GB2062188A - Device for converting rotational energy into linear energy - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for converting rotational energy into linear energy comprises a pair of piston and cylinder devices (14, 18 and 16, 20) each mounted on the end of an arm (11) which is rotatable about its mid-point (12), the cylinders (14, 16) being connected by a conduit (32) and the pistons by a linkage (26, 28, 30) whereby on rotation of the arm (11) dense liquid, for example mercury, is transferred by way of the conduit (32) from one cylinder to the other whereby the centrifugal force of the cylinders always has a component in one direction. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved energy conversion device The present invention concerns an improved energy conversion device, particularly a device for converting rotational energy into linear energy.

According to the present invention there is provided an energy conversion device including a pair of containers each mounted on an arm for rotation about an axis spaced from the containers and means for transferring mass from one container to the other when said one container reaches a point in its rotational path which is spaced from a point occupied by the other container at that instance.

Preferably the arms are of equal length and are colinear and each container is provided with a piston for displacing a fluid therefrom, fluid communication means being provided between the respective containers. Preferably the pistons of each container are connected by a linkage such that as one piston moves in one cylinder to reduce the volume thereof the other piston moves in the other cylinder to increase the volume thereof by a similar amount. The linkage may comprise a connecting rod fixed to each piston at one end and to a crank pin shared by both connecting rods at the other end, the axis of said crank pin being spaced from the axis of rotation of the containers.

It is preferable that the fluid in the containers is a relatively dense fluid, for example mercury.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagram.

A device for converting rotational energy into linear energy comprises a mounting bar 10 forming two equal arms 11, means (not shown) being provided for rotating the bar about an axis 12. Containers 14, 1 6 are mounted on each end of the bar 10 and are each provided with pistons 18, 20 having piston rods 22, 24 to which are pivotally fixed connecting rods 26, 28. The free end of each connecting rod 26, 28 is rotatably mounted on a crank pin 30 which'is fixed against motion at a point spaced from the axis of rotation 12. A conduit 32 interconnects the containers 14,16.

In operation, the bar 10 is rotated and as a result of the configuration of the linkage comprising the piston rods, connecting rods and crank pin the pistons 1 8 and 20 will reciprocate in the containers 14, 1 6 the arrangement being such that as the piston 18 is at bottom dead centre the piston 20 is at top dead centre, or when the container 14 is full of liquid, conveniently mercury, the container 1 6 is empty. The conduit means 32 ensures that as mercury is displaced from, for example the container 14 it flows to the container 1 6. Consequently if the arrangement illustrated rotates in an anti-clockwise direction when container 1 6 occupies the "twelve o'clock" position it will be full of mercury while the container 14 in the "six o'clock" position will be empty.Thus the resultant centrifugal force on the containers will always have a component in the direction of twelve o'clock so that the rotational energy of the drive means for the bar 10 will be converted into linear energy.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, for example any suitable means may be utilised for transferring the mass of one container to the other, the arms 11 may be arranged at an angle to each other, and/or may be of different lengths, and more than two containers may be provided.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

1. An energy conversion device including a pair of containers each mounted on an arm for rotation about an axis spaced from the containers and means for transferring mass from one container to the other when said one container reaches a point in its rotational path which is spaced from a point occupied by the other container at that instance.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the arms are of equal length and are colinear and each container is provided with a piston for displacing a fluid therefrom, fluid communication means being provided between the respective containers.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, in which the pistons of each container are connected by a linkage such that as one piston moves in one cylinder to reduce the volume thereof the other piston moves in the other cylinder to increase the volume thereof by a similar amount.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which the linkage comprises a connecting rod fixed to each piston at one end and to a crank pin shared by both connecting rods at the other end, the axis of said crank pin being spaced from the axis of rotation of the containers.

5. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the fluid in the containers is mercury.

6. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improved energy conversion device The present invention concerns an improved energy conversion device, particularly a device for converting rotational energy into linear energy. According to the present invention there is provided an energy conversion device including a pair of containers each mounted on an arm for rotation about an axis spaced from the containers and means for transferring mass from one container to the other when said one container reaches a point in its rotational path which is spaced from a point occupied by the other container at that instance. Preferably the arms are of equal length and are colinear and each container is provided with a piston for displacing a fluid therefrom, fluid communication means being provided between the respective containers. Preferably the pistons of each container are connected by a linkage such that as one piston moves in one cylinder to reduce the volume thereof the other piston moves in the other cylinder to increase the volume thereof by a similar amount. The linkage may comprise a connecting rod fixed to each piston at one end and to a crank pin shared by both connecting rods at the other end, the axis of said crank pin being spaced from the axis of rotation of the containers. It is preferable that the fluid in the containers is a relatively dense fluid, for example mercury. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagram. A device for converting rotational energy into linear energy comprises a mounting bar 10 forming two equal arms 11, means (not shown) being provided for rotating the bar about an axis 12. Containers 14, 1 6 are mounted on each end of the bar 10 and are each provided with pistons 18, 20 having piston rods 22, 24 to which are pivotally fixed connecting rods 26, 28. The free end of each connecting rod 26, 28 is rotatably mounted on a crank pin 30 which'is fixed against motion at a point spaced from the axis of rotation 12. A conduit 32 interconnects the containers 14,16. In operation, the bar 10 is rotated and as a result of the configuration of the linkage comprising the piston rods, connecting rods and crank pin the pistons 1 8 and 20 will reciprocate in the containers 14, 1 6 the arrangement being such that as the piston 18 is at bottom dead centre the piston 20 is at top dead centre, or when the container 14 is full of liquid, conveniently mercury, the container 1 6 is empty. The conduit means 32 ensures that as mercury is displaced from, for example the container 14 it flows to the container 1 6. Consequently if the arrangement illustrated rotates in an anti-clockwise direction when container 1 6 occupies the "twelve o'clock" position it will be full of mercury while the container 14 in the "six o'clock" position will be empty.Thus the resultant centrifugal force on the containers will always have a component in the direction of twelve o'clock so that the rotational energy of the drive means for the bar 10 will be converted into linear energy. Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, for example any suitable means may be utilised for transferring the mass of one container to the other, the arms 11 may be arranged at an angle to each other, and/or may be of different lengths, and more than two containers may be provided. Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon. CLAIMS

1. An energy conversion device including a pair of containers each mounted on an arm for rotation about an axis spaced from the containers and means for transferring mass from one container to the other when said one container reaches a point in its rotational path which is spaced from a point occupied by the other container at that instance.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the arms are of equal length and are colinear and each container is provided with a piston for displacing a fluid therefrom, fluid communication means being provided between the respective containers.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, in which the pistons of each container are connected by a linkage such that as one piston moves in one cylinder to reduce the volume thereof the other piston moves in the other cylinder to increase the volume thereof by a similar amount.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which the linkage comprises a connecting rod fixed to each piston at one end and to a crank pin shared by both connecting rods at the other end, the axis of said crank pin being spaced from the axis of rotation of the containers.

5. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the fluid in the containers is mercury.

6. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.