US3776332A

US3776332A - Hydraulic speed checker and cooling means

Info

Publication number: US3776332A
Application number: US00185007A
Authority: US
Inventors: Assignies J D
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-09-30
Filing date: 1971-09-30
Publication date: 1973-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 1990-12-04

Abstract

A hydraulic turbo speed checker for use for example on a drive shaft of a road vehicle, comprising a bladed rotor rotatable within a bladed stator carried within a sealed casing connected to an adjacent sealed radiator unit. The radiator unit has an aperture therethrough to accommodate a shaft on which the rotor is mounted, said shaft projecting on either side of the checker for attachment to the drive shaft. The spaces between the blades of the stator lead to a manifold connected to the top of the radiator above the level of oil therein whilst the bottom of the radiator is connected to a central section adjacent the rotor shaft and upstream of the stator.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 [1 1 3,776,332 DAssignies 1 Dec. 4, 1973 HYDRAULIC SPEED CHECKER AND COOLING MEANS Inventor: Jean DAssignies, Chateau des Astiers, Saint Heand (Lorie), France Filed: Sept. 30, 1971 Appl. No.: 185,007

US. Cl. 188/290, 60/337, 188/264 F,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1968 Smith l88/290X 10/1963 Smith 188/290 X Primary Examiner-George E. A. Halvosa Att0rneySughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn & Macpeak 5 7 ABSTRACT A hydraulic turbo speed checker for use for example on a drive shaft of a road vehicle, comprising a bladed rotor rotatable within a bladed stator carried within a sealed casing connected to an adjacent sealed radiator unit. The radiator unit has an aperture therethrough to accommodate a shaft on which the rotor is mounted, said shaft projecting on either side of the checker for attachment to the drive shaft. The spaces between the blades of the stator lead to a manifold connected to the top of the radiator above the level of oil therein whilst the bottom of the radiator is connected to a central section adjacent the rotor shaft and upstream of the stator.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEUUEC 41925 3.776,; 332

sum 2 OF 3 PATENTEDDEC 41915 37763332 SHEET 3n; 3 w

HYDRAULIC SPEED CHECKER AND COOLING MEANS The present invention relates to a speed-checker device intended to be fitted, for example, to a road vehicle.

It is known to mount on the transmission shaft of a lorry or car, a speed-checker device intended to complete the action of the brakes during the period in which the vehicle slows down, and even to constitute a safety speed checker in case the brakes fail.

A type of speed-checker currently used is electrically operated. It comprises a rotor, the braking of which is effected by eddy-currents. This type of device hasvarious drawbacks. Firstly, since it absorbsalternating current, it is necessary, in particular, to mount an alternator on the vehicle. Moreover, supplementary accumulator batteries must be provided to provide a: greater capacity. Finally, the speed-checker is dependent on the good operation of the electrical circuitry on the vehicle.

To avoid these drawbacks, certain engineers have proposed to use a turbo speed checker, ie. a device where the slowing down effect is obtained by oil circulating in a closed circuit. However, turbo speedcheckers known at present have serious drawbacks. Firstly, since the braking of the vehicles causes the oil to be heated, it is necessary to pass the latter through a cooling radiator. Due to the weight andconsiderable size of the known turbo speed-checkers the radiator must placed at a point on the vehicle which is relatively distant from the speed. checker: pipe-work musttherefore be provided, often of great length, which connect the turbo speed-checker. proper to its reservoir.

In another connection, when the vehicle is moved without desiring to cause the turbo speed-checker to operate, cooling of the latter is ensured by air circulating in open circuit: i.e., atmospheric air is drawn into the device, is caused to circulate in the device and then is exhaustedto the outside through a snifting valve. On the onehand, this doesnot comply with the regulation for it contributes to the pollution of the atmosphere. On the other hand, despite the presence of a snifting valve at the outlet, the oil consumption rises and it is necessary to check constantly the oil level of thedevice and to refill it, if necessary.

An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate these drawbacks by providing a newtype of turbo speed checker which is self-contained, has fluidtight circuits when closed, and is relatively light and small sized.

A hydraulic turbo speed-checker according to the invention, for use on a rotary shaft, comprises a rotor having rotary centrifugal blades opposite to a peripheral ring of fixed blades on the interior of a stator, and is characterised in that the spaces between the fixed blades of stator are connected with a common annular manifold which is connected by an upperpiping to an upper section of a fluid-tight radiator, this piping emerging in the radiator above a predetermined oil level whereas the lower section of the radiator is connectedby another piping at a. central section upstream of the stator, through which central section a rotary shaft of the rotor passes, so that a fan disposed adjacent the radiator is fixeddirectly onto the shaft of the rotor, the arrangement of the device thus constituting a onepiece and self-contained unit.

Preferably, the oil radiator has a. central aperture through which passes the corresponding end of the shaft of the rotor so that this shaft projects at each end beyond the self-contained unit constituted by the whole turbo speed-checker, which makes it possible for this unit to beinserted into a transmission shaft or between any two rotary assemblies.

Preferably also, a stop valve is disposed immediately upstream of an inlet at the centrifugal rotor, said stop valve being movable between a position in which it bears against a fixed seat of an annular, stator valve and a position in which it is spaced from this seat to allow cooledoil from the radiator to pass through the inlet to theblades of the rotor.

There may also be provided'a fork with a tort movement for controlling the moving part of this valve, said fork being integral with a slidably fluid-tight rod which constitutes a slide of a valve capable of interrupting or establishing connection between two portions of an air pipingwhich is connected on the one hand to the upper chamber of the radiator, above the predetermined oillevel, and on the other hand to a pipe connected di rectly on the inlet to the blades of the rotor.

If the turbo speed-checker is mounted on an automobile vehicle, the rod forming the slide of the valve is preferably connected to the accelerator pedal of the vehicle, so that during acceleration air circulation is established in closed circuit before interrupting the oil circulation, whereas in the case of decelleration, the air circulation is interrupted before establishing oil circulation in closed' circuit.

The fan. can be disposed, either between the stator and the radiator, or outside against the radiator.

An embodiment of the present invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hydraulic turbo speed checker according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 shows diagrammatically the installation of the hydraulic turbo speed checker of FIG. 1 on the transmission shaftof a. lorry,

FIG. 3is a sectional view along the line Ill III of FIG. 1 showing the speed checker in a slowing down position; and

FIG. 4 is a similar sectional view in an inoperative position, ie., in a cooling position.

The hydraulic turbo speed checker shown in the drawing is-inthe form of a self-contained arrangement, as shown on FIGS. 1 and 2. This arrangement comprises a fixed completely fluid tight gear case 1, and a radiator 2alsofixed and fluid tight. These two cases are connected by an upper piping 3and a lower piping 4. Betweenthese, a free space 5 is provided where a cool ing fan6 is lodged. This fan 6 is fixed onto arotary shaft 7 whichat the same time passes right through the fixed gear case 1 and the radiator 2. At its ends, the rotary shaft 7 is terminated by flanges 8 and 9, which make it possible to insert the speed checker for example, on a transmission shaft 10 of a vehicle, such as a lorry or a bus (FIG. 2).

In particular, the radiator 2 is provided with a centeral aperture 11 through which the rotary shaft 7 passes.

The radiator 2 is provided with a filler plug 12 which is fluid tight when closed and which is used to fill the device with oil, the oil seeking a fixed level ,13 shown on .FIGS. 3 and 4 by the reference 13.

As an alternative, the fan could be disposed on the outside of the speed checker, against the radiator 2.

The gear-case 1 is formed by three members, namely:

a body or case 14 which defines an inner wall 15 of a cylinder of revolution, from which radial fixed blades 16 extend inwardly;

a cover 17 which laterally closes the body 14;

a partitioning distributor 18, made for example, from pressed plate the periphery 18aof which being lodged between the body 14 and cover 17.

Thus, to assemble the gear case 1, it is sufficient to make a peripheral welded bead 19 which ensured that the

members

14, 17 and 18 are integral with each other.

On the rotary shaft which is to be slowed down, a rotor 20 of a centrifugal pump of a type known per se, is fixed. This rotor is equipped with vanes 21 each of which have the peculiarity of being extended at their periphery, by a blade 22, extending parallel to the axis of the shaft 7, and placed adjacent to the fixed blades 16.

The vanes 21 each have a concave profile known in itself, and are open up-stream near the cover 17, in the immediate vicinity of the shaft 7, and downstream at the level of the blades 22.

A central section 18b of the distributor 18 avoids the profile of vanes 21, with a clearance 23 as small as possible.

Thus, the interior of the stator 1 is divided into two chambers, namely:

an oil admission chamber 24 which is permanently connected to the bottom section of the radiator 2 through the intermediary of the distributor 18 and

passages

25 and 26;

a centrifugal chamber 27 within which revolves the

rotor

20, 21, 22.

The interstices between the fixed blades 16 are connected by at least one lateral aperture 28 to a fixed manifold 29, which is connected via a passage 30 to the piping 3 which emerges in the upper section of the radiator 2, i.e., in a chamber 31 containing air and defined above oil level 13.

Furthermore, this air chamber 31 is connected permanently to a piping 32 in the path of which a sliding spool-valve 33 of a distributor is inserted. This spoolvalve 33 comprises a groove 34 which allows circulation of air between the two parts of the piping 32, upstream and downstream of the spool valve 33, when the latter is in the position of FIG. 4. On the contrary, if the spool-valve 33 occupies the position of FIG. 3, i.e., if

the groove 34 is shifted with respect to the piping 32, the latter is cut off and the air circulation interrupted.

A fixed annular fluid-tight seat 35 (FIG. 3) is provided on the concave section 18b of the fixed distributor 18 located about the aperture upstream from the rotor 20, 21. A sliding part of a stop-valve 36 may bear against this seat 35. The front of this valve has a support face in the shape of a truncated cone which rests on the seat 35 whenthe arrangement is in the closed position (FIG. 4).

The piping 32 emerges through a fixed aperture 42 at the contre by fixed hub 43 which carries the sliding valve 36, i.e., the aperture 42 is open permanently on the inlet side of the rotor 20, 21 is admitted.

The back of the sliding valve 36 bears against the cover 17 through the intermediary of a resilient adjustment washer 37. The resilient washer 37 tends to keep the sliding valve 36 in the closed position, i.e., bearing against the seat 35 (FIG. 4).

To open the valve 36, it is therefore necessary to push it back whilst compressing the resilient washer 37. For this purpose, an annular groove 38 is provided on the periphery of the sliding valve 36, in which the two pins of a selector fork 39 are engaged in the normal mannerv However, the assembly has a peculiarity; the fork 39 is mounted with considerable axial play 40. This fork 39 is integral with the inner end of a rod forming the sliding spool valve 33. The sliding is carried out against a compression spring 41 (FIG. 4) which tends to urge the spool-valve 33 into the position shown in FIG. 4, i.e., that in which the groove 34 establishes connection between the two portions of the piping 32, whereas the fork 39 releases the sliding valve 36 which is urged to bear against the fixed seat 35 by the action of the resilient washer 37.

Finally, the exterior section of the sliding slide-valve 33 is connected preferably by a system of rods not shown, to the accelerator pedal of the lorry or bus.

The operation is as follows:

' In the normal operative position of the vehicle, i.e., when it is not desired to slow down rotation of the shaft 7, the sliding valve 33 occupies the position shown in FIG. 4, i.e., the valve 36 cuts off the oil circulation by preventing cell connection between the

chambers

24 and 27, whereas, on the contrary, air circulation is effected freely, in particular in piping 32. Under these conditions, the centrifugal rotor 20, 21, draws in air through the aperture 42 and forces it between the fixed blades 16, with no noticeable braking effect, from whence this air passes through the aperture 28 and the

pipings

29, 30 and 3 as far as the air chamber 31 of the radiator 2. Air is drawn from this chamber by the piping 32 in order to return it to the inlet aperture 42 of the rotor. Thus, when the automobile vehicle runs normally, the interior of the speed checker is cooled by this air circulation brought about in closed circuit. It will be noted that there is not a single vent-valve, i.e., the operation of the speed checker in no way pollutes the surrounding atmosphere, as there is no risk that oil will be lost.

When the vehicle slows down, and it is desired to check the rotation of the shaft 7, the spool-valve 33 is caused to slide in the direction indicated in FIG. 3 by the arrow 43. When this happens, the groove 34 is first shifted which cuts off the piping 32, so that the air circulation is interrupted, On this occasion, the fork 39 is displaced to the back, but owing to the considerable axial play 40, it can be displaced for a certain time without driving the valve 36 which remains closed on its seat 35. At the end of the travel, i.e., when the air circulation has already been interrupted, the fork 39 strikes the back of the groove 38 (FIG. 3) and drives the valve 36 which is opened by compressing the washer 37. Thereafter, connection is established between the two

oil chambers

24 and 27. The oil drawn by the rotor 20 into the chamber 24 is forced between the blades 22 and the fixed blades 16, which gives rise to an extremely large braking effect on the shaft 7. This braking causes the oil to be heated which is forced through the aperture 28 and pipings 30, then as far as the upper chamber 31 of the radiator 2. The oil then descends progressively through the radiator 2 where it is cooled, then it reaches the return pipe 4, from whence it returns via the

pipings

25 and 26 to the chamber 24 which directs it through a new cycle.

Here again it will be noted that the oil circulation take place within an absolutely closed circuit without releasing any fumes or vapour to the outside.

What is claimed is:

l. A hydraulic turbo-speed checker comprising a fixed fluid type housing having a centrifugal chamber, a rotor disposed in said centrifugal chamber and having a shaft extending through said housing and a plurality of radially outwardly directed vanes secured to said shaft which each of said vanes having an axially extending blade portion integral with the outer end of each vane, said housing having a plurality of radially inwardly directed blades disposed adjacent said axially extending blades, manifold means in said housing adjacent said blades and disposed in fluid communication with the space between said blades, fixed fluid type radiator means surrounding said shaft in spaced axial relation to said housing, fan means secured to said shaft intermediate said housing and said radiator means, first passage means connecting said manifold means to the upper portion of said radiator means at a point above the normal hydraulic fluid level in said radiator means, second passage means connecting said radiator means at a point below said level to said centrifugal chamber adjacent the root end of said vanes, first valve means controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid through said second passage means, third passage means connecting said upper portion of said radiator means to said centrifugal chamber adjacent the root end of said vanes and second valve means controlling the flow of air through said third passage means, said first valve means comprises an annular hub secured to said housing and surrounding said shaft adjacent said vanes, a portion of said housing spaced radially outwardly from said hub adjacent the root end of said vanes and an annular valve member slidably mounted on said hub for movement into and out of engagement with said portion of said housing.

2. A hydraulic turbo-speed checker as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second valve means is comprised of a spool valve extending through said housing and intersecting said third passage means and shift means secured to the end of said spool valve within said housing for shifting said valve member of said said second valve means.

3. A hydraulic turbo-speed checker as set forth in claim 2 wherein said valve member is provided with an annular groove and said shifting means is comprised of a fork extending into said annular groove with axial play therein, first spring means normally biasing said first valve means to the closed position and second spring means normally biasing said second valve means to said open position.

4. A hydraulic turbo-speed checker as set forth in claim 3 wherein said third passage means includes a bore extending through said hub and having an aperture disposed adjacent the wood portion of said vanes.

Claims

1. A hydraulic turbo-speed checker comprising a fixed fluid type housing having a centrifugal chamber, a rotor disposed in said centrifugal chamber and having a shaft extending through said housing and a plurality of radially outwardly directed vanes secured to said shaft which each of said vanes having an axially extending blade portion integral with the outer end of each vane, said housing having a plurality of radially inwardly directed blades disposed adjacent said axially extending blades, manifold means in said housing adjacent said blades and disposed in fluid communication with the space between said blades, fixed fluid type radiator means surrounding said shaft in spaced axial relation to said housing, fan means secured to said shaft intermediate said housing and said radiator means, first passage means connecting said manifold means to the upper portion of said radiator means at a point above the normal hydraulic fluid level in said radiator means, second passage means connecting said radiator means at a point below said level to said centriFugal chamber adjacent the root end of said vanes, first valve means controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid through said second passage means, third passage means connecting said upper portion of said radiator means to said centrifugal chamber adjacent the root end of said vanes and second valve means controlling the flow of air through said third passage means, said first valve means comprises an annular hub secured to said housing and surrounding said shaft adjacent said vanes, a portion of said housing spaced radially outwardly from said hub adjacent the root end of said vanes and an annular valve member slidably mounted on said hub for movement into and out of engagement with said portion of said housing.