Fluid system

Claim 2

A fluid pressure energy translating device, comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet port; a cylinder barrel rotatably mounted within said housing, said cylinder barrel having a plurality of arcuately spaced cylinder bores; a plurality of pistons with inner ends disposed for reciprocal stroking movement within said cylinder bores; means for successively communicating said cylinder bores with said inlet and outlet ports; an inclined swash plate mounted in said housing in a driving relationship with the other end of said pistons for imparting said reciprocal stroking movement to said pistons within said cylinder barrel bores as said cylinder barrel rotates, the amount of fluid flowing from said inlet port to said outlet port being a function of the amount of said reciprocal stroking movement of said pistons; means for varying the inclination of said swash plate between selected maximum and minimum inclination positions to vary the amount of said reciprocal stroking movement of said pistons such that the fluid flowing from said inlet port to said outlet port is increased as said swash plate inclination increases and said fluid flow between said inlet and outlet ports decreases as said swash plate inclination is decreased; a pair of stop means defining said maximum and minimum inclination positions; electrically actuated means for selectively varying the position of one of said stop means to vary one of said iNclination positions between preset limits; a pair of spaced limit switch means electrically coupled to said electrically actuated means; a pair of cam means respectively movable relative to said spaced limit switch means for engagement therewith to terminate said electrically actuated means when said one stop means has been moved to either of said preset limits.

Claim 3

The fluid pressure energy translating device defined in claim 1 wherein said electrically actuated means is remotely controlled.

Claim 4

The fluid pressure energy translating device as defined in claim 1 wherein said maximum inclination position as defined by one of said stop means is selectively varied between a higher preset limit and a lower preset limit by said electrically actuated means.

Claim 5

The fluid pressure energy translating device defined in claim 3 wherein said lower limit of said maximum inclination position defined by said one stop means is greater than said minimum inclination position defined by said other stop means.

Claim 6

The fluid pressure energy translating device defined in claim 1 wherein the means for varying the inclination of said swash plate comprises a connecting arm attached to said swash plate and extending externally of said housing, actuating means operatively coupled to said connecting arm and adapted to rotate said swash plate about a predetermined axis; said pair of stop means comprising a pair of mechanical stops, one of which limits the amount of movement of said swash plate in a first direction and defines said minimum inclination position, while the other of said mechanical stops limits the amount of movement of said swash plate in a second, opposite direction and defines said maximum inclination position, one of said mechanical stops being selectively varied between a higher preset limit and a lower preset limit.

Claim 7

The fluid pressure energy translating device defined in claim 5 wherein said cam means are carried by said one mechanical stop and adapted to engage said limit switch means to terminate said electrically actuated means when said one mechanical stop is moved to either of said preset limits.

Claim 8

The fluid pressure energy translating device defined in claim 1 wherein said swash plate is rotatable about a predetermined axis, a first pressure responsive means carried within said housing adapted to engage said swash plate to rotate said swash plate about said axis to vary the inclination of said swash plate and thus the amount of reciprocal stroking movement of said pistons within said cylinder bores, said first pressure responsive means tending to increase the inclination of said swash plate; second pressure responsive means carried within said housing and adapted to engage said swash plate to rotate said swash plate about said axis in an opposite direction to thereby decrease the inclination of said swash plate.

Claim 9

The fluid pressure energy translating device defined in claim 7 wherein said first pressure responsive means comprises a first piston slidably mounted in a first pressure chamber in said housing and having an extended end engaging said swash plate and adapted to extend under pressure from said pressure chamber to rotate said swash plate about said predetermined axis toward said maximum inclination position; said second pressure responsive means comprising a second piston slidably mounted in a second pressure chamber, said second piston having an extended end engaging said swash plate and adapted to extend under pressure from said second pressure chamber to rotate said swash plate toward said minimum inclination position, said second pressure chamber having a movable mechanical stop disposed therein; and electrically actuated means adapted to selectively move said mechanical stop toward and away from said second piston to limit the amount of inward movement of said second piston into said second pressure chamber, the movement of said movable mechanical stop being defined by said preset limits.

Claim 10

The fluid pressure enerGy translating device defined in claim 8 further comprising a movable rod member, said cams being carried on said movable rod member, and means connecting said rod member to said swash plate such that movement of said rod member is a function of the rotational movement of said swash plate between said preset limits.

Claim 11

The fluid pressure energy translating device defined in claim 8 wherein said swash plate is rotatably mounted on a pair of trunnions extending from opposite sides of said swash plate and carried by said housing, one end of one of said trunnions being accessible through a bore in said housing; said cam means being carried by said one end of said one trunnion; said limit switch means being adapted to be engaged by said cam means when said swash plate is inclined to said limits such that said limit switch means terminates said electrically actuated means.

Claim 12

A fluid system comprising: a variable displacement pressure energy translating device having an inlet and an outlet; pressure responsive means for varying the fluid displacement of said device between selected minimum and maximum flow positions; a pair of stop means defining said maximum and minimum flow positions; electrically actuated means for selectively varying the position of one of said stop means to vary one of said flow positions between minimum and maximum limits; a pair of spaced limit switch means electrically coupled to said electrically actuated means; a pair of cam means respectively movable relative to said spaced limit switch means for engagement therewith to terminate said electrically actuated means when said one stop means has been moved to either of said preset limits; fluid motor means operable in response to fluid pressure from said device; valve means for selectively connecting the inlet and the outlet of said device to said fluid motor means; a second source of fluid pressure; and means for communicating said second source of fluid pressure to said pressure responsive displacement varying means at a selected raTe to thereby vary the rate of change of the displacement of said fluid pressure energy translating device selectively between said maximum and minimum flow positions.

Claim 13

A fluid system comprising: a variable displacement pressure energy translating device having an inlet and an outlet; pressure responsive means for varying the fluid displacement of said device between selected minimum and maximum flow positions; a pair of stop means defining said maximum and minimum flow positions; electrically actuated means for selectively varying the position of one of said stop means to vary one of said flow positions between minimum and maximum limits; a pair of spaced limit switch means electrically coupled to said electrically actuated means; a pair of cam means respectively movable relative to said spaced limit switch means for engagement therewith to terminate said electrically actuated means when said one stop means has been moved to either of said preset limits; fluid motor means operable in response to fluid pressure from said device; valve means for selectively connecting the inlet and the outlet of said device to said fluid motor means; a second source of fluid pressure; and means for communicating said second source of fluid pressure to said pressure responsive displacement varying means at a selected raTe to thereby vary the rate of change of the displacement of said fluid pressure energy translating device selectively between said maximum and minimum flow positions.

Claim 14

The fluid system defined in claim 11 wherein said electrically actuated means is remotely controlled.

Claim 15

The fluid system defined in claim 11 wherein said electrically actuated means varies said maximum flow positions between said minimum and maximum limits.

Claim 16

The fluid system defined in claim 13 wherein said minimum limit of said maximum flow position is greater than said selected minimum flow position.

Claim 17

A fluid pressure energy translating device, comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet port; a cylinder barrel rotatably mounted within said housing, said cylinder barrel having a plurality of arcuately spaced cylinder bores; a plurality of pistons with inner ends disposed for reciprocal stroking movement within said cylinder bores; means for successively communicating said cylinder bores with said inlet and outlet ports; an inclined swash plate mounted in said housing in a driving relationship with the other end of said pistons for imparting said reciprocal stroking movement to said pistons within said cylinder barrel bores as said cylinder barrel rotates, the amount of fluid flowing from said inlet port to said outlet port being a function of the amount of said reciprocal stroking movement of said pistons; means for varying the inclination of said swash plate between selected maximum and minimum inclination positions to vary the amount of said reciprocal stroking movement of said pistons such that the fluid flowing from said inlet port to said outlet port is increased as said swash plate inclination increases and said fluid flow between said inlet and outlet ports decreases as said swash plate inclination is decreased, said means for varying the inclination of said swash plate comprisiNg a connecting arm attached to said swash plate and extending externally of said housing; actuating means operatively coupled to said connecting arm and adapted to rotate said swash plate about a predetermined axis; a pair of mechanical stops, one of which limits the amount of movement of said swash plate in a first direction and defines said minimum inclination position, while the other of said mechanical stops limits the amount of movement of said swash plate in a second, opposite direction and defines said maximum inclination position, one of said mechanical stops being selectively varied between a higher preset limit and a lower preset limit, said maximum inclination position being selectively variable between said higher and lower preset limits; means for selectively varying said maximum inclination position between said limits comprising electrically actuated means for moving said one mechanical stop; limit switch means carried proximate said one mechanical stop; and cam means carried by said one mechanical stop and adapted to engage said limit switch means to terminate said electrically actuated means when said one mechanical stop is moved to either of said preset limits.

Claim 18

A fluid pressure energy translating device, comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet port; a cylinder barrel rotatably mounted within said housing, said cylinder barrel having a plurality of arcuately spaced cylinder bores; a plurality of pistons with inner ends disposed for reciprocal stroking movement within said cylinder bores; means for successively communicating said cylinder bores with said inlet and outlet ports; an inclined swash plate mounted in said housing in a driving relationship with the other end of said pistons for imparting said reciprocal stroking movement to said pistons within said cylinder barrel bores as said cylinder barrel rotates, the amount of fluid flowing from said inlet port to said outlet port being a function of the amount of said reciprocal stroking movement of said pistons; means for varying the inclination of said swash plate between selected maximum and minimum inclination positions to vary the amount of said reciprocal stroking movement of said pistons such that the fluid flowing from said inlet port to said outlet port is increased as said swash plate inclination increases and said fluid flow between said inlet and outlet ports decreases as said swash plate inclination is decreased, said means for varying the inclination of said swash plate comprisiNg a connecting arm attached to said swash plate and extending externally of said housing; actuating means operatively coupled to said connecting arm and adapted to rotate said swash plate about a predetermined axis; a pair of mechanical stops, one of which limits the amount of movement of said swash plate in a first direction and defines said minimum inclination position, while the other of said mechanical stops limits the amount of movement of said swash plate in a second, opposite direction and defines said maximum inclination position, one of said mechanical stops being selectively varied between a higher preset limit and a lower preset limit, said maximum inclination position being selectively variable between said higher and lower preset limits; means for selectively varying said maximum inclination position between said limits comprising electrically actuated means for moving said one mechanical stop; limit switch means carried proximate said one mechanical stop; and cam means carried by said one mechanical stop and adapted to engage said limit switch means to terminate said electrically actuated means when said one mechanical stop is moved to either of said preset limits.

Claim 19

A fluid pressure energy translating device, comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet port; a cylinder barrel rotatably mounted within said housing, said cylinder barrel having a plurality of arcuately spaced cylinder bores; a plurality of pistons with inner ends disposed for reciprocal stroking movement within said cylinder bores; means for successively communicating said cylinder bores with said inlet and outlet ports; an inclined swash plate mounted in said housing in a driving relationship with the other end of said pistons for imparting said reciprocal stroking movement to said pistons within said cylinder barrel bores as said cylinder barrel rotates, the amount of fluid flowing from said inlet port to said outlet port being a function of the amount of said reciprocal stroking movement of said pistons; means for varying the inclination of said swash plate between selected maximum and minimum inclination positions to vary the amount of said reciprocal stroking movement of said pistons such that the fluid flowing from said inlet to said outlet port is increased as said swash plate inclination increases and said fluid flow between said inlet and outlet ports decreases as said swash plate inclination is decreased, said swash plate being rotatable about a predetermined axis; a first pressure responsive means carried within said housing adapted to engage said swash plate to rotate said swash plate about said axis to vary the inclination of said swash plate and thus the amount of reciprocal stroking movement of said pistons within said cylinder bores, said first pressure responsive means tending to increase the inclination of said swash plate, said first pressure responsive means comprising a first piston slidably mounted in a first pressure chamber in said housing and having an extended end engaging said swash plate and adapted to extend under pressure from said pressure chamber to rotate said swash plate about said predetermined axis toward said maximum inclination position; second pressure responsive means carried within said housing and adapted to engage said swash plate to rotate said swash plate about said axis in an opposite direction to thereby decrease the inclination of said swash plate, said second pressure responsive means comprising a second piston slidably mounted in a second pressure chamber, said second piston having an extended end engaging said swash plate and adapted to extend under pressure from said second pressure chamber to rotate said swash plate toward said minimum inclination position, said second pressure chamber having a movable mechanical stop disposed therein; Electrically actuated means adapted to selectively move said mechanical stop toward and away from said second position to limit the aMount of inward movement of said second piston into said second pressure chamber, the movement of said movable mechanical stop being defined by preset limits; a pair of spaced limit switches; a pair of cams respectively adapted to engage said spaced limit switches when said swash plate has been moved to said preset limits to terminate said electrically actuated means, said cams being carried on a movable rod member; and means connecting said rod member to said swash plate such that movement of said rod member is a function of the rotational movement of said swash plate between said preset limits.

Claim 20

A fluid pressure energy translating device, comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet port; a cylinder barrel rotatably mounted within said housing, said cylinder barrel having a plurality of arcuately spaced cylinder bores; a plurality of pistons with inner ends disposed for reciprocal stroking movement within said cylinder bores; means for successively communicating said cylinder bores with said inlet and outlet ports; an inclined swash plate mounted in said housing in a driving relationship with the other end of said pistons for imparting said reciprocal stroking movement to said pistons within said cylinder barrel bores as said cylinder barrel rotates, the amount of fluid flowing from said inlet port to said outlet port being a function of the amount of said reciprocal stroking movement of said pistons; means for varying the inclination of said swash plate between selected maximum and minimum inclination positions to vary the amount of said reciprocal stroking movement of said pistons such that the fluid flowing from said inlet to said outlet port is increased as said swash plate inclination increases and said fluid flow between said inlet and outlet ports decreases as said swash plate inclination is decreased, said swash plate being rotatable about a predetermined axis; a first pressure responsive means carried within said housing adapted to engage said swash plate to rotate said swash plate about said axis to vary the inclination of said swash plate and thus the amount of reciprocal stroking movement of said pistons within said cylinder bores, said first pressure responsive means tending to increase the inclination of said swash plate, said first pressure responsive means comprising a first piston slidably mounted in a first pressure chamber in said housing and having an extended end engaging said swash plate and adapted to extend under pressure from said pressure chamber to rotate said swash plate about said predetermined axis toward said maximum inclination position; second pressure responsive means carried within said housing and adapted to engage said swash plate to rotate said swash plate about said axis in an opposite direction to thereby decrease the inclination of said swash plate, said second pressure responsive means comprising a second piston slidably mounted in a second pressure chamber, said second piston having an extended end engaging said swash plate and adapted to extend under pressure from said second pressure chamber to rotate said swash plate toward said minimum inclination position, said second pressure chamber having a movable mechanical stop disposed therein; Electrically actuated means adapted to selectively move said mechanical stop toward and away from said second position to limit the aMount of inward movement of said second piston into said second pressure chamber, the movement of said movable mechanical stop being defined by preset limits; a pair of spaced limit switches; a pair of cams respectively adapted to engage said spaced limit switches when said swash plate has been moved to said preset limits to terminate said electrically actuated means, said cams being carried on a movable rod member; and means connecting said rod member to said swash plate such that movement of said rod member is a function of the rotational movement of said swash plate between said preset limits.

Claim 21

A fluid pressure energy translating device, comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet port; means in said housing for displacing fluid between said ports; means for varying the amount of fluid displaced by said device between selected minimum and maximum flow conditions; a pair of stop means cooperating with said last mentioned means and defining said maximum and minimum flow positions; electrically actuated means for selectively varying the position of one of said stop means to vary one of said flow positions between minimum and maximum limits; a pair of spaced limit switch means electrically coupled to said electrically actuating means; and a pair of cams respectively movable relative to said spaced limit switch means for engagement therewith to terminate said electrically actuated means when said one stop means has been moved to either of said preset limits.

Claim 22

A fluid pressure energy translating device, comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet port; means in said housing for displacing fluid between said ports; means for varying the amount of fluid displaced by said device between selected minimum and maximum flow conditions; a pair of stop means cooperating with said last mentioned means and defining said maximum and minimum flow positions; electrically actuated means for selectively varying the position of one of said stop means to vary one of said flow positions between minimum and maximum limits; a pair of spaced limit switch means electrically coupled to said electrically actuating means; and a pair of cams respectively movable relative to said spaced limit switch means for engagement therewith to terminate said electrically actuated means when said one stop means has been moved to either of said preset limits.