Multi-cluster gear device

Abstract

A multi-cluster gear device operable to function as a pump, a motor or operable to alternate between a pump and a motor.

1 . A multi cluster gear device comprising:
 a shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis;   a primary gear mounted on the shaft;   at least two secondary gears spaced about and positioned to engage with the primary gear;   each of the at least two secondary gears configured to independently receive fluid from a fluid reservoir and to allow flow of a portion of the fluid about the secondary gear and to allow the remaining portion of the fluid to be carried by the primary gear to the adjacent secondary gear.   
     
     
         2 . A multi cluster gear device comprising:
 a primary gear;   at least two secondary gears spaced about and positioned to engage with the primary gear;   each of the at least two secondary gears configured to independently receive fluid from a fluid reservoir and to allow flow of a portion of the fluid about the secondary gear and to allow the remaining portion of the fluid to be carried by the primary gear to the adjacent secondary gear.   
     
     
         3 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least two secondary gears are smaller than the primary gear. 
     
     
         4 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least two secondary gears are spaced evenly about the periphery of the primary gear. 
     
     
         5 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 2 , wherein approximately 50% of the fluid received by each of the at least two secondary gears flows around respective secondary gears and the remaining fluid portion is carried to the adjacent secondary gear. 
     
     
         6 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 2 , wherein the each of the secondary gears discharges approximately half of the total volume of fluid received, such that each of the secondary gears is associated with an input port and an output port, providing for a pair of ports per said each of the secondary gears. 
     
     
         7 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 6 , wherein the gear device includes a third secondary gear engaged with the primary gear, the third secondary gear also having the pair of ports. 
     
     
         8 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the secondary gears is independently fluidly connected to a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is driven by a driving source and the multi cluster gear device is operable to function as a pump. 
     
     
         10 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is driven by the rotation of the primary and secondary gears. 
     
     
         11 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least two secondary gears are configured to receive fluid at low pressure. 
     
     
         12 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least two secondary gears are configured to receive fluid at high pressure. 
     
     
         13 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 1 , comprising four secondary gears. 
     
     
         14 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 1 , comprising three secondary gears. 
     
     
         15 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 1  further comprising a removable sleeve positioned in a gear cavity of a housing containing the primary and secondary gears, the sleeve positioned between an interior wall of the gear cavity and distal radial end surfaces of gear teeth of one or more of the primary gear and the secondary gears. 
     
     
         16 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 15 , wherein the sleeve is provided as one or more sleeve segments. 
     
     
         17 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 16 , wherein the sleeve segment is positioned around one of the secondary gears in a zone having a predefined blow-by gap clearance. 
     
     
         18 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 17 , wherein the sleeve segment is positioned around a portion of the zone and the interior wall of the housing makes up the remaining portion of the zone. 
     
     
         19 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 15  further comprising a slider block of the sleeve to provide for movement of the sleeve in a direction lateral to a longitudinal axis of the secondary gear. 
     
     
         20 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 15  further comprising a slider block of the sleeve to provide for movement of the sleeve in a direction lateral to the longitudinal axis of the primary gear. 
     
     
         21 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 15 , wherein the sleeve is comprised of a material that degrades as a powder. 
     
     
         22 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 21 , wherein the material is a layer positioned on a main body of the sleeve. 
     
     
         23 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 1  further comprising a thrust plate positioned and floating between an end wall of a housing of the device and sidewalls of the primary gear and the secondary gears, and further comprising a thrust bearing positioned between the thrust plate and the sidewall of at least one of the primary gear and the secondary gears. 
     
     
         24 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 23 , wherein the thrust plate is comprised of a material that degrades as a powder. 
     
     
         25 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 24 , wherein the material is a layer positioned on a main body of the thrust plate. 
     
     
         26 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 2  further comprising a thrust plate positioned between an end wall of a housing of the device and the sidewalls of the primary gear and the secondary gears and further comprising a thrust bearing positioned between the thrust plate and the sidewall of at least one of the primary gear and the secondary gears. 
     
     
         27 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 26  further comprising a hardened surface on the sidewall adjacent to the thrust bearing. 
     
     
         28 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 1  further comprising a thrust plate positioned fixedly between an end wall of a housing of the device and sidewalls of the primary gear and the secondary gears. 
     
     
         29 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 28  further comprising one or more shoulders positioned with respect to the sidewalls of one or more of the primary gear and the secondary gears, the one or more shoulders for abutting a respective bearing portion mounted between the respective gear and the thrust plate. 
     
     
         30 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 29 , wherein the shoulder is provided by a bushing that is positioned between the respective gear and the bearing portion. 
     
     
         31 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 29 , wherein the shoulder is provided by a portion of the gear that contacts the bearing portion. 
     
     
         32 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 29 , wherein the shoulder is provided by a shaft upon which the respective gear is mounted. 
     
     
         33 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 1  further comprising a thrust plate positioned between an end wall of a housing of the device and the sidewalls of the primary gear and the secondary gears, the end wall having a face with a first surface area exposed to pressurized hydraulic fluid such that the first surface area is greater than a second surface area of a face of the thrust plate also exposed to the pressurized hydraulic fluid, thus providing for a net inward force on the thrust plate towards the sidewalls. 
     
     
         34 . The multi cluster gear device according to  claim 28 , wherein a gear cavity containing the primary and the secondary gears is positioned in the housing, the thrust plate and the gear cavity integral to the housing as a one piece construction. 
     
     
         35 . A multi cluster gear device comprising:
 a shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis;   a primary gear mounted on the shaft;   a pair of secondary gears spaced about and positioned to engage with the primary gear; wherein the primary gear and the secondary gears define a pair of gear devices for moving hydraulic fluid within a common gear cavity defined by a housing of the gear device.   
     
     
         36 . The multi cluster gear device of  claim 36  further comprising at least one additional secondary gear engaging with the primary gear to define another gear device in the common gear cavity, such that a number of ports providing communication of fluid into and out of the gear cavity is less than double the number of the gears within the common gear cavity. 
     
     
         37 . A multi cluster gear device comprising:
 a primary gear;   a pair of secondary gears spaced about and positioned to engage with the primary gear; wherein the primary gear and the secondary gears define a pair of gear devices for moving hydraulic fluid within a common gear cavity defined by a housing of the gear device.