Three speed floating cup hydraulic motor

Abstract

A hydraulic motor includes a rotor supporting a plurality of piston elements projecting away from opposing faces of the rotor. The rotor is adapted to rotate about a first axis. The hydraulic motor further includes a pair of drum plates each supporting a plurality of cup elements. The plurality of cup elements are adapted to engage the piston elements. Each drum plate is arranged on an opposing side of the rotor and is adapted to rotate about a second axis in angled relation to the first axis. Each of a pair of swashplates is in operative engagement with a respective one of the drum plates and each is adapted to pivot relative to the rotor to move with the respective drum plate between a maximum displacement position and a minimum displacement position to thereby change the angled relation between the first axis and the second axis. The pair of swashplates are further independently pivotable between three different settings.

1 . A hydraulic motor comprising:
 a rotor supporting a plurality of piston elements projecting away from opposing faces of the rotor, the rotor being adapted to rotate about a first axis;   a pair of drum plates each supporting a plurality of cup elements, the plurality of cup elements being adapted to engage the piston elements, each drum plate being arranged on an opposing side of the rotor and being adapted to rotate about a second axis in angled relation to the first axis;   a pair of swashplates each being in operative engagement with a respective one of the drum plates, each swashplate being adapted to pivot relative to the rotor so as to move with the respective drum plate between a maximum displacement position and a minimum displacement position to thereby change the angled relation between the first axis and the second axis, wherein the pair of swashplates are independently pivotable between a first setting in which both swashplates are in their maximum displacement position, a second setting in which both swashplates in their minimum displacement position and a third setting in which one swashplate is in its maximum displacement setting and the other swashplate is in its minimum displacement setting.   
   
   
       2 . The hydraulic motor of  claim 1  further including an output shaft connected to the rotor and extending along the first axis. 
   
   
       3 . The hydraulic motor of  claim 2  further including an actuating system operable to independently pivot the pair of swashplates between the first setting, the second setting and the third setting. 
   
   
       4 . The hydraulic motor of  claim 3  wherein the actuating system is hydraulically actuated. 
   
   
       5 . The hydraulic motor of  claim 4  wherein the actuating system includes at least one actuator associated with each swashplate that is operable in response to a control signal to pivot the corresponding swashplate. 
   
   
       6 . The hydraulic motor of  claim 5  wherein the actuating system further includes a control signal generator operably coupled to the at least one actuator associated with each swashplate for generating the control signal for the actuators. 
   
   
       7 . The hydraulic motor of  claim 5  wherein the actuating assembly further includes a spring in operative engagement with both of the swashplates for biasing the swashplates toward one of their maximum displacement and minimum displacement positions. 
   
   
       8 . The hydraulic motor of  claim 7  wherein the at least one actuator associated with each swashplate is operable to pivot the swashplates toward the other of their maximum displacement and minimum displacement positions. 
   
   
       9 . The hydraulic motor of  claim 6  wherein the at least one actuator associated with each swashplate comprises a piston and cup assembly. 
   
   
       10 . The hydraulic motor of  claim 6  wherein the control signal produced by the control signal generator comprises a supply of pressurized fluid. 
   
   
       11 . A hydraulic motor comprising:
 a rotor supporting a plurality of piston elements projecting away from opposing faces of the rotor, the rotor being adapted to rotate about a first axis;   a pair of drum plates each supporting a plurality of cup elements, the plurality of cup elements being adapted to engage the piston elements, each drum plate being arranged on an opposing side of the rotor and being adapted to rotate about a second axis in angled relation to the first axis;   a pair of swashplates each being in operative engagement with a respective one of the drum plates, each swashplate being adapted to pivot relative to the rotor so as to move with the respective drum plate between a maximum displacement position and a minimum displacement position to thereby change the angled relation between the first axis and the second axis;   an actuating system operable to independent pivot the pair of swashplates between a first setting in which both swashplates are in their maximum displacement position, a second setting in which both swashplates in their minimum displacement position and a third setting in which one swashplate is in its maximum displacement setting and the other swashplate is in its minimum displacement setting.   
   
   
       12 . The hydraulic motor of  claim 11  further including an output shaft connected to the rotor and extending along the first axis. 
   
   
       13 . The hydraulic motor of  claim 11  wherein the actuating system is hydraulically actuated. 
   
   
       14 . The hydraulic motor of  claim 11  wherein the actuating system includes at least one actuator associated with each swashplate that is operable in response to a control signal to pivot the corresponding swashplate. 
   
   
       15 . The hydraulic motor of  claim 14  wherein the actuating system further includes a control signal generator operably coupled to the at least one actuator associated with each swashplate for generating the control signal for the actuators. 
   
   
       16 . The hydraulic motor of  claim 15  wherein the actuating assembly further includes a spring in operative engagement with both of the swashplates for biasing the swashplates toward one of their maximum displacement and minimum displacement positions. 
   
   
       17 . The hydraulic motor of  claim 16  wherein the at least one actuator associated with each swashplate is operable to pivot the swashplates toward the other of their maximum displacement and minimum displacement positions. 
   
   
       18 . The hydraulic motor of  claim 14  wherein the at least one actuator associated with each swashplate comprises a piston and cup assembly. 
   
   
       19 . A method of operating a hydraulic motor comprising the steps of:
 introducing sequentially a fluid at an intake pressure into a plurality of cup elements supported on a pair of drum plates, the plurality of cup elements being adapted to engage a plurality of piston elements supported on a rotor with piston elements projecting away from opposing faces of the rotor which is adapted to rotate about a first axis, each drum plate being arranged on an opposing side of the rotor and being adapted to rotate about a second axis in angled relation to the first axis;   discharging the fluid from the plurality of cup elements at a discharge pressure which is lower than the intake pressure;   pivoting independently a pair of swashplates relative to the rotor between a maximum displacement position and a minimum displacement position, each swashplate being in operative engagement with a respective one of the drum plates such that each drum plate moves with the respective swashplate between the maximum and minimum displacement positions to thereby change the angled relation between the first and second axes; and   selectively directing pivoting movement of the pair of swashplates into a first setting in which both swashplates are in their maximum displacement position, a second setting in which both swashplates in their minimum displacement position or a third setting in which one swashplate is in its maximum displacement setting and the other swashplate is in its minimum displacement setting.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  further including the step of transmitting rotation of the rotor to an output shaft that extends along the first axis.