Toroidal Hydraulic Motor Layout for Steady Bidirectional Torque
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydraulic piston machines face issues with sinusoidal torque fluctuations, require mechanical linkages for reciprocating pistons, and struggle with maintaining a sealed toroidal chamber for continuous rotation and bidirectional operation.
Innovation Solution
A rotary toroidal piston chamber design with stationary pistons and retractable gates, utilizing a sealed cover and cam-controlled gates for continuous motion, eliminating the need for cranking mechanisms and valves, and enabling bidirectional operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If reciprocating pistons are used in a cylindrical chamber, then the piston can provide force to turn the drive shaft, but the torque produced is sinusoidal and fluctuates from zero to peak value
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the toroidal chamber into multiple separate compartments, each containing a piston. This segmentation allows multiple pistons to operate simultaneously in different phases, ensuring that as one piston completes its stroke, another is beginning its power stroke, thereby maintaining continuous and stable torque output without sinusoidal fluctuations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a toroidal chamber that rotates dynamically while pistons reciprocate within fixed compartments. This dynamic configuration allows the chamber to continuously present different compartments to the power source, enabling uninterrupted power delivery and eliminating the zero-torque periods characteristic of single-cylinder reciprocating systems.
2Ease of operation
If reciprocating pistons operate in a cylindrical chamber, then the piston can drive the crank mechanism, but mechanical linkages and cranking mechanisms are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the traditional crank mechanism and connecting rods by directly coupling the reciprocating pistons to the rotating toroidal chamber. The pistons' reciprocating motion directly drives the rotation of the chamber without requiring intermediate mechanical linkages, thereby simplifying the overall mechanism while maintaining ease of rotational operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a rotating crank to drive reciprocating pistons (as in conventional engines), the invention inverts the approach by having reciprocating pistons directly drive the rotation of the toroidal chamber. This inversion eliminates the need for crank mechanisms and connecting rods, reducing device complexity while achieving the same rotational output.
3Speed
If a toroidal chamber is used with a moving piston, then continuous rotation can be achieved, but the chamber requires an opening for external mechanical connection
Solution Approach 1:
The toroidal chamber is segmented into multiple sealed compartments, each containing a piston. This segmentation allows the chamber to maintain pressure seals in each compartment while enabling continuous rotation through the toroidal configuration. The segmentation ensures that pressure containment is not compromised by the rotational motion or the presence of multiple pistons.
Solution Approach 2:
The pistons are nested within the toroidal chamber's compartments, with each piston contained within its own sealed section. This nesting arrangement allows the pistons to reciprocate within the rotating chamber while maintaining pressure seals, as each piston is isolated within its compartment rather than requiring an opening in the chamber wall.
4Ease of manufacture
If input and output ports are connected to fixed plumbing, then the ports must maintain fixed positional relationship with moving piston, but this arrangement is unworkable
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the port positioning dynamic through the rotation of the toroidal chamber. As the chamber rotates, different compartments with their respective input and output ports are continuously presented to the fixed plumbing connections. This dynamic configuration allows fixed plumbing to connect to multiple ports sequentially during rotation, eliminating the need for moving parts in the plumbing system while maintaining proper fluid delivery to each piston.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Achieves continuous rotation with steady torque, efficient water use, and bidirectional operation, eliminating the need for cranking mechanisms and valves, while allowing high power applications.
Implementation Method 1
When water under pressure enters the closed section it acts to expand the closed section causing the chamber to rotate
Implementation Method 2
Water under pressure enters the closed section it acts to expand the closed section
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic device comprises a rotary toroidal piston chamber having a rectangular space with a bottom, two sidewalls, and an open top. Four stationary pistons and two retractable gates for each piston are within the toroidal chamber mounted on a chamber wheel fixed to an axle on which it rotates, wherein the pistons and the gates are evenly spaced around the toroidal chamber separating the chamber into four partitions. A piston support for each piston is configured to hold the piston stationary while the piston chamber rotates. A stationary cover encircles and seals the open top of the piston chamber wherein openings through the stationary cover allow each of the piston supports to pass through and be sealed. An input port opening and an output port opening are in the stationary cover for each partition. The piston chamber rotates by reacting directly to continuous hydraulic force on the stationary pistons.