Axial piston multi circuit machine

Abstract

An axial multi circuit machine has a housing and centrally mounted drive shaft A cylinder barrel has a plurality cylinders with a piston placed in each cylinder In one embodiment the drive shaft rotates the cylinder barrel with respect to a stationary wedge and in another embodiment the drive shaft rotates the wedge with respect to the stationary cylinder barrel A cylinder head with a cylinder having at least one port for receiving and discharging a fluid to a first fluid circuit and a second cylinder having a second port for discharging fluid to a second fluid circuit The first and second fluid circuits are independent and can be at different pressures and flow rates Alternatively, the machine may function as a motor and receive fluid by means of one or more of the fluid circuits which in turn imparts a driving force to the drive shaft

1 . An axial multi circuit machine comprising:
 a housing,   a centrally mounted drive shaft,   means for rotating the drive shaft,   a cylinder barrel mounted in the housing,   a plurality of cylinders axially disposed in the cylinder barrel, the cylinders having a cylinder head with at least one port for receiving and discharging a fluid,   a piston mounted in each of at least two of the cylinders,   a wedge member mounted in the housing in driving relationship with the pistons to cause the pistons to reciprocate in their respective cylinders when the drive shaft is rotated,   at least one of the cylinders being connected to a first fluid circuit for discharging a fluid at a first pressure and flow rate from the machine,   at least one of the other cylinders being connected to a second fluid circuit for discharging a fluid at a second pressure and flow rate from the machine, and   the first fluid circuit and the second fluid circuit being segregated from each other.   
     
     
         2 . The axial multi circuit machine of  claim 1  wherein the cylinder barrel is removable from the machine and is replaced by a second cylinder barrel having a cylinder configuration different than the cylinder configuration of the cylinder barrel. 
     
     
         3 . The axial multi circuit machine of  claim 1  wherein the cylinder head has at least one port disposed at a first radial distance in fluid communication with the first fluid circuit and a second port disposed at a second radial distance in fluid communication with the second fluid circuit. 
     
     
         4 . The axial multi circuit machine of  claim 3  and further comprising an end cap mounted adjacent to the cylinder head, the end cap having a first manifold in fluid communication with the one port and a second manifold in fluid communication with the second port, the first manifold being at the first radial distance and the second manifold being at the second radial distance, the first and second manifolds being fluidly connected to the first and second fluid circuits respectively. 
     
     
         5 . The axial multi circuit machine of  claim 1  wherein the wedge member is adjustable for changing the piston's stroke in the cylinder. 
     
     
         6 . The axial multi circuit machine of  claim 1  wherein the wedge member is mounted on the drive shaft and rotates with the drive shaft causing the pistons to reciprocate when the wedge member is rotated with respect to the cylinder barrel. 
     
     
         7 . The axial multi circuit machine of  claim 1  wherein the cylinder barrel is mounted on the drive shaft and rotates with the drive shaft causing the pistons to reciprocate when the cylinder barrel is rotated with respect to the wedge member. 
     
     
         8 . The axial multi circuit machine of  claim 1  and further comprising at least a third cylinder with a piston mounted therein being connected to a third fluid circuit for discharging a fluid at a third pressure and flow rate from the machine. 
     
     
         9 . The axial multi circuit machine of  claim 1  wherein the first and second fluid circuits have different pressures and flow rates. 
     
     
         10 . The axial multi circuit machine of  claim 1  wherein the first and second fluid circuits have the same pressures and flow rates. 
     
     
         11 . The axial multi circuit machine of  claim 8  wherein the first, second and third fluid circuits have different pressures and flow rates. 
     
     
         12 . The axial multi circuit machine of  claim 1  wherein several cylinders are fluidly connected to define the first fluid circuit and at least one cylinder is fluidly connected to the second fluid circuit. 
     
     
         13 . The axial multi circuit machine of  claim 8  wherein several cylinders are fluidly connected to the first fluid circuit and at least one cylinder is fluidly connected to the second fluid circuit, and a third cylinder is fluidly connected to the third fluid circuit. 
     
     
         14 . An axial multi circuit machine comprising:
 a housing,   a centrally mounted drive shaft,   means for rotating the drive shaft,   a cylinder barrel mounted in the housing,   a plurality of cylinders axially disposed in the cylinder barrel, the cylinders having a cylinder head with at least one port for receiving and discharging a fluid,   a piston mounted in each of at least two of the cylinders,   a wedge member mounted in the housing in driving relationship with the pistons,   at least one of the cylinders being connected to a first fluid circuit for receiving a fluid at a first pressure and flow rate to impart a driving force to the drive shaft of the machine,   at least one of the other cylinders being connected to a second fluid circuit for discharging a fluid at a second pressure and flow rate from the machine, and   the first fluid circuit and the second fluid circuit being segregated from each other.   
     
     
         15 . The axial multi circuit machine of  claim 14  wherein the cylinder head has at least one port disposed at a first radial distance in fluid communication with the first fluid circuit and at least a second port disposed at a second radial distance in fluid communication with the second fluid circuit. 
     
     
         16 . The axial multi circuit machine of  claim 14  and further comprising at least a third cylinder having a piston mounted therein, the third cylinder connected to the second fluid circuit for discharging the fluid at the second pressure and flow rate. 
     
     
         17 . The axial multi circuit machine of  claim 14  and further comprising at least a third cylinder having a piston mounted therein, the third cylinder connected to a third fluid circuit for discharging the fluid at a third pressure and flow rate. 
     
     
         18 . An axial multi circuit machine comprising:
 a housing,   a centrally mounted drive shaft,   means for rotating the drive shaft,   a cylinder barrel mounted in the housing,   a plurality of cylinders axially disposed in the cylinder barrel, the cylinders having a cylinder head with at least one port for receiving and discharging a fluid   a piston mounted in each of at least two of the cylinders,   a wedge member mounted in the housing in driving relationship with the pistons,   at least one of the cylinders being connected to a first fluid circuit for receiving a fluid at a first pressure and flow rate to impart a driving force to the drive the drive shaft of the machine,   at least one of the other cylinders being connected to a second fluid circuit for receiving a fluid at a second pressure and flow rate to impart a second driving force to the drive shaft of the machine, and   the first fluid circuit and the second fluid circuit being segregated from each other.   
     
     
         19 . The axial multi circuit machine of  claim 18  and further comprising at least a third cylinder having a piston mounted therein, the third cylinder connected to a third fluid circuit for discharging a fluid at a third pressure and flow rate, the third circuit being segregated from the first and second fluid circuits. 
     
     
         20 . The axial multi circuit machine of  claim 18  wherein the cylinder head has at least one port disposed at a first radial distance in fluid communication with the first fluid circuit and a second port disposed at a second radial distance in fluid communication with the second fluid circuit. 
     
     
         21 . A method for providing fluid to different fluid circuits comprising:
 providing an axial piston multi circuit machine having at least two axial cylinders,   providing two independent fluid circuits,   fluidly connecting each axial cylinder to one of the two independent fluid circuits, and   maintaining the fluid flow of the two independent circuits from each other.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  and the further steps of:
 providing the axial piston multi circuit machine with a third axial cylinder, 
 providing at least a third independent fluid circuit, 
 fluidly connecting the third fluid circuit to the third axial cylinder, and 
 maintaining the fluid flow of the three independent circuits from each other. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  and the further step of providing different pressure and flow characteristics to each of the fluid circuits. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  and the further step of providing at least one additional cylinder fluidly connected to one of the two independent fluid circuits.