Rotatable Piston Assembly With Integral Valve for Lower Power Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reciprocating piston type hydraulic machines face inefficiencies due to unbalanced forces and high power loss, particularly in rotating swash mechanism type axial piston machines with stationary cylinder blocks, which require additional bearings and have large rotational mass inertia.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable piston assembly with an integral valve is introduced, allowing for controlled rotation and bi-directional fluid flow, eliminating the need for separate valve components and reducing friction, while absorbing unbalanced forces through a revolute joint interface with slipper assemblies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a rotating cylinder block is used to absorb unbalanced forces, then the unbalanced forces are absorbed, but the rotational mass inertia increases resulting in high power loss
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the force absorption function from the rotation function by introducing separate slipper assemblies that absorb unbalanced forces while the piston performs only reciprocating motion. This segmentation eliminates the need for a rotating cylinder block, thereby reducing rotational mass inertia and power loss while still absorbing unbalanced forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The slipper assembly acts as an intermediary component between the piston and the force absorption mechanism. It absorbs unbalanced forces through its bearing interface with the cylinder wall, allowing the piston to reciprocate without requiring the entire cylinder block to rotate, thus reducing rotational inertia and power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A rotatable piston assembly for a reciprocating piston type hydraulic machine includes a rotatable piston configured for a controlled rotation and configured to reciprocate within a cylinder bore of the reciprocating piston type hydraulic machine.