초록 ▼

A folded linkage for coupling a crankshaft and a piston undergoing reciprocating linear motion along a longitudinal axis. The folded linkage has a guide link with a first end coupled to the piston. A connecting rod couples the distal end of the guide link to the crankshaft which rotates about an axi

A folded linkage for coupling a crankshaft and a piston undergoing reciprocating linear motion along a longitudinal axis. The folded linkage has a guide link with a first end coupled to the piston. A connecting rod couples the distal end of the guide link to the crankshaft which rotates about an axis that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of piston motion and located between the proximal end and the distal end of the guide link. A guide link guide assembly supports lateral loads on the guide link at its distal end. The folded linkage may be applied to couple the compression piston and displacer piston of a Stirling cycle machine to a common crankshaft.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A linkage for coupling a piston undergoing reciprocating linear motion along a longitudinal axis to a crankshaft undergoing rotary motion about a rotation axis of the crankshaft, the longitudinal axis and the rotation axis being substantially orthogonal to each other, the linkage

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A linkage for coupling a piston undergoing reciprocating linear motion along a longitudinal axis to a crankshaft undergoing rotary motion about a rotation axis of the crankshaft, the longitudinal axis and the rotation axis being substantially orthogonal to each other, the linkage comprising:a guide link having a first end proximal to the piston, the first end coupled to the piston, and having a second end distal to the piston such that the rotation axis is disposed between the proximal end and the distal end of the guide link;a guide link guide assembly for supporting lateral loads at the distal end of the guide link, the guide link guide assembly having a first roller, the first roller having a center of rotation fixed with respect to the rotation axis of the crankshaft and a rim in rolling contact with the distal end of the guide link; anda connecting rod having a connecting end and a crankshaft end, the connecting end rotatably connected to the end of the guide link distal to the piston at a rod connection point that traverses the guide link guide assembly during the course of reciprocating linear motion of the piston and the crankshaft end coupled to the crankshaft at a crankshaft connection point offset from the rotation axis of the crankshaft.