Hydraulic device having an alignment component

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed towards a hydraulic device. The hydraulic device may include a rotor, a plurality of piston members extending from the rotor, and a plurality of piston sleeves receiving the plurality of piston members. Each piston sleeve may have a piston receiving end and a piston sleeve axis. The hydraulic device may further include a plate component supporting the plurality of piston sleeves. The plate component may have a plate component axis. The hydraulic device may also include an alignment component having a plurality of arms spaced in a non-contact relationship with a piston receiving end of a respective piston sleeve when the plate component axis is parallel with the piston sleeve axis of the respective piston sleeve.

1 . A hydraulic device, comprising:
 a rotor;   a plurality of piston members extending from the rotor;   a plurality of piston sleeves receiving the plurality of piston members, each piston sleeve having a piston receiving end and a piston sleeve axis;   a plate component supporting the plurality of piston sleeves, the plate component having a plate component axis; and   an alignment component having a plurality of arms spaced in a non-contact relationship with the piston receiving end of a respective piston sleeve when the plate component axis is parallel with the piston sleeve axis of the respective piston sleeve.   
   
   
       2 . The hydraulic device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of arms form a variable gap with the piston receiving end of the respective piston sleeve, the gap varying as a function of a tilt of the piston sleeve axis relative to the plate component axis. 
   
   
       3 . The hydraulic device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of arms form a rigid stop for the piston receiving end of the respective piston sleeve. 
   
   
       4 . The hydraulic device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of arms form a plurality of openings that receive the piston members. 
   
   
       5 . The hydraulic device of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of arms partially extend over the respective piston sleeve. 
   
   
       6 . The hydraulic device of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment component contacts a radially extending shoulder of the plate component. 
   
   
       7 . The hydraulic device of  claim 6 , wherein an inner circumference of the alignment component forms an interference fit with the radially extending shoulder of the plate component. 
   
   
       8 . The hydraulic device of  claim 7 , further including a mechanism configured to retain the alignment component. 
   
   
       9 . The hydraulic device of  claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic device is a floating-cup device. 
   
   
       10 . A method of assembling a hydraulic device, comprising:
 positioning a plurality of piston sleeves on a plate component;   positioning an alignment component at a fixed distance from a piston receiving end of a respective piston sleeve; and   engaging the alignment component with the plate component solely at the inner circumference of the alignment component.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , further including receiving a plurality of piston members in a plurality of openings disposed within the alignment component to maintain the position of the plurality of piston members within the plurality of piston sleeves. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein engaging the alignment component with the plate component includes frictionally engaging an inner circumference of the alignment component with a groove disposed within a wall of the plate component. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein engaging the alignment component with the plate component further includes retaining the alignment component with a snap ring. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein engaging the alignment component with the plate component includes keying the alignment component to the plate component so that the alignment component rotates with the plate component during operation of the hydraulic device. 
   
   
       15 . A floating-cup device, comprising:
 a housing;   a shaft rotatably disposed within the housing;   a rotor fixedly connected to the shaft;   a plurality of piston members extending from the rotor;   a plurality of piston sleeves receiving the plurality of piston members, each piston sleeve having a piston receiving end;   a plate component supporting the plurality of piston sleeves; and   an alignment component configured to abut against the plate component and provide a variable gap with the piston receiving end of the respective piston sleeve, the gap varying as a function of the alignment of the respective piston sleeve to the plate component.   
   
   
       16 . The floating-cup device of  claim 15 , wherein the alignment component partially extends over the respective piston sleeve. 
   
   
       17 . The floating-cup device of  claim 15 , wherein the alignment component includes a plurality of openings in a circumference of the alignment component for receiving the plurality of piston members. 
   
   
       18 . The floating-cup device of  claim 15 , further including a retaining mechanism configured to constrain axial movement of the alignment component. 
   
   
       19 . The floating-cup device of  claim 15 , wherein the alignment component is positioned between 0.0002 inches to 0.01 inches from the piston receiving end of the respective piston sleeve when the respective piston sleeve is in alignment with the plate component. 
   
   
       20 . The floating-cup device of  claim 19 , wherein the alignment component is positioned to form a rigid stop for the piston sleeve when an axis of the respective piston sleeve tilts to a predetermined angle relative to an axis of the plate component.