Motion converter with pinion sector/rack interface
OwnerDouglas C. Brackettinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for translating rotary to linear motion and vice versa includes a reciprocating linearly moving shuttle with a central aperture. The aperture has a pair of opposing gear racks protruding towards the center and which capture therebetween a pair of pinion sectors rotatably mounted to the crankpin of a rotatable crankshaft with the axis of crankshaft rotation perpendicular to the linear path of the shuttle. The pinion sectors are free to rotate about the crankpin and articulate independently of each other through a selected angular range. When the crankpin, including the pinion sectors, is inserted into the shuttle aperture with the pinion sectors engaging the racks, motion is transferable between the crankpin and the shuttle through the pinion sectors.
Claims50
A motion converter apparatus, comprising a shuttle having an aperture therein, at least a portion of a peripheral boundary defining said aperture having a trackable profile, said shuttle being moveable along a linear path;
- a rotatable crankshaft having a crankpin, said crankpin positioned within said aperture with the axis of rotation of said crankshaft substantially perpendicular to said linear path;
- and a pair of tracking sectors positioned between said crankpin and said trackable profile, said sectors rotatable about said crankpin and independently articulatable through a selected range of degrees, said sectors engaging said trackable profile such that motion is transferable between said crankpin and said shuttle through said sectors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.