A variable displacement fluid working machine includes an inward ring and an outward ring, one of the inward ring and the outward ring including a rotatable ring cam coupled to a drive shaft, the other including a plurality of radially extending piston cylinders circumferentially spaced around the r
A variable displacement fluid working machine includes an inward ring and an outward ring, one of the inward ring and the outward ring including a rotatable ring cam coupled to a drive shaft, the other including a plurality of radially extending piston cylinders circumferentially spaced around the respective ring. The outward ring has first and second axially spaced structural members and a plurality of demountable blocks demountably retainable therebetween, the demountable blocks having either piston cylinders or ring cam segments. The demountable blocks are removable radially to facilitate maintenance and repair and to facilitate radial access to the inward ring.
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1. A variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine, the fluid working machine comprising: an inward ring and an outward ring around the inward ring;one of the inward ring and the outward ring comprising a rotatable ring cam, the other comprising a plurality of radially extending cylinder
1. A variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine, the fluid working machine comprising: an inward ring and an outward ring around the inward ring;one of the inward ring and the outward ring comprising a rotatable ring cam, the other comprising a plurality of radially extending cylinders circumferentially spaced around the respective ring, each cylinder having a piston reciprocably mounted therein;a drive shaft coupled to the ring cam;the outward ring comprising first and second axially spaced structural members and a plurality of demountable blocks demountably retainable therebetween, each of the plurality of demountable blocks comprising either more than one of said plurality of cylinders or a segment of the ring cam respectively, each said block being mountable to locate one or more said cylinders in opposing relation to a portion of the ring cam to enable the pistons to be driven by the ring cam and demountable to expose the inward ring for access. 2. A variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the demountable blocks are individually demountable. 3. A variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the demountable blocks are demountable by radially outwards motion. 4. A variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine according to claim 1, wherein at least some cylinders or the segment of the ring cam of a demountable block are mounted to the body of the demountable block and not directly mounted to the first or second axially spaced structural elements. 5. A variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein demountable blocks demountably retained between the first and second axially spaced structural elements resist forces between the first and second axially spaced structural members. 6. A variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the first and second axially spaced structural elements comprises or is attached to a coupling for coupling the fluid working machine to a support through said one of the first and second axially spaced structural elements. 7. A variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second axially spaced structural elements are independently mounted on bearings. 8. A variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine according to claim 1, wherein the drive shaft extends through at least one of the axially spaced structural elements. 9. A variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine according to claim 1, wherein the first and second axially spaced structural elements and the demountable blocks comprise cooperating formations for bolting the demountable blocks to each of the first and second axially spaced structural elements both axially and radially. 10. A variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine according to claim 1, wherein the first and second axially spaced structural elements each comprise one or more shoulders having a radially outward surface for engaging with the demountable blocks, the demountable blocks having cooperating radially inward surfaces. 11. A variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine according to claim 1, wherein the demountable blocks are cylinder blocks, comprising one or more said cylinders, and the inward ring comprises a ring cam. 12. A variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine according to claim 11, wherein the ring cam comprises a plurality of ring cam segments which are individually removable in a radially outward direction between the first and second axially spaced structural elements when the or each cylinder block which would otherwise overlay the respective ring cam segment is demounted. 13. A variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine according to claim 12, wherein the ring cam comprises a side plate on one or both sides thereof, each said side plate having an inner surface adjacent the cam surface, the ring cam further comprising an abutment extending across a part of the inner surface of each said side plate. 14. A variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine according to claim 13, wherein each said abutment comprises or consists of resilient or low friction material. 15. A variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine according to claim 12, wherein the ring cam comprises a side plate on one or both sides thereof, the or each side plate comprising a plurality of side plate segments. 16. A variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine according to claim 15, wherein each said side plate segment are angularly offset from said ring cam segments, and each side plate overlaps two or more segments of the assembled ring cam. 17. A variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine according to claim 15, wherein each said ring cam segment is secured to one or more side plate segments. 18. A variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine according to claim 17, wherein each said ring cam segment and one or more side plate segments secured thereto, are removable as a unit in a radially outward direction. 19. A variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the axially spaced structural elements comprises one or more ports for receiving working fluid, and wherein each said cylinder block includes at least one cooperating port for expelling working fluid, either or both said ports including a seal, wherein said ports and the or each seal are located on radially inward or outward facing surfaces. 20. A variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of manifolds and a plurality of valves, each of which is operable to regulate the flow of fluid between a working chamber and a manifold. 21. A variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine according to claim 20, comprising a controller and at least one valve associated with each working chamber may be an actively controllable valve, controllable by the controller in phased relationship with cycles of working chamber volume to select the net displacement of working fluid by each working chamber on a cycle by cycle basis. 22. A kit of parts which can be assembled to form a variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine according to claim 1. 23. A turbine assembly comprising a variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine according to claim 1 and a turbine comprising a plurality of blades mounted to the drive shaft to transmit torque to the ring cam as the blades rotate. 24. A method of maintaining a turbine assembly according to claim 23, comprising removing a demountable block and carrying out one or more of (a) maintaining the demountable block and remounting the maintained demountable block, (b) mounting a replacement demountable block in place of the demounted block, and (c) maintaining a portion of the inner ring through the space left by the demounted block. 25. A method of maintaining a variable displacement machine according to claim 1, comprising removing a demountable block and carrying out one or more of (a) maintaining the demountable block and remounting the maintained demountable block, (b) mounting a replacement demountable block in place of the demounted block, and (c) maintaining a portion of the inner ring through the space left by the demounted block. 26. A method according to claim 25, wherein maintaining a portion of the inner ring through the space left by the demounted block comprises removing a portion of the inner ring. 27. A variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine according to claim 1, wherein the demountable blocks comprise a segment of the ring cam, and the inward ring comprises cylinder blocks including one or more said cylinders. 28. A variable displacement radial piston fluid working machine chassis, the chassis comprising: an inward ring and an outward ring around the inward ring;one of the inward ring and the outward ring comprising a rotatable ring cam retaining formation, the other comprising a plurality of mountings for retaining radially extending cylinders circumferentially spaced around the respective ring;a coupling to couple the ring cam retaining formation to a drive shaft;the outward ring comprising first and second axially spaced structural members for demountably retaining a plurality of demountable blocks comprising either more than one of said plurality of cylinders or a segment of the ring cam respectively to locate one or more said cylinders in opposing relation to a portion of the ring cam to enable pistons slidably mounted within the cylinders to be driven by the ring cam.
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