AXIAL PISTON MACHINE

Abstract

An axial piston machine may include a housing, a guide, a shaft, at least two cylinders each delimited by an associated cylinder wall, at least two pistons, a feed configured to supply a working fluid, an exhaust configured to discharge the working fluid, and at least one actuator configured to open and close a plurality of secondary outlets. Each associated cylinder wall may include a primary outlet and a secondary outlet of the plurality of secondary outlets. Each primary outlet and each secondary outlet may be fluidically connected to an outlet chamber that is fluidically connected to the exhaust. Each primary outlet may open into an associated primary outlet channel that opens into the outlet chamber. Each secondary outlet may be fluidically connected to an associated secondary outlet channel that opens into the outlet chamber and is separate from the plurality of primary outlet channels.

Claims

1. An axial piston machine comprising: a housing; a guide disposed within the housing; a shaft arranged within the guide and configured to be guided therein; at least two cylinders disposed within the housing, each cylinder of the at least two cylinders delimited by an associated cylinder wall; at least two pistons, each piston of the at least two pistons arranged within an associated cylinder of the at least two cylinders in a stroke-displaceable manner; a feed configured to supply a working fluid; an exhaust configured to discharge the working fluid; at least one actuator configured to open and close a plurality of secondary outlets; wherein the associated cylinder wall of the at least two cylinders includes primary outlet of a plurality of primary outlets, the primary outlet configured to discharge the working fluid from the associated cylinder; wherein the associated cylinder wall of the at least two cylinders further includes a secondary outlet of the plurality of secondary outlets separate from the primary outlet and configured to discharge the working fluid from the associated cylinder; wherein the plurality of primary outlets and the plurality of secondary outlets are fluidically connected to an outlet chamber disposed within the housing and the outlet chamber is fluidically connected to the exhaust; wherein each primary outlet of the plurality of primary outlets opens into an associated primary outlet channel of a plurality of primary outlet channels, and the plurality of primary outlet channels open into the outlet chamber; and, wherein each secondary outlets of the plurality of secondary outlets is fluidically connected to an associated secondary outlet channel of a plurality of secondary outlet channels, and the plurality of secondary outlet channels open into the outlet chamber and are separate from the plurality of primary outlet channels.

2. The axial piston machine according to claim 1, wherein the associated cylinder wall of at least one cylinder of the at least two cylinders includes at least two primary outlets of the plurality of primary outlets.

3. The axial piston machine according to claim 2, wherein the at least two primary outlets of the associated cylinder wall of the at least one cylinder are disposed therein radially opposite each other.

4. The axial piston machine according to claim 1, where at least two secondary outlets of the plurality of secondary outlets communicate fluidically with the outlet chamber via a common secondary outlet channel.

5. The axial piston machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator is configured to only open the secondary outlets of a cylinder of the at least two cylinders one after the other.

6. The axial piston machine according to claim 1, wherein: each secondary outlet of the plurality of secondary outlets includes an outer openings facilitating the connection between the secondary outlet and the secondary outlet channel, and the outer opening of adjacent cylinders of the at least two cylinders are offset from one another; and the at least one actuator is configured such that each secondary outlets is openable and closable independently.

7. The axial piston machine according to claim 6, wherein: the outer openings of adjacent cylinders of the at least two cylinders are offset axially from one another with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shaft and the at least one actuator includes a plurality of freeing section, each freeing section of the plurality of freeing sections configured to open an associated outer opening, and the plurality of freeing sections are offset axially to correspond to with the outer openings.

8. The axial piston machine according to claim 1, wherein at least one secondary outlet of the plurality of secondary outlets is disposed within the associated cylinder wall at an angle.

9. The axial piston machine according to claim 1, at least one of i) the plurality of primary outlet channels ii) the plurality of secondary outlet channels extend axially parallel to the shaft.

10. The axial piston machine according to claim 1, wherein at least one secondary outlet of the plurality of secondary outlets opens into the guide, and at least one secondary outlet channel of the plurality of secondary outlet channels communicates fluidically with the guide via a guide outlet, and wherein the at least one actuator is configured to connect each secondary outlet of the plurality of secondary outlets fluidically with the guide outlet when each secondary outlet is open.

11. The axial piston machine according to claim 1, wherein the housing is of solid construction, and wherein at least one of i) the plurality of primary outlets and the plurality of secondary outlets, ii) the plurality of primary outlet channels and the plurality of secondary outlet channels, iii) the at least two cylinders, and iv) the guide are disposed within the housing.

12. The axial piston machine according to claim 1, wherein the outlet chamber is arranged in an axial end region of the housing.

13. An axial piston machine comprising: a housing including a guide disposed within the housing; a shaft arranged within the guide and configured to be guided therein; at least two cylinders disposed within the housing, each cylinder of the at least two cylinders delimited by an associated cylinder wall; at least two pistons, each piston of the at least two pistons arranged within an associated cylinder of the at least two cylinders in a stroke-displaceable manner; a feed configured to supply a working fluid; an exhaust configured to discharge the working fluid; at least one actuator configured to open and close a plurality of secondary outlets one after the other; wherein each associated cylinder wall includes a primary outlet of a plurality of primary outlets configured to discharge the working fluid from the associated cylinder; wherein each associated cylinder wall further includes a secondary outlet of the plurality of secondary outlets separate from the primary outlet and configured to discharge the working fluid from the associated cylinder, the plurality of secondary outlets opening into the guide; wherein the plurality of primary outlets and the plurality of secondary outlets are fluidically connected to an outlet chamber disposed within the housing, and the outlet chamber is fluidically connected to the exhaust; wherein each primary outlet of the plurality of primary outlets opens into an associated primary outlet channel of a plurality of primary outlet channels, and the plurality of primary outlet channels open into the outlet chamber; and wherein each secondary outlet of the plurality of secondary outlets is fluidically connected to an associated secondary outlet channel of a plurality of secondary outlet channels that are separate from the plurality of primary outlet channels, and the plurality of secondary outlet channels fluidically communicate with i) the guide via a guide outlet and ii) the outlet chamber.

14. The axial piston machine according to claim 13, wherein the at least one actuator is configured to connect each secondary outlet of the plurality of secondary outlets fluidically with the guide outlet by opening the secondary outlet.

15. The axial piston machine according to claim 13, wherein: each secondary outlet of the plurality of secondary outlets includes an outer opening facilitating the connection between the secondary outlet and the guide, and the outer opening of adjacent cylinders of the at least two cylinders are offset from one another; and the at least one actuator is configured such that each secondary outlet is openable and closable independently.

16. The axial piston machine according to claim 15, wherein: the outer opening of adjacent cylinders of the at least two cylinders are offset axially from one another with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shaft; and the at least one actuator includes a plurality of freeing sections, each freeing section of the plurality of freeing sections is configured to open an associated outer opening, and the plurality of freeing sections are offset axially to correspond to with the outer openings.

17. An axial piston machine comprising: a housing including a guide disposed within the housing; a shaft arranged within the guide and configured to be guided therein; at least two cylinders disposed within the housing, each cylinder of the at least two cylinders delimited by an associated cylinder wall; at least two pistons, each piston of the at least two pistons arranged within an associated cylinder of the at least two cylinders in a stroke-displaceable manner; a feed configured to supply a working fluid; an exhaust configured to discharge the working fluid; at least one actuator configured to open and close a plurality of secondary outlets independently of one another; wherein each associated cylinder wall includes a primary outlet of a plurality of primary outlets, the primary outlet configured to discharge the working fluid from the associated cylinder; wherein each associated cylinder wall further includes a secondary outlet of the plurality of secondary outlets separate from the primary outlet and configured to discharge the working fluid from the associated cylinder, each secondary outlet of the plurality of secondary outlets including an outer opening facilitating a connection between the secondary outlet and the guide, the outer opening of adjacent cylinders of the at least two cylinders offset from one another; wherein the plurality of primary outlets and the plurality of secondary outlets are fluidically connected to an outlet chamber disposed within the housing, and the outlet chamber is fluidically connected to the exhaust; wherein each primary outlet of the plurality of primary outlets opens into an associated primary outlet channel of a plurality of primary outlet channels, and the plurality of primary outlet channels open into the outlet chamber; and wherein each secondary outlet of the plurality of secondary outlets is fluidically connected to an associated secondary outlet channel of a plurality of secondary outlet channels that are separate from the plurality of primary outlet channels, and the plurality of secondary outlet channels fluidically communicate with i) the guide via a guide outlet and ii) the outlet chamber.

18. The axial piston machine according to claim 17, wherein: the outer opening of adjacent cylinders of the at least two cylinders are offset axially from one another with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shaft; and the at least one actuator includes a plurality of freeing sections, each freeing section of the plurality of freeing sections is configured to open an associated outer opening, and the plurality of freeing sections are offset axially to correspond to with the outer openings.

19. The axial piston machine according to claim 17, wherein an associated cylinder wall of at least one cylinder of the at least two cylinders includes at least two primary outlets of the plurality of primary outlets.

20. The axial piston machine according to claim 17, where at least two secondary outlets of the plurality of secondary outlets communicate fluidically with the outlet chamber via a common secondary outlet channel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] In the schematic drawing:

[0042] FIG. 1 is an axially cutaway and partial view of an axial piston machine,

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a graduated cross section through the axial piston machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] An axial piston machine 1, as illustrated in FIG. 1, has a housing 2, which may be of solid construction. Inside housing 2, an axially extending guide 3 is formed, in which a shaft 4 of axial piston machine 1 is guided in rotatable manner. A plurality of cylinders 5 is also conformed inside housing 2, of which two are shown in FIG. 1. An associated piston 6 is arranged in stroke-displaceable manner inside the respective cylinder 5, pistons 6 being represented as transparent and by dashed lines in FIG. 1. During operation of the axial piston machine 1, in the form of an axial piston motor 1 in the example shown, a working fluid is supplied to axial piston machine 1 via a feed 7, which fluid is introduced into the associated cylinder 5 by a control membernot shownfor example a hub attached non-rotatably to shaft 4, via an associated cylinder inlet 8 of said cylinder 5. This causes pistons 6 to execute a stroke, which pistons are coupled to each other by suitable means, for example a swash platenot shownin such manner that shaft 4 is caused to rotate. The respective cylinder 5 is delimited in the circumferential direction, that is to say radially by a cylinder wall 9, which forms an outer shell of cylinder 5. At least one primary outlet 10 and a secondary outlet 11 which is separate and positioned at a distance from primary outlet 10 are formed in the respective cylinder wall 9, wherein primary outlets 10 and secondary outlets 11 function in known manner to discharge the working fluid from the associated cylinder 5. The respective primary outlet 10 and the respective secondary outlet 11 communicate fluidically with an outlet chamber 12, which may be embodied as a ring chamber 13 and communicates fluidically with an exhaust 14 of axial piston machine 1 to transport or discharge the working fluid out of axial piston machine 1. Outlet chamber 12 is located with axial separation from cylinder inlets 8, particularly on the axially opposite side, and thus in an axially terminal region. Axial piston machine 1 is also equipped with at least one actuator 15, with which the respective secondary outlet 11 may be opened and closed. In the example shown, a single such actuator 15 is provided, and is embodied as a roller slide 16 which is seated in guide 3 and connected non-rotatably to shaft 4. As may be seen in FIG. 1, the respective primary outlet 10 is positioned axially farther away from the associated cylinder inlet 8 than is the secondary outlet 11 of the associated cylinder 5.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a graduated cross section through axial piston machine 1, wherein the cross section is illustrated incrementally in such manner that primary outlets 10 and secondary outlets 11 of the respective cylinder 5 are visible. The cross section through axial piston machine 1 indicated by A-A in FIG. 2 is illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows that axial piston machine 1 in the example show has three such cylinders 5 and three such pistons 6. It also shows that guide 3 and therewith also shaft 4 and cylinders 5 are aligned axially parallel, wherein cylinders 5 surround guide 3 equidistantly.

[0046] As is also evident in FIG. 2, the respective primary outlet 10 opens into a n associated primary outlet channel 17, wherein primary outlet channel 17 are fluidically unconnected and located at a distance from each other, and are accordingly separate structures. Primary outlet channels 17 each open into outlet chamber 12. Thus, the working fluid flowing through respective primary outlet 10 is able to pass through an associated primary outlet channel 17 of such kind and into outlet chamber 12 separately from the other primary outlets 10 and the secondary outlets 11. Additionally, secondary outlets 11 each communicate fluidically with a secondary outlet channel 18, wherein the respective secondary outlet channel 18 is fluidically disconnected and positioned at a distance from the primary outlet channels 17, and is thus constructed separately and opens into outlet chamber 12. In this way, the working fluid flowing through the respective secondary outlet 11 may pass into outlet chamber 12 in particular separately from the working fluid flowing through the respective primary outlet 10. In this context, it is conceivable in principle that two secondary outlets 11 of such kind may have a common secondary outlet channel 18 of such kind. In the example shown, an associated secondary outlet channel 18 is assigned to the respective secondary outlet 11. It is also evident that outlet channels 17, 18 are aligned axially parallel to cylinders 5 and guide 3. The secondary outlet channels 18 surround guide 3 equidistantly. The primary outlet channels 17 also surround guide 3 equidistantly, wherein the secondary outlet channels 18 are arranged radially closer to guide 3 than cylinders 5 and primary outlet channels 17.

[0047] FIG. 2 further shows that two primary outlets 10 of such kind are formed in the respective cylinder wall 9 of the respective cylinder 5, and each communicates fluidically with outlet chamber 12 via an associated primary outlet channel 17 of such kind, wherein primary outlets 11 of the respective cylinder 5 are arranged radially opposite each other in cylinder wall 9.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 1, the outer openings 19 of secondary outlets 11 farthest from the associated cylinder 5 may be offset axially relative to each other. In this context, actuator 15 is furnished with respectively associated freeing sections 20, wherein in the example shown the respective freeing section 20 is embodies as a cutaway 21 in actuator 15 which extends over a limited section in the circumferential direction of actuator 15. Freeing sections 20 are thus offset axially, correspondingly to the axially offset arrangement of outer openings 19, so that besides a radial overlap an axial overlap must also occur between the respective freeing section 20 and the associated outer opening 19 in order to free the associated secondary outlet 11.

[0049] As is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, secondary outlets 11 may each open into guide 3, wherein at least one secondary outlet channel 18 of such kind communicates fluidically with guide 3 via a guide outlet 22, which is formed in a guide wall 23 that delimits guide 3, and wherein actuator 15 connects this secondary outlet 11 fluidically to guide outlet 22 when said secondary outlet 11 is freed. In the example shown, such a guide outlet 22 is assigned to the respective secondary outlet 11 and respective secondary outlet channel 18. The fluidic connection between the respective secondary outlet 11 and the associated guide outlet 22 is then created by freeing section 20 and cutaway 21 in actuator 15.

[0050] As is illustrated in FIG. 1, the respective secondary outlet 11 passes through the associated cylinder wall 9 at an angle and forms an angle which is not equal to 90, in particular an acute angle, with the axial direction of shaft 4 and of the associated cylinder 5.

[0051] In the example shown, primary outlets 10 extend perpendicularly, that is to say radially relative to the axial direction of guide 3 and shaft 4 and of the associated cylinders 5. Guide outlets 22 also extend radially relative to the axial direction of guide 3 and shaft 4.

[0052] Channels 17, 18 and cylinders 5 may be created in the solid housing 2 in an appropriate material removing machining process. In particular, channels 17, 18, guide 3 and cylinders 5 may each be drilled into housing 2. The respective primary outlet 10 and/or the respective secondary outlet 11 may also be drilled into the solid housing 2.

[0053] The structural arrangements of axial piston machine 1 result in a structural decoupling of the streams of working fluid exiting each of the respective cylinders 5, and decoupling of the cylinders 5 from each other. Consequently, reciprocations between the individual cylinders 5 are reduced, in particular the medium pressure is increased. This serves to increase the efficiency of axial piston machine 1.