 2015
Grant date	Sep 15, 2015

Abstract

A fluid device includes a housing defining a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A variable displacement assembly is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The variable displacement assembly includes a rotor assembly, a flexible ring, and a plurality of ring supports. The rotor assembly includes a rotor having a plurality of reciprocating members. The flexible ring is disposed about the rotor assembly. The flexible ring includes an inner surface, which is adapted for engagement with the plurality of reciprocating members, and an outer surface. The plurality of ring supports is disposed about the flexible ring. Each of the plurality of ring supports includes a support portion and a pivot portion about which the ring support selectively pivots. The support portion is adapted for engagement with the outer surface of the flexible ring.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A variable displacement assembly for use in a fluid device, the variable fluid displacement assembly comprising:
a flexible ring, the flexible ring having an inner surface and an outer surface;
a plurality of linearly actuated control pistons oppositely disposed from one another about the outer surface of the flexible ring; and
a plurality of ring supports disposed about the outer surface of the flexible ring, wherein each of the plurality of ring supports includes a support portion adapted for engagement with the outer surface of the flexible ring and a central pivot portion that defines a central pivot axis about which the ring support selectively pivots, wherein the pivoting of the ring support about the central pivot portion moves the flexible ring between a relaxed position and a displaced position, the central pivot portions being arranged between and in an alternating arrangement with the plurality of control pistons; and
the flexible ring being rotatable relative to the ring supports and the support portions of the ring supports providing bearing surfaces against which the flexible ring rotates.

2. A variable displacement assembly for use in a fluid device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a rotor assembly having a rotor and a plurality of reciprocating members, wherein the reciprocating members are adapted for engagement with the inner surface of the flexible ring.

3. A variable displacement assembly for use in a fluid device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the rotor includes a plurality of bores in which the plurality of reciprocating members is engaged.

4. A variable displacement assembly for use in a fluid device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein each of the reciprocating members includes a first axial end portion and an oppositely disposed second axial end portion, the first axial end portions of the reciprocating members being adapted for reciprocation in the bores of the rotor, the second axial end portions of the reciprocating members being adapted for engagement with the inner surface of the flexible ring.

5. A variable displacement assembly for use in a fluid device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the each of the first axial end portions of the reciprocating members includes a frusto-spherical portion.

6. A variable displacement assembly for use in a fluid device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the second axial end portions of the reciprocating members include an outer surface adapted for engagement with the inner surface of the flexible ring, wherein the outer surface is arcuate in shape.

7. A variable displacement assembly for use in a fluid device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ring supports includes a first plurality of ring supports and a second plurality of ring supports, wherein the first plurality of ring supports overlappingly engage the second plurality of ring supports.

8. A variable displacement assembly for use in a fluid device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the support portion of each of the plurality of ring supports includes an arcuate surface having a radius that is about equal to a radius of the flexible ring in the relaxed position.

9. A variable displacement assembly for use in a fluid device as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising an actuator for selectively displacing the flexible ring, wherein the actuator is disposed at an interface between one of the first plurality of ring supports and one of the second plurality of ring supports.

10. A fluid device comprising
a housing defining a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
a variable displacement assembly in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the variable displacement assembly including:
a rotor assembly having a rotor and a plurality of reciprocation members;
a flexible ring disposed about the rotor assembly, the flexible ring having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface is adapted for engagement with the plurality of reciprocation members;
a plurality of linearly actuated control pistons oppositely disposed from one another about the outer surface of the flexible ring; and

a plurality of ring supports disposed about the flexible ring, wherein each of the ring supports includes a support portion and a central pivot portion that defines a central pivot axis about which the ring support selectively pivots, wherein the support portion being adapted for engagement with the outer surface of the flexible ring, the central pivot portions being arranged between and in an alternating arrangement with the plurality of control pistons; and
the flexible ring being rotatable relative to the ring supports and the support portions of the ring supports providing bearing surfaces against which the flexible ring rotates.

11. A fluid device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the variable displacement assembly is of a radial piston type.

12. A fluid device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the rotor includes a plurality of bores in which the plurality of reciprocating members is engaged.

13. A fluid device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein each of the reciprocating members includes a first axial end portion and an oppositely disposed second axial end portion, the first axial end portions of the reciprocating members being adapted for reciprocation in the bores of the rotor, the second axial end portions of the reciprocating members being adapted for engagement with the inner surface of the flexible ring.

14. A fluid device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the each of the first axial end portions of the reciprocating members includes a frusto-spherical portion.

15. A fluid device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the second axial end portions of the reciprocating members include an outer surface adapted for engagement with the inner surface of the flexible ring, wherein the outer surface is arcuate in shape.

16. A fluid device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the plurality of control pistons disposed about the outer surface of the flexible ring selectively change the shape of the flexible ring.

17. A fluid device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the plurality of control pistons includes a plurality of displacement pistons and a plurality of reaction pistons, the displacement pistons including a spring and being adapted to receive fluid, wherein the spring and the fluid are adapted to selectively extend the displacement piston and displace the flexible ring to a maximum displacement position.

18. A fluid device as claimed in claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of displacement pistons is in fluid communication with a variable orifice to selectively relieve fluid communicated to the displacement pistons.

19. A fluid device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of control pistons includes a first axial end portion that acts directly against the outer surface of the flexible ring.

20. A fluid device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the pivot portion is disposed in an alternating arrangement between adjacent control pistons.

21. A fluid device comprising:
a housing defining a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
a variable displacement assembly in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the variable fluid displacement assembly including:
a rotor assembly having a rotor and a plurality of reciprocation members;
an inner flexible ring disposed about the rotor assembly, the flexible ring having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface is adapted for engagement with the recipro

Assignees

• Hansen Lowell Dean
• Galloway Phillip Wayne
• Walker John Lawrence
• Johnson August Nathan
• Eaton Corp

Inventors

• Hansen Lowell Dean
• Galloway Phillip Wayne
• Walker John Lawrence
• Johnson August Nathan

Classifications

• F04B1/107 Primary

  with actuating or actuated elements at the outer ends of the cylinders · CPC title

• F04C14/20

  by changing the form of the inner or outer contour of the working chamber · CPC title

• F04C5/00

  Rotary-piston machines or pumps with the working-chamber walls at least partly resiliently deformable (such pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids F04C18/00) · CPC title

• F04B49/125

  by changing the eccentricity of the actuation means, e.g. cams or cranks, relative to the driving means, e.g. driving shafts (F04B49/128 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F04C2/3445

  the vanes having the form of rollers, slippers or the like · CPC title