US2461121A - Fluid pump - Google Patents

Description

Patented Feb. 8, 1949 FLUID PUMP Thomas A. Markham, Dallas, Tex., assigner o! forty-nine per cent to Jack J. Smith, Garland,

Tex.

Application March 12, 1945, Serial No. 582,271

2 Claims.

This invention relates to fluid moving apparatus and more particularly to air compressors.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a rotary, multi-stage compressor consisting of a plurality of radially arranged, two cycle pistons, whose cylinders are either stationary or rotatable, the said pistons being reciprocated in the cylinders by continuous roller engagement with the multi-lobed internal cam surface of a casing. The action of the pistons tend to create a suction through the hollow axis of the cylinder mounting, through the action of check valves disposed in parts which eiect communication between said hollow axis and the cylinders.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact and highly efficient fluid moving device, having exceptionally few working parts, which may be employed as an air compressor or for moving liquids, such as light oils, water and the like.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has particular reference to certain features of accomplishment which will become apparent as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings where- 1n:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the invention, with parts in vertical section and in which the casing revolves about a stationarycylinder assembly.

Figure 2 is a side view in vertical section, taken on line 2-2 on Figure l.

Figure 3 is a view of a slightly modified form of the invention, also showing a revolvable casing but in which the pistons are constrained to follow the contour of the cam track by roller engagement with undercut edges of the latter.

Figure 4 is a side view, partly in vertical section I of the modification of Figure 3.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the -drawing, reference is primarily made to Figures 1 and 2 wherein is shown a casing made up of a ring I0 -to which is bolted or otherwise secured, side walls II, to provide a closed housing. Inasmuch as it is sometimes desirable to maintain a limited quantity of lubricating fluid in the casing, gaskets I2 are interposed between the walls II and ring I Il.

The casing, in the present embodiment of the invention, is required to :be rotated and, as an example of the manner in which rotation is imparted to the casing, a rim I3 is secured to the periphery of the casing, having a V-shaped groove I4 therein to accommodate a. V-belt, not shown, but which may be operated by a pulley on the shaft of a motor disposed conveniently close to the (Cl. 23o-177) compressor. Obviously, other means of rotating the casing may be adopted, depending upon the requirements of the device.

For reasons of economy of manufacture and ease of assembly, the cylinder arrangement is made in one piece, comprising the hub I5 and radially arranged cylinders I6. The hub I5 has an intake chamber I1 and an exhaust chamber I8, divided by a partition I9. This hub is further recessed at one end to receive the flanged lend 20 of an intake tube 2| while the opposite side of the hub is identically constructed to accommodate an exhaust tube 22.

For purposes of illustration, the intake and exhaust tubes 2| and 22 respectively are each embraced by T flttings 23, by which the casing is supported through uprights 24 from a suitable mounting. It is apparent therefore that the hub I5 is held stationary with respect to the supporting means described and the casing III revolves freely on the intake and exhaust tubes 2| and 22 through the medium of anti-friction bearings 25 mounted directly thereon.

In the walls of the hub I5 are provided ports 26 in the intake chamber I 'I, communicating with each of the cylinders I6. In each port is disposed a check valve 2l, permitting ingress but preventing egress of iluid. An identical arrangement is provided in the exhaust chamber I3 with the exception that the valve 28 in the exhaust ports is reversed to permit egressv but preventing ingress of fluid into the cylinders.

Within each of the cylindersI I6 lreciprocates a piston 29. These pistons are preferably solid and each is bifurcated at its outer end to receive a roller 30 which is in continuous rolling engagement with a track 3I, bolted or otherwise secured to the inner surface of the peripheral ring I3 of casing I0.

The rollers 30 are each mounted on a. shaft 32.

the ends of which are journaled in fbosses 33, formed on the pistons 29 near their outer ends. 'I'hese bosses also serve as the upper bearings for rods 34 spaced about the cylinders I6 and which rods, in turn, alford guides for the pistons as they reciprocate in the cylinders, by virtue of the relationship therewith of the piston bosses 33,

Each of the rods 34 is set in a recess in a shoulder 35 of the hub I5 and each has a coiled spring 36 mounted thereon which bears against the shoulder 35 at one end and the boss 33 at the other, the obvious result being to urge the piston 29 against the track 3| to maintain constant engagement between these elements even at high Speeds.

From the foregoing it is apparent that by rotating the casing i0, the cam track 3| will also be rotated and the lobes thereof will move successively into position to actuate Successive pistons and as a low point of the cam function to extend a piston, a quantity of fluid is drawn into the cylinder through the intake tube 2| and check valve 25, to be exhausted through the check valve 28 and exhaust tube 22 as the piston rides upon a. high point of the cam. and so on. to produce a continuous discharge of fluid.

In Figures 3 and 4 is shown a slightly modied form of the invention. This form dispenses with springs for maintaining operative engagement between the pistons and track, as will be explained presently.

A casing isformed byv a ring 31, to which is aixed side plates 38 and between the plates and ring are 4disposed gaskets 35 to `obviate leakage of the small quantity of lubricant maintained in the casing in some cases.

A cam track 40 is arranged in the casing and While this track may form a part separate from the ring 31, tol be bolted orotherwise secured thereto, it is shown as forming an integral part of the ring and is of T-shape in transverse section for the purpose to be presently explained.

The cylinder assembly consists of the cylinders 4| machined from a single piece of stock, which side to the other of the track, an orifice a is pro vided in the track at some point about its circumference.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable ofsome modification and such modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention. l

What is claimed is:

1. In an air compressor, a hollow stationary hub having an intake and an exhaust chamber uprights supporting said hub against rotation, a plurality of cylinders stationary with and grouped radially about said hub, each being in communication with the chambers of said hub. check valves in control of said communications, a piston in each of said cylinders having a bifurcated head, opposed bosses on the head of said piston, a shaft having its ends journaled in said bosses, spring loaded guide rods on opposite sides of said Vshaft at each end thereof, said rods being arranged on the inner periphery of said housing, a roller carried by the shaft on the head of said piston and receivable in the bifurcation thereof, said roller engageable with said track to eifect reciprocation of said piston against the resistance of said springs when said housing'is rotated to cylinder assembly which is held stationary by means of the intake tube and exhaust tube 5|, each of which have flanged ends 52 countersunk in the ends ofthe hub 42. The tubes 50 and 5I are supported in any suitable manner, such as by uprights or standards (not shown) so that the casing 31 may be revolved freely as by a belt,

gears or other suitable means. Ball or other type bearings 53 are provided to reduce friction between the casing andthe tubes 50 and 5| on which The rollers 56 of the pair are disposed one on each side of the web of the track 40 so as to travel on the underside of the track in opposed relationship with the single roller 58, which travels on the inner face of the track. Both surfaces of the track are machined to present a smooth surface over which the rollers may travel and to prevent any possibility of binding. i

It is understood that the track 40, while shown as having three lobes effective to cause three pulsations of each piston in a complete cycle, an elliptical track, effecting two pulsations may be substituted or a track cam having an even greater number of lobes then shown may be employed without further alteration in structural design of the device.

It has been earlier stated that the case I0 of the previously described form of the invention or the case 31 of the modified form may, in some cases,`require that a quantity of light oil be placed therein. To insure passage of this oil from one force passage of 'air through said hub.

2. In a uid moving apparatus, a hollow shaft and hub, the latter having an intake chamber at one end and an exhaust chamber at the other end thereof, means supporting said shaft and hub against rotation, a plurality of cylinders radiating from said hub, check valves in openings effecting communication between said chambers and cylinders, a piston in each of said cylinders having a bifurcated head, lateral bosses formed on said l head, a shaft having its ends journaled in said bosses, a roller on said shaft and operating in the bifurcation of said piston, a circular housing rotatable on said hub and embracing the cylinder and piston assembly, an undulating cam track in said housing againstv which said roller engages, guide rods on each side of each end of said shaft, parallel with each of said cylinders and whcse,upper ends are slidably retained in said bosses and spring means mounted on each of said rods for maintaining engagement of said roller with said track to effect reciprocation of said pistons by the undulations in said track when said housing is rotated. Y

THOMAS A. MARKHAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,000,539 Nauer Aug. 5, 1911 "1,236,863 Oiler Aug. 14, 1917 1,526,343 Jouanneaux Feb. 17, 1925 1,914,141 Lundin June 13, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 29,200 France 19/5 (Addition to No. 564,400)

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