Motion converter assembly

Claim 2

A motion converter assembly comprising: a pivotal member having a rotatably supported portion and an angularly movable end portion; a fixed rigid member adjacent said end portion and having an arcuate slot therein, the slot being transverse to said end portion and having an apex located closer to said rotatably supported portion than the remainder thereof; an elongated member in abutting engagement with said end portion and slidable linearly in said slot; and means for moving said elongated member translationally in the direction of said end portion and thus developing a variable torque.

Claim 3

A motion converter assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the slot includes linearly extended portions.

Claim 4

A motion converter assembly comprising: a shaft rotatable about its longitudinal axis; an arm member fixed to the shaft and rotatable therewith in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft; a fixed rigid member adjacent the arm member and having therein an arcuate slot the apex of which lies closer to said axis than the remainder thereof; a movable member in engagement with the arm member at one side of the shaft and slidable linearly within the slot; and means connected to the movable member for moving the movable member in the direction of the arm member and for consequently developing a variable torque for rotating the shaft.

Claim 5

A motion converter assembly comprising: a shaft rotatable about its longitudinal axis; an arm member fixed to the shaft and rotatable therewith in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft; a fixed rigid member adjacent the arm member and having therein an arcuate slot the apex of which lies closer to said axis than the remainder thereof; a movable member in engagement with the arm member at one side of the shaft and slidable linearly within the slot; and means connected to the movable member for moving the movable member in the direction of the arm member and for consequently developing a variable torque for rotating the shaft.

Claim 6

A motion converter assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means includes a translationally movable, elongated member adjacent and parallel with the slot; and the movable member comprises a pin extending from the elongated member, the pin being in abutting engagement with the arm member and slidable linearly in the slot.

Claim 7

A motion converter assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein a rotatable sleeve encircles said pin.

Claim 8

A motion converter assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said elongated member comprises a pivotally supported rod.

Claim 9

A motion converter assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means further includes a piston pivotally connected to said elongated member.

Claim 10

A motion converter assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means also includes a hollow cylinder and said piston being slidable therein.

Claim 11

A motion converter assembly comprising: a shaft rotatable about its longitudinal axis; an arm member fixed to the shaft and rotatable therewith in a plane perpendicular to said axis, the arm member having a longitudinally extending surface transverse to said plane; a fixed rigid member located adjacent the arm member and having an arcuate slot adjacent and parallel with said plane, the slot having an apex located closer to the shaft than the remainder thereof; an elongated member adjacent and parallel with the slot; a pin supported by the elongated member, transverse thereto and extending radially therefrom, said pin having a transverse portion slidable linearly within the slot and a peripheral portion in abutting slidable engagement with said longitudinally extending surface; and means connected to the elongated member for sliding the transverse portion along the slot in the direction of the arm member and for consequently sliding the peripheral portion along the longitudinally extending surface while rotating the arm member, and thus developing a variable torque for rotating the shaft.

Claim 12

A motion converter assembly comprising: a shaft rotatable about its longitudinal axis; an arm member fixed to the shaft and rotatable therewith in a plane perpendicular to said axis, the arm member having a longitudinally extending surface transverse to said plane; a fixed rigid member located adjacent the arm member and having an arcuate slot adjacent and parallel with said plane, the slot having an apex located closer to the shaft than the remainder thereof; an elongated member adjacent and parallel with the slot; a pin supported by the elongated member, transverse thereto and extending radially therefrom, said pin having a transverse portion slidable linearly within the slot and a peripheral portion in abutting slidable engagement with said longitudinally extending surface; and means connected to the elongated member for sliding the transverse portion along the slot in the direction of the arm member and for consequently sliding the peripheral portion along the longitudinally extending surface while rotating the arm member, and thus developing a variable torque for rotating the shaft.

Claim 13

A motion converter assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said rigid member comprises a wall parallel with said plane, said elongated member being in said plane, and said longitudinally extending surface comprises a side surface of the arm member.

Claim 14

A motion converter assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said arcuate slot is a through slot and said transverse portion of the pin extends through the rigid wall.

Claim 15

A motion converter assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said rigid member comprises a wall parallel with said plane on one side of said arm member and said elongated member is parallel with said plane on the opposite side of the arm member.

Claim 16

A motion converter assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein the arm member has a longitudinally extending slot therein and said peripheral portion of the pin is in slidable engagement with a longitudinal side of the slot.

Claim 17

A motion converter assembly comprising: a shaft rotatable about its longitudinal axis; an arm member fixed to the shaft and rotatable therewith in a plane perpendicular to said axis; a fixed rigid member adjacent the shaft and having two spaced walls parallel with said plane and spaced from respective opposing surfaces of the arm member, the walls having therein respective arcuate slots transverse to the arm member and aligned With one another, each slot having a respective apex located closer to the shaft than the remainder of the associated slot; an elongated member between the walls, in alignment with the slots and transverse to the arm member; a pin transversely supported in the elongated member and extending radially therefrom, said pin having opposing end portions slidable linearly in a respective slot and a peripheral portion in abutting engagement with the arm member; and means connected to the elongated member for moving said elongated member translationally in the direction of the arm member and consequently developing a variable torque for rotating the shaft.

Claim 18

A motion converter assembly comprising: a shaft rotatable about its longitudinal axis; an arm member fixed to the shaft and rotatable therewith in a plane perpendicular to said axis; a fixed rigid member adjacent the shaft and having two spaced walls parallel with said plane and spaced from respective opposing surfaces of the arm member, the walls having therein respective arcuate slots transverse to the arm member and aligned With one another, each slot having a respective apex located closer to the shaft than the remainder of the associated slot; an elongated member between the walls, in alignment with the slots and transverse to the arm member; a pin transversely supported in the elongated member and extending radially therefrom, said pin having opposing end portions slidable linearly in a respective slot and a peripheral portion in abutting engagement with the arm member; and means connected to the elongated member for moving said elongated member translationally in the direction of the arm member and consequently developing a variable torque for rotating the shaft.

Claim 19

A motion converter assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said arm member has a longitudinally extending slot therein and said peripheral portion of the pin is slidable linearly in the slot and in abutting engagement with a longitudinal side of the slot.

Claim 20

A motion converter assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said elongated member is a rod and said means includes a piston reciprocally slidable in a hollow cylinder and pivotally connected to the rod.

Claim 21

A motion converter assembly comprising: a pair of elongated hollow housings having spaced opposing longitudinal sides and having respective openings in said sides opposite one another; said side of each housing having respective opposing longitudinal edges attached to upper and lower walls of the housing, each upper wall having an axially extended through slot therein and aligned in opposing relationship with a similar through slot in the associated lower wall, each of said slots including an arcuate portion having an apex adjacent said longitudinal side of the respective housing; a shaft longitudinally extended in a perpendicular plane between the housings and spaced therefrom, said shaft being rotatable about its longitudinal axis; a rocker arm having a central portion fixedly attached to the shaft and opposing end portions within respective aligned openings in said longitudinal sides of the housings; two reciprocating actuators adjacent transversely aligned end portions of the housings, each actuator being axially aligned with a respective housing; two reciprocally movable rods, each rod being pivotally supported in a respective actuator extending axially therefrom into said aligned housing and having a terminal end portion axially extended within the interior of said aligned housing; and two pins, each pin being transversely supported in the terminal end portion of a respective rod and having opposite end portions slidable linearly in respective slots in the upper and lower walls of the respective housing, each pin also having a portion thereof slidable against a surface of said respective end portion of the rocker arm.

Claim 22

A motion converter assembly comprising: a pair of elongated hollow housings having spaced opposing longitudinal sides and having respective openings in said sides opposite one another; said side of each housing having respective opposing longitudinal edges attached to upper and lower walls of the housing, each upper wall having an axially extended through slot therein and aligned in opposing relationship with a similar through slot in the associated lower wall, each of said slots including an arcuate portion having an apex adjacent said longitudinal side of the respective housing; a shaft longitudinally extended in a perpendicular plane between the housings and spaced therefrom, said shaft being rotatable about its longitudinal axis; a rocker arm having a central portion fixedly attached to the shaft and opposing end portions within respective aligned openings in said longitudinal sides of the housings; two reciprocating actuators adjacent transversely aligned end portions of the housings, each actuator being axially aligned with a respective housing; two reciprocally movable rods, each rod being pivotally supported in a respective actuator extending axially therefrom into said aligned housing and having a terminal end portion axially extended within the interior of said aligned housing; and two pins, each pin being transversely supported in the terminal end portion of a respective rod and having opposite end portions slidable linearly in respective slots in the upper and lower walls of the respective housing, each pin also having a portion thereof slidable against a surface of said respective end portion of the rocker arm.

Claim 23

A motion converter assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said end portion surfaces comprise respective side surfaces of said end portions.

Claim 24

A motion converter assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said end portions of the rocker have respective longitudinal slots therein and said pins are slidable linearly within respective longitudinal slots, each pin having a peripheral portion thereof in abutting engagement with a longitudinally extending side surface of the associated slot.