Pneumatic motor and housing assembly

Claim 2

A pneumatic motor subassembly adapted for installation in the housing of a portable pneumatic power tool, said subassembly comprising a generally cylindrical rotor member having a plurality of vanes disposed for radial movement therein; a pair of shaft ends extending axially from the ends of said rotor; a tubular liner surrounding said rotor; a pair of front and rear end plates disposed at opposite ends of said liner and said rotor; a pair of anti-friction bearings mounted in the surfaces of said end plates remote from said rotor; means retaining said bearings on said shaft ends of said rotor to hold said end plates, said liner and said rotor in assembled relationship as a separate preassembled motor subassembly; and means retaining said liner and said end plates in predetermined aligned relative positions prior to and during installation of said motor within a power tool housing, said alignment means comprising corresponding grooves entirely contained in the outer peripheries of said liner and of said front and rear end plates, and a retaining pin disposed within all of said grooves and also entirely contained in the outer peripheries of said liner and of said front and rear end plates.

Claim 3

The pneumatic motor subassembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said anti-friction bearings each comprises an outer race mounted in said corresponding end plate, an inner race disposed on said shaft and a plurality of anti-friction rollers disposed between said races; and wherein said means retaining said end plates on said shaft ends comprises a press-fit between one shaft end and one inner race of said pair of bearings; said retaining means further comprisinG a groove in said other shaft end and a split washer disposed in said groove to retain said inner race of said other bearing.

Claim 4

A pneumatic motor and housing assembly comprising: a pneumatic motor including a cylindrical front and rear end plate, a tubular liner disposed between said end plates, a rotor having a plurality of vanes mounted within the tubular liner, and an interconnecting structure which extends between the front and rear end plates and the tubular liner to hold the front and rear end plates and the tubular liner from relative rotation with respect to each other; a housing having a generally cylindrical recess closed at one end in which said pneumatic motor is mounted, the rear end plate being disposed adjacent said closed end of the cylindrical recess and the front end plate being disposed in part in the recess adjacent the open end of the cylindrical recess, a portion of the front end plate extending outwardly of the cylindrical recess in the housing; aligning means functionally separate of said interconnecting structure and on said housing adjacent the open end of the cylindrical recess which engages said portion of the front end plate to hold said front end plate in a position of rotational alignment within the cylindrical recess; and said portion of the front end plate which extends outwardly of the cylindrical recess comprising a radially outwardly extending flange, said flange being provided with slot means, and wherein said aligning means engages said slot means in said flange.

Claim 5

A pneumatic motor and housing assembly comprising: a pneumatic motor including a cylindrical front and rear end plate, a tubular liner disposed between said end plates, a rotor having a plurality of vanes mounted within the tubular liner, and an interconnecting structure which extends between the front and rear end plates and the tubular liner to hold the front and rear end plates and the tubular liner from relative rotation with respect to each other; a housing having a generally cylindrical recess closed at one end in which said pneumatic motor is mounted, the rear end plate being disposed adjacent said closed end of the cylindrical recess and the front end plate being disposed in part in the recess adjacent the open end of the cylindrical recess, a portion of the front end plate extending outwardly of the cylindrical recess in the housing; aligning means functionally separate of said interconnecting structure and on said housing adjacent the open end of the cylindrical recess which engages said portion of the front end plate to hold said front end plate in a position of rotational alignment within the cylindrical recess; and said portion of the front end plate which extends outwardly of the cylindrical recess comprising a radially outwardly extending flange, said flange being provided with slot means, and wherein said aligning means engages said slot means in said flange.

Claim 6

The pneumatic motor housing assembly set forth in claim 3, in which said cylindrical recess is disposed within a barrel shaped portion of the housing, and said aligning means being a tang which extends beyond one end of the barrel-shaped portion adjacent the open end of the cylindrical recess.

Claim 7

The pneumatic motor and housing assembly set forth in claim 3, in which each of the front and rear end plates and tubular liner is provided with an outer peripheral groove, and in which said interconnecting structure is a pin-like element lying within all of said grooves.

Claim 8

In combination, a housing, a pneumatic motor adapted for mounting in said housing and comprising a tubular liner and front and rear end plates positioned, respectively, at the front and rear ends of said tubular liner, a rotor mounted in said liner, said rotor comprising front and rear shafts extending frontwardly and rearwardly outwardly therefrom, bearing means in said front and rear end plates, respectively, receiving said front and rear shafts, recess means extending across said liner and at least portions of said front and rear end plates, said recess means including a first portion adapted to receive means to interconnect said end plates and said liner, and said recess means including a second portion adapted to permit air flow independently of said interconnecting means and between said front and rear end plate bearing means, whereby the pneumatic forces on said rotor shafts may be equalized to facilitate the rotation of said rotor within said motor when mounted in said housing.

Claim 9

In combination, a housing, a pneumatic motor adapted for mounting in said housing and comprising a tubular liner and front and rear end plates positioned, respectively, at the front and rear ends of said tubular liner, a rotor mounted in said liner, said rotor comprising front and rear shafts extending frontwardly and rearwardly outwardly therefrom, bearing means in said front and rear end plates, respectively, receiving said front and rear shafts, recess means extending across said liner and at least portions of said front and rear end plates, said recess means including a first portion adapted to receive means to interconnect said end plates and said liner, and said recess means including a second portion adapted to permit air flow independently of said interconnecting means and between said front and rear end plate bearing means, whereby the pneumatic forces on said rotor shafts may be equalized to facilitate the rotation of said rotor within said motor when mounted in said housing.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 6, said interconnecting means comprising a pin member received in said first portion of said recess, and said second portion of said recess comprising a through recess extending from end to end of said liner and said end plates and located radially outwardly of and overlying said first portion of said recess.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 6, and alignment means cooperable with at least one of said end plates to hold said liner, said rotor, said end plates, and said interconnecting means in aligned relationship within said housing, said alignment means being adapted to not interfere with said air flow between said end plates.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 8, said liner and said front and rear end plates being of substantially cylindrical external configuration and of substantially the same diameter, the front end of said front end plate being forMed with an enlarged flange extending radially outwardly of said common diameter, said first portion of said recess means extending across said liner and at least part way into said front and rear end plates, said second portion of said recess means extending from end to end of said liner and said end plates and across said front end plate flange, and said alignment means comprising a tang portion on said housing positioned radially outwardly of the common diameter of said end plates and said liner and adapted to be received in said second portion of said recess in said flange portion and above said interconnecting means.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 6, and holding means cooperable with said shafts and with said interconnecting means to hold said liner, said rotor, and said front and rear end plates into an integral subassembly independently of said housing.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 10, said holding means comprising a press fit between one of said rotor shafts and the corresponding end plate bearing means, and said holding means further comprising retaining washer means cooperable with the other of said rotor shafts and the corresponding other of said end plates and its bearing means.

Claim 15

A pneumatic motor and housing assembly comprising: a pneumatic motor including a tubular liner, apertured front and rear end plates disposed to either end of said tubular liner, each of said end plates and liner having a generally cylindrical periphery of the same diameter, a rotor having a plurality of vanes mounted within the tubular liner and opposed shafts rotatably journalled within the apertured end plates, longitudinally extending recess means in each of said end plates and tubular liner and interconnecting structure engagable with said longitudinally extending recess means in each of said end plates and tubular liner to hold the front and rear end plates and tubular liner from relative rotation with respect to each other; a housing having a cylindrical recess in which said pneumatic motor is mounted, the cylindrical periphery of the end plates and liner being substantially the same diameter as the cylindrical recess in the housing whereby the flow of air between the cylindrical surfaces from the outer end of one of the opposed rotor shafts to the outer end of the other of the opposed rotor shafts is substantially impeded; and aligning means on the housing which engages the longitudinally extending recess means in one of said end plates to hold said one end plate in a position of rotational alignment within said housing and to prevent rotation of the end plate within the cylindrical recess; said longitudinally extending recess means having a cross-sectional area greater than each of said interconnecting structure and said aligning means whereby air may flow from the outer end of one of the opposed rotor shafts to the outer end of the other of opposed rotor shafts so that the thrust exerted on the ends of the rotor shafts is substantially equalized.

Claim 16

A pneumatic motor and housing assembly comprising: a pneumatic motor including a tubular liner, apertured front and rear end plates disposed to either end of said tubular liner, each of said end plates and liner having a generally cylindrical periphery of the same diameter, a rotor having a plurality of vanes mounted within the tubular liner and opposed shafts rotatably journalled within the apertured end plates, longitudinally extending recess means in each of said end plates and tubular liner and interconnecting structure engagable with said longitudinally extending recess means in each of said end plates and tubular liner to hold the front and rear end plates and tubular liner from relative rotation with respect to each other; a housing having a cylindrical recess in which said pneumatic motor is mounted, the cylindrical periphery of the end plates and liner being substantially the same diameter as the cylindrical recess in the housing whereby the flow of air between the cylindrical surfaces from the outer end of one of the opposed rotor shafts to the outer end of the other of the opposed rotor shafts is substantially impeded; and aligning means on the housing which engages the longitudinally extending recess means in one of said end plates to hold said one end plate in a position of rotational alignment within said housing and to prevent rotation of the end plate within the cylindrical recess; said longitudinally extending recess means having a cross-sectional area greater than each of said interconnecting structure and said aligning means whereby air may flow from the outer end of one of the opposed rotor shafts to the outer end of the other of opposed rotor shafts so that the thrust exerted on the ends of the rotor shafts is substantially equalized.

Claim 17

The pneumatic motor and housing assembly set forth in claim 12 wherein said longitudinally extending recess includes a longitudinally extending slot formed in the cylindrical outer periphery of said end plate and tubular liner, and a groove formed within said slot, said interconnecting structure being a pin-like element disposed within said groove, and said aligning means being a tang which engages said slot, there being a gap between the bottom of said slot and said tang.

Claim 18

The pneumatic motor and housing assembly set forth in claim 13, wherein the groove in the rear end plate is of reduced diameter, and wherein the pin-like element has a reduced end portion which is disposed within said groove of reduced diameter.

Claim 19

A pneumatic motor and housing assembly comprising: a pneumatic motor including front and rear end plates, a tubular liner disposed between said end plates, a rotor having a plurality of vanes mounted within the tubular liner, each of said end plates and tubuLar liner having a generally cylindrical periphery of the same diameter, the cylindrical periphery of each of the end plates being provided with a grooved portion which extends longitudinally from one end of the end plate adjacent said tubular liner towards the other end of the end plate, the cylindrical periphery of the tubular liner being provided with a corresponding groove which extends longitudinally from one end of the tubular liner to the other end of the tubular liner, and a pin-like element disposed within all of said grooves to hold the front and rear end plates and the tubular liner from relative rotation with respect to each other; a housing having a generally cylindrical recess in which said pneumatic motor is mounted, the rear end plate being disposed adjacent the closed end of the cylindrical recess and the front end plate being disposed adjacent the open end of the cylindrical recess; aligning means on the housing which engages a portion of one of said end plates to hold said one end plate in a position of rotational alignment within the cylindrical recess; said front end plate being disposed in part in the cylindrical recess, a radially outwardly extending flange on said front end plate being disposed outside of said cylindrical recess, said radially outwardly extending flange being provided with slot means, and said aligning means comprising an outwardly extending tang on the housing received within said slot means.

Claim 20

A pneumatic motor and housing assembly comprising: a pneumatic motor including front and rear end plates, a tubular liner disposed between said end plates, a rotor having a plurality of vanes mounted within the tubular liner, each of said end plates and tubuLar liner having a generally cylindrical periphery of the same diameter, the cylindrical periphery of each of the end plates being provided with a grooved portion which extends longitudinally from one end of the end plate adjacent said tubular liner towards the other end of the end plate, the cylindrical periphery of the tubular liner being provided with a corresponding groove which extends longitudinally from one end of the tubular liner to the other end of the tubular liner, and a pin-like element disposed within all of said grooves to hold the front and rear end plates and the tubular liner from relative rotation with respect to each other; a housing having a generally cylindrical recess in which said pneumatic motor is mounted, the rear end plate being disposed adjacent the closed end of the cylindrical recess and the front end plate being disposed adjacent the open end of the cylindrical recess; aligning means on the housing which engages a portion of one of said end plates to hold said one end plate in a position of rotational alignment within the cylindrical recess; said front end plate being disposed in part in the cylindrical recess, a radially outwardly extending flange on said front end plate being disposed outside of said cylindrical recess, said radially outwardly extending flange being provided with slot means, and said aligning means comprising an outwardly extending tang on the housing received within said slot means.

Claim 21

A pneumatic motor and housing assembly comprising: a pneumatic motor including front and rear end plates, a tubular liner disposed between said end plates, a rotor having a plurality of vanes mounted within the tubular liner, each of said end plates and tubular liner having a generally cylindrical periphery of the same diameter, the cylindrical periphery of each of the end plates being provided with a grooved portion which extends longitudinally from one end of the end plate adjacent said tubular liner towards the other end of the end plate, the cylindrical periphery of the tubular liner being provided with a corresponding groove which extends longitudinally from one end of the tubular liner to the other end of the tubular liner, and a pin-like element disposed within all of said grooves to hold the front and rear end plates and the tubular liner from relative rotation with respect to each other; a housing having a generally cylindrical recess in which said pneumatic motor is mounted, the rear end plate being disposed adjacent the closed end of the cylindrical recess and the front end plate being disposed adjacent the open end of the cylindrical recess; aligning means on the housing which engages a portion of one of said end plates to hold said one end plate in a position of rotational alignment within the cylindrical recess; each of said end plates being apertured, said rotor comprising opposed shafts which extend through said apertures, the cylindrical periphery of the end plates and the tubular liner being of substantially the same diameter as the cylindrical recess in the housing, whereby the flow of air between the cylindrical surfaces from the outer end of one of the opposed rotor shafts to the outer end of the other of the opposed rotor shafts is substantially impeded, and further characterized by the provision of air passage means extending along the outer periphery of the end plates and liner adjacent said pin-like element and the aligning means to provide for the flow of air from the outer end of one shaft end to the outer end of the other shaft end, whereby the thrust exerted on the outer ends of each of the rotor shafts is substantially equalized.

Claim 22

A pneumatic motor and housing assembly comprising: a pneumatic motor including front and rear end plates, a tubular liner disposed between said end plates, a rotor having a plurality of vanes mounted within the tubular liner, each of said end plates and tubular liner having a generally cylindrical periphery of the same diameter, the cylindrical periphery of each of the end plates being provided with a grooved portion which extends longitudinally from one end of the end plate adjacent said tubular liner towards the other end of the end plate, the cylindrical periphery of the tubular liner being provided with a corresponding groove which extends longitudinally from one end of the tubular liner to the other end of the tubular liner, and a pin-like element disposed within all of said grooves to hold the front and rear end plates and the tubular liner from relative rotation with respect to each other; a housing having a generally cylindrical recess in which said pneumatic motor is mounted, the rear end plate being disposed adjacent the closed end of the cylindrical recess and the front end plate being disposed adjacent the open end of the cylindrical recess; aligning means on the housing which engages a portion of one of said end plates to hold said one end plate in a position of rotational alignment within the cylindrical recess; each of said end plates being apertured, said rotor comprising opposed shafts which extend through said apertures, the cylindrical periphery of the end plates and the tubular liner being of substantially the same diameter as the cylindrical recess in the housing, whereby the flow of air between the cylindrical surfaces from the outer end of one of the opposed rotor shafts to the outer end of the other of the opposed rotor shafts is substantially impeded, and further characterized by the provision of air passage means extending along the outer periphery of the end plates and liner adjacent said pin-like element and the aligning means to provide for the flow of air from the outer end of one shaft end to the outer end of the other shaft end, whereby the thrust exerted on the outer ends of each of the rotor shafts is substantially equalized.

Claim 23

The combination of a pneumatic motor and housing assembly comprising: a pneumatic motor including a tubular liner, apertured front and rear end plates disposed to either end of said tubular liner, each of said end plates and tubular liner having a generally cylindrical periphery of the same diameter, a rotor having a plurality of vanes mounted Within the tubular liner and opposed shafts rotatably mounted within said apertured end plates; a housing having a cylindrical recess in which said pneumatic motor is mounted, the cylindrical periphery of the end plates and tubular liner being substantially the same diameter as the cylindrical recess in the housing, the rear end plate being disposed adjacent the closed end of the cylindrical recess and the front end plate being disposed at least in part in the cylindrical recess adjacent the open end of the cylindrical recess; wherein the improvement comprises the cylindrical periphery of each of the end plates being provided with a groove portion which extends longitudinally from the end of the end plate adjacent said tubular liner toward the other end of the end plate, the cylindrical periphery of the tubular liner being provided with a corresponding groove which extends longitudinally from one end of the tubular liner to the other end of the tubular liner, and a pin-like element disposed within all of said grooves to hold the front and rear end plates and the tubular liner from relative rotation with respect to each other; aligning means on the housing adjacent the open end of the cylindrical recess which engages a portion of the front end plate to hold said front end plate in a position of rotational alignment within the cylindrical recess; and an air passage adjacent the pin-like element and the aligning means whereby air may flow freely from the outer end of one of the opposed rotor shafts to the outer end of the other of the opposed rotor shafts so that the thrust exerted on the end of the rotor shaft is substantially equalized.

Claim 24

The combination of a pneumatic motor and housing assembly comprising: a pneumatic motor including a tubular liner, apertured front and rear end plates disposed to either end of said tubular liner, each of said end plates and tubular liner having a generally cylindrical periphery of the same diameter, a rotor having a plurality of vanes mounted Within the tubular liner and opposed shafts rotatably mounted within said apertured end plates; a housing having a cylindrical recess in which said pneumatic motor is mounted, the cylindrical periphery of the end plates and tubular liner being substantially the same diameter as the cylindrical recess in the housing, the rear end plate being disposed adjacent the closed end of the cylindrical recess and the front end plate being disposed at least in part in the cylindrical recess adjacent the open end of the cylindrical recess; wherein the improvement comprises the cylindrical periphery of each of the end plates being provided with a groove portion which extends longitudinally from the end of the end plate adjacent said tubular liner toward the other end of the end plate, the cylindrical periphery of the tubular liner being provided with a corresponding groove which extends longitudinally from one end of the tubular liner to the other end of the tubular liner, and a pin-like element disposed within all of said grooves to hold the front and rear end plates and the tubular liner from relative rotation with respect to each other; aligning means on the housing adjacent the open end of the cylindrical recess which engages a portion of the front end plate to hold said front end plate in a position of rotational alignment within the cylindrical recess; and an air passage adjacent the pin-like element and the aligning means whereby air may flow freely from the outer end of one of the opposed rotor shafts to the outer end of the other of the opposed rotor shafts so that the thrust exerted on the end of the rotor shaft is substantially equalized.