Gerotor fluid controller with twistable blade energy storing means

Claim 1

An apparatus for use in controlling a flow of fluid, said apparatus comprising a housing having first and second outlet ports, gerotor gear means connected with said housing and operable in one direction to provide a metered flow of fluid to said first outlet port and operable in another direction to provide a metered flow of fluid to said second outlet port, commutator valve means associated with said gerotor gear means for directing fluid to and from said gerotor gear means, directional control valve means for porting fluid to said commutator valve means and for porting fluid received from said commutator valve means to one of said outlets, said directional control valve means including a valve member movable in a first direction from an initial position to a first actuated position to port a flow of fluid to said commutator valve means and to port fluid from said commutator valve means to said first outlet and movable in a second direction from the initial position to a second actuated position to port a flow of fluid to said commutator valve means and to port fluit from said commutator valve means to said second outlet, an input member operatively connected with said valve member, said input member being rotatable in a first direction to effect movement of said valve member from said initial position to said first actuated position and being rotatable in a second direction to effect movement of said valve member from said initial position to said second actuating position, resiliently twistable blade means operatively connected with said input member and said directional central valve means for storing energy to effect movement of said valve member from said actuated positions back to said initial position, means for enabling twisting of said blade means about the central axis thereof upon rotation of said input member to store energy to effect subsequent movement of said valve member from one of said actuated positions to said initial position, and said blade means being located in a fluid flow path between said commutator valve means and said directional control valve means.

Claim 2

An apparatus for use in controlling a flow of fluid, said apparatus comprising a housing having first and second outlet ports, gerotor gear means connected with said housing and operable in one direction to provide a metered flow of fluid to said first outlet port and operable in another direction to provide a metered flow of fluid to said second outlet port, commutator valve means associated with said gerotor gear means for directing fluid to and from said gerotor gear means, directional control valve means for porting fluid to said commutator valve means and for porting fluid received from said commutator valve means to one of said outlets, said directional control valve means including a valve member movable in a first direction from an initial position to a first actuated position to port a flow of fluid to said commutator valve means and to port fluid from said commutator valve means to said first outlet and movable in a second direction from the initial position to a second actuated position to port a flow of fluid to said commutator valve means and to port fluit from said commutator valve means to said second outlet, an input member operatively connected with said valve member, said input member being rotatable in a first direction to effect movement of said valve member from said initial position to said first actuated position and being rotatable in a second direction to effect movement of said valve member from said initial position to said second actuating position, resiliently twistable blade means operatively connected with said input member and said directional central valve means for storing energy to effect movement of said valve member from said actuated positions back to said initial position, means for enabling twisting of said blade means about the central axis thereof upon rotation of said input member to store energy to effect subsequent movement of said valve member from one of said actuated positions to said initial position, and said blade means being located in a fluid flow path between said commutator valve means and said directional control valve means.

Claim 6

An apparatus for use in controlling a flow of fluid, said apparatus comprising a housing having first and second outlet ports, gerotor gear means connected with said housing and operable in one direction to provide a metered flow of fluid to said first outlet port and operable in another direction to provide a metered flow of fluid to said second outlet port, commutator valve means associated with said gerotor gear means for directing fluid to and from said gerotor gear means, directional control valve means for porting fluid to said commutator valve means and for porting fluid received from said commutator valve means to one of said outlets, said directional valve means including a valve member movable in a first direction from an initial position to a first actuated position to port a flow of fluid to said commutator valve means and to port fluid from said commutator valve means to said first outlet and movable in a second direction from the initial position to a second actuated position to port a flow of fluid to said commutator valve means and to port fluid from said commutator valve means to said second outlet, an input member operatively connected with said valve member, said input member being rotatable in a first direction to effect movement of said valve member from said initial position to said first actuated position and being rotatable in a second direction to effect movement of said valve member from said initial position to said second actuated position, resiliently twistable blade means operatively connected with said input member and said valve means for storing energy to effect movement of said valve member from said actuated positions back to said initial position, and means for enabling twisting of said blade means about the central axis thereof upon rotation of said input member to store energy to effect subsequent movement of said valve member from one of said actuated positions to said initial position, said gerotor gear means including an internally toothed stator and an externally toothed rotor disposed in meshing engagement with said stator, said rotor having one less tooth than said stator and being rotatable about its own central axis and orbital about the central axis of said stator during operation of said gerotor gear means, a wobble shaft having a first head end portion connected with said rotor for rotational and orbital movement therewith and a second head end portion connected with said valve member, said blade means having an end portion connected directly to said second head end portion of said wobble shaft.

Claim 7

An apparatus for use in controlling a flow of fluid, said apparatus comprising a housing having first and second outlet ports, gerotor gear means connected with said housing and operable in one direction to provide a metered flow of fluid to said first outlet port and operable in another direction to provide a metered flow of fluid to said second outlet port, commutator valve means associated with said gerotor gear means for directing fluid to and from said gerotor gear means, directional control valve means for porting fluid to said commutator valve means and for porting fluid received from said commutator valve means to one of said outlets, said directional valve means including a valve member movable in a first direction from an initial position to a first actuated position to port a flow of fluid to said commutator valve means and to port fluid from said commutator valve means to said first outlet and movable in a second direction from the initial position to a second actuated position to port a flow of fluid to said commutator valve means and to port fluid from said commutator valve means to said second outlet, an input member operatively connected with said valve member, said input member being rotatable in a first direction to effect movement of said valve member from said initial position to said first actuated position and being rotatable in a second direction to effect movement of said valve member from said initial position to said second actuated position, resiliently twistable blade means operatively connected with said input member and said valve means for storing energy to effect movement of said valve member from said actuated positions back to said initial position, and means for enabling twisting of said blade means about the central axis thereof upon rotation of said input member to store energy to effect subsequent movement of said valve member from one of said actuated positions to said initial position, said gerotor gear means including an internally toothed stator and an externally toothed rotor disposed in meshing engagement with said stator, said rotor having one less tooth than said stator and being rotatable about its own central axis and orbital about the central axis of said stator during operation of said gerotor gear means, a wobble shaft having a first head end portion connected with said rotor for rotational and orbital movement therewith and a second head end portion connected with said valve member, said blade means having an end portion connected directly to said second head end portion of said wobble shaft.

Claim 9

An apparatus for use in controlling a flow of fluid, said apparatus comprising a housing, gerotor gear means connected with said housing and operable in one direction to provide a metered flow of fluid to a first port and operable in another direction to provide a metered flow of fluid to a second port, valve means for porting fluid to said gerotor gear means, said valve means including a valve member movable in a first direction from an initial position to a first actuated position to port a flow of fluid to said gerotor gear means during operation of said gerotor gear means in the one direction and movable in a second direction from the initial position to a second actuated position to port a flow of fluid to said gerotor gear means during operation of said gerotor gear means in the other direction, an input member connected with said valve member, said input member being rotatable in a first direction in response to one input force to effect movement of said valve member from said initial position to said first actuated position and being rotatable in a second direction in response to another input force to effect movement of said valve member from said initial position to said second actuated position, resiliently twistable blade means connected with said input member and said gerotor gear means for storing energy to effect movement of said valve member from one of said actuated positions to said initial position upon interruption of the input force on the input member and means for effecting twisting said blade means about its central axis upon rotation of said input member to store energy to effect subsequent movement of said valve member from one of said actuated positions to said initial position, said blade means including a pair of blade members each of which has one end portion connected with said input member and another end portion connected with said gerotor gear means, each of said pair of blade members having a convexly curved major side and a concavely curved major side, said pair of blade members being disposed in a side-by-side relationship with said concavely curved major side of one of said blade members facing a curved major side of the other of said blade members.

Claim 10

An apparatus for use in controlling a flow of fluid, said apparatus comprising a housing, gerotor gear means connected with said housing and operable in one direction to provide a metered flow of fluid to a first port and operable in another direction to provide a metered flow of fluid to a second port, valve means for porting fluid to said gerotor gear means, said valve means including a valve member movable in a first direction from an initial position to a first actuated position to port a flow of fluid to said gerotor gear means during operation of said gerotor gear means in the one direction and movable in a second direction from the initial position to a second actuated position to port a flow of fluid to said gerotor gear means during operation of said gerotor gear means in the other direction, an input member connected with said valve member, said input member being rotatable in a first direction in response to one input force to effect movement of said valve member from said initial position to said first actuated position and being rotatable in a second direction in response to another input force to effect movement of said valve member from said initial position to said second actuated position, resiliently twistable blade means connected with said input member and said gerotor gear means for storing energy to effect movement of said valve member from one of said actuated positions to said initial position upon interruption of the input force on the input member and means for effecting twisting said blade means about its central axis upon rotation of said input member to store energy to effect subsequent movement of said valve member from one of said actuated positions to said initial position, said blade means including a pair of blade members each of which has one end portion connected with said input member and another end portion connected with said gerotor gear means, each of said pair of blade members having a convexly curved major side and a concavely curved major side, said pair of blade members being disposed in a side-by-side relationship with said concavely curved major side of one of said blade members facing a curved major side of the other of said blade members.

Claim 12

An apparatus for use in controlling a flow of fluid, said apparatus comprising a housing having an inlet port and a pair of outlet ports, metering means located in said housing and operable to provide a metered flow of fluid, said metering means including an internally toothed member and an externally toothed member disposed in meshing engagement and supported for relative orbital and rotational movements, valve means located in said housing and operable from an initial condition to an actuated condition to port fluid to said metering means and to port fluid from said metering means to a selected one of said outlet ports, a shaft having a first head end portion connected with said externally toothed member for movement therewith and a second head end portion connected with said valve means, a rotatable input member, and means for enabling operation of said valve means from the initial condition to an actuated condition in response to rotation of said input member and for storing energy to effect operation of said valve means from an actuated condition to said initial condition, and means including a pair of resiliently twistable blade having a first end portion connected with said input member and a second end portion connected directly to said second head end portion of said shaft and which twists about its longitudinal axis upon rotation of said input member, said pair of resiliently twistable blades being of equal length and wherein said shaft has a slot therein for receiving one end portion of said blades, the other end portion of said blades being located in a slot in said input shaft, said input shaft further Having a locating hole for receiving axially projecting tongues formed on said blades, each of said pair of blade members having a convexly curved major side and a concavely curved major side, said pair of blade members being disposed in a side-by-side relationship with said cancavely curved major side of one of said blade members facing a concavely curved major side of the other of said blade members.

Claim 13

An apparatus for use in controlling a flow of fluid, said apparatus comprising a housing having an inlet port and a pair of outlet ports, metering means located in said housing and operable to provide a metered flow of fluid, said metering means including an internally toothed member and an externally toothed member disposed in meshing engagement and supported for relative orbital and rotational movements, valve means located in said housing and operable from an initial condition to an actuated condition to port fluid to said metering means and to port fluid from said metering means to a selected one of said outlet ports, a shaft having a first head end portion connected with said externally toothed member for movement therewith and a second head end portion connected with said valve means, a rotatable input member, and means for enabling operation of said valve means from the initial condition to an actuated condition in response to rotation of said input member and for storing energy to effect operation of said valve means from an actuated condition to said initial condition, and means including a pair of resiliently twistable blade having a first end portion connected with said input member and a second end portion connected directly to said second head end portion of said shaft and which twists about its longitudinal axis upon rotation of said input member, said pair of resiliently twistable blades being of equal length and wherein said shaft has a slot therein for receiving one end portion of said blades, the other end portion of said blades being located in a slot in said input shaft, said input shaft further Having a locating hole for receiving axially projecting tongues formed on said blades, each of said pair of blade members having a convexly curved major side and a concavely curved major side, said pair of blade members being disposed in a side-by-side relationship with said cancavely curved major side of one of said blade members facing a concavely curved major side of the other of said blade members.

Claim 14

An apparatus for use in controlling a flow of fluid, said apparatus comprising a housing having an inlet port and a pair of outlet ports, metering means located in said housing and operable to provide a metered flow of fluid, said metering means including an internally toothed member and an externally toothed member disposed in meshing engagement and supported for relative orbital and rotational movements, valve means located in said housing and operable from an initial condition to an actuated condition to port fluid to said metering means and to port fluid from said metering means to a selected one of said outlet ports, a shaft having a first head end portion connected with said externally toothed member for movement therwith and a second head end portion connected with said valve means, a rotatable input member, and means for enabling operation of said valve means from the initial condition to an actuated condition in response to rotation of said input member and for storing energy to effect operation of said valve means from an actuated condition to said initial condition, said means including a pair of resiliently twistable blade having a first end portion connected with said input member and a second end portion connected directly to said second head end portion of said shaft and which twists about its longitudinal axis upon rotation of said input member, said pair of resiliently twistable blades being of equal length and wherein said shaft has a slot therein for receiving one end portion of said blades, the other end portion of said blades being located in a slot in said input shaft, said input shaft further having a locating hole for receiving axially projecting tongues formed on said blades, said blades having a body with corners and protuberances located adjacent the corners and which engage surfaces defining said slots to prevent engagement of the body of the blades with the surface of the slots as the blades are twisted.

Claim 15

An apparatus for use in controlling a flow of fluid, said apparatus comprising a housing having an inlet port and a pair of outlet ports, metering means located in said housing and operable to provide a metered flow of fluid, said metering means including an internally toothed member and an externally toothed member disposed in meshing engagement and supported for relative orbital and rotational movements, valve means located in said housing and operable from an initial condition to an actuated condition to port fluid to said metering means and to port fluid from said metering means to a selected one of said outlet ports, a shaft having a first head end portion connected with said externally toothed member for movement therwith and a second head end portion connected with said valve means, a rotatable input member, and means for enabling operation of said valve means from the initial condition to an actuated condition in response to rotation of said input member and for storing energy to effect operation of said valve means from an actuated condition to said initial condition, said means including a pair of resiliently twistable blade having a first end portion connected with said input member and a second end portion connected directly to said second head end portion of said shaft and which twists about its longitudinal axis upon rotation of said input member, said pair of resiliently twistable blades being of equal length and wherein said shaft has a slot therein for receiving one end portion of said blades, the other end portion of said blades being located in a slot in said input shaft, said input shaft further having a locating hole for receiving axially projecting tongues formed on said blades, said blades having a body with corners and protuberances located adjacent the corners and which engage surfaces defining said slots to prevent engagement of the body of the blades with the surface of the slots as the blades are twisted.