US3869928A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Unidirectional rotation actuator
Assignee: Tokico Ltd
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Filing: 1973-09-04
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Granted: 1975-03-11
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Expires: 1993-09-04
Abstract
Abstract A unidirectional rotation actuator comprising a cylinder, a piston for undergoing sliding reciprocation within the cylinder, a cam groove formed in either the cylinder or piston in the surface thereof confronting the other, and a cam follower secured to the other confronting surface and engaged with the cam groove, the cam groove having a shape such that the piston, as it is driven by a working fluid in reciprocating motion, is simultaneously rotated intermittently in only one direction relative to the cylinder. For this purpose, the cam groove comprises a plurality of straight groove parts of alternately different inclinations in zigzag configuration and guide groove parts positioned at and forming junctures of adjacent straight groove parts, each guide groove part functioning to guide the cam follower which has relatively passed along one straight groove part into the succeeding straight groove part.
Inventors
- 👤 Akemi Ishii
- 👤 Syotaro Suda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 11:34
CPC Classifications
F; F15; F15B; F15B15/00; F15B15/02; F15B15/06; F15B15/068; F16; F16H; F16H27/00; F16H27/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/1856
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
A unidirectional rotation actuator comprising: a cylinder of hollow cylindrical shape; a piston fitted within the cylinder so as to be rotatable about and slidable along the axis of the cylinder relative thereto; means for driving the piston in reciprocating sliding motion relative to the cylinder in the axial direction thereof; said piston having an outer cylindrical surface facing the inner cylindrical surface of the cylinder, one of said surfaces having a cam groove therein of a zigzag shape including in continuous alternate combination, substantially straight groove parts of the same inclination in respectively different directions joined end-to-end at bends in the zigzag shape; and a cam follower member fixed to and projecting from the other of said surfaces into engagement in the cam groove, said cam groove having guide groove portions respectively provided at said bends, each of said guide groove portions being so shaped that, in concurrence with sliding in one direction of the piston relative to the cylinder, the cam follower member is permitted to advance further along the centerline of one straight groove part of the cam groove beyond the intersection of said centerline and the centerline of the succeeding adjacent straight groove part and, then, in concurrence with sliding of the piston in the direction opposite to said one direction, is permitted to undergo displacement in said sliding direction thereby to abut relatively against one wall surface of said adjacent straight groove part, and said piston being intermittently rotated in each sliding motion in one direction and the reverse direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
A unidirectional rotation actuator comprising: a cylinder of hollow cylindrical shape; a piston fitted within the cylinder so as to be rotatable about and slidable along the axis of the cylinder relative thereto; means for driving the piston in reciprocating sliding motion relative to the cylinder in the axial direction thereof; said piston having an outer cylindrical surface facing the inner cylindrical surface of the cylinder, one of said surfaces having a cam groove therein of a zigzag shape including in continuous alternate combination, substantially straight groove parts of the same inclination in respectively different directions joined end-to-end at bends in the zigzag shape; and a cam follower member fixed to and projecting from the other of said surfaces into engagement in the cam groove, said cam groove having guide groove portions respectively provided at said bends, each of said guide groove portions being so shaped that, in concurrence with sliding in one direction of the piston relative to the cylinder, the cam follower member is permitted to advance further along the centerline of one straight groove part of the cam groove beyond the intersection of said centerline and the centerline of the succeeding adjacent straight groove part and, then, in concurrence with sliding of the piston in the direction opposite to said one direction, is permitted to undergo displacement in said sliding direction thereby to abut relatively against one wall surface of said adjacent straight groove part, and said piston being intermittently rotated in each sliding motion in one direction and the reverse direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
255 words
A unidirectional rotation actuator comprising: a cylinder of hollow cylindrical shape; a piston fitted within the cylinder so as to be rotatable about and slidable along the axis of the cylinder relative thereto; means for driving the piston in reciprocating sliding motion relative to the cylinder in the axial direction thereof; said piston having an outer cylindrical surface facing the inner cylindrical surface of the cylinder, one of said surfaces having a cam groove therein of a zigzag shape including in continuous alternate combination, substantially straight groove parts of the same inclination in respectively different directions joined end-to-end at bends in the zigzag shape; and a cam follower member fixed to and projecting from the other of said surfaces into engagement in the cam groove, said cam groove having guide groove portions respectively provided at said bends, each of said guide groove portions being so shaped that, in concurrence with sliding in one direction of the piston relative to the cylinder, the cam follower member is permitted to advance further along the centerline of one straight groove part of the cam groove beyond the intersection of said centerline and the centerline of the succeeding adjacent straight groove part and, then, in concurrence with sliding of the piston in the direction opposite to said one direction, is permitted to undergo displacement in said sliding direction thereby to abut relatively against one wall surface of said adjacent straight groove part, and said piston being intermittently rotated in each sliding motion in one direction and the reverse direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
255 words
A unidirectional rotation actuator comprising: a cylinder of hollow cylindrical shape; a piston fitted within the cylinder so as to be rotatable about and slidable along the axis of the cylinder relative thereto; means for driving the piston in reciprocating sliding motion relative to the cylinder in the axial direction thereof; said piston having an outer cylindrical surface facing the inner cylindrical surface of the cylinder, one of said surfaces having a cam groove therein of a zigzag shape including in continuous alternate combination, substantially straight groove parts of the same inclination in respectively different directions joined end-to-end at bends in the zigzag shape; and a cam follower member fixed to and projecting from the other of said surfaces into engagement in the cam groove, said cam groove having guide groove portions respectively provided at said bends, each of said guide groove portions being so shaped that, in concurrence with sliding in one direction of the piston relative to the cylinder, the cam follower member is permitted to advance further along the centerline of one straight groove part of the cam groove beyond the intersection of said centerline and the centerline of the succeeding adjacent straight groove part and, then, in concurrence with sliding of the piston in the direction opposite to said one direction, is permitted to undergo displacement in said sliding direction thereby to abut relatively against one wall surface of said adjacent straight groove part, and said piston being intermittently rotated in each sliding motion in one direction and the reverse direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A unidirectional rotation actuator as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a rotatable shaft mounted centrally in said piston and extending axially thereof such that the rotatable shaft rotates unitarily with said piston and is slidable relative to the piston but not slidable relative to the cylinder.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3071015A
Cited
US3703104A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-10 | 1978-09-09 | 1979-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-10 | 1982-09-09 | 1983-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-10 | 1986-09-09 | 1987-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |