Samuel A Collier

US Patent:

41934849, Mar 18, 1980

Filed:

Apr 6, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/893949

Inventors:

Samuel A. Collier - Pittsburg KS

International Classification:

F16D 3100
F16D 43284

US Classification:

192 60

Abstract:

A rotary hydraulic coupling wherein the rotary motion of a fluid-filled casing is transmitted to a coaxial driven shaft through the medium of a plurality of pistons which have eccentric drive connections with the driven shaft and which work in cylinders that are radially disposed within the casing. Fluid within the casing is pumped by the pistons from a reservoir area within the casing to a manifold area while control valve mechanism variously regulates the bleeding or flow of fluid from the manifold area back to the reservoir area. The cylinders are charged with fluid from a high pressure region of the reservoir which exists by reason of centrifugal force acting through the radial depth of the fluid, such fluid entering the cylinders through intake check valves which are mechanically assisted in their opening movements to insure charging at low differential speeds. Fluid is expelled from the cylinder to the manifold through output check valves and the pressure which builds up in the manifold creates a back-up pressure in the cylinders which is translated into the application of torque to the driven shaft. The control valve mechanism which regulates bleeding of the manifold includes a control valve proper of the balanced spool type and a metering valve which regulates the operation of the control valve so that the rate of manifold bleeding may be varied within a wide range lasting from only a fraction of a second to several minutes.

US Patent:

41426177, Mar 6, 1979

Filed:

Dec 19, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/861704

Inventors:

Samuel A. Collier - Pittsburg KS

International Classification:

F16D 3102

US Classification:

192 60

Abstract:

A rotary hydraulic coupling of the type wherein the powered movement of a plurality of reciprocable pistons, which are carried and driven by a drive shaft, work in cylinders which are carried by a driven shaft, and wherein the varying backup pressure of incompressible fluid within the cylinders is relied upon to apply torque to and thus rotate the driven shaft. A sealed casing rotates in unison with the driven shaft and establishes an internal fluid reservoir, while the drive shaft projects into the casing and, by means of a crank arm, reciprocates the pistons. Inflow check valves leading from the reservoir allow fluid to be drawn into the cylinders while outflow check valves leading from the cylinders allow fluid to be forced directly into a manifold which is separated from the reservoir. The pressure attained in the manifold is reflected as backup pressure in the cylinders, such pressure varying the torque which is applied to the casing and driven shaft. A plurality of passages establish communication between the manifold and reservoir, while a novel valving arrangement variously controls the flow of fluid through such passages from the manifold to the reservoir in such a manner that a time delay is effected before full torque is applied to the output shaft.