AU2004325554B2

AU2004325554B2 - High torque dual chamber turbine rotor for hand held or spindle mounted pneumatic tool

Info

Publication number: AU2004325554B2
Application number: AU2004325554A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Kemma S. Dodds
Original assignee: Air Turbine Technology Inc
Current assignee: Air Turbine Technology Inc
Priority date: 2004-12-08
Filing date: 2004-12-08
Publication date: 2009-03-05
Anticipated expiration: 2024-12-08
Also published as: EP1825104A4; CN101035965A; CN101035965B; JP4804476B2; ES2655506T3; JP2008522847A; AU2004325554A1; KR100979735B1; EP1825104B1; MX2007006907A; WO2006062522A1; CA2589985C; EP1825104A1; CA2589985A1; KR20070095886A

Description

1 HIGH TORQUE DUAL CHAMBER TURBINE ROTOR FOR HAND HELD OR SPINDLE MOUNTED PNEUMATIC TOOL TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a pneumatically powered, hand held or spindle-mounted lightweight tool suitable for grinding and polishing and, more particularly, to a turbine rotor for a lightweight, grinding tool driven by an air-powered reaction turbine. The turbine rotor creates high torque for a drive shaft without a significant increase in size or weight of the grinding tool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the prior art, light-weight pneumatic tools have been used for a variety of functions, such as grinding, polishing, metal or plastic finishing, engraving, drilling, and deburring. The tool variations include hand-held and machine spindle-mounted embodiments. Hand-held, tools often include a narrow cylindrical exterior housing that includes a handle portion enclosing the rotor and a drive shaft that is held much like a pencil or pen. Lightweight pneumatic grinding tools can be hand held for longer periods of time than a comparable electric motor tool which is much heavier without harm to the user.

Prior art pneumatically-powered tools utilize either a vane-type fluid motor or a reactive rotor. The present invention does not employ a vane-type motor but utilizes a reactive rotor. The reactive rotor expels high pressure, high velocity air tangentially from the rotor peripherally to obtain torque. The rotor is coupled to the primary drive shaft therein.

U.S. Patent No. 5,566,770 which has a common assignee with the present invention, provides an angled spindle that is relatively lightweight driven by a single chamber rotor. U.S.

Patent No. 4,776,752, which also has a common assignee with the N:\Sydney\Cases\Patent\73000-73 77339999P73944Specification 2008-12-8.doc -2 O present invention, teaches a single chamber turbine rotor that is relatively lightweight and Sincludes a high-speed governor.

Although the torque provided in current turbine rotors is adequate for grinding and polishing tools that are lightweight and compact, higher torque in some applications of grinding and polishing is desirable. However, enlarging the tool rotor (and therefore the housing) to t increase torque could greatly increase the weight, size and volume of the tool housing and Stherefore reduce the hand-held, lightweight advantages of the tool.

Embodiments of the present invention may increase the torque of a rotor driven pneumatic tool significantly without concomitant increases in weight, size or complexity of operation or manufacture of the tool. In fact, an increase in torque becomes possible with a decrease in diameter of the tool. For example, where a rotor approximately one inch in diameter would provide approximately 0.2 horsepower at 50,000 revolutions per minute with the present invention a rotor of only 3/4 inch in diameter provides approximately 0.3 horsepower at 50,000 RPMs. In addition to an increase in power, the present invention provides for a slimmer tool profile. Moreover, embodiments of the present invention may also reduce the pressure that is necessary to idle the rotor in comparison to a single rotor of comparable size and material from three cubic feet per minute for the one inch single rotor to two cubic feet per minute for a 3/4 inch dual rotor.

In one embodiment, the present invention uses a rotor comprising a single, compact body having dual, high pressure air receiving chambers that share a common wall, to reduce size and weight for increased torque. Both rotor body chambers have tangential exhaust nozzles that generate torque to rotate the rotor. In another embodiment, the present invention may also include dual automatic speed governors without additional complexity.

A lightweight tool is also desirable in a spindle mount since the tool is supported on a moveable arm.

N:\SydneyCases\Patent\7300-739P73944AU\Specis73944AU Specification 2008-12-8.doc 3 BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect, the present invention provides a high torque turbine rotor for a hand held or spindle mounted pneumatic tool, comprising: a rotor body having an inlet attachable to a high pressure air source, including: a first annular chamber; a second annular chamber; and a common inner wall, wherein said first annular chamber and said second annular chamber are separated by said common inner wall; said rotor body being cylindrical and including a plurality of tangential peripheral nozzles in fluid communication with said housing first chamber and said housing second chamber for expelling high pressure air to rotate said rotor body; said inner wall including a central bore for receiving an attachment to a drive shaft.

A grinder member for grinding may be affixed to one end of the drive shaft. The opposite end may be attached to a flexible air hose or high-pressure air supply.

In a further embodiment the rotor further comprises an RPW governor in the first and second chamber. The RPW governor may include: a front wall; at least one spiralling wall barrier extending from the outer portion of each annular chamber; a valve o-ring within each annular chamber; an annular perforated barrier within each annular chamber extending outward from the valve o-ring; and a back wall.

The perforated barrier may be integral with the rotor body of the rotor. The front wall and a front interior surface of the inner wall may be grooved for fitting a first perforated barrier, and the back wall and a back interior surface of the inner wall are grooved for fitting a second perforated barrier. The valve o-ring may be resilient rubber.

In one embodiment, the common inner wall comprises: N:\SydneyCases\Patent\7300-73999\P73944AUlSpecs\P73944.AU Specification 2008-12-8.doc 4 one or more additional annular chambers and additional spiralling wall barriers located between the two annular chambers and the two spiralling wall barriers, an additional annular perforated barrier located within each additional annular chamber and located radially outward from an additional valve o-ring, and said additional valve o-ring located radially inward from s the additional annular perforated barrier.

In another embodiment, the inner wall comprises a narrow waist.

The components of the high torque turbine rotor, except for the valve o-ring may be made of plastic.

In a further embodiment, the front wall and the back wall are releasably attached to the inner wall. The front wall and the back wall may be attached by frictional force.

In one embodiment of the high torque turbine rotor, the plurality of tangential peripheral nozzles in communication with the first annular chamber are aligned with the plurality of tangential peripheral nozzles in communication with the second annular chamber.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a rotor body to a high torque turbine rotor, comprising: a rotor body including a central bore, and said rotor body having a cylindrical outer wall and a central inner wall; a front surface, including at least one first annular channel ending in at least one first arcuate channel ending in at least one first circumferential opening; said first annular channel having a first groove for fitting a first perforated barrier and said second annular channel having a second groove for fitting a second perforated barrier, and a back surface, including at least one second annular channel ending in at least one second arcuate channel ending in at least one second circumferential opening.

In a further embodiment, the rotor body comprises: the first perforated barrier; the second perforated barrier; a first valve o-ring located between the first perforated barrier and the central bore; and N:\SydneyCases\Palent\73000- 73999\ 944.A Spes\P73944AU Specification 2008-12-B.doc 5 a second valve o-ring located between the second perforated barrier and the central bore.

In another aspect, the invention provides a hand held pneumatic tool, comprising: a high torque turbine rotor body located circumferentially around a primary shaft, wherein the turbine rotor body includes: a front wall and a back wall adapted for fitting with an inner wall, each including: a central bore; the inner wall adapted for fitting with the front wall and the back wall, the inner wall including: at least two annular chambers; at least one arcuate chamber radiating from the outer portion of each annular chamber; a valve o-ring within each annular chamber; an annular perforated barrier within each annular chamber located radially outward from the valve o-ring; and a central bore, and a central bore.

In another aspect, the invention provides a hand held pneumatic tool, comprising: a high torque turbine rotor having an outer wall and an axis of rotation, means for mounting said turbine rotor for rotation about said axis of rotation on a drive shaft, said turbine rotor having an inner wall and at least two high pressure air receiving chambers, means for directing pressurized air into the two chambers, said turbine rotor having an air passage in each chamber, said air passage ending in tangential nozzles in said outer wall of the rotor, said nozzles directing a pressurized fluid therefrom to impart rotation to said turbine rotor.

In a further embodiment, the rotor body includes a chamber wall separating said two chambers.

In a further embodiment, the hand held pneumatic tool comprises a resilient sealing means located in each said annular chamber means; N:\SydneCases\Paen3000-739P739 i\P7 3 Speification 2008-12-8.doc 6 said resilient sealing means being movable outwardly by centrifugal force to restrict pressurized flow through perforated barrier means, allowing pressurized fluid to flow unrestricted by said resilient sealing means until said resilient sealing means has been moved outwardly by centrifugal force to restrict pressurized flow through the perforated barrier means.

In another aspect, the invention provides a high torque turbine rotor for a hand held or spindle mounted pneumatic tool, comprising: means for generating torque with a cylindrical body having an inlet attachable to a high pressure air source, including: means for generating torque in a first chamber of said body; means for generating torque in a second chamber of said body; means for directing pressurized air into the two chambers; means for separating said first chamber from said second chamber; and means connecting said torque generating means to a shaft.

In a further embodiment, the rotor comprises means for governing the revolutions per minute of the rotor disposed within said first means for generating torque and said second means for generating torque.

In another aspect, the invention provides a high torque rotor for a hand held or spindle mounted pneumatic tool, comprising: an inlet attachable to a high pressure air source; a first annular chamber; a first plurality of tangential peripheral nozzles in communication with said first annular chamber; a second annular chamber; a second plurality of tangential peripheral nozzles in communication with the second annular chamber; and N:\Sydney\Cases\Paten\73000-73\P73944.AUSpecis\P73944.AU Specicabon 2008-12-8.doc 7 a common inner wall including a central bore for receiving and attachment to a drive shaft, wherein said first annular chamber and said second annular chamber are separated by said common inner wall.

In a further embodiment, the high torque turbine rotor comprises a first RPM governor s in said first annular chamber and a second RPM governor is said second annular chamber.

In a further embodiment, the first and second RPW governor RPM governors each comprise: at least one spiraling wall barrier extending outward from the outer portion of the annular chamber; a valve o-ring within the annular chamber; and an annular perforated barrier within the annular chamber extending outward from the valve o-ring.

In a further embodiment, each perforated burner is integral with the rotor body.

In a further embodiment, of the high torque turbine rotor, four arcuate chambers radiate from each annular chamber.

An embodiment of the high torque turbine rotor further comprises: a front wall adjacent to the common inner wall; and a back wall adjacent to the common inner wall; wherein the front wall and a front interior surface of the common inner wall are grooved for fitting a first perforated barrier and the back wall and a back interior surface of the common inner wall are grooved for fitting a second perforated barrier.

In a further embodiment, the plurality of tangential peripheral nozzles are aligned with the second plurality of tangential peripheral nozzles.

In an embodiment, each rotor chamber in the rotor body receives high pressure air from the drive shaft inlets. Each rotor body chamber has a cylindrical interior shape and includes four separate tangential air passages that exhaust high- pressure air tangentially and peripherally, causing a reactive force as the air is expelled from both chambers. The inside peripheral wall of N:\Sydney Cases\Patent\73000-73999\P73944AU\SpecsP73944.AU Speafication 2008-12-8.doc 8 each chamber has four tapered portions proceeding from a narrow portion to a thicker portion, the thicker portion accommodating the four tangential exhaust air passages. The housing tangential air exhaust passages are spaced approximately 90 degrees apart around the annular chamber. In the preferred embodiment, there are two separate chambers separated by the common inner wall, each of which has four separate exhaust passages that are peripheral and tangential. Thus, for each rotor body there are eight separate exhaust passages. The use of eight separate passages greatly increases torque for a single rotor.

In further embodiments each rotor body chamber (the first chamber and second chamber) includes a governor to limit the overall RPM of the rotor and therefore the shaft as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,776,752. The governor and each chamber described in the '752 patent includes an annular perforated barrier and a resilient o-ring that fits on the inside of the annular perforated barrier. The rotor chamber walls include annular grooves for retaining the annular perforated barrier. As the RPMs of the rotor increase, the resilient o-ring expands under centrifugal force outwardly, resiliency engaging the annular perforated barrier, thereby shutting off air under pressure from the air inlet to the peripheral exhaust nozzles to regulate the amount force and therefore the RPMs of the rotor.

There are various types of turbine rotors available. However, to increase the amount of torque obtained in a current rotor, the turbine rotor housing would have to, be enlarged, causing a larger housing, increased weight and possible vibration, chatter and increased wear on the turbine parts and operator fatigue.

An embodiment of the present invention advantageously provides a lightweight pneumatic grinding tool that is able to maintain a constant rotational speed when subjected to a load without producing unwanted vibration, which also provides increased torque while retaining a narrow tool housing for comfortable holding during use.

A further advantage of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a lightweight grinding tool having a reaction rotor that generates high torque at a relative small size and weight.

N: Sydne4CasesPatent\730OO-73999\73944AUSpeasP73944AU Specification 2008-12.8.doc 9 A further advantage is to provide a turbine rotor for the drive shaft of a tool as aforementioned which is relatively lightweight and compact and which produces a significant increase in torque over that of the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It will hereinafter be convenient to describe an embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the particularity of these drawings and the related description does not supersede the preceding broad description of the invention.

Figure 1A is an exploded, perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure lB is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional, side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3B is a cross-sectional side elevation view of an embodiment of invention.

Figure 4 is a partially exploded, sectional perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 is a side elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now to the drawings, in particular Figs. 1A through 4, the instant turbine rotor is illustrated generally at 10. An outside elongated tool housing that is hand-held and that encloses the rotor, shaft and bearings is shown in Figure lB. The turbine rotor 10 is used in a hand held or spindle mounted tool as shown in Figure 1B, suitable for work such as grinding and polishing.

The turbine rotor body 10 preferably has two separate internal high pressure air receiving chambers (a first chamber and a second chamber), formed by a front wall 12, a middle inner wall 14 and a back wall 16. The rotor body 10 is generally cylindrical. The front wall 12 and the back wall 16 may be identical. The front wall 12, inner wall 14 and back wall 16 fit N:Sydney\Cases\Palent\73000-73999\P73944.AUSpeds\P73944AU Specification 2008-12-8.doc 10 together frictionally and are generally air tight. For example, the front wall 12 and the back wall 16 each has a peripheral flange which engages and extends over the edge of the periphery of the chamber walls of the middle wall 14. In an embodiment, the front wall 12 and the back wall 16 are press fit against the middle wall 14. However, the front wall 12 and the back wall 16 and the inner wall 14 may also be glued together or releasably or permanently attached by other, equivalent elements such as a metal clip.

The front wall 12 includes a central threaded bore 18. In an embodiment, the bore 18 is threaded to correspond with threads on a drive shaft 60, as shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5. The drive shaft 60 comprises hollow openings that serve as inlets for high pressure air to enter the rotor body 10 chambers to propel the rotor body 10. Other forms of attachment with the drive shaft 60, both releasable and permanent, are contemplated, such as gluing, welding or frictional engagement with the drive shaft 60. The front wall 12 and the back wall 16 may be made of plastic, metal or other suitable lightweight, rigid material that can be generally airtight. When the rotor body is engaged with the shaft, torque produced on the rotor is transferred to the shaft, causing the shaft to rotate.

The common inner wall 14 may also be made from plastic, metal or other suitable material. The inner wall 14 includes a threaded central bore 44 to correspond with threads on the drive shaft 60 of the tool.

The rotor body 10 in an embodiment includes a governor in each rotor housing chamber as described in the '752 patent. Preferably, the governor comprises a first annular chamber area on the front surface 48 of the inner wall 14. Extending from the outer portion 52 of the first annular chamber 20 is at least one first arcuate chamber 24. As show in Figures 1 through 4, in the preferred embodiment, four first arcuate chambers 24 are provided which extend from the outer portion 52 of the first annular chamber 20 to the circumference 56 of the inner wall 14. The arcuate chambers 24 open to first circumferential openings 58.

A first resilient valve o-ring 32 is mounted in the first annular chamber 20 to regulate and restrict the flow of the air from the first annular chamber 20 to the first arcuate chamber 24.

N:SydneyCases\Patent\73000-7399973944AUSpes73944AU Specification 2008-12-8.doc 11 Extending away from the first valve o-ring 32 is an annular first perforated barrier 22. When high pressure air (approximately 90 psi) is introduced into the rotor body 10, and the rotor speed reaches a predetermined number of revolutions per minute, the valve o-ring 32 deforms against the perforated barrier 22, thereby restricting air flow and decreasing the RPMs of the rotor.

As shown in Figure 3, the rotor body 10 includes a second annular chamber 26 on the rear surface 50 of the inner wall 14. Extending from the outer portion 54 of the second annular chamber 26 is at least one second arcuate chamber 30. In the preferred embodiment, four (4) second arcuate chambers 30 (90 degrees apart) are provided which extend from the outer portion 54 of the second annular chamber 26 to the circumference 56 of the rotor body 10. The second arcuate chamber 30 opens to second circumferential openings 62. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the first arcuate chambers 24 and the second arcuate chambers 30 are aligned, as are the first and second circumferential openings 58, 62. The air passages openings 58, 62 are directionally tangential to the cylindrical rotor body 10 and expel high pressure air tangentially to provide force to rotate the rotor body 10. However, the alignment of the openings 58, 62 is not necessary for operation of the invention.

The second annular chamber 26 also contains a second resilient valve o-ring 34 to regulate and restrict the flow of the air from the second annular chamber 26 to the second arcuate chamber 30. Located radially away from the second valve o-ring 34 is an annular second perforated barrier 28. Thus, when the air is introduced into the turbine rotor 10 and the rotor reaches a predetermined RPM speed, the second resilient valve ring 34 deforms against the perforated barrier 28 as the rotor spins, thereby restricting air flow and slowing down the rotor.

The valve o-rings 32, 34 are generally resilient and are made of rubber. The entire turbine rotor 10 (except for the valve o-rings) may be made of rigid plastic materials. The turbine rotor 10 bearings do not need lubrication. The perforated barriers 22, 28 may be made of plastic, metal or other suitable material. Also the perforated barriers 22, 28 may be formed N:\Sydney\Cases\Patent\73000-73999\P73944.AU\Specis\P73944.AU Specificalion 2008-12-8.doc 12 intrinsically with the inner wall 14, or releasably or permanently attached to the front surface 48 and the rear surface 50 of the inner wall 14. The perforated barriers 22, 28 may be a fence-like structure as illustrated in Figure 1. However, equivalent structures are also contemplated.

Also in this embodiment, a groove 36 in the front wall 12 and a corresponding groove 40 in the front surface of the inner wall 14 are situated so the first perforated barrier 22 is aligned properly within the turbine rotor body 10. Similarly, a groove 38 in the back wall 16 and a corresponding groove 42 in the rear surface 50 of the inner wall 14 are situated so the second perforated barrier 28 is aligned properly in the turbine rotor body 10. A single groove may also be used to properly align the perforated barrier.

In operation, of this embodiment the turbine rotor 10 works as follows. Air under pressure (approximately 90 psi) enters the turbine rotor 10 from the drive shaft 60 into the central bores 18, 44, 46 in the front wall 12, inner wall 14 and back wall 16. The air under pressure enters the first and second annular chambers 20, 26 and travels around the first and second valve o-rings 32, 34 through the first and second perforated barriers 22, 28 into the first and second arcuate chambers 24, 30. The air then is forced under pressure from the arcuate chambers 24, 30 through circumferential openings 58, 62 in the circumference 56 of the inner wall 14. These peripheral openings operate as tangential nozzles, providing air streams generating torquing force to rotate the turbine. The reactive force of the air causes the turbine rotor 10 to rotate.

A further embodiment includes a revolutions per minute governor described in U.S. Patent No. 4,776,752 in each drive chamber. The resilient deformation of the valve orings 32, 34 against the perforated barriers 22, 28 caused by centrifugal force forces the turbine to turn at a predetermined, somewhat constant rate. As the turbine rotor 10 rotates at a high RPM speed, the first and second valve o-rings 32, 34 deform, pressing against the perforations of the first and second perforated barriers 22, 28. The deformation of the valve o-rings 32, 34 restricts air flow through the perforations in the barriers 22, 28, thereby reducing rotational N:\Sydney ases\Paten\73000-73999\P73944.AU\Specis\P739U Speiflcatiton 2008-12-.doc 13 O forces. Eventually equilibrium is reached whereby a constant speed of rotation for the turbine rotor 10 is achieved.

C4 The torque of the turbine rotor 10 in an embodiment of the present invention is greatly increased over that of prior art rotors. For example, when compared to two stacked turbine rotors, the embodiments of the invention provides less weight, vibration, chatter and run f through of the air and fewer moving parts that may wear.

Cc Figures 5 and 6 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention. As shown in Figures 5 and 6 the rotor housing is narrowed, for less weight and a further increase in torque.

The design of the turbine rotor 10 with multiple annular chambers and multiple arcuate chambers provides an increase in torque from prior art air turbines without a significant increase in the weight of the spindle apparatus. Moreover, there is less vibration than would be if single turbine rotors were stacked on top of each other. It is also contemplated in an alternative embodiment that additional annular chambers and arcuate chambers could be formed between in the first and second chambers. These additional chambers may have valve o-rings and perforated barriers as described herein for governing the RPMs. Furthermore, although embodiments have been described to work with air, other gases are also contemplated for other applications.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive N:Sydney Cases\Patent\30 -73999P73944.AU\SpesP73944.AU Specification 2008-12-8.doc -14 sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

N:\Sydney~r-ases\Patent\73DOO-73999\P73944AU\Specis\P73944.AU Specificaion 2008-12-8.dc

Claims

1. A high torque turbine rotor for a hand held or spindle mounted pneumatic tool, comprising: a rotor body having an inlet attachable to a high pressure air source, including: a first annular chamber; a second annular chamber; and a common inner wall, wherein said first annular chamber and said second annular chamber are separated by said common inner wall; said rotor body being cylindrical and including a plurality of tangential peripheral nozzles in fluid communication with said housing first chamber and said second chamber for expelling high pressure air to rotate said rotor body; said inner wall including a central bore for receiving an attachment to a drive shaft.

2. The high torque turbine rotor of claim 1, wherein said rotor further comprises: an RPM governor in said first chamber and in said second chamber.

3. The high torque turbine rotor of claim 2, wherein said RPM governor includes: a front wall; at least one spiraling wall barrier extending from the outer portion of each annular chamber; a valve o-ring within each annular chamber; an annular perforated barrier within each annular chamber extending outward from the valve o-ring; and a back wall.

4. The high torque turbine rotor of claim 3, wherein each perforated barrier is integral with the rotor body of the rotor. The high -torque turbine rotor of claim 1, wherein four arcuate chambers radiate from each annular chamber.

N:\Sydney\Cases\Paten\73073999\P73944 AU\Specis\P73944 AU Specircation 2008-12-8doc 16

6. The high torque turbine rotor of claim 3, wherein the front wall and a front interior surface of the inner wall are grooved for fitting a first perforated barrier, and the back wall and a back interior surface of the inner wall are grooved for fitting a second perforated barrier.

7. The high torque turbine rotor of claim 3, wherein the valve o-ring is resilient rubber.

8. The high torque turbine rotor of claim 3, wherein the common inner wall comprises: one or more additional annular chambers and additional spiraling wall barriers located between the two annular chambers and the two spiraling wall barriers, an additional annular perforated barrier located within each additional annular chamber and located radially outward from an additional valve o-ring, and said additional valve o-ring located radially inward from the additional annular perforated barrier.

9. The high torque turbine rotor of claim 1, wherein the inner wall comprises a narrow waist.

The high torque turbine rotor of claim 3, wherein the components except for the valve o-ring are made of plastic.

11. The high torque turbine rotor of claim 3, wherein the front wall and the back wall are releasably attached to the inner wall.

12. The high torque turbine rotor of claim 11, wherein the front wall and the back wall are attached to the inner wall by frictional force.

13. The high torque turbine rotor of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tangential peripheral nozzles in communication with the first annular chamber are aligned with the plurality of tangential peripheral nozzles in communication with the second annular chamber.

14. A rotor body to a high torque turbine rotor, comprising: a rotor body including a central bore, and said rotor body having a cylindrical outer wall and a central inner wall; a front surface, including at least one first annular channel ending in at least one first arcuate channel ending in at least one first circumferential opening; N:ASydney Cases\Patent\73DOO-73999\P73944ALPSpeas\P73944.AU Specfication 2008-12-8.dc 17 said first annular channel having a first groove for fitting a first perforated barrier and said second annular channel having a second groove for fitting a second perforated barrier, and a back surface, including at least one second annular channel ending in at least one second arcuate channel ending in at least one second circumferential opening.

15. The rotor body of claim 14, further comprising: the first perforated barrier; the second perforated barrier; a first valve o-ring located between the first perforated barrier and the central bore; and a second valve o-ring located between the second perforated barrier and the central bore.

16. A hand held pneumatic tool, comprising: a high torque turbine rotor body located circumferentially around a primary shaft, wherein the turbine rotor body includes: a front wall and a back wall adapted for fitting with an inner wall, each including: a central bore; the inner wall adapted for fitting with the front wall and the back wall, the inner wall including: at least two annular chambers; at least one arcuate chamber radiating from the outer portion of each annular chamber; a valve o-ring within each annular chamber; an annular perforated barrier within each annular chamber located radially outward from the valve o-ring; and a central bore, and a central bore.

17. A hand held pneumatic tool, comprising: a high torque turbine rotor having an outer wall and an axis of rotation, means for mounting said turbine rotor for rotation about said axis of rotation on a drive shaft, said turbine rotor having an inner wall and at least two high pressure air receiving chambers, means for N:\Sydney\Cases\Patent\73000-73999\P73944.AU\Specis\P73944.AU Specfication 2008-12-8.doc 18 directing pressurized air into the two chambers, said turbine rotor having an air passage in each chamber, said air passage ending in tangential nozzles in said outer wall of the rotor, said nozzles directing a pressurized fluid therefrom to impart rotation to said turbine rotor.

18. The hand held pneumatic tool of claim 17, wherein said rotor body includes a chamber wall separating said two chambers.

19. The hand held pneumatic tool of claim 17, further comprising a resilient sealing means located in each said annular chamber means; said resilient sealing means being movable outwardly by centrifugal force to restrict pressurized flow through perforated barrier means, allowing pressurized fluid to flow unrestricted by said resilient sealing means until said resilient sealing means has been moved outwardly by centrifugal force to restrict pressurized flow through the perforated barrier means.

A high torque turbine rotor for a hand held or spindle mounted pneumatic tool, comprising: means for generating torque with a cylindrical body having an inlet attachable to a high pressure air source, including: means for generating torque in a first chamber of said body; means for generating torque in a second chamber of said body; means for directing pressurized air into the two chambers; means for separating said first chamber from said second chamber; and means connecting said torque generating means to a shaft.

21. The high torque turbine rotor of claim 20, wherein said rotor further comprises means for governing the revolutions per minute of the rotor disposed within said first means for generating torque and said second means for generating torque.

22. A high torque turbine rotor for a hand held or spindle mounted pneumatic tool, comprising: an inlet attachable to a high pressure air source; a first annular chamber; N:\Sydney\Cases\Patent730OO-73999\P73944AU\Specis\P73944.AU Specificaon 2008-12-8.doc 19 a first plurality of tangential peripheral nozzles in communication with said first annular chamber; a second annular chamber; a second plurality of tangential peripheral nozzles in communication with the second s annular chamber; and a common inner wall including a central bore for receiving and attachment to a drive ¢Cc shaft, wherein said first annular chamber and said second annular chamber are separated by said common inner wall.

23. The high torque turbine rotor of claim 22, further comprising a first RPM governor in said first annular chamber and a second RPM governor is said second annular chamber.

24. The high torque turbine rotor of claim 23, wherein said first and second RPM governors each comprise: at least one spiraling wall barrier extending outward from the outer portion of the annular chamber; a valve o-ring within the annular chamber; and an annular perforated barrier within the annular chamber extending outward from the valve o-ring.

The high torque turbine rotor of claim 24, wherein each perforated barrier is integral with the rotor body.

26. The high torque turbine rotor of claim 22, wherein four arcuate chambers radiate from each annular chamber.

27. The high torque turbine rotor of claim 23, further comprising: a front wall adjacent to the common inner wall; and a back wall adjacent to the common inner wall; wherein the front wall and a front interior surface of the common inner wall are grooved for fitting a first perforated barrier and the back wall and a back interior surface of the common inner wall are grooved for fitting a second perforated barrier. N:\Sydney\Cases\Patent\73000-73999\P73944AU\Specs\P73944AU Specification 2008-12-8.doc 20

28. The high torque turbine rotor of claim 24, wherein the valve o-ring is constructed of resilient rubber.

29. The high torque turbine rotor of claim 24, wherein the components, except for the valve o-ring, are constructed of plastic.

30. The high torque turbine rotor of claim 27, wherein the front wall and the back wall are releasably attached to the common inner wall.

31. The high torque turbine rotor of claim 30, wherein the front wall and the back wall are attached to the inner wall by frictional force.

32. The high torque turbine rotor of claim 22, wherein the first plurality of tangential peripheral nozzles are aligned with the second plurality of tangential peripheral nozzles.

33. A high torque turbine rotor, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

34. A rotor body substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

35. A hand held pneumatic tool. Substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. N:\SydneasesPatentX7300O-73999 73944AU\SpecisP73944AU SpecaCation 2008-12-8.doc