Patent Grant
7275454
The present invention refers to a system for transforming an oscillating or reciprocating rectilinear motion of a constant amplitude into a rotating motion with a single turning direction and vice versa, according to the characteristics of the first claim.
The transformation or conversion of a reciprocating rectilinear motion into a rotating one has an application in all types of machines and engines, whether these operate by steam, pneumatics, electromagnetic pull, internal combustion, horse haulage, etc. The so-called connecting rod-handle system is the only one employed in a general manner, and for example, for internal combustion engines it is known as a connecting rod crankshaft system.
As is well-known by those skilled in the art, this connecting rod-crankshaft system that is widely used in explosion engines, owes its low performance to the angles of incidence of the connecting rod on the crankshaft that are only adequate in a short sector of the operation cycle. To palliate this inconvenience one appeals to the use of inertial disks or wheels that, however, are not capable of providing the entire energy absorbed due to the “grounding” effect suffered by the bearings of the crankshaft seats.
To increase the regularity of the cycle, the number of cylinders in the engine should be increased, which also increases the complexity, friction, weight, volume and cost. Also, as crankshafts of large dimensions are required, the inertial masses also increase, contributing negatively to the final performance.
From the above-mentioned, the technical necessity of developing a system to transform a reciprocating lineal motion into a rotating motion that helps to solve the previously mentioned problems is evident. The invention is based on the acknowledgment that a motion transformation system should include the following principles:
According to the invention, this task is achieved according to the characteristics of claim 1, for which said system includes:
According to an additional characteristic, conforming to the invention, in accordance with claim 2, the groove in zigzag (3) is provided so that the respective projections (A, B) of its rounded sections of peaks and valleys (3a, 3b) and its straight sections (3c) on perpendicular of the axis (2a) of the grooved cylinder (2), are in a (B/A) relationship preferably greater than 1; the (α) angle formed by its straight sections (3c) and with regards to the axis (2a) of the grooved cylinder (2) being preferably smaller than 22°.
According to the invention, conforming to claim 3, it is a specially favorable embodiment when the groove in a closed zigzag (3) has four “peaks” (3a) and four “valleys” (3b) in each end of the grooved cylinder (2) and appropriately are provided a total of eight straight grooves (4) to provide a specially effective operation of the motion transformation system.
According to an additional characteristic of the invention, conforming to claim 4, it is a specially advantageous embodiment, when the grooves (3, 4, 16) are shaped with an approximately semi-circular cross section, the housings (8, 9, 15) being shaped in almost semi-spherical form.
To diminish the friction of the bearing balls (B1), the grooves (3, 4, 16) and housings (8, 9,15) can be shaped with the characteristics according to claims 5 to 7.
Additionally, it can be advantageous if the set formed by the second group of housings (9), the third circular groove (16) and the bearings (B2) is substituted by well-known balls crown.
According to another aspect of the invention, it would be a specially advantageous embodiment, when:
A preferred embodiment of the invention results when in the grooved cylinder two grooves in zigzag are foreseen, with the complementary housings for the bearings of each rotating piece of revolution provided in the area of connection between the respective end pieces and rings.
Nevertheless, it is also an advantageous embodiment when in the grooved cylinder are foreseen four grooves in zigzag associated two by two to complementary housing pairs correspondingly provided inside each rotating piece.
In accordance to an additional aspect of the invention, the grooves and housings of the rotating pieces of revolution have complementary semi-rectangular cross sections and the bearings that lie between these grooves and housings are foreseen as cylindrical bodies with rounded bases.
Even according to another aspect of the present invention, a specially preferred embodiment results when the housings of the revolution pieces and the complementary grooves of the hollow cylinder where the corresponding sets of spherical bearings are housed, have a symmetrical cross section formed by two equal circumference arcs connected to each other by an intermediate polygonal line, where the radii of both arcs are similar to the radius of the bearing to house, their strings also being essentially similar to this radius and where the centers of these arcs are above the separation line between the surfaces of the grooved cylinder and of the respective piece of turning revolution and separated in a small measure or eccentricity.
Also according to another aspect of the invention, when polygonal cross section housings and grooves are used it is possible to use bearing elements formed by a wheel portion and a solidary whole or not shaft portion that are supported in the groove and/or in the respective housing, and both may be assisted by means of other supplementary bearings.
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more clear from the following description carried out with the help of the attached drawings, relating to a non-limiting execution example and where:
With regards to the figures, it can be seen that the motion transformation system, generally designated with the numeric reference 1, includes a grooved cylinder 2, hollow and suitably lightened, in the side surface of which is provided a first groove 3 development in a closed zigzag or with a great number of rounded peaks 3a and valleys 3b and straight portions 3c; as well as some straight grooves 4 that extend parallel to axis 2a of the grooved cylinder 2 from the proximity of its ends 2b, 2c, to the valleys 3b of the groove in zigzag 3, that is to say provided in a number double to that of the peaks 3a or valleys 3b provided in an end of the grooved cylinder 3. According to the invention the groove in zigzag 3 has, at least, three “valleys” 3a and three “peaks” 3b in each end of the grooved cylinder surrounded by six straight grooves 4; however, a favorable embodiment is with four peaks and valleys 3a, 3b for each end of the grooved cylinder and a total of eight straight grooves 4. Coaxial to this grooved cylinder 7, embracing it, provided for rotating is a piece of revolution 5 with portions 5a, 5b, each one of which is constituted by a double trunk-conical end piece 6 and a hollow cylindrical neck 7 that can be mounted firmly to each other to form an inseparable whole by means of assembly screws T. As can be seen with more detail in
Additionally, in only one of the end pieces 6 is provided an indented portion 6a determining an indented crown to gear with each conical pinions P whose shafts AP constitute the rotating exit of the system as will be explained later.
The grooved cylinder 2 is mounted to move by means of its pistons 12, 13 through two guide cylinders 10, 11 that make up the lineal inlet motion.
To assemble this group a crankcase 14 is provided with some crankcase covers 14a, 14b for closing the set and in each one of which a third group of housings 15 is provided anglewise equidistant and complementary to the straight grooves 4 to accommodate, between both, another set of bearing balls B1. Additionally, in each one of these crankcase covers 14a, 14b, a third circular groove 16 is provided, complementary to the second group of housings 9 of the external bases of the end pieces 6, and which are assigned to accommodate another set of bearing elements B2.
As can be clearly appreciated in
Π.h/n.<1
where,
h=projection on the axis 2a of the distance between centers between consecutive peaks 3a in the course of motion;
n=total number of peaks 3a of the groove 3; and
L=distance or separation between straight grooves 4.
According to the invention a specially advantageous embodiment is when the grooves 3, 4 and 16 are shaped in an approximately semi-circular cross section, and the housings 8, 9 and 15 are shaped in almost semi-spherical form. Nevertheless, for those cases with high requirements of reduced friction, the grooves 3, 4, 16 and housings 8, 9, 15 can be shaped, in a reciprocating manner according to what is represented in
As shown in
Additionally, it can be advantageous if the set formed by the second group of housings 9, the third groove 16 and the bearings B2 is substituted by balls crown (not shown).
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a system according to the previously described has an operation in accordance to the following.
According to the invention, as may be required by system parameters, in the shafts AP of the pinions P, inertial wheels or disks M are provided, but with a reduced mass in comparison to those required in a conventional system, due to the special geometry of the groove in zigzag 3 of the grooved cylinder 2.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the force exercised by the grooves in zigzag 3 through the bearing balls B1 is applied to the rotating double crown piece 5 under a constant angle, except in the transition points of the peaks 3a, so that it is applied evenly and efficiently in almost the entire path of the pistons, providing a regular and standard course.
In reference to
Each one of these two grooves in zigzag 23 have at least three “valleys” 23a and three “peaks” 23b in each end of the grooved cylinder 22. These grooves are located displaced regarding axis 22a of cylinder 22 so that each pair of respective homologous points H1, H2 are located in the same line parallel to this axis 22a, with the external edges of the exterior curved sections of each groove at the same distance D from the respective end of the grooved cylinder 22.
Coaxially to this grooved cylinder 22, embracing it, are two pieces of revolution 25a and 25b with turning foreseen, each one of which is constituted by a trunk-conical end piece 26 and a hollow or ring cylindrical neck 27. Each end piece 26 is fastened to its respective ring pair 27 by means of assembly screws T2 to configure each one of the pieces 25a and 25b as a solidary whole.
As may be appreciated with more detail in
Also in the opposite bases of the rings 27 are foreseen respective grooves 230, 230 of semi-polygonal section, preferably rectangular that cooperate mutually to fittingly house a bearings crown 231 and allow the relative turn of the respective rotating pieces 25a and 25b.
Additionally, in the end pieces 26 are foreseen respective indentations 26a and 26b determinant of indented crowns to gear with all conical pinions P2 whose shafts AP2 constitute the rotating exit/entry of the system as will be explained later on.
The grooved cylinder 22 is mounted to move by means of its pistons 212, 213 through all guide cylinders 210, 211 that make up the lineal inlet/outlet motion.
For the assembly of this group, a crankcase 214 is foreseen with some crankcase covers 214a, 214b to close the group and in each one of which is foreseen concentric to the axis 22a a cooperating circular groove 232 and complementary to groove 229 of the respective end piece 26 to house, between both, another bearings crown 233.
In
The remaining parts of this system are similar to that previously explained for
As shown in a specially clear way in
So that the transformation system according to the invention is especially effective, the following relationship should be completed:
Π.h2/n2.L2<1
where,
h2=projection on the axis 22a of the distance between centers between consecutive peaks 23a in a course of notion;
n2=total number of peaks 23a of the groove 23; and
L2=distance or separation regarding the perpendicular to the axis 22a between the centers of two peaks 23a in a course of motion.
Even when the flat development of the grooved cylinder 42 is not represented according to the alternative motion transformation system 41 according to
According to the invention, it is a specially advantageous embodiment when the grooves 23, 43 and the housings 28, 48, are configured as represented in
As shown in
Here, the bearing B12, B14 is formed by a first cylinder B121, B141 and a second cylinder B122, B142 of a different diameter that can be solidary to each other or relatively turning supported on the grooves 23, 43 and housings 28, 48, and they can both be assisted by means of supplementary bearings B13.
As will be appreciated by the those skilled in the art, the systems according to the previously described operate according to the following.
A system according to the aforementioned has an application in all machinery types and engines, regardless of the type of operation, whether it is by steam, pneumatics, explosion, etc.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the transformation system according to the previously described, could be used with hardly any variations in a so-called “inverse” manner, that is to say to transform a turning motion, now applied through the pinions P, into a reciprocating rectilinear motion of the grooved cylinder 2 and of its associated pistons 12, 13 that could be useful in the operation of machines, tools with a reciprocating motion, such as planing machines, hammers, compressors and depressors, etc., and in general, in all types of mechanisms that use a connecting rod-handle system.
As such object of the invention has been sufficiently described, only left to indicate that the resulting realizations of changes in shape, dimensions, and similar, as well as those derived from an application of routine from the previously exposed, must be considered included in its boundary so that the invention will be only limited by the scope of the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9802508 | Nov 1998 | ES | national |
This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/287,749, filed Nov. 4, 2002 now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/856,931, filed Aug. 10, 2001 now abandoned, which is the National Stage of International Application No. PCT/ES99/00376, filed Nov. 23, 1999, now abandoned.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2508253 | Haggardt | May 1950 | A |
| 3388603 | Clark | Jun 1968 | A |
| 5161491 | Graves | Nov 1992 | A |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2 206 458 | Aug 1973 | DE |
| 581 975 | Feb 1994 | EP |
| 2 264 187 | Oct 1975 | FR |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20050193842 A1 | Sep 2005 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10287749 | Nov 2002 | US |
| Child | 11124981 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 09856931 | US | |
| Child | 10287749 | US |
