Fixed stroke piston machines with improved counterbalancing and driving mechanism

Claim 2

A counterbalanced fixed stroke piston machine comprising a first movable member serving as a slider member, a housing including guide means supporting the slider member for straightline reciprocating movement with its center of gravity moving along a desired longitudinal axis, a second movable member serving as a counterbalancer member also supported for straightline reciprocating movement with its center of gravity moving along the same longitudinal axis, interconnecting mechanism connecting the first and second movable members for Counterbalancing, straight-line movement of such members in opposite directions to each other along said axis at all times, said housing comprising at least a first cylinder wall portion in coaxial alignment with said longitudinal axis, at least a first fixed stroke piston portion, with at least one piston face, movable within said cylinder wall portion and associated with and reciprocating longitudinally as a unit as at least part of one of the slider and counterbalancer members, thereby providing at least part of a first variable volume cylinder chamber within the first cylinder wall portion, a counterbalanced single-throw rotary crankshaft member extending generally crosswise with reference to said longitudinal axis and having a single-throw crank portion and a counterbalancing portion thereon, and a connecting rod having one end pivotally connected to said crank portion and a second end pivotally connected to the slider member for transmission of desired forces from one of said rotary crankshaft and reciprocating slider members to the other, said interconnecting mechanism having a symmetrical force transmitting and balancing arrangement including at least two gear members rotatably supported for rotation on supporting axes extending crosswise of said longitudinal axis and spaced symmetrically from each other around and outwardly from said longitudinal axis, an inner rack portion reciprocating longitudinally as a unit with one of said first and second movable members, said inner rack portion having at least two rigidly interconnected inner racks with teeth projecting outwardly away from each other and respectively engaging the corresponding gear members and guiding the inner rack portion for floating movement along said longitudinal axis between said gear members, and an outer rack portion having at least two outer racks reciprocating longitudinally as a unit with the other of said first and second movable members, said outer racks being spaced outwardly from and parallel to the inner racks and having teeth projecting inwardly and respectively engaging the corresponding gear members, said outer rack portion including a frame member moving as a unit with said outer racks and rigidly interconnecting said outer racks at a location close to said gear members and thereby guiding and supporting the outer racks on said gear members for floating movement along said longitudinal axis, and power means for applying a driving force to one of said crankshaft, slider and counterbalancer members.

Claim 3

A counterbalanced fixed stroke piston machine according to claim 1 in which the rack portion which reciprocates longitudinally as a unit with the slider member is spaced longitudinally from that part of the slider member which engages the guide means and has a pivotal connection to that part of the slider member for limited pivotal movement on an axis extending crosswise of the longitudinal axis for insuring smooth linear reciprocation of that part of the slider member on the guide means and floating movement of the last-mentioned rack portion and its racks in their engagement with the rotatably supported gear members.

Claim 4

A counterbalanced fixed stroke piston machine according to claim 1 in which the mass of the second movable member, including all portions moving longitudinally as a unit therewith, exceeds the mass of the first movable member, including all portions other than the connecting rod moving longitudinally as a unit therewith, by an amount equal to only a portion of the total connecting rod mass, and in which the mass of the counterbalancing portion of the crankshaft exceeds the mass required to counterbalance only the single-throw crank portion by an amount equal to only a portion of the mass required to balance the total connecting rod mass, and in which the rotatably supported gear members are pinions.

Claim 5

A counterbalanced fixed stroke piston machine according to claim 1 further comprising a second cylinder wall portion in coaxial alignment with said longitudinAl axis, and a second piston portion with a second piston face, associated with and reciprocating longitudinally as a unit as at least part of one of the first and second movable members, the relative axial locations and constructions of the respective cylinder wall and piston portions and the particular movable member with which each piston portion and piston face moves as a unit providing at least first and second variable volume cylinder chambers in the machine.

Claim 6

A counterbalanced fixed stroke piston machine according to claim 4 having a first piston portion moving longitudinally as a unit as at least part of said slider member and a second piston portion moving as a unit as at least part of said counterbalancer member.

Claim 7

A counterbalanced fixed stroke piston machine according to claim 4, having first and second piston portions moving longitudinally as a unit as at least part of said slider member.

Claim 8

A counterbalanced fixed stroke piston machine according to claim 4 having first and second piston portions moving longitudinally as a unit as at least part of said counterbalancer member.

Claim 9

A counterbalanced fixed stroke piston machine having an improved counterbalancing and driving mechanism, said piston machine comprising a first movable member serving as a slider member, guide means supporting the slider member for straight-line reciprocating movement with its center of gravity moving along a desired longitudinal axis, a second movable member serving as a counterbalancer member also supported for straight-line reciprocating movememt with its center of gravity moving along the same longitudinal axis, interconnecting mechanism connecting the first and second movable members for counterbalancing, stratight-line movement of such members in opposite directions to each other along said axis at all times, at least a first fixed stroke piston portion, with at least one piston face, and a second piston portion, said first and second piston portions being associated with and reciprocating longitudinally as a unit as at least part of the slider member, a counterbalanced single-throw rotary crankshaft member extending generally crosswise with reference to said longitudinal axis and having a single-throw crank portion and a counterbalancing portion thereon, and a connecting rod having one end pivotally connected to said crank portion and a second end pivotally connected to the slider member for transmission of desired forces from one of said rotary crankshaft and reciprocating slider members to the other, the first and second piston portions being spaced from each other along said longitudinal axis on opposite sides of said singlethrow crank shaft, said interconnecting mechanism including at least two gear members rotatably supported for rotation on supporting axes extending crosswise of said longitudinal axis and spaced symmetrically from each other around and outwardly from said longitudinal axis, an inner rack portion reciprocating longitudinally as a unit with one of said first and second movable members, said inner rack portion having at least two inner racks with teeth projecting outwardly away from each other and respectively engaging the corresponding gear members and guiding the inner rack portion for floating movement along said longitudinal axis between said gear members, and an outer rack portion having at least two outer racks reciprocating longitudinally as a unit with the other of said first and second movable members, said outer racks being spaced outwardly from and parallel to the inner racks and having teeth projecting inwardly and respectively engaging the corresponding gear members, said outer rack portion including a frame member moving as a unit with said outer racks and rigidly interconnecting said outer racks at a location close to said gear members and thereby guiding and supporting the outer racks on said gear members for floating movement along said longitudinal axis, and power means for applying a driving force to one of said crankshaft, slider and counterbalancer members, said power means consisting of a rotary driving connection on said crankshaft member.

Claim 10

A counterbalanced fixed stroke piston machine having an improved counterbalancing and driving mechanism, said piston machine comprising a first movable member serving as a slider member, guide means supporting the slider member for straight-line reciprocating movement with its center of gravity moving along a desired longitudinal axis, a second movable member serving as a counterbalancer member also supported for straight-line reciprocating movememt with its center of gravity moving along the same longitudinal axis, interconnecting mechanism connecting the first and second movable members for counterbalancing, stratight-line movement of such members in opposite directions to each other along said axis at all times, at least a first fixed stroke piston portion, with at least one piston face, and a second piston portion, said first and second piston portions being associated with and reciprocating longitudinally as a unit as at least part of the slider member, a counterbalanced single-throw rotary crankshaft member extending generally crosswise with reference to said longitudinal axis and having a single-throw crank portion and a counterbalancing portion thereon, and a connecting rod having one end pivotally connected to said crank portion and a second end pivotally connected to the slider member for transmission of desired forces from one of said rotary crankshaft and reciprocating slider members to the other, the first and second piston portions being spaced from each other along said longitudinal axis on opposite sides of said singlethrow crank shaft, said interconnecting mechanism including at least two gear members rotatably supported for rotation on supporting axes extending crosswise of said longitudinal axis and spaced symmetrically from each other around and outwardly from said longitudinal axis, an inner rack portion reciprocating longitudinally as a unit with one of said first and second movable members, said inner rack portion having at least two inner racks with teeth projecting outwardly away from each other and respectively engaging the corresponding gear members and guiding the inner rack portion for floating movement along said longitudinal axis between said gear members, and an outer rack portion having at least two outer racks reciprocating longitudinally as a unit with the other of said first and second movable members, said outer racks being spaced outwardly from and parallel to the inner racks and having teeth projecting inwardly and respectively engaging the corresponding gear members, said outer rack portion including a frame member moving as a unit with said outer racks and rigidly interconnecting said outer racks at a location close to said gear members and thereby guiding and supporting the outer racks on said gear members for floating movement along said longitudinal axis, and power means for applying a driving force to one of said crankshaft, slider and counterbalancer members, said power means consisting of a rotary driving connection on said crankshaft member.

Claim 11

A counterbalanced fixed stroke piston machine having an improved counterbalancing and driving mechanism said piston machine comprising a first movable member serving as a slider member, guide means supporting the slider member for straight-line reciprocating movement with its center of gravity moving along a desired longitudinal axis, a second movable member serving as a counterbalancer member also supported for straight-line reciprocating movement with its center of gravity moving along the same longitudinal axis, interconnecting mechanism connecting the first and second movable members for counterbalancing, straight-line movement of such members in opposite directions to each other along said axis at all times, at least a first fixed stroke piston portion, with at least one piston face, and a second piston portion, said first and second piston portions being associated with and reciprocating longitudinally as a unit as at least part of the counterbalancer member, and another piston portion moving longitudinally as a unit as at least part of said slider member, a counterbalanced single-throw rotary crankshaft member extending generally crosswise with reference to said longitudinal axis and having a single-throw crank portion and a counterbalancing portion thereon, and a connecting rod having one end pivotally connected to said crank portion and a second end pivotally connected to the slider member for transmission of desired forces from one of said rotary crankshaft and reciprocating slider members to the other, said interconnecting mechanism including at least two gear members rotatably supported for rotation on supporting axes extending crosswise of said longitudinal axis and spaced symmetrically from each other around and outwardly from said longitudinal axis, an inner rack portion reciprocating longitudinally as a unit with one of said first and second movable members, said inner rack portion having at least two inner racks with teeth projecting outwardly away from each other and respectively engaging the corresponding gear members and guiding the inner rack portion for floating movement along said longitudinal axis between said gear members, and an outer rack portion having at least two outer racks reciprocating longitudinally as a unit with the other of said first and second movable members, said outer racks being spaced outwardly from and parallel to the inner racks and having teeth projecting inwardly and respectively engaging the corresponding gear members, said outer rack portion including a frame member moving as a unit with said outer racks and rigidly interconnecting said outer racks at a location close to said gear members and thereby guiding and supporting the outer racks on said gear members for floating movement along said longitudinal axis, and power means for applying a driving force to one of said crankshaft, slider and counterbalancer members, said power means consisting of a rotary driving connection on said crankshaft member.

Claim 12

A counterbalanced fixed stroke piston machine having an improved counterbalancing and driving mechanism said piston machine comprising a first movable member serving as a slider member, guide means supporting the slider member for straight-line reciprocating movement with its center of gravity moving along a desired longitudinal axis, a second movable member serving as a counterbalancer member also supported for straight-line reciprocating movement with its center of gravity moving along the same longitudinal axis, interconnecting mechanism connecting the first and second movable members for counterbalancing, straight-line movement of such members in opposite directions to each other along said axis at all times, at least a first fixed stroke piston portion, with at least one piston face, and a second piston portion, said first and second piston portions being associated with and reciprocating longitudinally as a unit as at least part of the counterbalancer member, and another piston portion moving longitudinally as a unit as at least part of said slider member, a counterbalanced single-throw rotary crankshaft member extending generally crosswise with reference to said longitudinal axis and having a single-throw crank portion and a counterbalancing portion thereon, and a connecting rod having one end pivotally connected to said crank portion and a second end pivotally connected to the slider member for transmission of desired forces from one of said rotary crankshaft and reciprocating slider members to the other, said interconnecting mechanism including at least two gear members rotatably supported for rotation on supporting axes extending crosswise of said longitudinal axis and spaced symmetrically from each other around and outwardly from said longitudinal axis, an inner rack portion reciprocating longitudinally as a unit with one of said first and second movable members, said inner rack portion having at least two inner racks with teeth projecting outwardly away from each other and respectively engaging the corresponding gear members and guiding the inner rack portion for floating movement along said longitudinal axis between said gear members, and an outer rack portion having at least two outer racks reciprocating longitudinally as a unit with the other of said first and second movable members, said outer racks being spaced outwardly from and parallel to the inner racks and having teeth projecting inwardly and respectively engaging the corresponding gear members, said outer rack portion including a frame member moving as a unit with said outer racks and rigidly interconnecting said outer racks at a location close to said gear members and thereby guiding and supporting the outer racks on said gear members for floating movement along said longitudinal axis, and power means for applying a driving force to one of said crankshaft, slider and counterbalancer members, said power means consisting of a rotary driving connection on said crankshaft member.

Claim 13

A counterbalanced fixed stroke piston machine constituting a compressor assembly having an improved counterbalancing and driving mechanism, said piston machine comprising a first movable member serving as a slider member, guide means supporting the slider member for straight-line reciprocating movement with its center of gravity moving along a desired longitudinal axis, a second movable member serving as a counterbalancer member also supported for straight-line reciprocating movement with its center of gravity moving along the same longitudinal axis, interconnecting mechanism connecting the first and second movable members for counterbalancing, straight-line movement of such members in opposite directions to each other along said axis at all times, said compressor assembly further comprising first and second cylinder wall portions in coaxial alignment with said longitudinal axis, a first fixed stroke piston portion, with at least one piston face, associated with and reciprocating longitudinally as a unit as at least part of one of the slider and counterbalancer members, and a second piston portion with a second piston face, associated with and reciprocating longitudinally as a unit as at least part of one of the first and second movable members, the relative axial locations of the respective cylinder wall and piston portions and the particular movable member with which each piston portion and piston face moves as a unit providing at least a first compression chamber and a second compression chamber, a counterbalanced single-throw rotary crankshaft member extending generally crosswise with reference to said longitudinal axis and having a single-throw crank portion and a counterbalancing portion thereon, and a connecting rod having one end pivotally connected to said crank portion and a second end pivotally connected to the slider member for transmission of desired forces from one of said rotary crankshaft and reciprocating slider members to the other, said interconnecting mechanism including at least two gear members rotatably supported for rotation on supporting axes extending crosswise of said longitudinal axis and spaced symmetrically from each other around and outwardly from said longitudinal axis, an inner rack portion reciprocating longitudinally as a unit with one of said first and second movable members, said inner rack portion ahving at least two inner racks with teeth projecting outwardly away from each other and respectively engaging the corresponding gear members and guiding the inner rack portion for floating movement along said longitudinal axis between said gear members, and an outer rack portion having at least two outer racks reciprocating longitudinally as a unit with the other of said first and second movable members, said outer racks being spaced outwardly from and parallel to the inner racks and having teeth projecting inwardly and respectively engaging the corresponding gear members, said outer rack portion including a frame member moving as a unit with said outer racks and rigidly interconnecting said outer racks at a location close to said gear members and thereby guiding and supporting the outer racks on said gear members for floating movement along said longitudinal axis, and power means for applying a driving force to one of said crankshaft, slider and counterbalancer members, said power means consisting of a rotary driving connection on said crankshaft member.

Claim 14

A counterbalanced fixed stroke piston machine constituting a compressor assembly having an improved counterbalancing and driving mechanism, said piston machine comprising a first movable member serving as a slider member, guide means supporting the slider member for straight-line reciprocating movement with its center of gravity moving along a desired longitudinal axis, a second movable member serving as a counterbalancer member also supported for straight-line reciprocating movement with its center of gravity moving along the same longitudinal axis, interconnecting mechanism connecting the first and second movable members for counterbalancing, straight-line movement of such members in opposite directions to each other along said axis at all times, said compressor assembly further comprising first and second cylinder wall portions in coaxial alignment with said longitudinal axis, a first fixed stroke piston portion, with at least one piston face, associated with and reciprocating longitudinally as a unit as at least part of one of the slider and counterbalancer members, and a second piston portion with a second piston face, associated with and reciprocating longitudinally as a unit as at least part of one of the first and second movable members, the relative axial locations of the respective cylinder wall and piston portions and the particular movable member with which each piston portion and piston face moves as a unit providing at least a first compression chamber and a second compression chamber, a counterbalanced single-throw rotary crankshaft member extending generally crosswise with reference to said longitudinal axis and having a single-throw crank portion and a counterbalancing portion thereon, and a connecting rod having one end pivotally connected to said crank portion and a second end pivotally connected to the slider member for transmission of desired forces from one of said rotary crankshaft and reciprocating slider members to the other, said interconnecting mechanism including at least two gear members rotatably supported for rotation on supporting axes extending crosswise of said longitudinal axis and spaced symmetrically from each other around and outwardly from said longitudinal axis, an inner rack portion reciprocating longitudinally as a unit with one of said first and second movable members, said inner rack portion ahving at least two inner racks with teeth projecting outwardly away from each other and respectively engaging the corresponding gear members and guiding the inner rack portion for floating movement along said longitudinal axis between said gear members, and an outer rack portion having at least two outer racks reciprocating longitudinally as a unit with the other of said first and second movable members, said outer racks being spaced outwardly from and parallel to the inner racks and having teeth projecting inwardly and respectively engaging the corresponding gear members, said outer rack portion including a frame member moving as a unit with said outer racks and rigidly interconnecting said outer racks at a location close to said gear members and thereby guiding and supporting the outer racks on said gear members for floating movement along said longitudinal axis, and power means for applying a driving force to one of said crankshaft, slider and counterbalancer members, said power means consisting of a rotary driving connection on said crankshaft member.

Claim 15

A compressor according to claim 10 in which the relative axial locations of the respective cylinder wall and piston portions, and the particular movable member with which each piston face moves as a unit, provide at least two compression chambers in one of which a compression stroke takes place during movement of the connecting rod generally longitudinally in one direction, and in the other of which a compression stroke takes place during movement of the connecting rod generally longitudinally in the opposite direction.

Claim 16

A compressor according to claim 10 in which the two cylinder wall portions are longitudinally adjacent to each other and constitute parts of a common cylinder within which the first and second piston portions provide opposite ends of a common compression chamber and are connected respectively to the slider and counterbalancer members.

Claim 17

An improved compressor according to claim 10 in which the two cylinder wall portions are longitudinally adjacent to each other and the two piston portions are parts of a single stepped piston member.

Claim 18

A plural chamber compressor assembly according to claim 10 in which the machine has a body portion and said cylinder wall portions are at fixed locations on the body portion.

Claim 19

A plural chamber compressor according to claim 14 in which said guide means is part of one of the cylinder wall portions.

Claim 20

A plural chamber compressor according to claim 15 in which one of said piston portions constitutes at least part of sAid slider member.

Claim 21

A compressor according to claim 10 in which the first and second cylinder wall portions are axially aligned portions of a common cylinder, and the common cylinder is positioned longitudinally between the crankshaft axis and the two rotatably supported gear members.

Claim 22

A compressor according to claim 10 in which the first and second cylinder wall portions and their respective first and second piston face portions are positioned along said longitudinal axis at opposite sides of said crankshaft axis, with the first and second piston face portions reciprocating as a unit as at least part of the movable slider member, and the two rotatably supported gear members being positioned longitudinally on the opposite side of the crankshaft from the connecting rod.