Drive for a machine comprising variable-stroke reciprocating pistons

Claim 2

A drive for a machine having variable-stroke reciprocating pistons, comprising: a shaft having an axis, said shaft being rotatably journalled in the machine; a plate, mounted on the shaft so that the plate cannot rotate with respect to the shaft around the shaft axis, said plate being mounted on the shaft so that the angle between the plate and the shaft axis can be varied and so that the plate is movable along the direction of the shaft axis; at least one piston comprising a piston rod having a piston rod head, said piston rod head having a side which faces the plate comprising a spherical surface; and means for slideably coupling the spherical surface of the piston rod head to the plate; CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the plate has a side which is remote from the piston rod, said side comprising a spherical cam which has a center of curvature which, when the piston rod is situated opposite the cam, coincides with the center of curvature of the spherical surface of the piston rod head; and the drive further comprises a structural member, rigidly coupled to the shaft, for supporting the cam.

Claim 3

A drive as claimed in claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the shaft has slots, the drive further comprising: a pin, having an axis extending transverse to the shaft axis, passing through the slots in the shaft, said plate being pivotable around the axis of the pin so that the angle between the plate and the shaft can be varied, said pin being movable along the direction of the shaft axis.

Claim 4

A drive as claimed in claim 2, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the means for slidably coupling the spherical surface of the piston rod head to the plate comprise: a sliding body which bears against a contact surface of the plate, said sliding body having a spherical cavity therein; and a ball, engaged between the spherical surface of the piston rod head and the spherical cavity in the sliding body.

Claim 5

A drive as claimed in claim 2, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the means for slidably coupling the spherical surface of the piston rod head to the plate comprise: a sliding body which bears against a contact surface of the plate, said sliding body having a spherical cavity therein, said spherical surface of the piston rod engaging said spherical cavity.

Claim 6

A drive as claimed in claim 3 or 4, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT: the shaft is hollow; the drive further comprises a piston movable inside the hollow shaft, said pin being journalled in the piston; and means for hydraulically controlling the position of the piston along the axis of the shaft.

Claim 7

A drive for a machine having variable-stroke reciprocating pistons, comprising: a shaft having an axis, said shaft being rotatably journalled in the machine; a plate, mounted on the shaft so that the plate cannot rotate with respect to the shaft around the shaft axis, said plate being mounted on the shaft so that the angle between the plate and the shaft axis can be varied, by pivoting the plate around a plate axis, and so that the plate is movable along the direction of the shaft axis; at least one piston comprising a piston rod having a piston rod head, said piston rod head having a side which faces the plate comprising a spherical surface; and means for slideably coupling the splerical surface of the piston rod head to the plate; CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the plate has a side which is remote from the piston rod, said side comprising a cam having a cam surface; the drive further comprises a structural member, rigidly coupled to the shaft, for supporting the cam via the cam surface; said cam has a cross section which passes through said cam surface and which is substantially at least a portion of a circle having an axis which is parallel to the plate axis, the axis of said circle passing through the center of curvature of said spherical surface of the piston rod head when the piston rod is situated opposite the cam.

Claim 8

A drive for a machine having variable-stroke reciprocating pistons, comprising: a shaft having an axis, said shaft being rotatably journalled in the machine; a plate, mounted on the shaft so that the plate cannot rotate with respect to the shaft around the shaft axis, said plate being mounted on the shaft so that the angle between the plate and the shaft axis can be varied, by pivoting the plate around a plate axis, and so that the plate is movable along the direction of the shaft axis; at least one piston comprising a piston rod having a piston rod head, said piston rod head having a side which faces the plate comprising a spherical surface; and means for slideably coupling the splerical surface of the piston rod head to the plate; CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the plate has a side which is remote from the piston rod, said side comprising a cam having a cam surface; the drive further comprises a structural member, rigidly coupled to the shaft, for supporting the cam via the cam surface; said cam has a cross section which passes through said cam surface and which is substantially at least a portion of a circle having an axis which is parallel to the plate axis, the axis of said circle passing through the center of curvature of said spherical surface of the piston rod head when the piston rod is situated opposite the cam.