Abstract: This invention is regarding an aircraft transmission that is designed to enable an ornithopter aircraft to take off vertically by generating lift through precision controlled oscillating propellers or wings, similar but unlike a helicopter rotor blade and has the uncanny ability for aerobatic flight. A gearless infinite variable oscillating transmission for ornithopter aircraft oscillatory motion propulsion, wherein the oscillatory motion is generated by a wobble plate and propulsive motion is propellers, wings, or any other propulsive action or phenomena, characterized by two parts, or pairs of elements, of the same potential capacity, which oscillate in series on opposed fronts with each propulsion unit capable of operating independently of the other. Infinite variable oscillating transmission is used to power numerous mechanical devices.

Abstract: A pump/compressor that utilizes a wedge at a fixed angle to operate the pump's pistons at a fixed stroke. Alternatively the wedge can be moved axially to increase or decrease the clearance volume. Variable fluid flow at any clearance volume is achieved by rotating the wedge with respect to the port plate thereby changing the timing of the pistons with respect to the fixed port plate which changes the timing of the intake and output cycles. This results in a portion of the intake charge being breathed back into the intake port and a portion of the output charge being breathed back from the outlet port. This causes the pistons to not take in a full charge from the inlet port and to not pump out a full charge into the outlet port. Thus, fluid flow is varied. The design results in a smaller pump as the wedge is supported by the pump housing rather than a mechanical linkage required of prior adjustable angle swashplate designs.

Abstract: A combination gear having a simple structure is provided at low cost without increasing a number of components. In at least two gears adjacent in an axial line direction and having a same rotation direction, three engaging portions arranged in a regular triangle are formed at an end of one of the adjacent gears and a regular triangle engaging hole is formed at an end of another gear. The engaging portions and the engaging hole fit together with play remaining, and when one of the gears rotates, the three engaging portions and three surfaces of the engaging hole engage such that the other gear rotates coaxially, and when rotation stops, the engaging portions and the engaging hole move in a direction orthogonal to the axial line by a play amount and become eccentric.

Abstract: A compressor is disclosed generally comprising a cylinder block at least partially enclosing a compression chamber, a swash plate housing mounted adjacent the cylinder block, the swash plate housing at least partially enclosing a swash plate chamber, an inlet port in the swash plate housing, and a passageway connecting the swash plate chamber and compression chamber. In certain embodiments, the passageway comprises a fluid channel in the cylinder block. In some embodiments, at least one bearing is disposed in the swash plate chamber such that air entering through the inlet port flows over the bearing before flowing to the compression chamber.

Abstract: A hydraulic pump includes a housing, at least two pistons mounted to the housing to rotate relative to the housing, and a transition arm coupled to each of the pistons to rotate therewith. The transition arm is set at a predetermined angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the pump. An adjustment mechanism sets the transition arm at the predetermined angle. A cylinder is mounted within the housing to rotate relative to the housing and defines pump cavities for receiving the pistons. A face valve defines inlet and outlet channels in fluid communication with the pump cavities. An apparatus for varying the output volume of a piston assembly includes at least two pistons, a transition arm coupled to each of the at least two pistons, and a rotatable member. The transition arm includes a nose pin, and the rotatable member is coupled to the transition arm nose pin.

Abstract: In a wobble plate piston-drive mechanism, the inclination of the ring-shaped wobble plate is adjustable through an articulated connection of the wobble plate to the shaft by means of an axially movable guiding device and a driver arm that reaches into an engagement cavity of the wobble plate at a radial distance from the shaft to transmit the driving force from the shaft to the wobble plate. The driver arm head and/or the engagement cavity are shaped so that the force-transmitting contact between the driver arm head and the annular wobble plate is moved away from the area where the engagement cavity has its minimum wall thickness. This prevents or reduces deformation of the gliding surface of the wobble plate and thus makes the mechanism run more smoothly.

Abstract: A swash plate for a swash plate-type, variable displacement compressor, such that the compressor is driven by a drive shaft having a shaft axis. The swash plate includes a boss that is penetrated slidably by the drive shaft. The boss is connected slidably to a rotor that is fixed to the drive shaft, whereby a variable, oblique angle is formed between a surface of the swash plate and the shaft axis. The boss is connected securely within the swash plate and comprises a nitrided surface layer.

Abstract: A control system, method and apparatus are provided in which a wobble plate assembly is adjustably mounted on a piston and cylinder stroke control assembly. The wobble plate assembly is adjustable through various positions relative to the base, thus providing an adjustable tilt angle to the wobble plate assembly and different strokes for the pumping pistons. In another embodiment the wobble plate assembly is affixed to a clearance volume control assembly, thus providing for simultaneous, independent adjustment of piston stroke and clearance volume of the axial device.

Abstract: A variable-displacement inclined plate compressor includes a drive shaft, a rotor provided on the drive shaft, and an inclined plate provided around the drive shaft and rotated synchronously with the drive shaft via the rotor. The compressor comprises a cam mechanism provided between the rotor and the inclined plate for controlling an inclination angle of the inclined plate relative to an axis of the drive shaft. The cam mechanism comprises a ball located between the rotor and the inclined plate. The cam mechanism prevents improper assembly and facilitates the efficient management of the assembly. Further, the cam mechanism facilitates the processing of parts and the decrease in the number of parts, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost.

Abstract: In a variable displacement swash plate type compressor, a drive shaft is installed in a case to rotate about its axis. A generally spherical sleeve is axially slidably disposed on the drive shaft, a journal is disposed on the sleeve, and a swash plate is tightly disposed on the journal. For achieving a reliable pivotal movement of the journal relative to the sleeve, the following measures are practically employed. First and second parallel flat surfaces are provided at diametrically opposed portions of the sleeve. Third and fourth parallel flat surfaces are formed on diametrically opposed portions of an inner wall of a generally cylindrical bore defined in the journal. The sleeve is disposed in the generally cylindrical bore of the journal in such a manner that the first and second parallel flat surfaces slidably abut against the third and fourth parallel flat surfaces respectively.

Abstract: The invention relates to an axial piston pump with at least one pump element, which includes a piston disposed in a housing, with a drive shaft upon which a swash plate for driving the piston is disposed. The swash plate is non-rotatably fixed, but can pivot around a swash plate pivot axis which extends perpendicular to the longitudinal drive shaft axis (A), and with a device for adjusting a pivot angle between the drive shaft and the swash plate. In order to be able to adjust the oblique position of the swash plate in a simple manner, even during pump operation, it is provided that the device for adjusting the pivot angle of the swash plate has a displacing device disposed in a stationary manner on the housing.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed primarily to pairs of unique nutating gears which are used for restraining the rotation of the wobbler portion of the split swash-plates of both variable- and fixed-displacement hydraulic machines in which the pistons reciprocate in fixed cylinders. Each pair consists of an internal gear fixed to the housing and an external gear fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the wobbler. Using any one of four different tooth designs, the gears simultaneously share two centers of meshing engagement when nutating, and they do not interfere with the complex lemniscate motion of the wobbler. This wobbler mounting arrangement results in significant size and weight reductions which are further enhanced by sliding shoe bearing assemblies that carry the axial loads developed by the machine's reciprocating pistons. The hydraulic machine is also provided with a modular design that makes it possible to make significant changes in displacement size with minimal changes in machine structure.

Abstract: An actuating mechanism for controlling the swashplate angle in a Stirling cycle engine or other engine having parallel reciprocating pistons. The actuation system uses an electric motor for changing swashplate angle. Various embodiments for gear trains for communicating rotation of the electric motor rotor to the swashplate are described. In a first embodiment, a planet gear carrier is driven by the motor and the planet gears simultaneously mesh with two ring gears having a differing number of teeth. Rotation of the carrier creates a high reduction drive for the second ring gear. In accordance with a second embodiment, the ring gear carrier is permitted to freely rotate and a driving sun gear is provided which meshes with the planet gears.

Abstract: A cam plate type axial piston pump capable of operating a control lever operatively connected to a cam plate to control an inclination angle of the cam plate and control its discharge depending on the inclination angle. A piston pump of such type exhibits self-return force toward a position nearer its neutral point when it reaches a position near the neutral point. The pump of the present invention is so constructed that a thrust plate provided on a cam plate is pivotally moved in order to positively utilize the self-return force.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pump with a barrel and an oscillating plate having a fixed central pivot. The pivot is solidary with two half-shafts which may be axially prstressed.The invention creates a balanced floating thrust bearing for the pivot bearing.

Abstract: A four-wheel steering system in a wheeled vehicle the front wheel steering mechanism of which is drivingly interconnected to a rear wheel steering mechanism to steer the rear road wheels in either the same or the opposite direction as the front road wheels in dependence upon the turn-angle of the steering wheel of the vehicle. In the steering system, the rear wheel steering mechanism includes an operation rod operatively connected at the opposite ends thereof to the rear road wheels, and a connecting mechanism is assembled in combination with the rear wheel steering mechanism for effecting axial displacement of the operation rod in response to operation of the front wheel steering mechanism and for controlling the displacement direction of the operation rod in dependence upon the turn-angle of the steering wheel.

Abstract: A swash plate assembly converts rotary motion to reciprocatory motion to reciprocate a diaphragm in a high frequency medical ventilator; the motor which drives the assembly is pivotally mounted for variation of the stroke of reciprocation thereby varying the tidal volume displaced by the diaphragm.

Abstract: The invention relates to wabbler plate engine mechanisms. One such mechanism has a wabbler plate rotatably mounted on a wabbler carrier which is in turn inclinably mounted on a crankshaft in a crankcase. The wabbler plate has a plurality of arms which are coupled to pistons slidably mounted in cylinders arranged around the axis of the crankshaft. As the crankshaft rotates, each arm oscillates laterally relative to its respective piston and a stabilizer mechanism comprising ball races on the wabbler plate and a ball carrier on the crankcase, is included to prevent the oscillations from unbalancing the mechanism. This construction is quite satisfactory but is not readily adaptable to provide for variable displacement. Attempts have been made to incorporate this facility, but a successful solution has not yet been found.

Abstract: A drive comprising a rotatably journalled shaft on which a plate is mounted so that the plate cannot rotate with respect to the shaft during operation. The plate can, however, be adjusted around a pin which extends transverse to the rotatably journalled shaft, so that the angle enclosed by the plate and the shaft can be varied. The pin is journalled in a bearing block which is adjustable in the shaft direction. Each of the pistons has a piston rod with a piston rod head whose side which faces the plate is provided with a spherical surface which cooperates with a sliding body which bears against the contact surface of the plate. The side of the plate which is remote from the piston rod comprises a spherical cam which has the same center of curvature as the spherical surface of the drive rod head. The cam is supported by a surface which forms part of a structural member which is rigidly coupled to the shaft.

Abstract: A variable angle wobble plate drive for varying piston displacement has constant velocity coupling from the wobble plate to the frame which permits all axis-dynamic balancing. The coupling uses an idler element rotating on a tilted axis portion of the shaft, and conical gear sets connecting the idler member to the machine frame and the idler member to the wobble plate. The sum of the acute angles from the tilted axis to the shaft, and to the driving axis, is made greater than the maximum driving angle thereby permitting low reaction torque on a driving angle control mechanism without reversal of control torque.