John Isaac Haas

US Patent:

63223414, Nov 27, 2001

Filed:

Nov 12, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/438933

Inventors:

John R. Haas - Houston TX

Assignee:

Johnson Engineering Corp. - Webster TX

International Classification:

F03C 200

US Classification:

418249

Abstract:

A hydraulic rotary actuator assembly includes a rotatable drive assembly disposed about and rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the actuator and a stator assembly disposed about the rotatable drive assembly. The rotatable drive assembly includes an output shaft having a coupling end for rotatably engaging a workpiece, and a rotor disposed concentrically about the longitudinal axis and rotatable to drive rotation of the output shaft. The rotor has an outside radial surface that includes at least one radially protruding flange or rotor vane. The stator assembly is disposed concentrically about and generally radially spaced from the rotor and has at least one radially movable stator vane that is sealingly engageable with the outside radial surface of the rotor. Sealing engagement between the stator vane and the outside concentric surface forms at least a first pressure cavity and a second pressure cavity, such that first and second pressure cavities are sealingly bounded by at least the rotor vane the and stator vane. Further, a fluid pressure system is provided in fluid communication with the first and second pressure cavities to produce a differential pressure acting on one side of the rotor vane, thereby rotatably moving the output shaft assembly.