Combined piston fluid motor and pump

Abstract

A device utilizing a fluid motor is disclosed. The device comprises a housing and a reciprocating piston in the housing. The piston and the housing may be configured to define at least two variable-volume chambers. A multi-port valve may be associated with the piston, and may be in communication with the at least two chambers. A valve actuating mechanism may be configured to actuate the multi-port valve to affect a fluid path in the device. The device may also include a valve engagement-release mechanism configured to maintain the multi-port valve in a position when the valve is not being actuated. An inlet port and an outlet port may be in selective communication with each piston chamber through the multi-port valve.

1 . A device utilizing a fluid motor comprising: 
 a housing;    a reciprocating piston in the housing, the piston and the housing being configured to define at least two variable-volume chambers;    a multi-port valve associated with the piston and stationary with respect to the piston, the multi-port valve being in communication with the at least two chambers;    a valve actuating mechanism configured to actuate the multi-port valve to affect a fluid path in the device;    a valve engagement-release mechanism to maintain the multi-port valve in a position when the valve is not being actuated; and    an inlet port and an outlet port in selective communication with each piston chamber through the multi-port valve.    
   
   
       2 . The fluid motor of  claim 1 , including at least one hollow member configured to provide fluid communication between the multi-port valve and at least one of the inlet port and the outlet port.  
   
   
       3 . The fluid motor of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one hollow member comprises a hollow tube fixed in a position relative to the housing and slidably associated with the piston.  
   
   
       4 . The fluid motor of  claim 1 , wherein the valve actuating mechanism comprises at least one spring.  
   
   
       5 . The fluid motor of  claim 1 , wherein the valve actuating mechanism comprises at least one magnet.  
   
   
       6 . The fluid motor of  claim 5 , wherein the valve actuating mechanism comprises at least two magnets having a polarity oriented in a manner that one magnet repels the other magnet.  
   
   
       7 . The fluid motor of  claim 1 , wherein the valve engagement-release mechanism comprises a position biased catching member.  
   
   
       8 . The fluid motor of  claim 1 , wherein the valve engagement-release mechanism comprises at least one magnet.  
   
   
       9 . The fluid motor of  claim 1 , wherein the valve engagement-release mechanism comprises at least two magnets having a polarity oriented in a manner that the at least two magnets attract.  
   
   
       10 . The fluid motor of  claim 1 , wherein a valve engagement-release mechanism comprises a spring-loaded mechanical catch.  
   
   
       11 . The fluid motor of  claim 1 , wherein a shaft is fixed to the piston.  
   
   
       12 . The fluid motor of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-port valve is configured to substantially obstruct fluid flow as the multi-port valve shifts.  
   
   
       13 . The fluid motor of  claim 1 , wherein the piston and the valve are configured to operate using a gas.  
   
   
       14 . The fluid motor of  claim 1 , wherein the piston and the valve are configured to operate using a liquid.  
   
   
       15 . The fluid motor of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-port valve is hydraulically balanced between said at least two chambers.  
   
   
       16 . The fluid motor of  claim 1 , comprising a sensor configured to detect cycling of the piston and provide a signal for informational or control purposes.  
   
   
       17 . A fluid motor comprising: 
 a housing;    a reciprocating piston in the housing;    a multi-port valve associated with the piston and stationary with respect to the piston;    a valve actuating mechanism configured to actuate the multi-port valve to affect a fluid path in the pump;    a valve engagement-release mechanism configured to maintain the multi-port valve in a position when the multi-port valve is not being actuated by the valve actuating mechanism;    a motor inlet port and a motor outlet port in fluid communication with the multi-port valve; and    a hollow member at least partially within the housing and configured to allow fluid communication between at least one of the motor inlet and outlet ports and the multi-port valve.    
   
   
       18 . The fluid motor of  claim 17 , including two hollow members at least partially within the housing and configured to allow fluid communication between the multi-port valve and each of the motor inlet and outlet ports.  
   
   
       19 . The fluid motor of  claim 17 , wherein the hollow member comprises a hollow tube fixed in a position relative to the housing and slidably associated with the piston.  
   
   
       20 . The fluid motor of  claim 17 , wherein the valve actuating mechanism comprises at least one spring.  
   
   
       21 . The fluid motor of  claim 17 , wherein the valve actuating mechanism comprises at least one magnet.  
   
   
       22 . The fluid motor of  claim 21 , wherein the valve actuating mechanism comprises at least two magnets having a polarity oriented in a manner that one magnet repels the other magnet.  
   
   
       23 . The fluid motor of  claim 17 , wherein the valve engagement-release mechanism comprises a position biased catching member.  
   
   
       24 . The fluid motor of  claim 17 , wherein the valve engagement-release mechanism comprises at least one magnet.  
   
   
       25 . The fluid motor of  claim 17 , wherein the valve engagement-release mechanism comprises at least two magnets having a polarity oriented in a manner that the at least two magnets attract.  
   
   
       26 . The fluid motor of  claim 17 , wherein the valve engagement-release mechanism comprises a spring loaded mechanical catch.  
   
   
       27 . The fluid motor of  claim 17 , wherein a shaft is fixed to the piston.  
   
   
       28 . The fluid motor of  claim 17 , wherein the multi-port valve is configured to substantially obstruct fluid flow as the multi-port valve shifts.  
   
   
       29 . The fluid motor of  claim 17 , wherein the piston and the multi-port valve are configured to operate using a gas.  
   
   
       30 . The fluid motor of  claim 17 , wherein the piston and the multi-port valve are configured to operate using a liquid.  
   
   
       31 . The fluid motor of  claim 17 , wherein the multi-port valve is hydraulically balanced between said at least two chambers.  
   
   
       32 . The fluid motor of  claim 17 , comprising a sensor configured to detect cycling of the piston and provide a signal for informational or control purposes.  
   
   
       33 . A system comprising: 
 the fluid motor of  claim 17;  and    a pump configured to be powered by the fluid motor.    
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the fluid pump and motor share a common shaft.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the pump comprises a fluid displacing member.  
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the fluid displacing member is a piston.  
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the pump displacing member is a diaphragm.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the pump comprises multiple pumping chambers.  
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the pump is at least partially disposed in the fluid motor.  
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the pump is configured to have an adjustable displacement.  
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the multi-port valve is substantially hydraulically balanced.  
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 33 , comprising: 
 a shaft associated with the fluid motor and the pump; and    a shaft seal associated with the shaft to prohibit fluid flow along the shaft between the fluid motor and the pump.    
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 33 , comprising: 
 a shaft associated with the fluid motor and the pump; and    a plurality of shaft seals associated with the shaft to prohibit fluid flow along the shaft between the fluid motor and the pump.    
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 43 , comprising a chamber between at least two of the plurality of shaft seals, wherein the chamber is vented to atmosphere.  
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 43 , comprising a chamber between at least two of the plurality of shaft seals, wherein a barrier fluid occupies the chamber between seals.  
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein at least two of the plurality of shafts seals are spaced apart a distance greater than the distance of displacement of the shaft.  
   
   
       47 . A method for operating a fluid motor having a first and a second fluid chamber separated by a reciprocating piston, the fluid motor having an inlet port and an outlet port, the method comprising: 
 introducing fluid to the first chamber through the inlet port, the inlet port being in fluid communication with the first chamber;    increasing the volume of the first chamber by moving the piston;    storing energy in a valve actuating means, the energy being provided by the moving piston;    shifting a valve member by releasing the stored energy to close the fluid communication between the inlet port and the first chamber, and to place the inlet port and the second chamber in fluid communication;    introducing fluid to the second chamber through the inlet port; and    increasing the volume of the second chamber by moving the piston while maintaining fluid communication between the inlet port and the valve member as valve member reciprocates with the piston.    
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein shifting the valve member by releasing the stored energy comprises actuating a valve engagement-release mechanism associated with the valve member.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the valve engagement-release mechanism is at least one of spring-loaded mechanical catch and a position biased catching member.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein storing energy in a valve actuating means comprises compressing a spring.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 47 , comprising 
 maintaining the valve member in a position with a maintaining force.    
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein releasing the stored energy in the valve actuating means occurs when the stored energy exceeds the maintaining force.  
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the maintaining force is a magnetic force.  
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the maintaining force is a spring-loaded mechanical catch.  
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the maintaining force is a position biased catching member.  
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 47 , comprising 
 driving an output shaft associated with the piston.    
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 56 , comprising 
 powering a fluid pump with the output shaft.    
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein shifting the valve member is accomplished by a valve shifting force that is independent of a pressure differential between the first and second fluid chambers.