Power transmission

Abstract

A rotary fluid energy translating device of the sliding vane type useful as a pump or motor comprising a pressure contained vane unit assembly adapted to be submerged in a body of liquid. The pressure contained vane unit assembly comprises a pair of support plates, a cam ring interposed between the support plates, a rotor rotatably mounted in the cam ring and having a plurality of circumferentially extending vanes adapted to engage the contour of the cam ring and a flexible plate interposed between the cam ring and each of the support plates. Each support plate includes a hub portion spaced from its respective flexible plate. The assembly is clamped together with a clamping force in excess of the hydrostatic forces within the assembly. One of the support plates has an axial opening for insertion of a drive shaft into driving connection with the rotor and the other of the support plates has an axial liquid passage. Each support plate includes radial liquid passages defined by a groove at the juncture with its associated flexible plate. When used as a pump, the assembly is submerged in a liquid and the rotor is deiven to provide a pump, the radial passages provide inlet passages and the axial passage provides an outlet. The pressure contained vane unit assembly can also be used as a hydraulic motor by utilizing the axial passage as an inlet from a pressurized source such that the radial passages function as outlets for the fluid after its energy has been dissipated by rotating the rotor and vanes.