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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Self-powered rotary actuator utilizing rotation-generated centrifugal head

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6847255

A self-powered hydraulic rotary actuator is described comprising: a housing; means mounting the housing for rotation about an axis; a fluid chamber within the housing; a rotary vane mounted in the fluid chamber for rotation therein about the axis and dividing the fluid chamber into variable volume compartments, with the volume of each compartment determined by the relative angular position of the rotary vane with respect to the housing; a first actuator element coupled to the vane to be moved thereby and including means for coupling the vane to a first load; a second actuator element coupled to the housing to be moved thereby and including means for coupling the housing to a second load; first and second inlets respectively for the first and second compartments; first and second outlets respectively for the first and second compartments; and means including at least one fluid flow control device connecting the first inlet to the second outlet and the second inlet to the first outlet; whereby fluid in the compartments will develop a pressure head through centrifugal force to power the actuators when the housing is rotated about the axis.

Assignee:
Sundstrand Corp., Rockford, IL
Patent Number(s):
US 4759186
OSTI ID:
6847255
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English