Rotary piston driving mechanism
OwnerArieh Sherinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A driving mechanism transforms continuous longitudinal reciprocation of a piston in a chamber into unidirectional rotation. The mechanism utilizes a closed wave-shaped groove defined in either the cylinder or the chamber and adapted to receive guiding members projecting from the other of the piston and the chamber. When the piston is forced to move longitudinally in either direction, the groove slides over the guiding members to force rotation. The apices of the wave-shaped groove are either contoured or provided with a gating structure to assure that the guide members do not backtrack but instead move in one direction through the groove.
Claims19
Apparatus for converting linear reciprocating motion of a piston in a housing to rotation of the piston in only one direction about its longitudinal axis, said apparatus comprising:
- an endless wave-shaped guide groove defined in one of said piston and said housing and comprising a series of groove sections of generally alternating directions;
- motion conversion means responsive to linear motion of said piston in said housing for causing said piston to rotate relative to said housing about said axis, said motion conversion means comprising at least one guide member secured in the other of said piston and said housing and projecting substantially radially and into said guide groove;
- and
- directing means responsive to linear reciprocation of said piston for directing said guide member in a forward direction into circumferentially successive groove sections while preventing reverse directional movement of the guide member into a groove section that has been immediately previously traversed;
- wherein each successive pair of said groove sections intersects at a respective apex, and wherein successive apices point in generally opposite longitudinal directions;
- wherein said groove has first and second opposite side walls, wherein said guide member alternately bears forcefully against said first and second side walls in successive sections of said groove to define load bearing and non-load bearing side walls in each groove section, and wherein said directing means comprises:
- at each apex on the load bearing side wall, a smooth arcuate section positioned symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the piston for effecting smooth redirected movement of the guide member therealong into the next successive groove section in said forward direction;
- and
- at each apex on the non-load bearing side wall, a discrete directional transition positioned asymmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the piston so as to be passed by said guide member in said groove before said guide member is redirected into the next successive groove section by said symmetrical arcuate section.
Apparatus for converting linear reciprocating motion of a piston in a housing to rotation of the piston in only one direction about its longitudinal axis, said apparatus comprising:
- an endless wave-shaped guide groove defined in one of said piston and said housing and comprising a series of groove sections of generally alternating directions;
- motion conversion means responsive to linear motion of said piston in said housing for causing said piston to rotate relative to said housing about said axis, said motion conversion means comprising at least one guide member secured in the other of said piston and said housing projecting substantially radially and into said guide groove;
- and
- directing means responsive to linear reciprocation of said piston for directing said guide member in a forward direction into circumferentially successive groove sections while preventing reverse directional movement of the guide member into a groove section that has been immediately previously traversed;
- wherein each successive pair of said groove sections intersect at a respective apex, and-wherein successive apices point in generally opposite longitudinal directions;
- and
- wherein said directing means comprises a pin member projecting into said groove adjacent each apex for forcing said guide member beyond said each apex only in said forward direction beyond said groove.
Apparatus for converting longitudinal reciprocating motion of a piston in a housing into combined reciprocating and continuous unidirectional rotating motion of a shaft extending externally of said housing, said apparatus comprising:
- a housing having a proximal and a distal end;
- a piston having a longitudinal axis and disposed in said housing for longitudinal reciprocation therein;
- a rod secured to said piston and extending externally of said housing;
- drive means for continuously reciprocating said piston longitudinally in said housing;
- conversion means in said housing responsive to said continuous longitudinal reciprocation of said piston for continuously rotating said piston about said axis in only one direction irrespective of directional changes in said longitudinal reciprocation;
- and further comprising a working head disposed outside said housing and secured to said rod for longitudinally reciprocal and rotational movement with said rod.
Apparatus for converting linear reciprocating motion of a piston in a housing to rotation of the piston in only one direction about its longitudinal axis, said apparatus comprising:
- an endless wave-shaped guide groove defined in one of said piston and said housing and comprising a series of groove sections of generally alternating directions;
- motion conversion means responsive to linear motion of said piston in said housing for causing said piston to rotate relative to said housing about said axis, said motion conversion means comprising at least one guide member secured in the other of said piston and said housing and projecting substantially radially and into said guide groove;
- and
- directing means responsive to linear reciprocation of said piston for directing said guide member in a forward direction into circumferentially successive groove sections while preventing reverse directional movement of the guide member into a groove section that has been immediately previously traversed;
- wherein each successive pair of said groove sections intersect at a respective apex, and wherein successive apices point in generally opposite longitudinal directions;
- wherein said groove has first and second opposite side walls, wherein said guide member alternately bears forcefully against said first and second side walls in successive sections of said groove to define load bearing and non-load bearing surfaces in each groove section, and wherein said directing means comprises:
- a plurality of recesses each defined in the load bearing surface adjacent the apex demarking the end of a respective groove section;
- and
- a plurality of gate members disposed in respective recesses, each gate member being resiliently biased to project out from said recess and into said groove, and configured to be forced into said recess in opposition to said resilient bias by said guide member traversing said groove in a forward direction and passing said recess, said gate member blocking movement of said guide member through said groove in said reverse directional movement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.