Self-propelled vehicle
A self-propelled vehicle is described which includes a body and a set of four internal-force generating devices, each device having a central axis about which internal portions thereof rotate, the four devices being configured as two opposed pairs, the two devices of one pair having parallel axes, but turning in opposite directions, the two devices of the other pair also having parallel axes but turning in opposite directions the axes of the one pair being at right angles to the axes of the other pair. Each device consists of: stationary frame means, a stationary sun gear on the frame means, the sun gear being coaxial with the central axis of its respective device, a rotor pivoted about the axis of the sun gear, three crankshafts carried by the rotor at substantially 120/sup 0/ intervals, each having an eccentric portion, for each crankshaft a cylinder in the rotor, a piston mounted for riciprocation in each cylinder, and a connecting rod from the piston to the eccentric portion of the crankshaft, each crankshaft being fixed to rotate with a respective planetary gear, all planetary gears meshing with the sun gear and having the same pitch diameter as the sun gear, whereby any point on the pitch circle of a planetary gear describes a cardioid as the planetary gear rotates around the sun gear once, the crankshaft eccentricity being substantially 1/3 of the pitch radius of a planetary gear, fuel metering means for providing a combustible mixture for the cylinder, ignition means to ignite the combustible mixture in each cylinder, and valve means for admitting the combustible mixture to, and exhausting combustion gases from, each cylinder.
- Assignee:
- NOV; EDB-86-102122
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4573437
- OSTI ID:
- 5686799
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 26 Sep 1986
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
VEHICLES
DESIGN
COMBUSTION
CYLINDERS
EXHAUST GASES
GEARS
IGNITION SYSTEMS
INCIDENCE ANGLE
METERING
MIXTURES
PISTONS
ROTATION
ROTORS
VALVES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
DISPERSIONS
EQUIPMENT
FLOW REGULATORS
FLUIDS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
MACHINE PARTS
MOTION
OXIDATION
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WASTES
330600* - Advanced Propulsion Systems- Vehicle Design Factors