Rotary-to-linear and linear-to-rotary motion converters

Claim 2

A rotary-to-linear or linear-to-rotary motion converter comprising at least one cell consisting of first and second separators, at least two linking members interconnecting the separators, first means connected to the first separator and operable to rotate it, and second means including a member connected to the second separator, said second means opposing rotation of the second separation by the first separator and the connecting member being movable towards the first separator when the first means is operated, said second means also operable to retract said connecting member and the second separator when the first means is inoperative, the first separator then rotating reversely, the linking members being connected to the separators at locations spaced equally from the axis of each separator thus to travel along a circular path if that separator turns, said locations being so spaced with respect to their respective paths that the axes of the separators remain in a substantially constant relationship as one separator turns in response to the turning of the other, said linking members being flexible, at least relative to said connections, and the length of the linking members being less than the square root of the product of the diameters of said paths to render said cell stable in use.

Claim 3

The motion converter of claim 1 in which the linking members are flexible.

Claim 4

The motion converter of claim 1 in which the locations at which the linking members are connected to the separators are such that the circular paths at both ends of the cell element are of the same diameter.

Claim 5

The motion converter of claim 1 in which the locations at which the linking members are connected to the separators are such that the circular path of the links at oNe end of the cell element has a diameter greater than the circular path at the other end of the cell element.

Claim 6

The motion converter of claim 1 and slidable means connected to said other separator prevents the rotation thereof.

Claim 7

The motion converter of claim 1 in which the second means is a spring.

Claim 8

The motion converter of claim 1 and a curved tube confining the converter but permitting the lengthwise travel of its separators.

Claim 9

A rotary-to-linear or linear-to-rotary motion converter comprising a plurality of cells, each cell consisting of two rotatable separators and at least two separator-connecting linking members connected to the separators at locations spaced equally from the axis of each separator thus to travel along a circular path as each separator turns, said locations being so spaced with respect to their respective paths that the axes of the separators remain in substantially constant relationship as one separator turns in response to the turning of the other said linking members being flexible, at least relative to said connections, said cells disposed in two parallel series, first means to rotate the separator at one end of one series, means to hold the corresponding end separator of the other series against turning, a connection between the separator at the other ends of the other, a slide to which said last named end separators are rotatably connected and which is movable towards the first named ends of the two series as the first means is operated, and second means connected to said slide and operable to retract it when the first means is inoperative, the separators then rotating reversely.

Claim 10

A rotary-to-linear or linear-to-rotary motion converter comprising a plurality of cells, each cell consisting of two rotatable separators and at least two separator-connecting linking members connected to the separators at locations spaced equally from the axis of each separator thus to travel along a circular path as each separator turns, said locations being so spaced with respect to their respective paths that the axes of the separators remain in substantially constant relationship as one separator turns in response to the turning of the other said linking members being flexible, at least relative to said connections, said cells disposed in two parallel series, first means to rotate the separator at one end of one series, means to hold the corresponding end separator of the other series against turning, a connection between the separator at the other ends of the other, a slide to which said last named end separators are rotatably connected and which is movable towards the first named ends of the two series as the first means is operated, and second means connected to said slide and operable to retract it when the first means is inoperative, the separators then rotating reversely.

Claim 11

The motion converter of claim 8 in which the length of the linking members with respect to each cell element is less than the square root of the product of the diameters of the circular path at the ends thereof.

Claim 12

A rotary-to-linear or linear-to-rotary motion converter comprising a plurality of cells, each cell consisting of two rotatable separators and at least two separator-connecting linking members connected to the separators at locations spaced equally from the axis of each separator thus to travel along a circular path as each separator turns, said locations being so spaced with respect to their respective paths that the axes of the separators remain in substantially constant relationship as one separator turns in response to the turning of the other said linking members being yieldable, at least relative to said connections, the cells arranged in first and second series with the cells of each series interconnected, the separators of at least the first series that are between the ends thereof all having a central opening, the series of cell elements of the second series being dimensioned for free entry through said central openings and being within and extending from end-to-end of said first series, the separators at one end of both series being interconnected to rotate together, rotatable driving means connected to the other end separator of one series, means holding the corresponding end separator of the other series against turning, and a device including a member to which the interconnected separators are connected and movable towards the second named end separators when the driving means is operated, said devices being operable to pull the interconnected end separators away from the second named end separators when the driving means is not in operation.

Claim 13

A rotary-to-linear or linear-to-rotary motion converter comprising a plurality of cells, each cell consisting of two rotatable separators and at least two separator-connecting linking members connected to the separators at locations spaced equally from the axis of each separator thus to travel along a circular path as each separator turns, said locations being so spaced with respect to their respective paths that the axes of the separators remain in substantially constant relationship as one separator turns in response to the turning of the other said linking members being yieldable, at least relative to said connections, the cells arranged in first and second series with the cells of each series interconnected, the separators of at least the first series that are between the ends thereof all having a central opening, the series of cell elements of the second series being dimensioned for free entry through said central openings and being within and extending from end-to-end of said first series, the separators at one end of both series being interconnected to rotate together, rotatable driving means connected to the other end separator of one series, means holding the corresponding end separator of the other series against turning, and a device including a member to which the interconnected separators are connected and movable towards the second named end separators when the driving means is operated, said devices being operable to pull the interconnected end separators away from the second named end separators when the driving means is not in operation.

Claim 14

The motion converting device of claim 10 in which the length of each linking member with respect to each cell is less than the square root of the product of the diameters of said paths and renders said cell stable in use.

Claim 15

The motion converting device of claim 10 in which the pivoted device includes pulley means providing radial variations compensating for the differential travel between an extending converter and a contracting converter.

Claim 16

The motion converting device of claim 12 in which the pulley means is a single pulley and the connection is a flexible Element trained about the pulley and connected to both converters.

Claim 17

The motion converting device of claim 12 in which the pivoted device is a four-bar linkage including two supporting pivots and the pulley means includes a pulley coaxial with each supporting pivot and the connection includes two flexible elements one for each converter and in trained engagement with an appropriate one of the pulleys and connected to the opposite one of the other pivots of the linkage.

Claim 18

The motion converting device of claim 10 in which the pivoted device is a centrally pivoted bell crank lever and the connection includes sections connected to the ends thereof.

Claim 19

A rotary-to-linear or linear-to-rotary motion converting device, said device including two converters each comprising at least one cell, each cell consisting of two rotatable separators and at least two linking members connected to the separators at locations spaced equally from the axis of each separator thus to travel along a circular path if that separator turns, said locations being so spaced with respect to their respective paths that the axes of the separators remain in a substantially constant relationship as one separator turns in response to the turning of the other, said linking members being flexible, at least relative to said connections, a reversible drive connected to corresponding end separators of both converters, and the other end separators of the two converters being free to move towards and away from said drive, a pivoted device having first and second positions, and a connection between said device and said other end separators operable to pull either one away from the drive as the other is pulled towards it and pivot said device towards the appropriate one of said positions.

Claim 20

A rotary-to-linear or linear-to-rotary motion converting device, said device including two converters each comprising at least one cell, each cell consisting of two rotatable separators and at least two linking members connected to the separators at locations spaced equally from the axis of each separator thus to travel along a circular path if that separator turns, said locations being so spaced with respect to their respective paths that the axes of the separators remain in a substantially constant relationship as one separator turns in response to the turning of the other, said linking members being flexible, at least relative to said connections, a reversible drive connected to corresponding end separators of both converters, and the other end separators of the two converters being free to move towards and away from said drive, a pivoted device having first and second positions, and a connection between said device and said other end separators operable to pull either one away from the drive as the other is pulled towards it and pivot said device towards the appropriate one of said positions.

Claim 21

A positioning device comprising a four-bar linkage, the pivots at both ends of one bar being supporting pivots, two rotary-to-linear or linear-to-rotary motion converters, each comprising at least one cell, each cell consisting of two rotatable separators and at least two separator-connecting linking members connected to the separators at locations spaced equally from the axis of each separator thus to travel along a circular path if that separator turns, said locations being so spaced with respect to their respective paths that the axes of the separators remain in a substantially constant relationship as one separator turns in response to the turning of the other, said linking members being flexible, at least relative to said connections, each converter including a drive connected to one of its separators and means connecting the other of its separators to the opposite pivot of said linkage, the operation of either drive shifting the linkage in a direction opposite to that effected by the other drive and, when operated, exerting a pull on said other separator of the other converter.

Claim 22

A positioning device comprising a four-bar linkage, the pivots at both ends of one bar being supporting pivots, two rotary-to-linear or linear-to-rotary motion converters, each comprising at least one cell, each cell consisting of two rotatable separators and at least two separator-connecting linking members connected to the separators at locations spaced equally from the axis of each separator thus to travel along a circular path if that separator turns, said locations being so spaced with respect to their respective paths that the axes of the separators remain in a substantially constant relationship as one separator turns in response to the turning of the other, said linking members being flexible, at least relative to said connections, each converter including a drive connected to one of its separators and means connecting the other of its separators to the opposite pivot of said linkage, the operation of either drive shifting the linkage in a direction opposite to that effected by the other drive and, when operated, exerting a pull on said other separator of the other converter.