Device for Transmitting a Linear Movement To a Rotating Movement

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for converting a linear motion into a rotary motion, wherein the device comprises a cylindrical pile rack, with teeth axially arranged around the entire pile throughout its longitudinal axis, and at least one gearbox comprising four gear wheels rotatably arranged around their own axis of rotation perpendicular to the centre axis of the pile rack and engaging in the pile of a first plane, the gear wheels having arcuate teeth and adapted to the radius of the pile and wherein the gearbox with the gears is further rotatably arranged around the centre axis of the pile rack so that the gear wheels guide and centre the pile rack as the gearbox moves linearly with respect to the pile rack and/or about the pile rack.

Claims

1. A device (1) for converting a linear motion into a rotary motion, characterized in that the device comprises: a cylindrical pile rack (la), with teeth axially arranged around the entire pile throughout its longitudinal axis (Zp), and at least one gearbox (lb) comprising: four gears wheels (3) rotatably arranged around their own axis of rotation perpendicular to the centre axis of the pile rack (la) and engaging in the pile of a first plane (3,1), the gear wheels (3) having arcuate teeth and adapted to the radius of the pile (la) and wherein the gearbox (lb) with the gears (3) is further rotatably arranged around the centre axis of the pile rack (Zp) so that the gear wheels guide and centre the pile rack (la) as the gearbox moves linearly with respect to the pile rack and/or about the pile rack (la).

2. A device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the pile rack (la) is divided radially into at least two parts and interconnected, where the interconnection provides a seamless and continuous pile rack.

3. A device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the gearbox (lb) further comprises at least two gear wheels (3), pivotally arranged around its own rotational axis and engaging the gearbox (la) in a second plane (3,2) of the gearbox (lb).

4. A device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the gearbox (lb) further comprises a plurality of sets of at least two gear wheels (3), pivotally arranged around their own rotational axis and engaging the pile rack (la) in several planes.

5. A device (1) according to claim 1, wherein all the teeth of the pile rack (la) further comprise radially arranged and evenly spaced gears grooved phased in the axially arranged racks and running parallel to the centre axis of the ratchet rod (la) for all or part of its length.

6. A device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the gearbox (lb) further comprises at least one sprocket arranged in a spaced axis of rotation parallel to the centre axis (Zp) of the pile rack (la) forming a planetary gear with the pile rack in a plane (3,3).

7. A device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a pile rack (la) and two gearboxes (lb).

8. A device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the gear wheels (3) of the gearbox(es) are connected by one or more means (7, 8) selected from: wheel axles, angular joints, angled gears, cardans.

9. A device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the gear wheels (3) of the gearbox(es) can each be coupled with at least one generator and/or at least one motor.

10. A wave power plant (100) comprising a device according to claim 1, further comprising a floating element (10).

11. A wave power plant (100) according to claim 10, wherein at least one gearbox (lb) is mounted in the floating element (10) with gear exchange to generators.

12. A wave power plant (100) according to claim 11, wherein the energy transmitted via the gearbox can be transmitted to gears, shafts, pressure systems, hydraulics, and/or chain drive.

13. A wave power plant (100) according to claim 10, wherein the pile rack (la) is anchored to a seabed, or to any fixed element.

14. A wave power plant (100) according to claim 11, wherein the gearbox (lb) is mounted in, on or below the floating element (10).

15. A wave power plant (100) according to claim 10, wherein the floating element (10) comprises a gyro connected to the floating element in a first side and which is further coupled to a gearbox in a second side.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

[0025] FIG. 1 is a top view of the gearbox and pile rack.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the gearbox.

[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates the invention in an embodiment with a wave-stressed floating element.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a gearbox and pile rack.

[0029] FIG. 5 shows a gearbox with built-in gyro balancing.

[0030] FIG. 6 shows a pile rack adapted for gear engagement in both vertical direction and horizontal direction.

[0031] FIG. 7 shows two pile racks engaged in a gearbox.

[0032] FIG. 8 shows a two-piece pile rack with a gearbox.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] FIG. 1 shows in a view a pile rack la, surrounded by a gearbox lb with four gearwheels 3a, the teeth being arcuate in their circumference and adapted for optimal engagement with said pile rack 1. The gearbox is thus centred relative to the vertical centre axis of the pile rack. The gearwheels 3a are each fixed to the gearbox 2 by means of a through shaft which is fixedly fixed to the gearbox and each gearwheel having at least one rotating bearing.

[0034] Further, the gearwheels 3a of the gearbox lb are connected by one or more means 7, 8 selected from: the wheel axles, angular joints, angled gears, gears, cardan,

[0035] FIG. 2 is a side view of the gearbox lb, where the gearbox contains two planes 3,1 and 3,2 with each four gearwheels 3a, and the plane 3,3 which is perpendicular to the planes 3,1 and 3,2 and goes through the centre axis Zp of the pile rack.

[0036] FIG. 3 shows how the pile rack la may be incorporated in a wave power plant 100 with a floating element 10 which is affected by the waves and surrounds the pile rack la. The pile rack may be fastened to a seabed or other element/body, e.g. with a wire, chain or rod. When the waves are moving the floating element up and down the pile rack la, the linear movement will be transmitted to the gear wheels which are in mesh with the pile rack. The rotating movement of the gear wheels may in turn be transferred to a generator.

[0037] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a gearbox lb in engagement with a pile rack la, where the gearbox lb contains a total of eight gear wheels 3a with each four gear wheels 3a in two planes. The object of this solution is primarily to stabilize/control the gear box relatively the pile rack.

[0038] FIG. 5 is a sketch showing an embodiment of the wave power plant with a pile rack la, surrounded by a gearbox lb with four gear wheels 3a, where the gearbox is fixed in a floating element 10, where the floating element is gyro-stabilized attached to the gearbox lb.

[0039] FIG. 6 shows a gearbox lb with one vertical through-going guide-hole and one horizontal through-going guide-hole, mounted side by side. Where one gearbox provides a linear horizontal direction of motion (x) and where a second gearbox provides linear vertical motion (y). In this way the gearboxes lb can simultaneously move in two axial directions with a rotation determined by the elongated gear wheel (one or more elongated gear wheels) which then controls this function. The vertically mounted gearbox will also have the same function, and will work in one unit or several systems of gearboxes.

[0040] FIG. 7 shows a gearbox with one or more elongated gear wheels 3b, arranged around the pile rack la, and forming a planet gear with the pile rack l a plane 3,3, and wherein the axis of rotation of the elongated gearwheel(s) is in parallel with the centre axis Zp of the pile rack and which will engage at least one of the pile rack teeth. The elongated gear wheels 3b are in engagement with longitudinal grooves in the axial direction Zp of the pile rack.

[0041] Assuming that the gearbox lb is fixedly mounted relative to the pile rack la, it will be able to rotate the gear wheel having a rotation axis in parallel with the pile rack la if said pile rack is applied rotational forces from one or more motors attached to the gearbox, and/or that the vertical gear wheel 3b will rotate or stand still after applying forces via the pile rack. Thus, the gearbox, eventually with a floating element, may be oriented in the horizontal plane. In this way, the floating element, which may have an elongated shape, may be aligned relative the direction of the waves.

[0042] All power and signal cables can be passed through the pile rack and/or with slip rings.

[0043] FIG. 8 shows a gearbox centring which, through the coupling of a two-piece or multi-part pile rack of conical design in the entrance area h secures the gearbox and pile rack against damage during assembly and connection. Here, both the pile rack and one or more vertically-positioned steering gear wheels may have a conical shape in the entrance area.

[0044] Incidentally, by assembling two gearboxes as with the gearbox centring, it will transfer its gear to the second pile rack. This is not shown in the figures.

[0045] Even if each figure shows details of different embodiments, it is possible to combine features from each embodiment, for example in a wave power plant.