Patent US3636779A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3636779A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Valve drive mechanism
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-12-05
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Granted: 1972-01-25
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Expires: 1989-12-05
Abstract
Abstract Drive mechanism includes a rotatably mounted, canted cylindrical land on which is journaled a drive assembly retained against rotation but permitted to move in a longitudinal direction, whereby rotation of the cylindrical land causes a nutating or wobbling movement of the drive assembly which is transmitted to an output device through a suitable link connection.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard J Lappin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:39
CPC Classifications
F; F15; F15B; F15B13/00; F15B13/02; F15B13/06; F15B13/08; F01; F01B; F01B3/00; F01B3/02; G; G05; G05G; G05G13/00; G05G2700/00; G05G2700/22; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18056; Y10T74/18296; Y10T74/18336; Y10T74/18568
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A drive mechanism for converting rotary motion to linear motion and vice versa comprising a rotatably mounted shaft having a canted cylindrical land thereon for rotation with said shaft, a drive assembly journaled on said cylindrical land for relative rotation, a guide assembly extending radially outwardly from said drive assembly, means for limiting movement of said guide assembly in an arcuate path generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, whereby rotation of said shaft and canted cylindrical land causes a nutating movement of said drive assembly and arcuate movement of said guide assembly, and means for converting such arcuate movement of said guide assembly to linear movement, said drive assembly comprising a sleeve bearing-mounted on said cylindrical land, and said guide assembly including a guide shaft extending radially outwardly from said sleeve, said means for limiting movement of said guide assembly in an arcuate path comprising a fixed guide member having a slot therein extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, and a roller on said guide shaft received in said slot, said means for converting arcuate movement of said guide assembly to linear movement comprising a link having a spherical bearing engaged by a ball on said guide shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
A drive mechanism for converting rotary motion to linear motion and vice versa comprising a rotatably mounted shaft having a canted cylindrical land thereon for rotation with said shaft, a drive assembly journaled on said cylindrical land for relative rotation, a guide assembly extending radially outwardly from said drive assembly, means for limiting movement of said guide assembly in an arcuate path generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, whereby rotation of said shaft and canted cylindrical land causes a nutating movement of said drive assembly and arcuate movement of said guide assembly, and means for converting such arcuate movement of said guide assembly to linear movement, said drive assembly comprising a sleeve bearing-mounted on said cylindrical land, and said guide assembly including a guide shaft extending radially outwardly from said sleeve, said means for limiting movement of said guide assembly in an arcuate path comprising a fixed guide member having a slot therein extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, and a roller on said guide shaft received in said slot, said means for converting arcuate movement of said guide assembly to linear movement comprising a link having a spherical bearing engaged by a ball on said guide shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The drive mechanism of claim 1 wherein said sleeve bearing, guide roller, and spherical bearing are lightly preloaded to remove internal clearances.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The drive mechanism of claim 1 wherein said link includes a rigid portion for connection to a linear output device, and a semiflexible portion which accommodates the rise and fall at spherical bearing during such arcuate movement by slight deflection thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The drive mechanism of claim 3 wherein said output device is a valve plunger, and said rigid portion of said link has a threaded connection with said valve plunger to facilitate assembly and adjustment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The drive mechanism of claim 4 further comprising a spring-centering mechanism for urging said valve plunger to neutral position, the force of said spring-centering mechanism being relatively light and readily overcome upon application of a turning torque to said shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The drive mechanism of claim 1 wherein the centerline of symmetry of said cylindrical land forms a common trisection point with the longitudinal axis of said shaft and the central plane of said drive assembly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The drive mechanism of claim 6 wherein the central plane of said drive assembly coincides with the central plane of said sleeve bearing and the centerline of said guide assembly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The drive mechanism of claim 6 wherein the arc of travel of said guide assembly lies in a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of said shaft and has its center at the common trisection point.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The drive mechanism of claim 1 wherein said link includes a rigid portion for connection to a linear output device, and means for adjusting the length of said rigid portion for adjusting the neutral position of such linear output device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The drive mechanism of claim 1 wherein said ball is mounted on said guide shaft radially inwardly of said roller.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The drive mechanism of claim 10 further comprising spacer means on said guide shaft on opposite sides of said ball for permitting said spherical bearing to rotate about said ball without contacting said sleeve.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
192 words
A drive mechanism for converting rotary motion to linear motion and vice versa comprising a rotatAbly mounted shaft having a canted cylindrical land thereon for rotation with said shaft, a drive assembly journaled on said cylindrical land for relative rotation, a guide assembly extending radially outwardly from said drive assembly, means for limiting movement of said guide assembly in an arcuate path generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, whereby rotation of said shaft and canted cylindrical land causes a nutating movement of said drive assembly and arcuate movement of said guide assembly, means for converting such arcuate movement of said guide assembly to linear movement, and a control handle assembly affixed to said shaft for rotating said shaft, said control handle assembly including a housing, a second shaft extending transversely through said housing and mounted for rotation about the axis of said second shaft, control handles on the outer ends of said second shaft, a rod extending through a central opening in said shaft, and means connecting said rod to said second shaft for reciprocating said rod during rotation of said second shaft by rotation of said control handles.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
192 words
A drive mechanism for converting rotary motion to linear motion and vice versa comprising a rotatAbly mounted shaft having a canted cylindrical land thereon for rotation with said shaft, a drive assembly journaled on said cylindrical land for relative rotation, a guide assembly extending radially outwardly from said drive assembly, means for limiting movement of said guide assembly in an arcuate path generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, whereby rotation of said shaft and canted cylindrical land causes a nutating movement of said drive assembly and arcuate movement of said guide assembly, means for converting such arcuate movement of said guide assembly to linear movement, and a control handle assembly affixed to said shaft for rotating said shaft, said control handle assembly including a housing, a second shaft extending transversely through said housing and mounted for rotation about the axis of said second shaft, control handles on the outer ends of said second shaft, a rod extending through a central opening in said shaft, and means connecting said rod to said second shaft for reciprocating said rod during rotation of said second shaft by rotation of said control handles.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The drive mechanism of claim 12 wherein said means connecting said rod to said second shaft comprises a projection on said second shaft intermediate the ends thereof, and a clevis pivotally mounted to said projection, said rod being connected to said clevis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
166 words
A drive mechanism for converting rotary motion of a shaft to linear movement of a valve plunger comprising a housing, a shaft journaled in said housing for rotation, said shaft having a canted cylindrical land thereon for rotation with said shaft, a drive assembly comprising a sleeve journaled on said cylindrical land for relative rotation, a guide assembly attached to said sleeve and extending radially therefrom, means for limiting movement of said guide assembly in an arcuate path parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, whereby rotation of said shaft and canted cylindrical land causes a nutating movement of said drive assembly and arcuate movement of said guide assembly, a valve plunger, means mounting said valve plunger for linear movement, means for converting such arcuate movement of said guide assembly to linear movement of said valve plunger, and a spring-centering mechanism for returning said valve plunger and thus said drive assembly to a neutral position when there is no turning force applied to said shaft.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
166 words
A drive mechanism for converting rotary motion of a shaft to linear movement of a valve plunger comprising a housing, a shaft journaled in said housing for rotation, said shaft having a canted cylindrical land thereon for rotation with said shaft, a drive assembly comprising a sleeve journaled on said cylindrical land for relative rotation, a guide assembly attached to said sleeve and extending radially therefrom, means for limiting movement of said guide assembly in an arcuate path parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, whereby rotation of said shaft and canted cylindrical land causes a nutating movement of said drive assembly and arcuate movement of said guide assembly, a valve plunger, means mounting said valve plunger for linear movement, means for converting such arcuate movement of said guide assembly to linear movement of said valve plunger, and a spring-centering mechanism for returning said valve plunger and thus said drive assembly to a neutral position when there is no turning force applied to said shaft.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
The drive mechanism of claim 14 wherein said means for converting arcuate movement of said guide assembly to linear movement of said valve plunger comprises a link interconnecting said valve plunger and guide assembly, and means for adjusting the length of said link for adjusting the neutral position of said valve plunger.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
The drive mechanism of claim 14 wherein said means for converting arcuate movement of said guide assembly to linear movement of said valve plunger comprises a link interconnecting said valve plunger and guide assembly, said link including a rigid portion for connection to said valve plunger, and a semiflexible portion which accommodates such arcuate movement of said guide assembly.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-24 | 1975-07-26 | 1976-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-24 | 1979-07-26 | 1980-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-24 | 1983-07-26 | 1984-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |