IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0497497
(2009-07-02)
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등록번호 |
US-8375919
(2013-02-19)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Cook, Christopher L.
- Cook, Scott
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
11 인용 특허 :
26 |
초록
▼
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 f
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.
대표청구항
▼
1. 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 le
1. 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; andan 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; andthe 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. 2. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of the first piston-journal and the longitudinal axis of the second piston-journal reciprocate in respective first and second planes as the crankshaft orbits about the central-axis-of-rotation, and wherein the first plane and the second plane are angularly separated by the second angle measuring one-half of the first angle. 3. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the at least one piston comprises at least the first piston, the second piston, a third piston and a fourth piston; andthe at least one piston-journal comprises at least the first piston-journal pivotably engageable with the first piston and defining the corresponding longitudinal axis, the second piston-journal pivotably engageable with the second piston and defining the corresponding longitudinal axis, a third piston-journal pivotably engageable with the third piston and defining a corresponding longitudinal axis, and a fourth piston-journal pivotably engageable with the fourth piston and defining a corresponding longitudinal axis. 4. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the first piston includes a first piston head and the second piston includes a second piston head;the first piston further includes a first elongate body having first and second arcuate walls, the first elongate body has a narrowed region, and the first elongate body extends between the first piston head and the first piston-journal; andthe second piston further includes a second elongate body having first and second arcuate walls, the second elongate body has a narrowed region, and the second elongate body extends between the second piston head and the second piston-journal;the crankshaft and bearing apparatus further comprising a block, wherein the internal ring gear is fixed relative to the block, the block defining:the first piston cylinder having a corresponding first cylinder axis and being configured to slidably receive at least a portion of the first piston and the first elongate body such that at least a portion of the first arcuate wall is in sliding contact with the first piston cylinder, at least a portion of the second arcuate wall is in sliding contact with the first piston cylinder, and the narrowed region is not in contact with the first piston cylinder, andthe second piston cylinder having a corresponding second cylinder axis and being configured to slidably receive at least a portion of the second piston and the second elongate body such that at least a portion of the first arcuate wall is in sliding contact with the second piston cylinder, at least a portion of the second arcuate wall is in sliding contact with the second piston cylinder, and the narrowed region is not in contact with the second piston cylinder, wherein an angle between the first cylinder axis and the second cylinder axis corresponds to the first angle. 5. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least a portion of the first piston comprises the first piston head. 6. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least a portion of the first piston further comprises at least a portion of the first elongate body extending between the first piston head and the respective piston-journal. 7. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first angle measures between about 60-degrees and about 150-degrees. 8. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first angle measures between about 75-degrees and about 135-degrees. 9. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first angle measures between about 85-degrees and about 100-degrees. 10. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 3, wherein: the respective longitudinal axes of the third piston-journal and the fourth-piston-journal are angularly separated from each other by a fourth angle relative to the crankshaft-drive axis-of-rotation;the fourth angle is equal in terms of angular degrees to that of the first angle;the longitudinal axis of the third piston-journal is structured to reciprocate in a third linear hypocycloidal path as the crankshaft orbits about the central-axis of rotation; andthe longitudinal axis of the fourth piston-journal is structured to reciprocate in a fourth linear hypocycloidal path arranged at a fifth angle, relative to the third linear hypocycloidal path, that is one half the angular degrees of the fourth angle. 11. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 3, wherein: the respective longitudinal axes of the third piston-journal and the fourth-piston-journal are angularly separated from each other by a fourth angle relative to the crankshaft-drive axis-of-rotation;the first angle measures between about 60-degrees and about 150-degrees;the fourth angle is equal in terms of angular degrees to that of the first angle;the longitudinal axis of the third piston-journal is structured to reciprocate in a third linear hypocycloidal path as the crankshaft orbits about the central-axis of rotation; andthe longitudinal axis of the fourth piston-journal is structured to reciprocate in a fourth linear hypocycloidal path arranged at a fifth angle, relative to the third linear hypocycloidal path, that is one half the angular degrees of the fourth angle. 12. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the second angle measures between 0-degrees and less than 180-degrees;the stroke length of the first piston is defined by the length of the first linear hypocycloidal path within the first plane;the first piston is structured to slide along the first axis of the first piston cylinder within the first plane;the stroke length of the second piston is defined by the length of the second linear hypocycloidal path within the second plane; andthe second piston is structured to slide along the second axis of the second piston cylinder within the second plane. 13. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the second angle measures between about 20-degrees and about 150-degrees;the stroke length of the first piston is defined by the length of the first linear hypocycloidal path within the first plane;the first piston is structured to slide along the first axis of the first piston cylinder within the first plane;the stroke length of the second piston is defined by the length of the second linear hypocycloidal path within the second plane; andthe second piston is structured to slide along the second axis of the second piston cylinder within the second plane. 14. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the second angle measures between about 40-degrees and about 80-degrees;the stroke length of the first piston is defined by the length of the first linear hypocycloidal path within the first plane;the first piston is structured to slide along the first axis of the first piston cylinder within the first plane;the stroke length of the second piston is defined by the length of the second linear hypocycloidal path within the second plane; andthe second piston is structured to slide along the second axis of the second piston cylinder within the second plane. 15. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the second angle measures 45-degrees;the stroke length of the first piston is defined by the length of the first linear hypocycloidal path within the first plane;the first piston is structured to slide along the first axis of the first piston cylinder within the first plane;the stroke length of the second piston is defined by the length of the second linear hypocycloidal path within the second plane; andthe second piston is structured to slide along the second axis of the second piston cylinder within the second plane. 16. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one piston comprises a single piston, and further comprising a block defining a piston cylinder being configured to slidably receive the single piston. 17. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 16, wherein the internal ring gear is a first internal ring gear and the pinion is a first pinion, the apparatus further comprising a second internal ring gear and a second pinion, and wherein the second pinion is matingly engageable with the second ring gear. 18. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one piston comprises an elongate body having first and second arcuate walls and having a length extending from a proximal region to a distal region and defining a bearing surface extending over more than about 25% of the length of the elongate body. 19. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 18, wherein the bearing surface extends over more than about 33% of the length of the elongate body. 20. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 18, wherein the bearing surface extends over more than about 50% of the length of the elongate body. 21. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive member comprises an armature. 22. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the piston reciprocates along a stroke length measuring four times the distance extending between the longitudinal axis of the at least one piston-journal and the at least one crankshaft drive axis-of-rotation. 23. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 1, wherein a ratio between a circular pitch diameter of the ring gear and a circular pitch diameter of the pinion is about 2:1. 24. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ring gear is stationary. 25. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the piston is reciprocable along a stroke length, wherein the ring gear defines a circular pitch diameter, and wherein the stroke length and the circular pitch diameter are about the same length. 26. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 25, wherein the pinion gear defines a circular pitch diameter measuring about one-half of the circular pitch diameter of the ring gear. 27. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 10, wherein: a stroke length of the third piston is defined by a length of the third linear hypocycloidal path;the third piston is structured to slide along a third axis of a third piston cylinder;the third axis of the third piston cylinder is parallel to and aligned with the third linear hypocycloidal path;a stroke length of the fourth piston is defined by a length of the fourth linear hypocycloidal path;the fourth piston is structured to slide along a fourth axis of a fourth piston cylinder;the fourth axis of the fourth piston cylinder is parallel to and aligned with the fourth linear hypocycloidal path;the fourth axis of the fourth piston cylinder is arranged at a sixth angle, relative to the third axis of the third piston cylinder; andthe sixth angle is equal in terms of angular degrees to that of the fifth angle that is one half the angular degrees of the fourth angle. 28. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 27, wherein the sixth angle is aligned with the third angle. 29. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 27, wherein the fourth angle is aligned with the first angle. 30. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the second angle measures 72-degrees;the stroke length of the first piston is defined by the length of the first linear hypocycloidal path within the first plane;the first piston is structured to slide along the first axis of the first piston cylinder within the first plane;the stroke length of the second piston is defined by the length of the second linear hypocycloidal path within the second plane; andthe second piston is structured to slide along the second axis of the second piston cylinder within the second plane. 31. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the at least one piston includes a crankshaft-bearing-region at a proximal end, a piston head at a distal end and an elongate body connecting the crankshaft-bearing-region and the piston head, the crankshaft-bearing-region being pivotally engageable with the at least one piston-journal of the crankshaft, the piston head having a substantially cylindrical shape and defining a piston head diameter, the elongate body having a width substantially equal to the head diameter along at least 33% of a length of the elongate body between the piston head and the crankshaft-bearing-region, the elongate body having a thickness less than the width, the at least one piston thereby being configured to be slidably received in a corresponding piston-cylinder; andthe elongate body further comprises one or more oil pathways configured to deliver oil to the crankshaft-bearing-region and the corresponding piston-cylinder, at least partially in response to reciprocation of the at least one piston within the corresponding piston-cylinder. 32. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 31, wherein: the one or more oil pathways includes a first oil pathway disposed length-wise along at least a portion of the elongate body;the first oil pathway is structured to provide oil to lubricate surfaces between the elongate body and the corresponding piston-cylinder;the one or more oil pathways further includes at least a second oil pathway disposed perpendicular to the first oil pathway in an arcuate wall of the elongate body; andthe second oil pathway is structured to provide oil to lubricate surfaces between the crankshaft-bearing-region and the at least one piston-journal. 33. The crankshaft and bearing apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least one of the first or second piston cylinders further comprises a substantially cylindrical top-portion defining a diameter, and a narrow central-portion with a first width perpendicular to the central-axis-of-rotation, being substantially the same as the diameter, and a second width along the central-axis-of-rotation being substantially less than the diameter.
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