Variable radial fluid device with counteracting cams

摘要

According to one embodiment, a radial fluid device comprises a cylinder block, a first plurality of pistons, a second plurality of pistons, a first cam, a second cam, and a cam rotation device. Each of the first plurality of pistons are slidably received within a different one of a first plurality of radially extending cylinders. Each of the second plurality of pistons are slidably received within a different one of a second plurality of radially extending cylinders. The first cam is disposed about the first plurality of radially extending cylinders. The second cam is disposed about the second plurality of radially extending cylinders. The cam rotation device is coupled to the first cam and the second cam. The cam rotation device is operable to rotate the first cam in a first direction and the second cam in a second direction.

主权项

1. A radial fluid device comprising:
a cylinder block comprising a first plurality of radially extending cylinders and a second plurality of radially extending cylinders, wherein the cylinder block is mounted for rotation; a first plurality of cylindrical pistons each slidably received within a different one of the first plurality of radially extending cylinders, wherein each cylindrical piston includes:
a radially extending aperture; anda shoe configured to slide along a surface of a first cam that has two or more lobes configured such that the shoe completes two or more sinusoidal strokes per revolution of the cylinder block, the shoe having a rounded forward edge and a rounded trailing edge, the forward edge being the forward most edge of the shoe when the shoe experiences movement, wherein the rounded forward and trailing edges form two separate contact surfaces with the first cam and are separated by an elongated portion of the shoe, the trailing edge being the rearmost edge of the shoe when the shoe experiences movement, the first cam being disposed about the first plurality of radially extending cylinders; a second plurality of cylindrical pistons each slidably received within a different one of the second plurality of radially extending cylinders, wherein each cylindrical piston includes:
a radially extending aperture; anda shoe configured to slide along a surface of a second cam that has two or more lobes configured such that the shoe completes two or more sinusoidal strokes per revolution of the cylinder block, the shoe having a rounded forward edge and a rounded trailing edge, the forward edge being the forward most edge of the shoe when the shoe experiences movement, wherein the rounded forward and trailing edges form two separate contact surfaces with the second cam and are separated by an elongated portion of the shoe, the trailing edge being the rearmost edge of the shoe when the shoe experiences movement, the second cam being disposed about the second plurality of radially extending cylinders; a passageway comprising:
a first opening in fluid communication with at least one of the first plurality of radially extending cylinders;a second opening in fluid communication with at least one of the second plurality of radially extending cylinders; anda third opening alternating between being in fluid communication with a first fluid port and a second fluid port, wherein one of the first and second fluid ports is an inlet and the other of the first and second fluid ports is an exhaust; and a cam rotation device coupled to the first cam and the second cam, the cam rotation device operable to rotate the first cam in a first direction and the second cam in a second direction.