Rotary vane motor with split vane

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rotary motor, comprising a plurality of vanes, wherein each of the vanes is split into two subvanes, one or more elastic members, wherein the elastic member is configured to push each of the subvanes forming a vane toward an end plate to form a seal between the subvane and the end plate; an inner rotary member housing the plurality of vanes projecting from a central rotation axis of the inner rotor; a lobe member encompassing the inner rotary member and the plurality of vanes; a plurality of chambers wherein each of the chambers is encompassed by an inner surface of the lobe member and an outer surface of the inner rotary member; and one or more end plates to enclose the plurality of vanes, the inner rotary member, the lobe member and the plurality of chambers.

Claims

1. A rotary motor, comprising: at least one elastic member configured to be placed within a vane; a plurality of vanes, wherein at least one of the vanes comprises two subvanes, wherein the elastic member is placed within the vane having the two subvanes, wherein each of the two subvanes comprises an offset slot, wherein a surface of the offset slot in each of the two subvanes is in contact with at least one end of the elastic member, wherein each of the subvanes has a sliding surface configured to allow each subvane to slide against another subvane along multiple axes; an inner rotary member to house the plurality of vanes; a multi lobe member to surround, at least in part, the inner rotary member and the plurality of vanes, wherein the multi lobe member comprises at least two lobes wherein each of the lobes comprises an inlet and outlet pair, wherein the pair is positioned in a width direction of the multi lobe member a plurality of chambers wherein at least one of the chambers is surrounded, at least in part, by an inner surface of the multi lobe member and an outer surface of the inner rotary member; a drive slot configured to hold a drive passing through the inner rotary member, wherein the drive slot is further configured to hold the drive to not move in a direction perpendicular to a central rotation axis of the inner rotary member during rotation of the inner rotary member; and two end plates to cover, at least in part, the plurality of vanes, the inner rotary member, the multi lobe member and the plurality of chambers, wherein the elastic member is configured to push one of the two subvanes toward one of the end plates to form a seal between the one subvane and the one end plate and to push the other subvane to the other end plate to form a seal between the other subvane and the other end plate.

2. The rotary motor according to claim 1, wherein a side of at least one of the subvanes is rounded.

3. The rotary motor according to claim 2, wherein the rounded side forms a contact with an inner circumferential surface of the multi lobe member.

4. The rotary motor according to claim 2, wherein the rounded side of the subvanes is configured to form a contact with the inner surface of the multi lobe member during rotation of the inner rotary member.

5. The rotary motor according to claim 1, wherein the inner rotary member comprises a plurality of vane slots, wherein each of the vane slots houses a vane.

6. The rotary motor according to claim 5, wherein each of the vane slots is configured to house a spring to augment an outwardly-acting centrifugal force acting on the vane in the vane slot during rotation of the inner rotary member.

7. The rotary motor according to claim 5, wherein each vane is positioned in a corresponding vane slot in a direction perpendicular to a central rotation axis of the inner rotary member.

8. The rotary motor according to claim 1, wherein a number of the vanes is at least eight.

9. The rotary motor according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member comprises a spring.

10. The rotary motor according to claim 1, further comprising: an outer port ring to cover, at least in part, the multi lobe member.

11. The rotary motor according to claim 1, wherein at least one side of the subvanes is configured to maintain a contact with an inner circumferential surface of the multi lobe member during rotation of the inner rotary member.

12. The rotary motor according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a coil spring.

13. The rotary motor according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a flat spring.

14. The rotary motor according to claim 1, wherein each of the vanes comprises two subvanes and an elastic member configured to be placed within a vane.

15. The rotary motor according to claim 1, wherein each of the two subvanes is configured, at least in part, to form a contact with the inner surface of the multi lobe member during rotation of the inner rotary member.

16. The rotary motor according to claim 1, wherein the two subvanes are configured to slide with respect to each other while remaining, at least in part, in contact with each other.

17. The rotary motor according to claim 1, wherein a side of the vane is rectangular.

18. A method for manufacturing a rotary motor, comprising: forming a plurality of vanes, wherein at least one of the vanes comprises two subvanes; wherein each of the subvanes has a sliding surface configured to allow each subvane to slide against another subvane along multiple axes; forming an offset slot in each of the subvanes; placing an elastic member in the vane having the subvanes; forming a contact between an inner surface of the offset slot in each of the subvanes with one end of the elastic member; placing the plurality of vanes in an outer circumferential surface of an inner rotary member, surrounding, at least in part, the plurality of vanes and the inner rotary member with a multi lobe member, wherein the multi lobe member comprises at least two lobes wherein each of the lobes comprises an inlet and outlet pair, wherein the pair is positioned in a width direction of the multi lobe member; surrounding, at least in part, the multi lobe member with an outer port member comprising an inlet port and an outlet port; configuring a drive slot to hold a drive passing through the inner rotary member; further configuring the drive slot to hold the drive to not move in a direction perpendicular to a central rotation axis of the inner rotary member during rotation of the inner rotary member; configuring two end plates to cover, at least in part, sides of the vanes, sides of the outer port member, the multi lobe member, and the inner rotary member; and configuring the elastic member to push one of the subvanes toward one of the end plates to form a seal between the one subvane and the one end plate and to push the other subvane toward the other end plate to form a seal between the other subvane and the other end plate.

19. The method for manufacturing a rotary motor according to claim 18, further comprising: placing each of the vanes in a corresponding vane slot of the inner rotary member in a direction perpendicular to a central rotation axis of the inner rotary member.

20. The method for manufacturing a rotary motor according to claim 18, further comprising: configuring at least one side of the subvanes to maintain a contact with an inner circumferential surface of the multi lobe member while rotating around a central rotation axis of the inner rotary member.

21. The method for manufacturing a rotary motor according to claim 18, further comprising: configuring the two subvanes to slide with respect to each other while remaining, at least in part, in contact with each other.

22. The method for manufacturing a rotary motor according to claim 18, further comprising: configuring each of the vanes to have two subvanes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 depicts an exploded view of an exemplary rotary medium power motor according to the disclosure.

(2) FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of the exemplary rotary medium power motor according to the disclosure.

(3) FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of the multi lobe motor ring 30.

(4) FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of a vane 40.

(5) FIG. 5 depicts a top view of a vane 40 having a coil spring.

(6) FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of the vane in FIG. 5.

(7) FIG. 7 depicts a top view of a vane 40 having a flat spring.

(8) FIG. 8 depicts a perspective view of the vane in FIG. 7.

(9) FIG. 9 depicts a perspective view of the multi lobe motor ring 30, the plurality of vanes 40 and the inner rotor 50.

(10) FIG. 10 depicts an end view of the multi lobe motor ring 30, the plurality of vanes 40, and the inner rotor 50.

(11) FIG. 11 depicts a portion of an exemplary chamber 38.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(12) The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a rotary power motor. Such devices in accordance with some embodiments of the invention provide that a plurality of inlets and outlets amplify the output torque of the motor, that any side load is absent or minimized, and that a faster and stronger rotational force is achieved compared to a conventional hydraulic motor having a single pair of inlet and outlet.

(13) FIG. 1 depicts an exploded view of an exemplary rotary power motor according to the disclosure. The rotary power motor 100 may include one or more end plates 21, 22, an outer port ring 10, a multi lobe motor ring 30, a plurality of vanes 40, and an inner rotor 50. Each of the plurality of vanes 40 may be housed in the corresponding vane slot 53 in the inner rotor 50. The outer port ring 10 may include an inlet port 11 and an outlet port 12. The outer port ring 10 may circumferentially enclose the multi lobe motor ring 30. The multi lobe motor ring 30 may include an inlet flow groove 31 and an outlet flow groove 32 on an outer surface of the multi lobe motor ring 30. The multi lobe motor ring 30 may circumferentially enclose the plurality of vanes 40 and the inner rotor 50. The front and rear end plates 21, 22 may be placed on the sides of the plurality of vanes 40, the inner rotor 50, the multi lobe motor ring 30 and the outer port ring 10.

(14) In one aspect, a working medium entering the inlet port 11 of the outer port ring 10 may be received by the inlet flow groove 31 on the outer circumferential surface of the multi lobe motor ring 30. The working medium on the outlet flow groove 32 may be discharged by way of the outlet port 12. The working medium entering the inlet port 11 may be pressurized. In some aspects, the working medium may include air, fluid, gas, or a combination thereof. In various aspects, a compression ratio of the working medium may be adjustable, depending on the desired speed of the motor 100, the kind of the working medium, and the operating conditions of the motor 100.

(15) FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of the exemplary rotary power motor according to the disclosure. The rotary power motor 100 may include a cylindrical housing 110 that includes the outer port ring 10 forming a circumferential surface of the cylindrical housing 110. Each of front and rear end plates 21, 22 may be secured to a side of the outer port ring 10 to close the cylindrical housing 110 by a plurality of circumferentially spaced fastening members 23 such as nuts, screws, or the like.

(16) The rotary power motor 100 may further include a drive 60. The drive 60 may pass through a central axis of the front and rear end plates, 21, 22 and the outer port ring 10. In one aspect, the drive 60 may not move in a direction perpendicular to the central axis during operation of the motor 100.

(17) The outer port ring 10 may include one or more inlet and outlet ports 11, 12. In one aspect, the outer port ring 10 may include a single pair of inlet port 11 and outlet port 12 on a circumferential surface of the outer port ring 10. A working medium may enter into the rotary power motor 100 by way of the inlet port 11 and may be discharged by way of the outlet port 12. The outer port ring 10 may circumferentially enclose the multi lobe motor ring 30 (see FIG. 3).

(18) FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of the multi lobe motor ring 30. An outer circumferential surface 33 of the multi lobe motor ring 30 may include one or more of pairs of inlet flow groove 31 and outlet flow groove 32. The inlet flow groove 31 may be aligned with the inlet port 11 of the outer port ring 10 (see FIG. 2) so that the inlet flow groove 31 can receive the working medium from the inlet port 11. Similarly, the outlet flow groove 32 may be aligned with the outlet port 12 of the outer port ring 10 (see FIG. 2) so that the medium flowing in the outlet flow groove 32 may be discharged by way of the outlet port 12.

(19) The multi lobe motor ring 30 may include a plurality of lobes 36. In one aspect, a number of the lobes 36 may be 2 or more, preferably, 8 or more. Each of the plurality of lobes 36 may include a pair of inlet 34 and outlet 35. In one aspect, the inlet 34 and the outlet 35 in the pair may be positioned parallel to each other in a width direction of the multi lobe motor ring 30. In some aspects, the inlet 34 and the outlet 35 in the pair may be aligned at an angle with respect to the width direction of the multi lobe motor ring 30. The plurality of lobes 36 may be placed in an inner circumferential surface of the multi lobe motor ring 30. In one aspect, the plurality of lobes 36 may be periodically spaced at equal distances along the inner circumferential surface of the multi lobe motor ring 36.

(20) Each lobe of the plurality of lobes 36 may be positioned at a planar or convex position of the inner circumferential surface of the multi lobe motor ring 30 where a concave working chamber 38 may be formed between two adjacent lobes 36. In one aspect, the inlets 34 at the plurality of lobes 36 may be aligned with the inlet flow groove 31 so that each of the inlets 34 can receive the working medium from the inlet flow groove 31 and introduce the working medium to the corresponding concave working chamber 38. Similarly, the outlets 35 at the plurality of lobes 36 may be aligned with the outlet flow groove 32 so that the outlet flow groove 32 can receive the working medium exiting the concave working chambers 38 by way of the outlets 35. Due to the continuous medium flow loop among the outer port ring 10, the multi lobe motor ring 30, and the chambers 38, the rotary medium power motor 100 may produce higher torque compared to a conventional hydraulic motor.

(21) FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of a vane 40. The vane 40 may include one or more subvanes 41, 42. In one aspect, the vane 40 may be split into a pair of subvanes, first 41 and second 42 subvanes where the pair of first 41 and second 42 subvanes can slide with respect to each other while remaining, in part, in contact with each other. In one aspect, the vane 40 may have a rectangular shape. A side end 441, 442 of each of the first 41 and second 42 subvanes may be rounded. The other side end of each of the first 41 and second 42 subvanes may have an angular shape. The round shapes 441, 442 of the vane 40 may be in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the multi lobe motor ring 30 (see FIG. 1), thereby forming a seal between the vane 40 and the inner circumferential surface of the multi lobe motor ring 30 during rotation of the inner rotor 50 (see FIG. 1). The round shapes 441, 442 of the vane 40 may reduce a frictional force between the vane 40 and the inner circumferential surface of the multi lobe motor ring 30 while enabling the vane 40 to maintain a contact with the inner circumferential surface of the multi lobe motor ring 30 during rotation of the inner rotor 50. In some aspect, a number of vanes 40 may be larger than a number of lobes 36 to prevent bypass flow of the working medium.

(22) FIG. 5 depicts a top view of a vane 40 having a coil spring and FIG. 6 depicts the corresponding perspective view. Each of the first 41 and second 42 subvanes may include an offset slot 411, 422 in the interior of the subvane where an elastic member 430 can be placed in the offset slots 411, 422. The elastic member 430 may include a spring. In some aspects, the elastic member 430 may include a coil spring, a flat spring or the like. While the first 41 and second 42 subvanes may remain, in part, in contact with each other, one end 431 of the coil spring 430 may be in contact with a surface of the offset slot 411 in the first subvane 41, thereby pushing the end 451 of the first subvane 41 forward. Resultantly, the end 451 of the first subvane 41 may form a contact with an inner surface of the first end plate 21 (see FIG. 1), thereby forming a seal between the vane 40 and the first end plate 21. Similarly, the other end 432 of the coil spring 430 may be in contact with a surface of the offset slot 422 in the second subvane 42, thereby pushing the end 452 of the second subvane 42 to the opposite direction to the forwarded first subvane 41. Resultantly, the end 452 of the second subvane 42 may form a contact with an inner surface of the second end plate 22 (see FIG. 1), thereby forming a seal between the vane 40 and the second end plate 22. This type of split vane design may allow the vanes to force a seal to the end plates 21, 22 so that the motor 100 can work at much higher medium pressures compared to a conventional vane motor.

(23) FIG. 7 depicts a top view of a vane 40 having a flat spring and FIG. 8 depicts the corresponding perspective view where the flat spring 460 is placed in the offset slots 411, 422. Similar to the coil spring 430 in FIGS. 5-6, while the first 41 and second 42 subvanes may remain, in part, in contact with each other, the end 451 of the first subvane 41 is pushed forward, thereby forming a seal between the first subvane 41 and the first end plate 21. The end 452 of the second subvane 42 forms a seal between the second subvane 42 and the second end plate 22.

(24) FIG. 9 depicts a perspective view of the multi lobe motor ring 30, the plurality of vanes 40 and the inner rotor 50. The multi lobe motor ring 30 may enclose the plurality of vanes 40 and the inner rotor 50. The inner rotor 50 may include a plurality of vane slots 53 to house the plurality of vanes 40. The plurality of the vane slots 53 may be circumferentially arranged at equal angular intervals in the outer surface of the inner rotor 50. Each vane 40 may be positioned within the corresponding vane slot 53 in a direction perpendicular to a central rotation axis a.sub.0 of the inner rotor 50. During rotation of the inner rotor 50 about the central axis a.sub.0 of the inner rotor 50, fluid pressure may cause the vane 40 to slide outwardly so that the rounded sides 441, 442 of the vane 40 can be forced outside the vane slot 53 and form a contact with the inner circumferential surface of the multi lobe motor ring 30. In one aspect, the vane slot 53 may not require an expansion member to push the vane 40 outwardly to have the vane 40 in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the multi lobe motor ring 30. Alternatively, the vane slot 53 may include an expansion member to augment the outwardly-acting centrifugal force. The expansion member may include a spring, a compressed gas or any other suitable means to augment the outwardly-acting centrifugal force.

(25) The inner rotor 50 may include one or more sealing ridges 51. The sealing ridge 51 may be placed between a side of the inner rotor 50 and the end plates 21, 22 (see FIG. 1). The sealing ridge 51 may form a seal between the inner rotor 50 and the end plates 21, 22 and reduce the pressurized area against the end plates. The inner rotor 50 may further include a drive slot 52. The drive slot 52 may hold the drive 60 (see FIG. 2) passing through the inner rotor 50. In one aspect, the central rotation axis a.sub.0 of the inner rotor 50 may be aligned with the passing direction of the drive 60. In some aspects, the inner rotor 50 may not move in a direction perpendicular to the central rotation axis during rotation of the inner rotor 50.

(26) FIG. 10 depicts an end view of the multi lobe motor ring 30, the plurality of vanes 40, and the inner rotor 50. The multi lobe motor ring 30 may enclose the plurality of vanes 40 and the inner rotor 50. The inner circumferential surface of the multi lobe motor ring 30 may include the plurality of lobes 36. The inner circumferential surface of the multi lobe motor ring 30, the outer circumferential surface of inner rotor 50 and the end plates 21, 22 (see FIG. 1) may form a plurality of working chambers 38. In one aspect, each chamber 38 may be formed by two adjacent lobes 36, the inner circumferential surface of the multi lobe motor ring 30 and the outer circumferential surface of inner rotor 50 where the chamber is closed by two end plates 21, 22.

(27) Each chamber 38 may have an equal volume with respect to each other. In some aspects, the rotation axis a.sub.0 of the inner rotor 50 may be fixed so that each chamber 38 may maintain the equal volume during rotation of the inner rotor 50. The working medium entering the inlet port 11 of the outer port ring 10 (see FIG. 1) may be received by the inlet flow groove 31 (see FIG. 1) on the outer circumferential surface of the multi lobe motor ring 30. The working medium on the inlet flow groove 31 may enter each chamber 38 by way of the inlet 34 in each lobe 36 and act on a vane 40 projecting from the inner rotor 50 to generate a torque, thereby rotating the inner rotor 50 in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction about the central rotation axis a.sub.0 of inner rotor 50. Similarly, the working medium may exit the chamber 38 by way of the outlet 35 and may be subsequently discharged by way of the outlet groove 32 and the outlet port 12 of the outer port ring 10 (see FIG. 1). The medium flow path according to the disclosure may allow the working medium to feed all of the inlets and outlets in the plurality of lobes 36 without requiring multiple external connections. In addition, this type of medium flow path may allow the rotation of the rotor 50 reversible without removing and repositioning the motor 100.

(28) FIG. 11 depicts a portion of an exemplary chamber 38. The working medium entering the working chamber 38a by way of inlet 34a may act on the vane 40 projecting from the inner rotor 50, thereby rotating the inner rotor 50 as indicated by the arrow. After rotating the inner rotor 50, the working medium may exit the chamber 38a by way of outlet 35a. In one aspect, a working chamber may include an inlet and an outlet. In some aspects, a working chamber may receive a working medium by way of an inlet and discharge the working medium by way of an outlet that may be located in the nearest neighboring lobe in the rotation direction of the inner rotor 50. In various aspects, a working chamber may receive a working medium by way of an inlet and discharge the working medium by way of an outlet that may be located in the nearest neighboring lobe in the clockwise rotation direction of the inner rotor 50.

(29) Each chamber may produce an equal amount of torque acting on the vanes 40. The plurality of lobes including inlets 34 and outlets 35 may generate a torque arm at each of the plurality of the vanes 40. In one aspect, the torque rotating the motor 100 may be multiplied by the number of lobes 36. In various aspects, the rotary power motor 100 may need no side load and no secondary nut runner. In some aspects, all the input energy may be turned into continuous rotation and thus may achieve a faster and stronger rotational force compared to a conventional hydraulic motor.

(30) The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and, thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to that fall within the scope of the invention.