Motion translation mechanism
AssigneeEfficient-V, Inc.
InventorsChristopher L. Cook, Scott Cook
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This disclosure concerns machines that convert rotating motion to reciprocation, and vice-versa, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to reciprocating piston machines. Some embodiments include a crankshaft defining a crankshaft-drive and at least one radially extending piston-journal spaced from the crankshaft-drive, and a piston configured to pivotally engage the piston-journal. The piston defines a cylindrical head and an elongate body. Some embodiments further include a drive-member defining a central-axis-of-rotation and being rotatably engageable with the crankshaft-drive. Some embodiments also include a block defining one or more cylinders for receiving one or more pistons. The drive-member rotates when the piston reciprocates, and vice-versa.
Claims33
A crankshaft and bearing apparatus comprising:
- a crankshaft defining at least one crankshaft-drive having a crankshaft-drive axis-of-rotation, and at least one piston-journal defining a longitudinal axis radially spaced from the at least one crankshaft-drive axis-of-rotation;
- a corresponding at least one piston engaging the at least one piston-journal;
- a drive member defining a central axis-of-rotation and a crankshaft drive receiving region for receiving the at least one crankshaft-drive;
- a pinion coupled to and movable with the crankshaft;
- and
- an internal ring gear matingly engageable with the pinion, wherein the longitudinal axis of each at least one piston-journal reciprocates along a respective substantially linear hypocycloidal path as the crankshaft orbits about the central-axis-of-rotation, and wherein:
- the at least one piston comprises at least a first piston and a second piston;
- the at least one piston-journal comprises at least a first piston-journal pivotably engageable with the first piston and defining a corresponding longitudinal axis, and a second piston-journal pivotably engageable with the second piston and defining a corresponding longitudinal axis;
- the respective longitudinal axes of the first piston-journal and the second-piston-journal are angularly separated from each other by a first angle relative to the crankshaft-drive axis-of-rotation;
- the first angle measures between 0-degrees and less than 180-degrees;
- the longitudinal axis of the first piston-journal is structured to reciprocate in a first linear hypocycloidal path as the crankshaft orbits about the central-axis of rotation;
- the longitudinal axis of the second piston-journal is structured to reciprocate in a second linear hypocycloidal path arranged at a second angle, relative to the first linear hypocycloidal path, that is one half the angular degrees of the first angle;
- a stroke length of the first piston is defined by a length of the first linear hypocycloidal path;
- the first piston is structured to slide along a first axis of a first piston cylinder;
- the first axis of the first piston cylinder is parallel to and aligned with the first linear hypocycloidal path;
- a stroke length of the second piston is defined by a length of the second linear hypocycloidal path;
- the second piston is structured to slide along a second axis of a second piston cylinder;
- the second axis of the second piston cylinder is parallel to and aligned with the second linear hypocycloidal path;
- the first axis of the first piston cylinder is arranged at a third angle, relative to the second axis of the second piston cylinder;
- and
- the third angle is equal in terms of angular degrees to that of the second angle that is one half the angular degrees of the first angle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.