Abstract:
A fluid-working machine has a plurality of working chambers, e.g. cylinders ( 11 ), of cyclically changing volume, a high-pressure fluid manifold ( 14 ) and a low-pressure fluid manifold ( 16 ), at least one valve ( 13, 15 ) linking each working chamber to each manifold, and electronic sequencing means ( 20 ) for operating said valves in timed relationship with the changing volume of each chamber ( 11 ), wherein the electronic sequencing means is arranged to operate the valves of each chamber in one of an idling mode, a partial mode in which only part of the usable volume of the chamber is used, and a full mode in which all of the usable volume of the chamber ( 11 ) is used, and the electronic sequencing means ( 20 ) is arranged to select the mode of each chamber on successive cycles so as to infinitely vary the time averaged effective flow rate of fluid through the machine.
Abstract:
A pump drive assembly (10) including a driver (18), a pump drive member (36) driven by the driver (18), and a decoupler (20a) that decouples the drive member (36) from the driver (18) when a force acting upon the drive member (36) exceeds a threshold force. The pump drive member (36) can be a piston rod (36), and the decoupler (20a) can be a magnet (20a) attached to the piston rod (36) and coupled to a magnetically attracted plate (22) driven by the driver (18). When a force resisting movement of the piston rod (36) exceeds the magnetic force coupling the magnet (20a) to the plate (24), the magnet (20a) decouples from the plate (24), and the pumping operation ceases.
Abstract:
A pump drive assembly (10) including a driver (18), a pump drive member (36) driven by the driver (18), and a decoupler (20a) that decouples the drive member (36) from the driver (18) when a force acting upon the drive member (36) exceeds a threshold force. The pump drive member (36) can be a piston rod (36), and the decoupler (20a) can be a magnet (20a) attached to the piston rod (36) and coupled to a magnetically attracted plate (22) driven by the driver (18). When a force resisting movement of the piston rod (36) exceeds the magnetic force coupling the magnet (20a) to the plate (24), the magnet (20a) decouples from the plate (24), and the pumping operation ceases.
Abstract:
A fluid-working machine has a plurality of working chambers, e.g. cylinders ( 11 ), of cyclically changing volume, a high-pressure fluid manifold ( 14 ) and a low-pressure fluid manifold ( 16 ), at least one valve ( 13, 15 ) linking each working chamber to each manifold, and electronic sequencing means ( 20 ) for operating said valves in timed relationship with the changing volume of each chamber ( 11 ), wherein the electronic sequencing means is arranged to operate the valves of each chamber in one of an idling mode, a partial mode in which only part of the usable volume of the chamber is used, and a full mode in which all of the usable volume of the chamber ( 11 ) is used, and the electronic sequencing means ( 20 ) is arranged to select the mode of each chamber on successive cycles so as to infinitely vary the time averaged effective flow rate of fluid through the machine.