US2424660A - Wobble plate engine - Google Patents

Description

July 29, 1947. F. c, HOWARD WOBBLE PLATE ENGINE Filed 'llay 7, 1945 ,2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR. Cf MHz/d BY /bagfl WH 7H July 29, 1947. F. c. HOWARD 2,424,660

WOBBLE PLATE ENGINE Filed May 7, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 met with practical success.

aienied July 29, 1947 wonntn PLATEENGINE Y Frank 0. Howard, Ilearborn, Mien. v Application May '1, 1945, Serlal No, 592,346 2o omms. (01314-40) The present invention relates to a wobble plate engine of the type employing a circular ring of stationary parallel cylinders, a driven shaft concentric with and parallel to the cylinders, a wobble plate lournaled on the shaft about an axis inclined to the shaft, and pistons in the cylinders operatively connected to the .wobble plate at fixed points around its circumference. 7

It has long been recognized that, in theory, an

' engine of the above type has many advantages over crank type engines, but in spite of many prior efiorts to design such an engine, nonehave known for many years that the primary defect in prior designs lay in the mechanism for controlling the motion of the wobble plate about its inclined axis. This mechanism must so connect the wobble plate to a stationary portion of the englue that any point on the wobble plate will trace a spherical lemniscate during each revolution of the shaft; and it must be suficiently rugged to sustain the entire torque reaction of the engine. The recognition of the failure to solve this problem has led workers in the field to attempt to avoid it by employing designs which do not impose the torque reaction on the. wobble plate (S. A. E. J ournal,.Transactions, vol 47, No. 6, December 1940; and U. S. Patent No. 2,303,838). These have greatly complicated the engine and have not proved practical.

Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide a wobble plate engine of the type mentioned which incorporates an exceedingly simple, compact, and practicalmeans to prevent rotation of the wobble plate about its own axis and to sustain the torque reaction of the en- 'gine.

Another object of the present invention is to providemechanism of the type mentioned in combination with a wobble plate shaft coaxial with the cylinder block and iournaled at both sides of the wobble plate.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved type of wobble plate and mounting therefor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

In the drawings, I

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a preferred form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the mechanism, partially in section, on the line 2-2 of Figure l;

the line 3-3 of Figure: 1.

Figure is a sectional view taken generally on Figure 4 is an elevation-view 4-4, of Figurev 3. a v

The drawings illustrate only those portions of an internal combustion engine to which the invention taken on the line ral'ates, and, consequently, do not show the cylinder-head orv valve mechanism, etc., but simply It has also been the cylinder block,-the pistohs, and the mechanism by means of which the pistons actuate the engine shaft. Thus, in Figure 1, is shown an illustrative form .of the engine comprising a cylinder block l which constitutes a' stationary portion of the engine and which is provided with a plurality of cylinder bores 2. While only two of the cylinder bores appear in Figure l,lt is to be understood that any desired number of cylinder bores may be providedso long as they are arranged parallel to and in a circle about the axis 3 of the'engine shaft 4, which is the driven element of the engine. The particular engine illustrated has seven equally spaced cylinder bores of the same diameter. The enlarged right-hand end 5 of theengineshaft 5 is :lournaled within an end closure plate 6 by means of a ball bearing assembly, indicated generally at 1. While any desired form of combined radial and axial thrust shaft by means of the flywheel H and a spacing sleeve i2, the flywheel being secured to the end of the shaft by a plurality of cap screws i3. The outer races 9a and 9b are clamped against the end closure plate 6 by means of a clamping ring l4, which is secured in position by means of a plurality of cap screws iii. The races 9, 9a, and 9b are so formed that. each of the balls 8 makes a theoretical point contact with each of the races 9a. and So at two spaced point contacts with the inner race 9. Consequently, the bearing will support the shaft against the end thrust as well as radial loads. The endclosure' plate 6 is fixed to the cylinder block I by means of a barrel it.

The left-hand end of the engine shaftil has a reduced portion i! which is journaled by means of a cylindricalneedle bearing l8 within a sleeve I9. The sleeve i9 is slidably supported on aring 2D fitted'within a circular opening -2"! formed in the cylinder block coaxial with the axis of the shaft. The left-hand end of the sleeve is providedwith a splined section 22 having a sliding V 3 v spline connection with a ring 23 which is fixed in any suitable manner to the cylinder block.

A generally circular disk 24 having a cylindrical flange 25 is formed integrally with, or other:

wise fixedly secured to, the "shaft 4 in such manner that the" axis 26 of the cylindrical flange 25""v extends at an'angle to and intersects the axis 3- the shaft 4 at the pointjndicetted by the'nupoint 21 of intersection between the axes 3 and 26. An annular wobble plate 28 is Journaled by means of a ball bearing assembly, identical in construction and mode of operation to the pre-' viously mentioned bearing 3|, upon the cylindri-- cal flange 25. The inner race 30 of the bearing 26 is clamped against the disk 24 by means of a -nut'3l which is threaded upon the extremity of the flange 25. The outer races 32 and 33 are clamped againstian internal shoulder 34 formed in the wobbleilplate 28by means of a clamping nut '35. As a result of this arrangement the wobble plate 28 isfree to rotate with reference to -thecylindrical flange 25 on thesshaft 4 and thus a "remain stationary while shaft 4 rotates.

Theleft-hand face of the wobble plate 28, as viewed in Figure 1, is provided with a plurality or circular recesses 36, each having its axis extending parallel to the axis 26.- One such recess is provided for each cylinder 2 in the cylinder block. In each recess 36 is fitted a cylindrical block 31 having a semispherical concave recess 38 adapted to receive the sphericalend 39 formed on a, threadedstem 40. The spherical end 39 is retained against displacementfrom the recess 38 -bv means of an annular cap 39 provided with an internal concave surfaceof annular configuration, the retaining cap 38 being secured by means of cap screws 4| to the left-hand tace ot the wobbleplate 28.

1 intersection between the axes 3 an d 26.

radial distance from the point 2 l,to the center varied by substituting washers ofdiflerent thicknesses in placegithe-wflher 5|. f

From the above it will be apparent that, an operative connection is provided between each piston anda fixed point on the wobble plate 28, such point being locai'ed'at the'cen'ter or'the spherical ball 39. It will be furthei noted that the point of connection, namely, thecenter of ball 36, is locatedin the plane which is Formal to the axis 26 and passes through the point 21f of The of each-ball 39 is such that when the ball 39 "is in the midpoint of its. strokai): will be located at the same distance above the a of the cylinder 2 of B18142}? inder 2 when as it lies below the axis it is at either end of Itsstrcke.

An important feature of the wobble plate con struction so far described resides in the fact that the bearing 29, which supports the wobble plate,

is located at substantially the same distance from the axis 3 of the shalt 4 as are the axes of the of a tubular connecting rod 42,the opposite end of which is fixed in any suitablemanner, as by welding, to a sleeve 43 by means of which the connecting rod is secured to the piston pin 44' of a piston 45, in such manner as to permit limited universal movement of the connecting rod with reference to the pisto'npin. This connection iselfective by means of a sleeve 46 having an internal cylindrical opening journaled upon the pin 44 and having an external spherical surface 41 journaled within a corresponding spherical internal surface formed in a sleeve 48 which is fixed within the sleeve 43. The sleeve 48 is split in the plane of the dotted line 49 of Figure 1 so that it maybe removed from the sleeve 46.,

A pin 50, indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, is fixed to the sleeve 43 and is journaled within suitcylinders 2. As a matter oifa'ct, the diameter-oi the bearing is so chosen that that portion of the bearing which, at any given instance, is closest v to the cylinder block is located substantially on the axis of the adjacent cylinder and is, therefore, in aposition to sustain the direct in-line thrust of the piston at the time of explosion. This relieves the wobble plate bearing of all load multiplication, due to an application of the load to the wobble plate at a point spaced radially outwardly of the bearing at the time of explosion.

It is well known that, with a connectionbetween the pistons and the wobbleplate which is located in fixed position circumierentially with respect to the wobble plate, the to'rces applied to the wobble plate by the 'pistonswill tend not only to rotate the shaft 4 but also to,- rotate the wobble plate 36 with respect to the axis of the cylinder block l. Accordingly, it is essential in all engine constructions of this type to employ means to prevent rotation of the wobble plate. Such means must absorb the entire torque reaction 01 the engine and, consequently, is subject to exceedingly heavy loads of constantly varying intensity. Moreover, as is well known, to avoid destructive vibration at ordinary engine speeds, it is essenable openings formed in the sleeves 46 and 48 in 7 nccting rod 42 and the sleeves 4' 3 and 46 about the axis of the pin 50, which axis is at right angles to the axis of the piston pin 44. The connecting rod 421's permitted to oscillate about the axis of piston pin 44 by reason of relative movement between the sleeve 45 and the piston pin. It will be noted that a spacing washer 5| is provided between a shoulder on the member 40 and the right-hand end of the tubular connecting rod 42. The compression ratio of the engine may be tial to so restrain the wobble plate against rotation as to insure that each point on the wobble plate in the plane containing the centers of balls 39 travels in a curved path which is known as a spherical lemniscate, i. e., a figure 8 drawn on the surface, of a sphere. This essential motion for the centers of the balls 39 is indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. Thus, the lernnlscate, as viewed from the side in Figure 1, appears as an arcuate line indicated by the dotted line 52. When viewed from above, the curve appears as a figure 8, as indicated in the dotted line 53 above Figure 2. When viewed from the end, the curve appears as a small circle, indicated at the right of Figure 1 by the numeral 54.

It has been known that it it were possible to connect the wobble plate to the cylinder block 01' the engine by means of a constant velocity universal joint, the wobble plate would be given the type of restraint required to produce the above described movement of the centers of the balls 35, but no one has succeeded in so restraining the available which would be effective under the 1 heavy loads and at the relatively high angle required.- Moreover, prior attempts to incorporate a constant velocity joint connection betweenthe wobble plate and the cylinderbarrel have involved anattempt to locate the torquetransmitting eleuniversal joint comprises a ring 55 surrounding the shaftll and-provided with two pairs of aligned radially extending trunnions 58 and" 51. The

trunnions 58 are aligned with each other and extend at right angles to the-aligned trunnions 51,

the point of intersection of the two pairs of trunnions lying on the axis 3 of the shaft 4. The

loads would have to be of substantial size, and it a is essential'in a wobble plate engine to maintain the wobble'plate at the smallest possible diameter.

sothat foriafEiven pistqnstrokethe angle of the wobble plate axis to the shaft axis may be as large as possible. Moreover, it is highly desirable to/provide supporting bearings for the engine shaft on both sides of the wobble plate. Consequently,'the shaft extensions materially reduce the amount of space available for use of any type of universal joint; A single Hooke's or ordinary trunnion universal joint will not provide the proper wobble plate. restraint and will set up a destructive vibration at a frequency which is twice engine speed. The use of two ordinary universal joints so connected as to transmit con-' stant velocity has been successful in pumps in which the piston operating disk is directly driven about its own axis and the cylinder barrel is likewise driven about an inclined axis. However, in such constructions no torquereaction or driving load is sustained by the universal joints, andthere is no element corresponding to the engine shaft in a wobble plate engine which must pass through the same space occupied by theuniversal joints. The use of two universal joints so connected as to V transmit constant velocity has also been suggested in pumps of the typeemploying tilting boxes to. support the piston operating disk in a given plane. In such constructions the cylinder block is rotated by the shaft and the disk is connected by .the two'joints to the shaft. In such I constructions, however, the problem is not critical because the shaft does, not sustain any bending loads as the result of piston thrust, and con-' sequently may be cut away to make room for one or" both joints. Moreover, the operating requirements and conditions of. hydraulic pumps and motors are much less severe than internal combustion engines. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention the necessary restraint of thewobble plate is provided by a pair of fourtrunnion universal joints located within the radius of the wobble plate andarranged to transmit a constant velocity if either were rotated. Actually, however, since neither joint is" rotated they maintain the wobble plate against rotation about its own axis. These joints are'specially constructed and arranged to sustain the heavy torque reaction incident to operation of the englue, and at the same time to occupy so little space as to require no enlargement of the circle in which the-axes of the cylinder bores. lie.-

that they do not interfere with an extension of the drive shaft on both sides ofthe wobble plate and thus permit a joumal support for the shaft at both ends. 1

Referring to the drawings, it will be noted thatthe shaft 5 is somewhat reduced in diameter at "ternal bore in the spherical bearing members 60.

T similar to the ring 65, and the ring is provided the point 21 of intersection between those axes.

pair of axially projecting parallel arms 13 located "is provided with a cylindrical recess 14, similar .60

Furthermore, these joints are so constructed .65

utremities of the projections 13 are provided with the left-hand side of the disk 24 and makes a/- more or less gentle curve .inthe region of the intersection. of the axes 8 and 25. The first which are generally-cylindrical with their axes 59 by means'of capscrews 82, the positions of a which are indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3.

two radially inwardly projectin g'arins 88, the

.by the projections 69, that the centersof the joint by the means best shown in Figures 2, 3,

and 4, retains the spherical bearing member 15 respectively with the recesses 14. The spherical fbearing members 19 fitted within the recesses 18 I contain needle rollers 88 which rotatably support trunnions 56 are connected to. the aforementionedsleeve l9 by self-aligningbearings. Thus, the sleeve 18 is provided with a pair of projecting arms 58 provided at their ends with recesses 59- extending parallei to theaxis 3 and which have conically shapedbottom walls. A spherical bear ing member 581s fit-ted within each recess 58 and is held in position by a retaining cap 8|, which is secured in position on either side of the recess Antifriction needle rollers 63 are provided between the trunnions 58 and the walls of the in- The second universal joint comprises a ring 84 with two pairs of aligned trunnions "65 and 58. Thetrunnions 65are similarly journaled by antifriction needle rollers in spherical bearing members 61; The wobble plate 28 .is provided-with inner extremities of whichlie on opposite sides of the axis 26 and have axial projections 89 which extend, to the right, as viewed in Figure 1, into the space within-the cylindrical flange 25. The projections 69 are provided with cylindrical openings 10 whose axes extend parallel to the axis 26 and which are similar to the recesses 59 in arms 58 except that their'open ends are to the left. The open ends of the recesses 18 are closed. and the spherical bearing member-81 held in position in the recesses by means of a pair of retaining caps 1| similar tothe caps Si in the left-hand universal joint.

Thealigned trunnions 56 are so held by the arms 58, and thealigned trunnions 65 are so held two 'joints liein the axes 3 and 26, respectively, at equal distances from and onoppositesides of In order to complete the torque transmitting connection between the two-joints, the aligned trunnions 51 of the left-hand joint are connected to the aligned trunnions 66 of the right-hand and 4. The connecting member is ,in the form of a ring, indicated generally at 12, which has a on opposite sides of theshaft 4. The left-hand face of the ring in the vicinity of each projection to the recsses59 and 18, which recess is. adapted to receive a'spherical bearing member 15 containing .a pluralityof antifriction needle rollers 16 andconstituting bearings for the trunnions 51. A retaining cap 11, shown best in Figures 3 in the recess and are identical insconstruction to the aforementioned bearing' caps 8|. The exsimilancylindrical recesses 18 which are aligned the trunnions .65 of the right-hand joint. Retaining caps 8| retain the'spherical bearing mem-; ber 18 within the recesses 18. As a result of-this joints;

,tweenthe joints and surrounding the shaft 4, is

' arrangementthe aligned trunnions SI'are always held parallel to the trunnions 58 by the ,ring- 12.

It will be observed that in gccordancewith the above described constructionthe two connected universal joints areso arranged that they will a which will be imposed upon thetrunnions and the rings 55, 54, and I2, the joints and their conabsorb the entire torque reactionof the engine v and s restrain the movement of the wobble plate 28 that the pointer connection between the wob-' ble plate aridponnecting rod will travel in the path of the spherical lemniscate indicated by dotted lines in Figure l, as is required toaeliminate destructive vibration; The, two universal necting ring 'l2 will .be subject to deformations under load'beyond those ordinarily encountered in universal joint practicefi Such deformations, however, are fully accommodated by the'selfaligning spherical bearing members which may have a, limited rotation within their recesses in response'to any distortion which results under heavy loading, "and thus remain in a position in- "whichtheir central openings are parallel to the joints are ,soconstructed thatthey surround the drive shaft 4 andare'iree ofcontact therewith. Consequently,-they permit the use of the outboard bearing i8 for- :theshaft and thus permit jourco-operating trunnion. This insures that the full load capacity of the bearing will be available at "all times. 7

The reviously described sliding connection be- I tweenthe sleeve i9,-which carries theuniversal naling of the shaftia't both sides ofthe wobble plate. This greatly strengthens the lwobble plate construction and reduces distortion-of the. drive --shaft as well as the loads-upon the drive shaft bearing.1g l,

Moreover, it will be noted that the construction of the universaljoints and theconnection between them is, so arranged as to permit the use of a wobble plate oi minimum diameter. In that connection it, should be mentioned that the enwould not be possible to have seven cylinders of equal size arranged with parallel axes in a circle about axis 3, if thediameter ofthatcircle were any less than the distance betweentheaxes of the cylinder bores 2, illustrated in Figure l, without resultingin insufilcient -wallthickness bemuni diameter for a seven cylinder engine having pistonsof the diameter illustrated. The wobble plate is also closely coupled to the pistons. Nevertheless, the universal joints and the connection between them are so constructed that they-will not interierewith any of the other mechanism. This is achievedin part' by the peculiar construction of the ring 12 which'forms the connecting member between the, universal This ring, instead of being'located belocated generally in the plane of a left-hand joint and is provided with generally arcuate portions 82 whichsurroundthe projectingarms 58 on the sleeve 19 and which connect the portions of the ring adjacent the projections I3. The cross-sectional form of the arcuate portions, as best shown in the upper part of Figure 1, is such that they will just clear the cylinder-block i, the projecting arms 58, and the wobble-plate 28, includjoint arms 58, and thecylinderblock further operates to prevent excessive loading on the universal joint trunnion bearings which might other- 2of wise result from distortion of the shaft 4 or the frame of the engineer unequalexpansion of various partsof the engine due to the heat of the operation, since 'it permits a limited axial sliding of the left-hand universal joint along the axis 3 and thus eliminates'endwise tension or compression forces on the universal joint assembly.

gineillustrated is a seven cylinder engine, andit The needle bearing i8 between the shaft 4 and the sleeve 19 permits limited relative sliding Y movement between the shaft'and the sleeve for tween the respective cylinder bores of the cylinder block. Thus the engine illustrated is of mlni'- -v the same purpose.

The trunnion bearing may be lubricated in any desired manner as by splash or oil feeding systems, not shown, which will supply oil to openin'gs. 83 formedthrough each'trunnion and the ring, of whichit forms apart. Alternatively, if

desired, the antifriction'needle bearings may be filled with grease on assembly and a seal provided between the .open end of each spherical bearing member and the base of the'trunnion with which it is associated. V

The engine maybe substantially balanced against the inertia efiects'ofthe wobble plat by "means of a counterweight 84', secured in the position illustrated in Figure l, to the flywheel l l.

'While only one form of the invention is illustrated and described it will be apparent that variations in the design of construction may be indulged in without departing from the spirit of the lnventionor' the scope of the appended claims. Thus, the engine may have any desired number of cylinders and may, if desired, be providedwith a second bank of cylinders at the righting its inwardly projecting arm 58 and the retaining ring 39 when the position of thatportion of the wobble plate opposite theannular ring portion 82 isclosest to the cylinder block. The

projections 13 of the ring 12 on the other hand are, as best shown in Figure 3, atv a portion of the ring which is of a reduced diameter and, consequently, the projections 13 may, extendinto the interior of the cylindrical flange 25, intermediate the projectionsBB on the wobble plate, andfconnect to the trunnions 66 :without interference either with the cylindrical flange 25 or the shaft 4.

The universal joint trunnlons are of necessity relatively small'in size and since they must carry the very heavy torque reaction; while working at asu-bstantial angle, their hearings will be isubject to very high unit pressures, and it is for that reason that antifriction needle rollers are employed in the trunnion bearings. Moreover, due

to the-lack of space and the resulting high stresses 73 culiarly adapted for use in an internal combus- 'tion engine where'high speeds and heavy loads are essential to commercially practical design. It will be appreciated, however, that the mechanism may also be used to advantage in highspeed hydraulic 'pumps and motors.

What is claimed is:

- 1. 5 A wobble plate mechanism comprising a stationary cylinder block having a plurality ofparallel cylinders arranged in a circle, pistons in the cylinders, a rotary shaft parallel to said cylinders and coaxial with'said circle, an annular wobble plate journalled-on said shaft on an axis inclined to and intersecting the shaft axis, means operatively connecting the pistons to the wobble plate at points fixed circumferentially on the-wobble plate, means for'absorbing the torque reaction on the wobble plate and restraining its movement comprising a universal joint having a member provided with a pair of aligned trunnions, means plvotally connecting said trunnions to a stationary portion of the mechanism on an axis perpendicular to the'axis of said aligned tJJmIIiOHS, a second universal joint having a pair of aligned trunnions, means plvotally connecting said trunnions of the second joint to the wobble plate on an axis perpendicular to the axis of'said second pair of trunnions, the centers of said joints being located respectively on the axis of the shafta'nd the axis of the wobble plate on opposite sides of and at equal distances from'the intersection of said axes, and means connecting said pairs of trunnions for maintaining them parallel to each other.

2. A wobble plate mechanism comprising a stationary cylinder blockhaving a plurality of parallel cylinders arranged in a circle, pistons in the cylinders, a rotary shaft parallel to said cylinders and coaxial with said circle, an annular wobble plate journalled on said shaft on an' axis inclined to and intersecting the shaft axis, means operatively connecting the pistons to the wobble plate at points fixed circumferentially on the wobble plate, means for absorbing the torque reaction on the wobble plate and restraining its movement comprising a universal'joint having a member provided with a pair of aligned trunnions, means plvotally connecting said trunnions to a stationary portion of the mechanism onan axis perpendicular to the axis of said aligned trunnions, a seconduniversal joint having a pair of aligned trunnions, means pivotally connecting said trunnions of the second joint to the wobble plate on-an axis perpendicular to the axis of said second pair of trunnions, the centers of said joints being located respectively on the axis of the shaft and the axis of the wobble plate on opposite sides of and at equal distances from the intersection of said axes, means surrounding said shaft and connecting said pairs of trunnions for maintaining them parallel to each other, and bearings for the intersection of said axes, and means connect-' and coaxialwith said circle, an-annular wobble plate journaled on said shaft on an axis inclined to and intersecting the shaft axis, means operatively connecting the pistons to the wobble plate 1 at points fixed circumferentially on the wobble said shaft on opposite sides of said universal joints 3. A wobble plate mechanism comprising a stationary cylinder block having a plurality of parallel cylinders arranged ina circle, pistons in the plate, means for absorbing the torque reaction on the wobble plate and restraining its movement comprising a universal joint having a member provided with a pair, of aligned trunnions, means plvotally connecting said trunnions to a stationary portion of the mechanism on an axis perpendicular-to the axis of said aligned trunnions, a second universal joint having a pair of aligned trunnions, means pivotally connecting said trunnionsof the second joint to the wobble plate on an axis perpendicular to the axis ofsaid second pair oftrunnions, aringmember for each joint, each said ring member surrounding the shaft and connecting the trunnions of its joint, the centers of said joints being located respectively on the axis of the shaft and the axis of the wobble plate on opposite sides-of and at equal distances from the intersection of said axes, means surrounding said shaft and connecting said pairs oftrunnions for maintaining them parallel to each other, and bearings for said shaft on opposite sides of said universal joints. w

5. -A wobble plate mechanism comprising a stationary cylinder block having a plurality of par- "allel cylinders arranged in a circle, pistons in the cylinders, a rotary shaft parallel to said cylinders and coaxialwith said circle, an annular wobble plate journaled on. said shaft on an axis inclined to andinterse'cting'the shaft aXis means operatively connecting the pistons to the wobble plate at points fixed circumferentially ,on the wobble plate, means for absorbing. the torque reaction on the wobble plate and restraining its movement comprising a universal joint having a member provided with a pair of aligned trunnions, means plvotally connecting said trunnions to a station-- ary portion of the mechanism on an axis,perpendicular to the axis of said aligned trunnions, a

cylinders, a rotary shaft parallel to saidcylinders and coaxial with said circle, an annular wobble plate journaled on said shaft on an axis inclinedto and intersecting the shaft axis, means operatively connecting the pistons to the wobble plateat points fixed circumferentiallyon the wobble plate, means for absorbing the torque reaction on the wobble plate and restraining its movement comprising a universal joint having a member provided with a pair of aligned trunnionsQmeans plvotally connectingsaid trunnions to a station-' ary portion of the mechanism on an axis perpendicular to the axis of said aligned trunnions, a second universal joint having a pair of aligned trunnions, means plvotally connecting said trun nions of the second joint to the wobble plate on an axis perpendicular to the axis of said second pair of trunnions, a ring member for each joint, each said ring member surrounding the shaft and connectingthe trunnions of its, joint, the centers of said joints being located respectively on the axis of the shaft and theaxis of the wobble plate on opposite sides of and at equal distances from second universal joint having a pair of aligned trunnions, means plvotally connecting said trun+ nions of the second joint to the wobble plate on an i axis perpendicular to the axis of said second pair of trunnions, thecenters of said joints being 10-- cated respectively on the axis of the shaftand the trunnions and the stationary portion of the en-; gine being'adapted'to permit movement'ofthe theshaftaxis of-the wobble plateon opposite sides of and at equal distances from'the intersection of said axes, and means connecting said pairs of trunnions for maintaining them parallel'to each other, the connection between said first pair; of

center of the first joint along the axis of relative to the cylinder block.

6. A wobble plate mechanism comprising a stationary cylinder block having a plurality of parallel cylinders arranged in a circle, pistons in the cylinders, a rotary shaft parallel to said cylinders and coaxial'with said circle,anannular wobble plate journaled on said shaft on an axis inclinedto and'intersecting the shaft axis, means operatively connecting the pistons to the wobble plate at" points] fixed circumferentially on the wobble platameans for absorbing the torque reaction onthe wobble plate'and restraining its movement comprising a universal joint having a member provided with a pair of aligned trunnions, means pivotally connecting said trunnions to a stationary portion of the mechanism on an axis perpendicular to the axis of said aligned trunnions, a second universal joint-having a pair of aligned trunnions, means pivotally connecting said trunnions of the second joint to thewobble plate on an axis perpendicular to the axis of said second pair of trunnions, the centers of said joints being located respectively on the axis of the shaft and the axis of the wobble plate on opposite sides ofand at equal distances from the intersection of said axes, means surrounding said shaft and connecting said pairs of -trunnions for maintaining .them parallel to each other, and

a second universal joint having a pairof aligned trunnions, means piv tally connecting said trunnions of the second mango the wobble plate on an axis perpendicular to the axis of said second pair of trunnions, a ring member for each joint, each said ring member surrounding the shaft and connecting the trunnions of its joint, the centers of said joints being located respectively on the axis of the shaft and the axis of the wobble plate on opposite sides of and at equal distances from the intersection of said axes, means surrounding said shaft and connecting said pairs of trunnions for maintaining them parallel to each other, and

' bearings for said shaft on opposite sides of said bearings for said shaft on opposite sides of said universal joints, the connection between said first pairof trunnions and the stationary portion of the engine being adapted to permit movement of the center of the first joint along the axis of th shaft relative to the cylinder block.

7. A wobble plate mechanism comprising a sta-' tionary cylinderblock having aplurality of parallel cylinders arranged in a circle, pistons in the cylinders, a rotary shaft parallel to said cylinders and coaxial with said circle, an annular wobble plate journaled on said shaft on an axis inclined to and intersecting the shaft axis, means operatively connecting the pistons to the wobble plate at points fixed circumferentially on the wobble plate, means for absorbing the torque reaction on the wobble plate and restraining" its movement comprisingna universal joint having a member provided with a pair of aligned trunnions, means pivotally connecting said trunnions to a'stationary portion of the mechanism on an axis perpendicular to the axis of said aligned trunnions, a second universalajoint'having a pair of aligned trunnions, means pivotally connecting said trunnions of; the second joint to the wobble plate on an axis perpendicular to the axis ,of said second pair of trunnions, a ring member for each joint, each said ring member surrounding the shaft and connecting the trunnions of its joint, the centers of said joints beinglocated respectivelyon the axis of the shaft and the axis of the wobble plate on opp s te sides of and at equal distances from the intersection ofjsaid axes, and means connecting said pairs of trunnions for maintaining them parallel to each other, and bearings for said shaft on opposite sides of said universal joints,

the connection between said first pair of trun-' nions and the stationary portioni'of the engine being adapted to permit movement "of the center of the first joint along the axis of the shaft rela- 1 tive to the cylinder block. a a

A wobble plate mechanism comprising a stationary cylinder block having a plurality of parallel cylinders-arranged in a circle, pistons in the cylinders, a rotary shaft parallel to said cylinders and coaxial with said circle, an annular wobble plate 'journaled on said shaft on an axis inclined to and intersecting the shaft axis, means operatively connecting the pistons to the wobble plate at points fixed circumferentially. on the wobble plate, means for absorbing the torque reaction on the wobble plate and restraining its movement comprising a universal joint having a member provided with a pair of aligned trunnions, means pivotally connectingsaid trunnions to a stationary portion of the mechanism on an axisperpendicular to the axis of said aligned trunnions,

the cylinders, a rotary shaft parallel to saidv cylinders and coaxial with said circle, an annular wobble plate journaled on said shaft on an axis inclined to the shaft axis, means operatively connecting the pistons to the wobble plate at points fixed circumferentially on the wobble plate, means for absorbing the torque reaction on the wobble plate and restraining its movement comprising a four trunnion universal joint connected to a stationary portion of the mechanism with the center of the joint on the axis of said shaft, a

second four trunnion universal joint connected to the wobble plate withits center on the axis of the wobble plate, the centers of said joints being located on opposite sides of and at equal distances from the point of intersection of said axes,

anda member operatively connecting one pair of aligned trunnions of one of said joints with a parallel pair of aligned trunnions of the other joint.

10, A wobble'plate mechanism comprising a stationary cylinder block having a plurality of parallel cylinders arranged in a circle, pistons in the cylinders, a rotary shaft parallel to said cylinders and coaxial with said circle, an annular wobble plate journaled on said shaft on an axis inclined to theshaft axis, means operatively connecting the pistons to the wobble plate at points fixed circumferentially on the wobble plate,- means for, absorbing the torque reaction on the wobble plate and restraining its movement comprising a four trunnion universal joint connected to a stationary portion of the mechanism with the center. of the joint on the axis of said shaft, a second four trunnion universal joint connected to ,the wobble plate with its center on the axis of the wobble plate, the centers of said joints being located on opposite sides of and at equal distances from the point of intersection of said axes, bearings for said shaft on opposite sides of said universal joints, a'ring member for each joint surrounding the shaft and connecting the trunnions of its joint, and a member surrounding the shaft and operatively connecting one pair of aligned trunnions of one of said joints with a parallel pair of aligned trunnions of the other joint.

11. A wobble plate mechanism comprising a stationary cylinder block having a plurality of parallel cylinders arranged in a circle, pistons in the cylinders, a rotary shaft parallel to said cylinders and coaxial with said circle, an ana 13 atively connecting the pistons to the wobble plate at points fixed circumferentially on the wobble ,plate, and means for absorbing the torque reaction on the wobble plate and restraining its movement comprising a four trunnion universal joint connected to a stationary portion of the mechanism with the center of the joint on the axis of said shaft, a second four trunnion universal joint connected to the wobble plate with its center on the axis of the wobble 'plate, the centers of said joints being located on opposite sides of and at equal distances from the point of intersection of said axes, and a member 'operatively connecting one pair of aligned trunnions of one of said joints with a parallel pair of aligned trunnions of the other joint, said member being in the form of a ring surrounding but not connected to thetother pair of aligned trunnions of the first joint and having a pair of axial projections which provide bearings for the trunnions of the second joint.

12. A wobble plate mechanism, comprising a stationary cylinder' block having a plurality of parallel cylinders arranged in a circle, pistons in the cylinders, a rotary shaft parallel to said cylinders and coaxial with said circle, an annular wobble plate journaled on said shaft on an axis inclined to the shaft axis, means operatively connecting the pistons to the wobble plate at points 1 fixed circumferentially on the wobble plate, means universal joints, aring member for each jointsurrounding the shaft and connecting the trun-- nions ofits joint, and a member surrounding the shaft and operatively connecting one pair of aligned trunnions of one of said joints with a parallel pair of aligned trunnions of the other joint, said member being in the form of a ring surrounding but not connected to the other pair of aligned trunnions of the first joint and having a pair of axial projections which provide bearings for the trunnions of the second joint.

13. A wobble plate mechanism comprising a stationary cylinder block-having a plurality of parallel cylinders arranged in a circle, pistons in the cylinders, a rotary shaft parallel to said cylinders and coaxial with said circle, an annular wobble plate journaled on said shaft on an axis inclined to the shaft axis, means operatively connecting the pistons to thewobble plate at points fixed circumferentially on the wobble plate, the journal between the wobble plate and the shaft being a combined radial and axial thrust bearing having a radius substantially equal to the radius of the circle of the cylinder axes.

14. A wobble plate mechanism comprising a stationary cylinder block having a plurality of parallel cylinders arranged in a circle, pistons in the cylinders, a rotary shaft parallel to said cylinders and coaxial with said circle, an annular wobble plate journaled on said shaft on an axis inclined to the shaft axis, and means operatively connecting the pistons to the wobble plate at points fixed circumferentially on'the wobble plate, the journal between the wobble plate and the shaft being a combined radial and axial thrust tially thereon, means "for bearing having a radius such that the portion of the bearing which is located closest to the'shaft axis at any instant is spaced from the shaft axis by a distance substantially equal to theradius of the circle of the cylinder axes.

15. A wobble plate mechanism comprising a stationary cylinder block having a pluralityof parallel cylinders arranged in a circle, pistons'in the cylinders, a rotary shaft parallel to said, cylinders and coaxial with said circle, a generally cylindrical flange fixed to the shaft on an axis inclined to and intersecting the shaft axis and'projecting toward the point of intersection of said axes, a wobble plate journaled on said flange, means operatively connecting the pistons to said wobble plate at points fixed circumferen-tially thereon, means for absorbing the torque reaction on the wobble plate and restraining its movement comprising a pair-of universal joints connected together and connected respectively to the wobble plate and a stationary part of the mechanism, the centers of said joints being located respe'c tively on the axis of the wobble plate and the axis of the shaft and being on opposite sides of and at equal distances from the point of'intersection of a said axes, and the jointwhich is connected to the wobble plate being positioned within said flange.

16. A Wobble plate mechanism comprising a stationary cylinder block having a plurality of parallel cylinders arrangedin a circle, pistons in the cylinders, a rotary shaft parallel to said cyl inders and coaxialwith said circle, a generally cylindrical flange fixed to the shaft on an axis inclined to and intersecting the shaft axis and projecting toward the point of intersection of said axes and toward the cylinder block, said shaft having supporting bearings on opposite sides of said flange, a wobble plate journaled on said flange. means operativelyconnecting the pistons to said wobble plate at points fixed circumferenabsorbing the torque reaction on the wobble plate and restraining its movement comprising a pair of universal joints connected together and connected respectively to the Wobbleplate and to the cylinder block, the centers of said joints being locatedrespectively on the axis'of the wobble plate and the axis of I the shaft and being on opposite sides of andat equal distances from the point of intersection of said axes, the'joint which is connected to the wobble platebeing positioned within said flange, each of said joints having trunnionbearings connected together by a ring surrounding said shaft, and the means connecting said joints being in the form of a ring surrounding said shaft.

17. A wobble plate mechanism comprising a 1 stationary cylinder block having a plurality of parallel cylinders arranged in a circle, pistons in the cylinders, a rotary shaft parallel to said cylinders and coaxial with said circle, a generally cylindrical flange fixed to the shaft on an axis inclined to and intersecting the shaft axis and projecting toward the point of intersection of said axes and toward the cylinder block, said shaft having supporting bearings on opposite sides of said flange, a wobble plate journaled on said flange, means operatively connecting the pistons to said wobble plate at points fixed circumferentially thereon, means for absorbing the torque reaction on the wobble plate and restraining its movement comprising a pair of universal joints connected together and connected respectively to the wobble plate and to the cylinder block, the centers of said joints being located respectively on the axis of the wobble plate and the stationary cylinder block having a plurality of parallel cylinders arranged ina circle, pistons in the cylinders, a rotary shaft parallel to said cylinders and coaxial with said 'circle,' an annular wobbleplate journaledon said shaft on anaxis inclined to the shaft axis, means operatlvely connecting the pistons to the wobble plate at points fixed circumterentiallyon the wobble plate,

ammo

mg a pair oi. aligned trunnion bearings, means pivotally connecting said trunnion bearings oi the second joint to the wobble plate on an axis perpendicular to the axis of said second pair of trunnion bearings, each or said trunnion bearings being self-aligning to accommodate deflections under load, a ring member for each joint surrounding the shaft and connecting the trunnion bearings ofits joint, the centers of said joints being located respectively on the axis of the shaft and the axis of the wobble plate on opposite sides of and at equal distances from the intersection oi? said axes, and means surrounding said shaft and connecting said pairs of trunnion bearings for maintaining them parallel to each other, and

bearings for said shaft on opposite sides of said means for absorbingthe'torque reaction-on the wobble plate and restraining its movement comprising a universal joint having a member provided with a pair of alignedtrunnion bearings, means pivotally connecting said trunnion bearings to a stationary portionof themechanism on an axis perpendicular to the axis of said aligned trunnion 1 bearings, a jsecond universal joint havingapair'oi' aligned trunnion bearings,

means pivotally connecting said trunnion bearings of the second joint to the wobble plate on an axis perpendicular to. the axis oi'said second pair of trunnion'bearings, each of said trunnion bearings being self-aligning to accommodate deflections under load, the centers of said joints being located respectively on the axis of the shaft and the axis of the wobble plate on opposite sides or and at equal distances from the intersection of said axes, and means connecting said pairs of trunnion bearings tor maintaining them parallel to each other, i

19. A wobble plate .mechanism comprising a stationary cylinder block having'a plurality of parallel cylinders arranged in a circle, pistons inthe cylinders, a rotary shaft parallel to said cylinders and coaxialwith said circle, .an annular wobble plate Journaled on said shaft onan axis inclined ,to the shaft axis, means operatively connecting the pistons to the wobble plate at points fixed circumferentially on the wobble plate; means for absorbing the torque reaction on the wobble plate and restraining its movement comprising a universal joint having a member provided with a pair of aligned trunnion bearings, means plvotally connecting said trunnion bearuniversal joints.

20. A wobble plate mechanism comprising a stationary cylinder block having a plurality of parallel cylinders arranged in a circle, pistons in the cylinders, a rotary shaft parallel to said cylin- 4 ders and coaxial with said circle, an annular wobble plate journaled on'said shaft on an axis inclined to the shaft axis, means operatively connecting the pistons to the wobble plate at points fixed circumferentially "on the wobble plate, and meansfor absorbing the torque reaction on the wobble plate and restraining its movement comprising a four trunnion universal joint connected to 'a stationary portion oi! the mechanism with the center of the joint on the axis 0! said shaft, a second four trunnion universal joint connected to the wobble plate with its center on the axis of the wobble plate, each of said trunnion bearings being self-aligning to accommodate deflections under load, the centers of said joints being located on opposite sides or and at equal distances from the point of intersection of said axes, and a member operatively connecting one pair 01" aligned trunnion bearings of one of said joints with a parallel pair of aligned trunnion bearings of the other 110111122:

FRANK C. HOWARD.

REFERENCES orrEn 5 die of, this patent:

lugs to a stationary portion of the mechanism on an axis perpendicular to the axis of said aligned trunnion bearings, a second universaljoint hav- UNITED s'rnTEs PATENTS 1,781,131 Shaft NOV. 11, 1930

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