Freewheel hydraulic motor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9551222-B2
Application number	US-201313944465-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2013
Priority date	Jul 18, 2012
Publication date	Jan 24, 2017
Grant date	Jan 24, 2017

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a hydraulic drive having a stationary housing. The hydraulic drive also has a drive shaft that extends through the stationary housing. Furthermore, the hydraulic drive has a hydraulic motor for rotating the drive shaft relative to the stationary housing. Additionally, the hydraulic drive includes a driven hub adapted to be connected to a rotatable driven element. The hydraulic drive also has a coupling/decoupling arrangement that allows the hydraulic drive to be operated in an engaged mode where the drive shaft is coupled to the driven hub in a direct drive arrangement and a disengaged mode where the drive shaft is decoupled from the driven hub. When the hydraulic drive is operated in the engaged mode torque from the drive shaft is transferred to the driven hub causing the driven hub to rotate relative to the stationary housing. When the hydraulic drive is operated in the disengaged mode the driven hub can free wheel relative to the drive shaft.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A hydraulic drive comprising:
a stationary housing defining a shaft passage;
a main drive shaft having a first end and a second end, the main drive shaft being rotatable within the stationary housing, the main drive shaft extending through the shaft passage of the stationary housing, the main drive shaft being coupled to an inner gear by a splined connection located adjacent the second end;
a valve drive shaft having a torque transmitting connection with the main drive shaft by the inner gear located adjacent the second end of the main drive shaft;
a hydraulic motor for rotating the valve drive shaft, the valve drive shaft transferring torque to the main drive shaft such that the main drive shaft rotates relative to the stationary housing, the hydraulic motor including a motor housing assembly that is mounted to the stationary housing;
a driven hub mounted over the stationary housing, the driven hub including a plurality of openings for receiving fasteners used to mount the driven hub to a rotatable wheel;
a sealing arrangement disposed between the stationary housing and the driven hub;
a coupling/decoupling arrangement mounted over the first end of the main drive shaft, the coupling/decoupling arrangement allowing the hydraulic drive to be operated in an engaged mode where the main drive shaft is coupled to the driven hub in a direct drive arrangement and a disengaged mode where the main drive shaft is decoupled from the driven hub, wherein when the hydraulic drive is operated in the engaged mode, torque from the main drive shaft is transferred to the driven hub causing the driven hub to rotate relative to the stationary housing, and wherein when the hydraulic drive is operated in the disengaged mode, the driven hub can free wheel relative to the main drive shaft;
a central fastener being aligned along an axis of rotation that extends through the shaft passage, an end of the central fastener engaging a plug secured within the coupling/decoupling arrangement, the central fastener being rotatable in a first direction to cause the central fastener to move axially outwardly such that the plug and the coupling/decoupling arrangement move from the engaged mode to the disengaged mode, and the central fastener being rotatable in the opposite, second direction to push the plug and the coupling/decoupling arrangement from the disengaged mode to the engaged mode;
a bearing positioned between the driven hub and the stationary housing for allowing the driven hub to rotate relative to the stationary housing about the axis of rotation that extends through the shaft passage;
a brake including a brake pack having first brake pads mounted to the stationary housing and second brake pads carried by the driven hub, the first and second brake pads being interleaved relative to one another;
a piston engaged with and carried with the coupling/decoupling arrangement and the driven hub, the piston rotating when the coupling/decoupling arrangement and the driven hub are rotated about the axis of rotation by the main drive shaft; and
a spring for actuating the brake by applying a braking force through the piston to the brake pack to compress the first and second brake pads together such that relative rotation between the driven hub and the stationary housing is resisted by friction between the first and second brake pads, and wherein the brake is released by applying a brake release hydraulic pressure to the piston to generate a brake release force that opposes the braking force.

2. The hydraulic drive of claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic motor is a gerotor-type hydraulic motor.

3. The hydraulic drive of claim 1 , wherein the coupling/decoupling arrangement is configured such that the hydraulic drive can be mechanically actuated between the engaged and disengaged modes without requiring the use of hydraulic power.

4. The hydraulic drive of claim 1 , wherein the coupling/decoupling arrangement is configured such that the hydraulic drive can be hydraulically actuated between the engaged and disengaged modes.

5. The hydraulic drive of claim 1 , wherein the coupling/decoupling arrangement is configured such that the hydraulic drive can be mechanically actuated between the engaged and disengaged modes without requiring the use of hydraulic power, and wherein the coupling/decoupling arrangement is also configured such that the hydraulic drive can be hydraulically actuated between the engaged and disengaged modes.

6. The hydraulic drive of claim 1 , wherein the coupling/decoupling arrangement includes a coupler moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein when the coupler is in the engaged position the coupler is adapted to transfer torque between the main drive shaft and the driven hub such that the hydraulic drive is operable in the engaged mode, and wherein when the coupler is in the disengaged position the coupler is adapted to not transfer torque between the main drive shaft and the driven hub such that the hydraulic drive is operable in the disengaged mode.

7. The hydraulic drive of claim 6 , wherein the coupler is connected to the main drive shaft by a torque transmitting connection that allows the coupler to slide axially relative to the main drive shaft between the engaged and disengaged positions.

8. The hydraulic drive of claim 7 , wherein the coupler includes outer torque transfer elements that engage inner torque transfer elements of the driven hub when the coupler is in the engaged position and that disengage the inner torque transfer elements of the driven hub when the coupler is in the disengaged position.

9. The hydraulic drive of claim 8 , wherein the inner and outer torque transfer elements include splines, and wherein the torque transmitting connection is a splined interface.

10. The hydraulic drive of claim 1 , wherein the coupling/decoupling arrangement includes a coupler moveable along the axis of rotation between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein when the coupler is in the engaged position the coupler is adapted to transfer torque from the main drive shaft to the driven hub such that the hydraulic drive is operable in the engaged mode, and wherein when the coupler is in the disengaged position the coupler is adapted to not transfer torque between the main drive shaft and the driven hub such that the hydraulic drive is operable in the disengaged mode.

11. The hydraulic drive of claim 1 , wherein the coupling/decoupling arrangement includes a coupler moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein when the coupler is in the engaged position the coupler is adapted to transfer torque from the main drive shaft to the driven hub such that the hydraulic drive is operable in the engaged mode, wherein when the coupler is in the disengaged position the coupler is adapted to not transfer torque between the main drive shaft and the driven hub such that the hydraulic drive is operable in the disengaged mode, wherein a mechanical fastener is positionable in a retaining position where the mechanical fastener retains the coupler in the engaged position, and wherein the spring moves the coupler from the engaged position to the disengaged position when the mechanical fastener is moved from the retaining position.

12. The hydraulic drive of claim 11 , wherein the coupler is movable along the axis between the engaged and disengaged positions, wherein the spring is positioned between the coupler and the piston, and wherein when the spring moves the coupler from the engaged position to the disengaged position the braking force is released.

13. The hydraulic drive of claim 12 , wherein the piston h

Assignees

• Eaton Corp

Inventors

• Lucas Jay Paul

Classifications

• F16D55/50

  with auxiliary friction members, which may be of different type, producing the self-tightening action · CPC title

• F01C21/008 Primary

  Driving elements, brakes, couplings, transmissions specially adapted for rotary or oscillating-piston machines or engines (brakes, couplings, transmissions per se F16, B60) · CPC title

• F16D2127/06

  Locking mechanisms, e.g. acting on actuators, on release mechanisms or on force transmission mechanisms · CPC title

• F04C14/06

  specially adapted for stopping, starting, idling or no-load operation · CPC title

• F03C2/08 Primary

  of intermeshing-engagement type, i.e. with engagement of co- operating members similar to that of toothed gearing · CPC title