Rotational motion to reciprocating motion converter

Abstract

To provide a rotation motion / reciprocation motion conversion device which is simplified in a support structure of an oscillation member, is simple in attachment, and can perform a reciprocation circular motion at both end parts of the oscillation member.SOLUTION: A rotation motion / reciprocation motion conversion device comprises: at least two reciprocation motion members 4a, 4c which perform reciprocation motions; a rotation motion member 6 which performs a rotation motion; an oscillation member 7 for connecting the two reciprocation members 4a, 4c; and a Z-crank member 8 for connecting the oscillation member 7 and the rotation motion member 6. The rotation motion / reciprocation motion conversion device bi-directionally converts the rotation motion of the rotation motion member 6 and the reciprocation motions of the reciprocation motion members 4a, 4c with respect to each other. Constriction members 9a, 9b for permitting movement in X- and Y-directions parallel with faces of reciprocation circular motions and constricting movement in a Z-direction vertical to the faces of the reciprocation circular motions, are arranged at both end parts of the oscillation member 7 which performs the reciprocation circular motion parallel with directions of the reciprocation motions of the reciprocation motion members 4a, 4c.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a rotary motion and reciprocating motion converter that is suitable for use mainly in external combustion engines such as steam engines and Stirling engines, compressors, etc., and that converts rotary motion into reciprocating motion in both directions. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a device for converting rotary motion into reciprocating motion, which connects a rotating shaft that performs rotary motion to multiple reciprocating members (pistons) that perform linear reciprocating motion via a Z-shaped shaft (Z-crankshaft) and swing arms, and can convert the rotary motion of the rotating shaft into the reciprocating motion of the reciprocating members in both directions. In this device for converting rotary motion into reciprocating motion, a Z-shaped shaft (Z-crankshaft) consisting of an inclined shaft and a connecting shaft is connected to the rotating shaft, and multiple swing arms protrude from the inclined members attached to the inclined shaft, with the tip of each swing arm connected to a reciprocating movement connecting member (piston rod) of the reciprocating member so as to be able to perform a rotary grinding motion. However, this device for converting rotary motion into reciprocating motion has problems with durability and conversion efficiency due to sliding friction occurring at the connection between the tip of the swing arm and the reciprocating movement connecting member.

[0003] Patent document 2 describes a rotary motion / reciprocating motion conversion device in which an inclined side connecting member is provided on a swing arm, a reciprocating side connecting member is provided on a reciprocating movement connecting member (piston rod), the inclined side connecting member and the reciprocating side connecting member are connected via an eccentric shaft, and the rotary grinding motion of the inclined side connecting member and the reciprocating side connecting member are converted in both directions.

[0004] In both the rotary motion / reciprocating motion conversion devices of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, the tip of the swing arm performs a rotary grinding motion (figure-eight motion), which makes the connection with the reciprocating side connecting member complicated.

[0005] 7 shows a two-cylinder steam engine 100 having a conventional Z-crankshaft. This two-cylinder steam engine 100 includes a first cylinder 101a and a second cylinder 101b, a swing arm 104 connecting a piston rod 103a connected to a piston 102a of the first cylinder 101a and a piston rod 103b connected to a piston 102b of the second cylinder 101b, an output shaft 105, and a Z-crank member 106 connecting the swing arm 104 to the output shaft 105. The Z-crank member 106 is composed of a tilting member 106a through which the swing arm 104 is inserted, a first connecting member 106b connecting one end of the tilting member 106a to the output shaft 105, and a second connecting member 106c connected to the other end of the tilting member 106a.

[0006] In the two-cylinder steam engine 100 of Fig. 7, the pistons 102a, 102b of the first cylinder 101a and the second cylinder 101b reciprocate, and the swing arm 104 performs a reciprocating arc motion, causing the inclined member 106a of the Z-crank member 106 to perform a grinding motion. To prevent the first cylinder 101a and the second cylinder 101b from rotating together with the grinding motion of the inclined member 106a of the Z-crank member 106, a vertical member 107 is fixed to the middle of the swing arm 104 in a direction perpendicular to the swing arm 104. Both ends of the vertical member 107 are rotatably connected to a frame 108 of the two-cylinder steam engine 100.

[0007] In the two-cylinder steam engine of Figure 7, a hole 109 must be formed in the outer surface of the tilting member 106a through which the vertical member 107 passes, so that the tilting member 106a can perform a figure-eight motion. In addition, the vertical member 107 must be attached to the swing arm 104 through this hole 109 within the narrow interior of the tilting member 106a, which makes assembly difficult. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-343923 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-96140 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems of the conventional art, and has as its object to provide a rotary motion to reciprocating motion converter which simplifies the support structure of the oscillating member, is easy to install, and allows smooth reciprocating arc motion at both ends of the oscillating member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The inventors noticed that the Z-crank member that performs the miso grinding motion has a part that performs a figure-eight motion and a part that performs a reciprocating circular arc motion, and discovered that the support structure of the oscillating member can be simplified by restricting the rotational motion of both ends of the oscillating member in the part that performs the reciprocating circular arc motion.

[0011] That is, the present invention is at least two reciprocating members; a rotational motion member that performs rotational motion; a swinging member connecting the two reciprocating members; a Z-crank member connecting the swing member and the rotary motion member, the Z-crank member connecting the swing member and the rotary motion member, the rotary motion converting device converting the rotary motion of the rotary motion member and the reciprocating motion of the reciprocating motion member in both directions, The present invention is characterized in that restraining members are provided at both ends of the oscillating member, which performs a reciprocating arc motion parallel to the direction of the reciprocating motion of the reciprocating member, to allow movement in a direction parallel to the plane of the reciprocating arc motion and to restrain movement in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the reciprocating arc motion.

[0012] It is preferable that the reciprocating member is a piston rod connected to a piston that slides inside a cylinder, the rotary member is a rotary shaft, and the swinging member is a swinging arm that connects the piston rod.

[0013] The Z crank member is an inclined member through which the swinging member is inserted; a first connecting member that connects one end of the inclined member and the rotational movement member; a second connecting member connected to the other end of the inclined member; It is preferably composed of

[0014] As one embodiment of the restraint member, a pin inserted through holes at both ends of the swing member; a bearing mounted on the pin; two clamping members connected to the reciprocating member and clamping the bearing in the reciprocating direction of the reciprocating member; The two hold two support members connected to a support member and supporting the swing member in the axial direction of the pin via the bearing; It is preferable that the device further comprises a slide member attached to the support member and slidable in the reciprocating direction of the reciprocating member relative to a rail provided on a frame supporting the reciprocating member and the rotary motion member.

[0015] As another embodiment of the restraint member, the restraining member includes an arm; One end of the arm is rotatably connected to both ends of the swinging member, It is preferable that the other end of the arm is rotatably connected to a frame that supports the reciprocating member and the rotary member, on an axis that passes through the center of the oscillating member and is perpendicular to the plane of the reciprocating arc motion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, both ends of the oscillating member, which performs reciprocating circular motion parallel to the direction of the reciprocating motion of the reciprocating member, are permitted to move in a direction parallel to the plane of the reciprocating circular motion by the restraining members, and are restrained from moving in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the reciprocating circular motion. As a result, it is no longer necessary, as in the conventional case, to attach a vertical member to the middle of the oscillating member within the narrow interior of the inclined member of the Z-crank member, or to form a hole to prevent interference with the vertical member due to the figure-eight motion of the inclined member. Instead, it is only necessary to attach the restraining members to both ends of the oscillating member, which has the effects of simplifying the support structure for the oscillating member, making installation easier, and allowing both ends of the oscillating member to perform smooth reciprocating circular motion. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

[0018] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] 1, 2, and 3 show a four-cylinder steam engine 1 equipped with a rotary motion to reciprocating motion converter according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This steam engine 1 includes a main body frame 2, first to fourth cylinders 5 (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) each having pistons 3 (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) and piston rods 4 (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d), a rotating shaft 6, a swing arm 7, a Z-crank member 8, and two restraining members 9a and 9b. In the following explanation, the direction of reciprocating motion of the pistons 3 in the cylinders 5 will be referred to as the X-direction, the horizontal direction perpendicular to the X-direction as the Y-direction, and the vertical direction perpendicular to the X-direction as the Z-direction.

[0020] The main body frame 2 includes a first support plate 2a, a second support plate 2b, and a third support plate 2c arranged at a predetermined interval in the X direction, a connecting rod 2d connecting the first support plate 2a and the second support plate 2b, and a connecting rod 2e connecting the first support plate 2a and the third support plate 2c.

[0021] Of the four cylinders 5, the first cylinder 5a and the second cylinder 5b are arranged opposite each other in the X direction, while the third cylinder 5c and the fourth cylinder 5d are arranged apart from the first cylinder 5a and the second cylinder 5b in the Y direction and opposite each other in the X direction. The first cylinder 5a and the third cylinder 5c are supported by a first support plate 2a, while the second cylinder 5b and the fourth cylinder 5d are supported by a second support plate 2b. The piston rod 4a of the first cylinder 5a and the piston rod 4b of the second cylinder 5b are connected to each other by a first restraint member 9a, and similarly, the piston rod 4c of the third cylinder 5c and the piston rod 4d of the fourth cylinder 5d are connected to each other by a second restraint member 9b. The piston rod 4 of each cylinder 5 is a reciprocating member that performs reciprocating motion in the present invention.

[0022] The rotating shaft 6 is rotatably supported by the third support plate 2c via a bearing 6a between the first cylinder 5a and the third cylinder 5c. An output wheel 6b is attached to one end of the rotating shaft 6, and the other end is connected to a first connecting member 11 of the Z-crank member 8, which will be described later. The rotating shaft 6 is a rotary motion member that performs rotary motion in the present invention.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 4, the swing arm 7 penetrates the tilting member 10 of the Z-crank member 8 and is rotatable relative to the tilting member 10, with both ends protruding from the tilting member 10 and formed with holes 7a. As shown in Fig. 1, one end of the swing arm 7 is connected to the piston rod 4a of the first cylinder 5a and the piston rod 4b of the second cylinder 5b via a first restraining member 9a, and the other end of the swing arm 7 is connected to the piston rod 4c of the third cylinder 5c and the piston rod 4d of the fourth cylinder 5d via a second restraining member 9b.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 4, the Z crank member 8 is made up of an inclined member 10, a first connecting member 11, and a second connecting member 12.

[0025] The tilting member 10 has a tilt axis s tilted with respect to the X direction, with a first hole 10a formed at one end on the tilt axis s, a second hole 10b formed at the other end on the tilt axis s, and a through hole 10c formed in the center in a direction perpendicular to the tilt axis s. A first mounting base 13 having an engaging protrusion 13a is rotatably attached to the first hole 10a by a bearing 13b. A second mounting base 14 having an engaging protrusion 14a is rotatably attached to the second hole 10b by a bearing 14b. A swing arm 7 passes through the through hole 10c and is rotatably attached by a bearing 7b.

[0026] The first connecting member 11 has an engaging recess 11a that engages with an engaging protrusion 13a of the first mounting base 13, and has a mounting portion 11b that is attached to the first mounting base 13 with a screw 15, a shaft portion 11c that is coaxial with the rotating shaft 6, and a connecting portion 11d that connects the mounting portion 11b and the shaft portion 11c. The shaft portion 11c of the first connecting member 11 is rotatably attached to the first support plate 2a via a bearing 11e, and is fixed to the end of the rotating shaft 6 opposite the output wheel 6b.

[0027] Similarly, the second connecting member 12 has an engaging recess 12a that engages with an engaging protrusion 14a of the second mounting base 14, and has a mounting portion 12b that is attached to the second mounting base 14 with a screw 16, a shaft portion 12c that is coaxial with the rotation shaft 6, and a connecting portion 12d that connects the mounting portion 12b and the shaft portion 12c. The shaft portion 12c of the second connecting member 12 is rotatably attached to the second support plate 2b via a bearing 12f.

[0028] The two restraining members 9a and 9b have the same structure. Therefore, the restraining member 9a shown in FIG. 5 will be described. The restraining member 9a comprises a pin 17, a bearing 18, and two hold The support member 19, two support members 20, and two slide members 21 are included.

[0029] The pin 17 is inserted into holes 7a at both ends of the swing arm 7, and both ends protrude in the Z direction and the counter-Z direction.

[0030] Two bearings 18 are attached to the upper and lower ends of the pin 17, and are appropriately secured against removal by retaining rings or the like.

[0031] Two hold The support members 19 are rectangular plates and are attached by screws 23 to mounting plates 22 provided at the ends of the piston rods 4a and 4b. hold The support member 19 is provided at a distance equal to the diameter of the bearing 18, and as shown in FIG. 3, when the swing arm 7 swings, the bearing 18 is moved from the X direction. hold It also supports the shaft and guides it in the Y direction.hold A notch 19a extending in the Y direction is formed on the opposing surface of the support member 19, and when the swing arm 7 swings, a part of the swing arm 9 enters the notch 19a, and the swing arm 7 swings. hold It is designed not to interfere with the support member 19.

[0032] The two support members 20 are hold The upper and lower ends of the support member 19 are connected by screws 24. This allows the piston rod 4a of the first cylinder 5a and the piston rod 4b of the second cylinder 5b to move together in the X direction, as shown in Figure 3. In addition, both ends of the swing arm 7 are supported in the Y direction between the two support members 20 via bearings 18.

[0033] The two slide members 21 are each made up of a rail 21a attached to a support beam 2f extending in the X direction and provided across the first support plate 2a and the second support plate 2b of the main frame 2, and a slider 21b that can slide on the rail 21a. The slider 21b is fixed to the two support members 20.

[0034] Next, the operation of the four-cylinder steam engine 1 equipped with the rotary motion to reciprocating motion converter according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0035] As shown in Figure 1, when the steam engine 1 starts from a state in which the piston 3a of the first cylinder 5a is at top dead center, the piston 3b of the second cylinder 5b opposite the first cylinder 5a is at bottom dead center, the piston 3c of the third cylinder 5c is at bottom dead center, and the piston 3d of the fourth cylinder 5d opposite the third cylinder 5c is at top dead center, the piston 3a of the first cylinder 5a moves toward bottom dead center, the piston 3b of the second cylinder 5b moves toward top dead center, the piston 3c of the third cylinder 5c moves toward top dead center, and the piston 3d of the fourth cylinder 5d moves toward bottom dead center.

[0036] As the piston 3 of each cylinder 5 moves, the piston rods 4a and 4b of the first cylinder 5a and the second cylinder 5b move in the direction opposite to the X-axis, and the piston rods 4c and 4d of the third cylinder 5c and the fourth cylinder 5d move in the direction opposite to the X-axis. At this time, the bearing 18 of the first restraint member 9a hold The bearing 18 of the second restraint member 9b is pressed in the X direction by the support member 19. hold As a result of being pressed in the X direction by the support member 19, the swing arm 7 swings clockwise via the pin 17 from the state shown in FIG. 1 to the state shown in FIG.

[0037] As the swing arm 7 swings, both ends of the swing arm 7 move in a reciprocating arc, and the inclined member 10 of the Z-crank member 8 moves in a grinding motion. This causes the first connecting member 11 and the second connecting member 12 of the Z-crank member 8 to rotate, and a rotational force is transmitted from the first connecting member 11 to the rotating shaft 6, causing the rotating shaft 6 to rotate.

[0038] While both ends of the oscillating arm 7 perform a reciprocating circular motion and the inclined member 10 of the Z-crank member 8 performs a miso-grinding motion, the first restraining member 9a and the second restraining member 9b allow both ends of the oscillating arm 7 to move in the Y and X directions parallel to the plane of the reciprocating circular motion, but restrict movement in the Z direction perpendicular to the plane of the reciprocating circular motion.

[0039] Furthermore, a rotational force acts on the swing arm 7 as a reaction to the rotational movement of the first connecting member 11, the second connecting member 12, and the rotating shaft 6 of the Z crank member 8. However, as shown in FIG. 3, this rotational force is transmitted to the support beam 2f of the main frame 2 via the bearings 18, the support member 20, and the slide member 21 of the first restraining member 9a and the second restraining member 9b, and therefore the cylinder 5 is prevented from rotating together with the rotating shaft 6.

[0040] In this embodiment, the Z-crank member 8 does not have a vertical member as in the past, so it is no longer necessary to attach a vertical member to the middle of the swing arm 7 within the narrow interior of the inclined member 10 of the Z-crank member 8 or to form a hole to prevent interference with the vertical member due to the figure-eight movement of the inclined member 10, as in the past. Instead, it is sufficient to attach the first restraining member 9a and the second restraining member 9b to both ends of the swing arm 7, which simplifies the support structure for the swing arm 7 and simplifies attachment. Furthermore, both ends of the swing arm 7 are allowed to move in the Y and X directions parallel to the plane of the reciprocating circular movement, so the reciprocating circular movement of both ends of the swing arm 7 can be performed smoothly.

[0041] In the above embodiment, restraint members 9a and 9b are provided at both ends of the swing arm 7, at the connection between the swing arm 7 and the piston rod 4, but the restraint members may also be provided inside or outside the connection between the swing arm 7 and the piston rod 4.

[0042] FIG. 6 shows a configuration in which a restraining member consisting of a curved arm 25 is provided inside the connection between the swing arm 7 and the piston rod 4. One end of the curved arm 25 is rotatably connected via a bearing 26 between the connection between the swing arm 7 and the piston rod 4 and the tilting member 10 of the Z-crank member 8, and the other end of the curved arm 25 is rotatably connected via a bearing 28 to a shaft 27 provided on the support beam 2f on an axis in the Z direction passing through the center of the swing arm 7. The middle of the curved arm 25 is located outside the trajectory plane of the outline of the tilting member 10 performing the grinding motion and is designed not to interfere with the tilting member 10. In this embodiment, the curved arm 25 allows both ends of the swing arm 7 to move in the Y and X directions parallel to the plane of the reciprocating circular motion and restrains movement in the Z direction perpendicular to the plane of the reciprocating circular motion. Note that the curved arm 25 can also be connected outside the connection between the swing arm 7 and the piston rod 4.

[0043] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims. For example, the inclined member 10 of the Z-crank member 8 can be made into a hollow sphere made up of a combination of hemispheres, as shown by the two-dot chain line in Figure 6, which balances the mass around the rotation axis 6 and makes the grinding motion smoother.

[0044] The rotary motion-to-reciprocating motion converter of the above embodiment is adapted to a horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine, but can also be applied to a two-cylinder engine.

[0045] Furthermore, while the rotary motion reciprocating motion converter of the above embodiment converts the reciprocating motion of a piston and piston rod of a cylinder into the rotary motion of a rotating shaft, it can also be applied to a compressor that converts the rotation of the rotating shaft of a motor or turbine into the reciprocating motion of a piston and piston rod of a cylinder. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1. Steam engine 2...Main frame 3...Piston 4...Piston rod (reciprocating member) 5...Cylinder 6...Rotating shaft (rotating motion member) 7...Swing arm (swing member) 8...Z crank member 9a, 9b...Restraining members 10...Inclined member 11...First connecting member 12...Second connecting member 13...First mounting base 14...Second mounting base 15...Screw 16...Screw 17...pin 18...Bearing 19… hold Supporting member 20...Support member 21...Slide member 22...Mounting plate 23...Screw 24...Screw 25...Curved arm (restraint member) 26...Bearing 27...Shaft 28...Bearing

Claims

1. At least two reciprocating members that perform reciprocating motion; A rotary motion member that performs a rotary motion; a swinging member connecting the two reciprocating members; a Z-crank member connecting the oscillating member and the rotary motion member, the Z-crank member being configured to convert the rotary motion of the rotary motion member and the reciprocating motion of the reciprocating motion member in both directions, a restraining member is provided at both ends of the oscillating member which performs a reciprocating arc motion parallel to the direction of the reciprocating motion of the reciprocating member, the restraining member allowing movement in a direction parallel to the plane of the reciprocating arc motion and restraining movement in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the reciprocating arc motion; The restraining member is A pin is inserted through holes at both ends of the swing member; a bearing mounted on the pin; two clamping members connected to the reciprocating member for clamping the bearing in a reciprocating direction of the reciprocating member; two support members connected to the two clamping members and supporting the swinging member in the axial direction of the pin via the bearing; a slide member attached to the support member and slidable in the reciprocating direction of the reciprocating member relative to a rail provided on a frame supporting the reciprocating member and the rotational motion member.

2. At least two reciprocating members that perform reciprocating motion; A rotary motion member that performs a rotary motion; a swinging member connecting the two reciprocating members; a Z-crank member connecting the oscillating member and the rotary motion member, the Z-crank member being configured to convert the rotary motion of the rotary motion member and the reciprocating motion of the reciprocating motion member in both directions, a restraining member is provided at both ends of the oscillating member which performs a reciprocating arc motion parallel to the direction of the reciprocating motion of the reciprocating member, the restraining member allowing movement in a direction parallel to the plane of the reciprocating arc motion and restraining movement in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the reciprocating arc motion; The restraining member includes an arm. One end of the arm is rotatably connected to both ends of the swinging member, a rotational motion to reciprocating motion conversion device, characterized in that the other end of the arm is on an axis that passes through the center of the oscillating member and is perpendicular to the plane of the reciprocating arc motion, and is rotatably connected to a frame that supports the reciprocating motion member and the rotational motion member.

3. 3. The device for converting rotary motion into reciprocating motion as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the reciprocating member is a piston rod connected to a piston that slides inside a cylinder, the rotary motion member is a rotating shaft, and the oscillating member is a oscillating arm that connects the piston rod.

4. The Z crank member is an inclined member through which the swing member is inserted; a first connecting member that connects one end of the inclined member and the rotational motion member; 4. The device for converting rotary motion into reciprocating motion according to claim 1, further comprising: a second connecting member connected to the other end of the inclined member.

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