Variable displacement compressor and expander
AssigneeS-RAM Dynamics
InventorsRicardo Conde, Richard Kruse, Lee Jestings
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A variable displacement piston assembly including a plurality of cylinders, each cylinder having an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the other cylinders, a plurality of pistons, one piston in each cylinder, and each piston and corresponding cylinder having a displacement. The assembly also including a transition arm having a connector pin for each piston, each connector pin connecting each piston to said transition arm, a drive shaft connected to the transition arm and a control shaft rotatably coupled to the drive shaft, the control shaft being movable to adjust the displacement of the piston assembly.
Claims30
A variable compression piston assembly, comprising:
- a plurality of cylinders, each cylinder having an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the other cylinders;
- a plurality of pistons, one piston in each cylinder, and each piston and corresponding cylinder having a displacement;
- a transition arm having a connector pin for each piston, each connector pin connecting each piston to said transition arm;
- a drive shaft connected to the transition arm;
- and
- a control shaft rotatably coupled to the drive shaft, the control shaft being movable to adjust the displacement of the piston assembly;
- a nosepin shaft connected to said transition arm, wherein said nosepin shaft is directly connected to said control shaft via a universal joint;
- and
- a crank arm fixed to said drive shaft, the nosepin shaft connected to the crank arm via a cam connection, wherein the crank arm includes a cam slot that receives the nosepin shaft.
A variable compression piston assembly, comprising:
- a plurality of cylinders, each cylinder having an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the other cylinders;
- a plurality of pistons, one piston in each cylinder;
- a transition arm connected to each piston;
- a drive shaft connected to the transition arm;
- a control shaft rotatably coupled to the drive shaft,
- a nosepin shaft connected to said transition arm, wherein said nosepin shaft is directly connected to said control shaft via a universal joint;
- a crank arm fixed to said drive shaft, the nosepin shaft connected to the crank arm via a cam connection, wherein the crank arm includes a cam slot that receives the nosepin shaft;
- and
- a pair of balancing weights connected to said drive shaft to balance centripetal forces generated by the transition arm, wherein the balancing weights are moveable with respect to one another.
A method for varying the displacement of a piston assembly, comprising:
- providing a plurality of pistons coupled to corresponding cylinders and forming a compression ratio, a transition arm coupled to each of the pistons, a nosepin shaft coupled to the transition arm and rotationally and directly coupled with a control shaft, and a drive shaft rotationally coupled to the nosepin shaft and configured for sliding lateral movement with respect to the nosepin shaft, a crank arm fixed to said drive shaft, the nosepin shaft connected to the crank arm via a cam connection, wherein the crank arm includes a cam slot that receives the nosepin shaft, and
- moving said control shaft in an axial direction, to change the displacement of the piston assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.