US3905727A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gerotor type fluid motor, pump or the like
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-03-07
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Granted: 1975-09-16
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Expires: 1994-03-07
Abstract
Abstract Improved fluid-mechanical and mechanical-fluid energy translation devices, such as fluid motors, pumps and certain actuators, meters, couplers and the like of the type having an orbital member disposed between a rotor element and a stator element and coupled with one of the elements by fluid displacement means and with the other element by gear means, are provided by employing therein a plurality of eccentric means for positively but shiftably mounting the member upon the element to which it is coupled by fluid displacement means in manner restricting relative motion between the member and the lastmentioned element to relative orbital motion. The element upon which the member is thus mounted may be either a rotor or a stator element and may be either the inner or the outer of the elements in various embodiments of devices incorporating the invention. The eccentric means, which are essentially cranks or shafts with offset axes, significantly are alone sufficient to accomplish the positive, shiftable mounting of the member and the restriction of same to relative orbital motion and to do so quite independently of any other fluid and mechanical couplings that may exist between the member and the elements in various particular forms of devices. The preferred embodiment also provides a further improvement in devices of this type employing vanes to define fluid displacement chambers by arranging the parts to maintain the pair of vanes bounding each chamber parallel to each other throughout the operating cycle, thereby maintaining the chordal transverse cross-sectional area of each chamber substantially constant throughout such cycle. The devices embodying the invention are characterized by increased efficiency and reliability, reduced wear on certain primary parts, and greater economy of manufacture by virtue of reduced strength and looser tolerance requirements in connection with certain primary parts.
Inventors
- 👤 John B Kilmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:34
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01C; F01C1/00; F01C1/30; F01C1/38; F01C1/39; F01C1/08; F01C1/10; F01C1/104; F01C1/32; F01C1/324; F01C1/328; F01C1/332; F01C1/336; F01C11/00; F01C11/006; F01C17/00; F01C17/02; F04; F04B; F04B1/00; F04B1/04; F04B1/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
332 words
In a device of the class including fluid motors, pumps and certain activators, meters, couplers and the like, in which energy is translated from fluid to mechanical or from mechanical to fluid manifestations thereof, the combination of: a pair of elements, said elements being relatively movable with respect to each other; means for supporting said elements for relative rotational movement therebetween; a member, said member being relatively movable with respect to each of said elements respectively; means for effecting both fluid and mechanical couplings between said member and one of said elements, said coupling means including interengaging epicyclic gear means having cooperating tooth means on said member and said one element respectively, said tooth means on said member having a different number of teeth than said tooth means on said one element to provide a mechanical gear ratio different from unity between said member and said one element, said gear means presenting a plurality of fluid displacement chambers between said member and said one element, the effective volumes of said chambers being individually variable and at any given time dependent upon the relative positions of said member and said one element, said coupling means additionally including means for selectively effecting fluid ingress and egress connections with said chambers in a predetermined order for the selective introduction or removal of fluid; and further means, separate from and operably sufficient independently of said coupling means, for supporting said member for predetermined relative movements between said member and each of said elements respectively and for limiting said predetermined movements to relative orbital movement between said member and said other element and to relative orbital and rotational movements between said member and said one element, said further means providing said support for the member and said limitation of relative movements between the member and the respective elements without reliance upon mechanical forces transmitted through said tooth means and comprising a plurality greater than two of spaced eccentric crank means intercoupling said member and said other element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
332 words
In a device of the class including fluid motors, pumps and certain activators, meters, couplers and the like, in which energy is translated from fluid to mechanical or from mechanical to fluid manifestations thereof, the combination of: a pair of elements, said elements being relatively movable with respect to each other; means for supporting said elements for relative rotational movement therebetween; a member, said member being relatively movable with respect to each of said elements respectively; means for effecting both fluid and mechanical couplings between said member and one of said elements, said coupling means including interengaging epicyclic gear means having cooperating tooth means on said member and said one element respectively, said tooth means on said member having a different number of teeth than said tooth means on said one element to provide a mechanical gear ratio different from unity between said member and said one element, said gear means presenting a plurality of fluid displacement chambers between said member and said one element, the effective volumes of said chambers being individually variable and at any given time dependent upon the relative positions of said member and said one element, said coupling means additionally including means for selectively effecting fluid ingress and egress connections with said chambers in a predetermined order for the selective introduction or removal of fluid; and further means, separate from and operably sufficient independently of said coupling means, for supporting said member for predetermined relative movements between said member and each of said elements respectively and for limiting said predetermined movements to relative orbital movement between said member and said other element and to relative orbital and rotational movements between said member and said one element, said further means providing said support for the member and said limitation of relative movements between the member and the respective elements without reliance upon mechanical forces transmitted through said tooth means and comprising a plurality greater than two of spaced eccentric crank means intercoupling said member and said other element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein the rotational axes of said crank means are parallel to and spaced away from the axis of relative rotation of said elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein said one element is a rotatable rotor, and said other element is a non-rotating stator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein said elements are concentric about their axis of relative rotation, and said member is generally annular and disposed outwardly of said one element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
331 words
A gerotor type, low speed, high torque, internal transmission, fluid motor comprising: an inner gerotor element having a central axis and a radially outwardly facing surface; a second machine element; means for supporting said elements for relative rotation about said axis; a generally annular, outer gerotor member having a radially inwardly facing surface defining a central space within which said inner element is disposed; means for effecting both fluid and mechanical couplings between said outer gerotor member and said inner gerotor element, said coupling means including interengaging epicyclic gear means having cooperating tooth means on said inwardly facing surface of said outer gerotor member and said outwardly facing surface of said inner gerotor element respectively, said tooth means on said outer gerotor member having a greater number of teeth than said tooth means on said inner gerotor element to provide a transmission having a mechanical gear ratio different from unity between said outer gerotor member and said inner gerotor element, said gear means presenting a plurality of fluid displacement chambers between said outer gerotor member and said inner gerotor element, the effective volumes of said chambers being individually variable and at any given time dependent upon the relative positions of said outer gerotor member and said inner gerotor element, said coupling means additionally including means for selectively effecting fluid ingress and egress connections with said chambers in a predetermined order for the selective introduction or removal of fluid; and a plurality of eccentric crank means intercoupling said outer gerotor member with said second element to prevent relative rotation therebetween and to limit shifting movement of said outer gerotor member relative to said second element to orbital motion, whereby introduction of fluid under pressure to said chambers selectively in said order causes driven relative rotation between said inner gerotor element and said outer gerotor member and between said inner gerotor element and said second element as said outer gerotor member is moved in said orbital motion thereof relative to said second element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
331 words
A gerotor type, low speed, high torque, internal transmission, fluid motor comprising: an inner gerotor element having a central axis and a radially outwardly facing surface; a second machine element; means for supporting said elements for relative rotation about said axis; a generally annular, outer gerotor member having a radially inwardly facing surface defining a central space within which said inner element is disposed; means for effecting both fluid and mechanical couplings between said outer gerotor member and said inner gerotor element, said coupling means including interengaging epicyclic gear means having cooperating tooth means on said inwardly facing surface of said outer gerotor member and said outwardly facing surface of said inner gerotor element respectively, said tooth means on said outer gerotor member having a greater number of teeth than said tooth means on said inner gerotor element to provide a transmission having a mechanical gear ratio different from unity between said outer gerotor member and said inner gerotor element, said gear means presenting a plurality of fluid displacement chambers between said outer gerotor member and said inner gerotor element, the effective volumes of said chambers being individually variable and at any given time dependent upon the relative positions of said outer gerotor member and said inner gerotor element, said coupling means additionally including means for selectively effecting fluid ingress and egress connections with said chambers in a predetermined order for the selective introduction or removal of fluid; and a plurality of eccentric crank means intercoupling said outer gerotor member with said second element to prevent relative rotation therebetween and to limit shifting movement of said outer gerotor member relative to said second element to orbital motion, whereby introduction of fluid under pressure to said chambers selectively in said order causes driven relative rotation between said inner gerotor element and said outer gerotor member and between said inner gerotor element and said second element as said outer gerotor member is moved in said orbital motion thereof relative to said second element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention of claim 5, wherein said second element is part of an outer housing structure, and said inner gerotor element is mounted on a shaft rotatably journalled in said housing structure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-15 | 1979-03-17 | 1979-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-15 | 1983-03-17 | 1983-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-15 | 1987-03-17 | 1987-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |