Hydraulic rotator mechanism

Claim 2

A hydraulic rotator mechanism for use on hydraulic equipment wherein a hydraulically operated implement is rotatable with respect to a support member, comprising, a housing having brackets for connection to such support member, said housing having upper and lower bores defined therethrough, a hydraulic fluid cap connected to said housing adjacent one of said bores, said cap having fluid connectors for receiving hydraulic fluid lines extending from such support members and connected to a hydraulic fluid source, said cap defining a cylindrical bore axially aligned wIth said bores in said housing, a rotatable output shaft positioned within said bores of said housing and said bore of said cap, said shaft including a plurality of longitudinal passageways and a plurality of transverse fluid ducts rotatable with said output shaft near the lower end of said shaft establishing communication between said longitudinal passageways and lower fluid lines leading to such hydraulically operated implement, whereby said rotatable output shaft, such lower fluid lines and such implement rotate together without twisting of such fluid lines, and means within said fluid cap for establishing fluid communication between each upper fluid line and a corresponding longitudinal passageway.

Claim 3

The hydraulic rotator mechanism of claim 1 which further includes a hydraulic motor mounted on said housing and operably connected to said rotatable output shaft.

Claim 4

The hydraulic rotator mechanism of claim 1 which further includes a thrust bearing supporting said rotatable output shaft within said housing.

Claim 5

The hydraulic rotator mechanism of claim 1 wherein said communication means comprises a generally cylindrical fluid chamber defined within said bore of said hydraulic fluid cap adjacent the upper end of said rotatable output shaft, said fluid chamber being in communication with one of said fluid supply lines and with one of said longitudinal passageways, at least one annular groove defining an annular fluid chamber adjacent the periphery of said bore of said cap, said annular chamber being in communication with another of said fluid supply lines, a transverse duct within said rotatable output shaft establishing communication between another of said longitudinal passageways and said annular fluid chamber, and means for sealing each fluid chamber against leakage of hydraulic fluid therefrom.

Claim 6

The hydraulic rotator mechanism of claim 4 wherein said sealing means comprises annular channels defined in said bore of said cap between adjacent fluid chambers and below said annular fluid chamber, each channel containing a resilient gasket ring contacting said output shaft and sealing said chambers against fluid leakage along said output shaft.

Claim 7

The hydraulic rotator mechanism of claim 1, wherein said fluid cap defines a fluid chamber adjacent said first end of said output shaft, said fluid chamber being in fluid communication with said fluid supply means and one of said plurality of passageways, at least one annular groove defining an annular fluid chamber adjacent the periphery of said first end of said output shaft, said annular fluid chamber being in fluid communication with said fluid supply means and another one of said plurality of passageways and means for sealing each fluid chamber against leakage of hydraulic fluid therefrom.

Claim 8

A hydraulic rotator mechanism for use on hydraulic equipment including a hydraulically operated implement rotatable with respect to a support member, comprising, a housing having brackets for depending from such support member and having a bore defined therein, said bore being in communication with upper hydraulic fluid lines extending from said support member and connected to a hydraulic source, a rotatable output shaft positioned within said bore and extending downward out of said housing, said shaft including a plurality of longitudinal fluid passageways rotatable with said output shaft and having outlets near the lower end of said shaft establishing communication between said longitudinal passageways and lower fluid lines for leading to such hydraulically operated implement, whereby said rotatable output shaft, such lower fluid lines and such implement rotate together without twisting of such fluid lines, and means within said bore for establishing fluid communication between each upper fluid line and a corresponding longitudinal passageway.

Claim 9

A hydraulic rotator mechanism for use on hydraulic equipment including a hydraulically operated implement rotatable with respect to a support member, comprising, a housing having brackets for depending from such support member and having a bore defined therein, said bore being in communication with upper hydraulic fluid lines extending from said support member and connected to a hydraulic source, a rotatable output shaft positioned within said bore and extending downward out of said housing, said shaft including a plurality of longitudinal fluid passageways rotatable with said output shaft and having outlets near the lower end of said shaft establishing communication between said longitudinal passageways and lower fluid lines for leading to such hydraulically operated implement, whereby said rotatable output shaft, such lower fluid lines and such implement rotate together without twisting of such fluid lines, and means within said bore for establishing fluid communication between each upper fluid line and a corresponding longitudinal passageway.

Claim 10

A hydraulic rotator mechanism for use on hydraulic equipment, wherein a hydraulically operated implement is rotatable with respect to a support member, comprisiNg, a housing having bracket means for connecting said housing to such support member, a rotatable output shaft mounted within said housing and having first and second ends extending outwardly from said housing, a rotator gear mounted on said output shaft and positioned within said housing, a drive motor mounted on said housing, said drive motor having a drive shaft, a drive gear mounted on said drive shaft in meshing engagement with said rotator gear, a hydraulic fluid cap mounted on said housing over said first end of said output shaft, said output shaft defining a plurality of passageways rotatable with said output shaft, fluid connector means in communication with each of said passageways adjacent said second end of said output shaft, fluid supply means in communication with each of said passageways adjacent said first end of said output shaft for supplying fluid to the hydraulically operated implement, and implement means adjacent said second end of said output shaft for mounting a hydraulically operated implement for 360* rotation, whereby said rotatable output shaft, such fluid connector means and such implement rotate together.

Claim 11

A hydraulic rotator mechanism for use on hydraulic equipment, wherein a hydraulically operated implement is rotatable with respect to a support member, comprisiNg, a housing having bracket means for connecting said housing to such support member, a rotatable output shaft mounted within said housing and having first and second ends extending outwardly from said housing, a rotator gear mounted on said output shaft and positioned within said housing, a drive motor mounted on said housing, said drive motor having a drive shaft, a drive gear mounted on said drive shaft in meshing engagement with said rotator gear, a hydraulic fluid cap mounted on said housing over said first end of said output shaft, said output shaft defining a plurality of passageways rotatable with said output shaft, fluid connector means in communication with each of said passageways adjacent said second end of said output shaft, fluid supply means in communication with each of said passageways adjacent said first end of said output shaft for supplying fluid to the hydraulically operated implement, and implement means adjacent said second end of said output shaft for mounting a hydraulically operated implement for 360* rotation, whereby said rotatable output shaft, such fluid connector means and such implement rotate together.