Modular fluid powered linear piston motors with harmonic coupling
View Patent ↗A modular motor is disclosed that includes a piston/harmonic drive assembly that is axially cycled. The piston/harmonic drive assembly is coupled to a ball transfer arrangement that converts the axial motion into rotary motion to rotate a rotor that can be used to rotate a drill bit.
1. A motor, comprising:
a housing;
a piston/harmonic drive assembly disposed within the housing
a rotor assembly, wherein the piston/harmonic drive assembly comprises a piston and a harmonic drive;
a liner disposed between the piston/harmonic drive assembly and the rotor; and
a valve assembly fluidly coupled to the housing;
wherein fluid provided from the rotor assembly to the valve assembly axially drives the piston/harmonic drive assembly over the liner; and
wherein axially driving the piston/harmonic drive assembly over the liner imparts rotation to the rotor assembly.
2. The motor of claim 1 , further comprising:
a ball transfer arrangement that converts axial motion of the piston/harmonic drive assembly into rotary motion.
3. The motor of claim 2 , wherein the ball transfer arrangement comprises:
one or more ball transfers within the housing.
4. The motor of claim 1 , wherein the piston is disposed between the harmonic drive and the valve assembly.
5. The motor of claim 1 , wherein the harmonic drive is disposed between the piston and the valve assembly.
6. The motor of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second valve assembly fluidly coupled to an opposite side of the piston;
wherein fluid provided from the rotor assembly to the second valve assembly axially drives the piston/harmonic drive assembly over the liner in an opposite axial direction; and
wherein axially driving the piston/harmonic drive assembly over the liner in the opposite axial direction imparts rotation to the rotor assembly.
7. A drilling assembly, comprising:
a drill assembly housing;
a fluid driven motor assembly disposed within the drill assembly housing; and
a drill bit attached to and rotationally driven by the fluid driven motor assembly;
wherein the fluid driven motor assembly comprises one or more fluid driven motors comprising:
a housing;
a piston/harmonic drive assembly disposed within the housing
a rotor assembly, wherein the piston/harmonic drive assembly comprises a piston and a harmonic drive;
a liner disposed between the piston/harmonic drive assembly and the rotor; and
a valve assembly fluidly coupled to the housing;
wherein fluid provided from the rotor assembly to the valve assembly axially drives the piston/harmonic drive assembly over the liner; and
wherein axially driving the piston/harmonic drive assembly over the liner imparts rotation to the rotor assembly.
8. The drilling assembly of claim 7 , wherein the fluid motor further comprises:
a ball transfer arrangement that converts axial motion of the piston/harmonic drive assembly into rotary motion.
9. The drilling assembly of claim 8 , wherein the ball transfer arrangement comprises:
one or more ball transfers within the housing.
10. The drilling assembly of claim 7 , wherein the piston is disposed between the harmonic drive and the valve assembly.
11. The drilling assembly of claim 7 , wherein the harmonic drive is disposed between the piston and the valve assembly.
12. The drilling assembly of claim 7 , wherein the fluid driven motor comprises two or more fluid driven motors.
13. The drilling assembly of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the fluid motor further comprises:
a second valve assembly fluidly coupled to an opposite side of the piston;
wherein fluid provided from the rotor assembly to the second valve assembly axially drives the piston/harmonic drive assembly over the liner in an opposite axial direction; and
wherein axially driving the piston/harmonic drive assembly over the liner in the opposite axial direction imparts rotation to the rotor assembly.
14. A method of powering a motor, comprising:
providing pressured fluid to a valve assembly of the motor;
porting the pressured fluid to a piston/harmonic drive assembly disposed around a rotor assembly at an initial position to drive the piston/harmonic drive assembly in a first axial direction in the housing;
rotating the rotor assembly by converting force from the axial movement into rotational force by axially driving the piston/harmonic drive assembly over a liner to impart rotation to the rotor assembly.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the force is transferred by a ball transfer arrangement disposed within the motor.
16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
providing pressurized fluid to a second valve assembly to axially drive the piston/harmonic drive assembly in an opposite axial direction.
17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising passing the pressuring fluid over a harmonic drive portion of the piston/harmonic drive assembly.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the rotor is coupled to a drill bit to rotate the drill bit.
19. A method of powering a motor assembly, comprising:
providing pressurized fluid to one or more fluid motor modules;
wherein the one or more fluid motor modules are powered by:
providing pressured fluid to valve assemblies of the one or more fluid motor modules;
porting the pressured fluid to piston/harmonic drive assemblies disposed around a rotor assembly to drive the piston/harmonic drive assemblies in an axial direction; and
rotating the rotor assembly by converting force from the axial movement into rotational force by axially driving the piston/harmonic drive assembly over a liner.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the force is transferred by ball transfer arrangements disposed within the one or more fluid motor modules.