Apparatus including swashplates fixed on shaft assembly and piston assemblies

Abstract

An apparatus includes a shaft assembly and swashplates fixed on the shaft assembly facing opposite to each other. At least two double rod cylinders are configured to reciprocate parallel to the shaft assembly between the swashplates. The at least two double rod cylinders are configured to push against the swashplates in either direction. This is done in such a way that the at least two double rod cylinders generate rotational force in the same direction at the shaft assembly. The apparatus may be used as a fluid motor, a fluid compressor (also called a pump) or an internal combustion engine (either with or without a guide path provided by or formed in the swashplates).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a shaft assembly;   swashplates being fixed on the shaft assembly facing opposite to each other; and   at least two double rod cylinders being configured to reciprocate parallel to the shaft assembly between the swashplates, and the at least two double rod cylinders being configured to push against the swashplates in either direction in such a way that the at least two double rod cylinders generate rotational force in the same direction at the shaft assembly.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a shaft assembly having a longitudinal axis extending along a length thereof;   a first swashplate providing a first inner-facing surface being oriented non-orthogonally relative to the shaft assembly, and the shaft assembly being fixedly attached to the first swashplate, and the first swashplate extending radially from the shaft assembly;   a second swashplate providing a second inner-facing surface, the shaft assembly being fixedly attached to the second swashplate, the first inner-facing surface being spaced apart from the second inner-facing surface, the first inner-facing surface and the second inner-facing surface facing each other, and the second inner-facing surface is oriented non-orthogonally relative to the shaft assembly, and the second swashplate extending radially from the shaft assembly, and the second swashplate being spaced apart from the first swashplate;   a housing assembly including a first housing piece and a second housing piece, the second housing piece being spaced apart from the first housing piece, the first housing piece and the second housing piece being rotatably mounted to the shaft assembly, and the first housing piece and the second housing piece being fixed in position relative to each other; and   at least two piston assemblies, each of the at least two piston assemblies being positioned radially spaced apart from the shaft assembly, the at least two piston assemblies extend between the first housing piece and the second housing piece, and the at least two piston assemblies being fixedly attached to the first housing piece and the second housing piece.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 each of the at least two piston assemblies extending parallel to the shaft assembly;   the at least two piston assemblies being positioned symmetrically around the shaft assembly; and   the at least two piston assemblies being evenly positioned around the shaft assembly.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the at least two piston assemblies include three instances of a piston assembly spaced apart from each other radially and symmetrically across opposite sides of the shaft assembly.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the at least two piston assemblies includes two instances of a piston assembly spaced apart from each other radially across opposite sides of the shaft assembly.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 each of the at least two piston assemblies has a first piston end and a second piston end that is spaced apart from the first piston end;   the first piston end of each of the at least two piston assemblies is configured to interact with the first swashplate; and   the second piston end of each of the at least two piston assemblies is configured to interact with the second swashplate.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein:
 for a case where a rotational force is applied to the shaft assembly so that the shaft assembly is made to rotate, the first swashplate and the second swashplate are made to rotate;   as the first inner-facing surface is made to rotate, the first inner-facing surface, in use, urges the first piston end of each of the at least two piston assemblies to reciprocate;   as the second inner-facing surface is made to rotate, the first inner-facing surface, in use, urges the second piston end of each of the at least two piston assemblies to reciprocate;   the at least two piston assemblies are urged to force flow of a piston fluid.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein:
 for a case where a linear force is applied via piston fluid flow through the at least two piston assemblies, the first piston end of each of the at least two piston assemblies is forced to reciprocate, and the second piston end of each of the at least two piston assemblies is forced to reciprocate;   forced movement of the first piston end causes the first inner-facing surface to be rotated thereby urging the first swashplate to be rotated;   forced movement of the second piston end causes the second inner-facing surface to be rotated, thereby urging the second swashplate to be rotated;   the shaft assembly is urged to rotate as a result of the first swashplate and the second swashplate that are made to be rotated by reciprocating movement of the first piston end and the second piston end.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first swashplate provides a first guide path formed on the first inner-facing surface;   the second swashplate provides a second guide path formed on the second inner-facing surface;   the first guide path and the second guide path are coaxially aligned relative to each other; and   the first guide path and the second guide path extend in a closed loop circuit aligned around the shaft assembly.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 a first radial bearing is axially mounted to the shaft assembly, and the first housing piece fixedly radially extends from a radial bearing;   a second radial bearing is axially mounted to the shaft assembly, and the second housing piece fixedly radially extends from the second radial bearing; and   the first radial bearing and the second radial bearing is axially mounted to a thrust bearing that is axially mounted to the shaft assembly.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 each of the at least two piston assemblies provides:
 an input fluid port; and 
 an output fluid port being spaced apart from the input fluid port; 
 an interior fluid chamber extending between the input fluid port and the output fluid port; 
 a movable piston being operatively received in the interior fluid chamber, and the movable piston being configured to be movable relative to the interior fluid chamber, and the movable piston being reciprocally movable along a longitudinal length of the interior fluid chamber in response to movement of fluid through the interior fluid chamber; 
 a first piston shaft extending from the movable piston toward the first swashplate, and the first piston end being mounted to an end portion of the first piston shaft, and the first piston end is engagable with the first guide path A; and 
 a second piston shaft extending from the movable piston toward the second swashplate, and the second piston end being mounted to an end portion of the second piston shaft, and the second piston end is engagable with the second guide path. 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first piston end substantially fits against the first inner-facing surface of the first swashplate; and   the second piston end substantially fits against the second inner-facing surface of the second swashplate.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a first guide path being provided by the first inner-facing surface of the first swashplate, and the first guide path configured to place the first piston end therein; and   a second guide path being provided by the second inner-facing surface of the second swashplate, and the second guide path being configured to place the second piston end therein.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the at least two piston assemblies, in use, reciprocate, and in combination with the first piston end and the second piston end, the first inner-facing surface of the first swashplate, and the second inner-facing surface of the second swashplate cause the first swashplate and the second swashplate to rotate.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first swashplate and the second swashplate are mounted symmetrically to each other about the shaft assembly in such a way that the first swashplate and the second swashplate allow counterbalancing as the first swashplate and the second swashplate are made to rotate.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the at least two piston assemblies include:
 a first piston assembly, a second piston assembly and a third piston assembly being spaced apart from each other along a radial carved in the first swashplate and the second swashplate. 
   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first swashplate and the second swashplate are fixed along the shaft assembly in such a way that a lowest point at the first swashplate and a highest point at the second swashplate are in a straight line parallel to the shaft assembly in such a way that there is the same distance between any two points in the straight line parallel to the shaft assembly.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein:
 each of the at least two piston assemblies includes a ball at the first piston end and the second piston end of each of the at least two piston assemblies; and   the ball is configured for placement against the first swashplate and the second swashplate.   
     
     
         19 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a first swashplate having a first inner-facing surface;   a second swashplate having a second inner-facing surface, and the second swashplate being spaced apart from the first swashplate;   a shaft assembly connecting the first swashplate to the second swashplate in such a way that the first inner-facing surface, in use, substantially faces the second inner-facing surface, and the first swashplate and the second swashplate being mounted to the shaft assembly in such a way that the first inner-facing surface and the second inner-facing surface are both oblique to the shaft assembly;   said shaft assembly being rotatable in such a way that the first swashplate and the second swashplate connected thereto also rotate;   the first swashplate and the second swashplate being rotatable so that the shaft assembly connected thereto also rotates; and   at least two piston assemblies being aligned parallel to the shaft assembly; and   a housing assembly configured to hold the shaft assembly and said at least two piston assemblies together as one unit;   each said at least two piston assemblies having a first piston end and a second piston end;   the first piston end being configured to substantially fit against the first inner-facing surface of the first swashplate;   the second piston end being configured to substantially fit against the second inner-facing surface of the second swashplate; and   said at least two piston assemblies being fitted against the first swashplate and the second swashplate in such a way that:
 the first swashplate and the second swashplate are rotatable as said at least two piston assemblies, in use, reciprocate; and 
 said at least two piston assemblies are reciprocable as the first swashplate and the second swashplate rotate. 
   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein:
 said at least two piston assemblies are configured to reciprocate in a sequence so that the first piston end and the second piston end of said at least two piston assemblies fitted against the first swashplate and the second swashplate cause the first swashplate and the second swashplate to rotate, which, in turn, causes the shaft assembly to rotate.