Reversible fluid-driven motor

Claim 2

The combination comprising a fluid motor adapted to be driven in two opposite directions and having a first passage which serves as a fluid inlet when the motor is turning in a first direction and as an outlet when the motor turns in the opposite direction, and a second passage which serves as a fluid outlet when the motor turns in said first direction and as an inlet when the motor turn in said opposite direction, and two valve units interposed between a source of pressure fluid and said passages respectively and each operable automatically when pressure fluid is supplied thereto to close off communication between the associated one of said passages and a vent outlet to atmosphere.

Claim 3

The combination as recited in claim 1, in which each of said valve units includes a hollow slide valve element actuable slidably within a valve body structure by said pressure fluid, said structure having said outlet to atmosphere in a wall thereof positioned to be closed by said sliding pressure fluid induced actuation of said element, each of said valve units also including a second valve movably carried by said slide valve element and spring urged to a closed position in which it closes off the flow of pressure fluid to one of said passages through the interior of said slide valve element, said second valve being actuable automatically to open position upon said actuation of the slide valve element.

Claim 4

The combination as recited in claim 2, in which said second valve has a stem engageable with a shoulder in said valve body structure in a relation opening said second valve upon said actuation of the slide valve element.

Claim 5

The combination as recited in claim 1, in which said motor includes a body containing a chamber, a rotor mounted in said chamber to rotate in said two opposite directions relative to the body, said rotor having at least one lobe projecting toward a wall of said chamber and having portions at the leading and trailing sides of the lobe which are spaced farther from said wall to vary the spacing between said rotor and said wall as the rotor turns, at least one vane movably carried by said body and projecting from said wall into said chamber and into engagement with said rotor and forming with said body and rotor at least one compartment which varies in size as the rotor turns, said first fluid passage being formed in the rotor and communicating with said compartment through a first opening at a first side of said lobe and being operable when the rotor is turning in said fIrst direction to admit pressure fluid into said compartment for driving the rotor, and when the rotor is turning in the second direction to discharge fluid through said opening and passage to atmosphere, said second fluid passage being formed in the rotor and communicating with said compartment through a second opening at a second side of said lobe and being operable when the rotor is turning in said compartment to atmosphere, and when the rotor is turning in said second direction to admit pressure fluid into the compartment for driving the rotor in that direction.

Claim 6

The combination as recited in claim 1, in which said motor includes a body containing a chamber, a rotor mounted in said chamber to rotate in said two opposite directions relative to the body, said rotor having at least one lobe projecting toward a wall of said chamber and having portions at the leading and trailing sides of the lobe which are spaced farther from said wall to vary the spacing between said rotor and said wall as the rotor turns, at least one vane movably carried by said body and projecting from said wall into said chamber and into engagement with said rotor and forming with said body and rotor at least one compartment which varies in size as the rotor turns, said first fluid passage being formed in the rotor and communicating with said compartment through a first opening at a first side of said lobe and being operable when the rotor is turning in said first direction to admit pressure fluid into said compartment for driving the rotor, and when the rotor is turning in the second direction to discharge fluid through said opening and passage to atmosphere, said second fluid passage being formed in the rotor and communicating with said compartment through a second opening at a second side of said lobe and being operable when the rotor is turning in said first direction to discharge pressure fluid from said compartment to atmosphere, and when the rotor is turning in said second direction to admit pressure fluid into the compartment for driving the rotor in that direction, there being two passages in said body communicating in sealed relation with said two rotor passages respectively, and control valve means for supplying pressure fluid to said two body passages selectively, said two valve units being located in said two body passages respectively.

Claim 7

The combination as recited in claim 5, in which each of said valve units includes a hollow slide valve element actuable slidably within said body passage by said pressure fluid and operable upon such actuation to close a venting outlet in a wall of the passage, a second valve movably carried by said slide valve element and spring urged to a closed position in which it closes off the flow of pressure fluid to one of said rotor passages through the interior of said slide valve element, and means forming a shoulder for actuating said second valve element to open position upon movement of the slide valve element to its position for closing said venting outlet so that said pressure fluid may flow to the rotor.

Claim 8

The combination as recited in claim 5, in which said rotor has a plurality of said lobes, there being a plurality of said vanes and compartments, said first passage being generally annular and communicating with said compartment through a plurality of said first openings at first sides of the lobes respectively, said second passage being generally annular and communicating with said compartments through a plurality of said second openings at second sides of the lobes respectively.