PENDULUM DEVICE

Abstract

A pendulum device is provided including at least one oscillating mass, at least one proximal arm, and at least one first distal arm, The at least one proximal arm is fixed to the oscillating mass at one end and is rotatably connected to the distal arm at the other end, so that the oscillating mass can oscillate with respect to said distal arm. The distal arm is rotatably fixed to a support element fixed through a fulcrum point. Furthermore, transmission means are included between the distal arm and the proximal arm. The transmission means is configured so that oscillation of the mass causes the rotation of the distal arm around the fulcrum point and so that at least one point of said proximal arm performs at least a linear translation, the mass performing a cycloidal trajectory.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A pendulum device comprising: at least one oscillating mass; at least one proximal arm; and at least one first distal arm, wherein said proximal arm is fixed to said oscillating mass at one end and is rotatably connected to the distal arm at the other end, so that said oscillating mass can oscillate with respect to said distal arm; and wherein the distal arm is rotatably fixed to a support element fixed through a fulcrum point; and wherein a transmission means is included between the distal arm and the proximal arm, the transmission means being configured so that oscillation of said mass causes the rotation of the distal arm around the fulcrum point and so that at least one point of said proximal arm performs at least a linear translation, said mass performing a cycloidal trajectory.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the value of the distance between the connection point of the mass to the proximal arm and the connection point of the proximal arm to the distal arm is about four times the value of the distance between the connection point of the proximal arm to the distal arm and the connection point between the distal arm and the support element.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein a reversal means of the motion of the mass is included, the reversal means being configured so that said point on the proximal arm performs two linear translations oriented perpendicular to each other.

14. The device according to claim 11, wherein said transmission means comprises a first gear included at the connection between the proximal arm and the distal arm, said first gear being integral with the proximal arm, which first gear engages with a second gear rotatably fixed to the distal arm which engages in turn with a third gear included at the connection area between the distal arm and the support element.

15. The device according to claim 11, wherein the transmission means comprises a first gear engaging with a crown having an internal toothing, said first gear being integral with the proximal arm and the crown being integral with said support element and said distal arm being rotatably fixed to the support element.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the diameter of said crown is about twice the diameter of the first gear.

17. The device according to claim 11, wherein said support element is connected to at least two distal arms, each distal arm being connected to a proximal arm to which the oscillating mass is fixed, wherein said transmission means being included between each distal arm and the corresponding proximal arm.

18. The device according to claim 11, wherein the distal arm has a weight at the end opposite the end facing the proximal arm.

19. The device according to claim 11, wherein movement means of said oscillating mass is included.

20. The device according to claim 11, wherein a device for detecting the speed and/or position of said oscillating mass is present.

Description

[0047] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following description of some exemplary embodiments illustrated in the attached drawings in which:

[0048] FIG. 1—illustrates a possible embodiment of the pendulum device object of the present invention with “external” gears tracing horizontal line with harmonic motion;

[0049] FIGS. 2 and 2bis—illustrate two views of a possible embodiment of the pendulum device of the present invention with “external” gears, tracing horizontal and vertical lines with harmonic motion;

[0050] FIGS. 3 and 3bis—illustrate two views of a possible embodiment of the pendulum device of the present invention with “internal” gears, tracing a horizontal line with harmonic motion;

[0051] FIGS. 4 and 4bis—illustrate two views of a possible embodiment of the pendulum device of the present invention with “internal” gears, tracing horizontal and vertical lines with harmonic motion;

[0052] FIGS. 5 and 5bis—illustrate two views of a possible embodiment of the pendulum device object of the present invention with “external” gears, tracing horizontal line with harmonic motion and rotational movement with constant motion;

[0053] FIGS. 6 and 6bis—illustrate two views of a possible embodiment of the pendulum device object of the present invention with “external” gears, tracing horizontal and vertical lines with harmonic motion and rotational movement with constant motion;

[0054] FIGS. 7 and 7bis—illustrate two views of a possible embodiment of the pendulum device object of the present invention with “internal” gears tracing horizontal and vertical lines with harmonic motion and rotational motion with constant motion;

[0055] FIGS. 8 and 8bis—illustrate two views of a possible embodiment of the pendulum device object of the present invention with “internal” gears tracing horizontal and vertical lines with harmonic motion and rotational movement with constant motion;

[0056] FIGS. 9 and 9bis—illustrate two views of a possible embodiment of the pendulum device of the present invention comprising a double pendulum with “internal” gears tracing horizontal and vertical lines with harmonic motion and rotational motion with constant motion and constant driving torque;

[0057] FIGS. 10 and 10bis—illustrate two views of a possible embodiment of the pendulum device of the present invention consisting of a double pendulum with “external” gears tracing horizontal lines with harmonic motion and rotational motion with constant motion and constant driving torque;

[0058] FIG. 11-12—illustrate some examples of movement of the pendulums of FIG. 9;

[0059] FIGS. 13 and 13bis—illustrate two views of a possible embodiment of the pendulum device object of the present invention with “internal” gears and with balanced arm and auxiliary movement by rotation of the “crown” gear;

[0060] FIGS. 14 and 14bis—illustrate two views of a possible embodiment of the pendulum device object of the present invention with “external” gears and with balanced arm and auxiliary movement by rotation of the “sun” gear;

[0061] FIGS. 15 to 16bis—illustrate some views of an “internal” gear inverter.

[0062] It is specified that the figures attached to the present patent application show some possible embodiments of the pendulum device object of the present invention to better understand its advantages and features described.

[0063] Such embodiments are therefore to be understood for illustrative purposes only and not limited to the inventive concept of the present invention, namely to obtain a pendulum device which, through a rigid arm, conducts a mass, oscillating by gravitational effect, along a pendulum trajectory, which travels in proportion to the kinetic energy available thereto, in an isochronous manner.

[0064] With particular reference to FIG. 1, the pendulum device has an arm 13 supported by the support 23 and has a rotation fulcrum in the point 14 and supports the gear 17 through the pin 18, and the arm 1 through the pin 2. The arm 1 supports the mass 20 through the point 4 and is constrained with the gear 19 through the pins 21 and 22. The pendulum oscillation of the mass 20 orients the gear 19 and rotates the gear 17 and the pulley arm 13 around the gear 16. As a result of the oscillation path 5 of the mass 20, the segment 13 makes a rotation 15 around the pin 14 and the point 3 makes a straight path 7.

[0065] Advantageously, according to the configuration of FIG. 1, the counterweight forms a third type of lever, while the driving of the wheels involves a double-arm driving. In FIG. 2, the pendulum device is completely similar to that of FIG. 1, integrated with the arm 24 integral with the segment 13 with an angle of 90°, which supports the gear 25 with fulcrum 26 and the gear 28 with fulcrum 27: the oscillation of the mass 20 and the consequent rotation of the arms 13 and 24 orient the arm 29 integral with the gear 28 through the pins 30 and 31, allowing at the point 32 to travel the vertical trajectory 33 with a straight line orthogonal to the trajectory 7.

[0066] In FIG. 2bis, as in the other figures with the reference “bis”, it is possible to see a side view of the pendulum device of FIG. 2, so as to illustrate how the various components can be organized and installed, and explain how they are connected to each other.

[0067] Preferably the arm 24 forms a first type of lever and the counterweight is formed by an extension beyond the fulcrum 14. The arm 13 is a third-type lever and should preferably be weighed down.

[0068] The driving of the wheel trains involves a double-arm driving.

[0069] FIG. 3 illustrates a possible embodiment of the transmission means with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0070] In fact, in the previous figures the transmission means consisted of a gear train 16, 17 and 19, while in FIG. 3 the transmission means comprise the crown 12 and the gear 11.

[0071] The crown 12 is fixed, while the gear 11 engages in the inner toothing of the crown 12 and slides along the inner circumference of said crown 12.

[0072] The proximal arm is constrained to the gear 11, such that the oscillation of the oscillating mass causes the movement of the various parts, in the manner described in FIG. 1, i.e., the segment 13 carries out a rotation 15 around the pin 14 and the point 3 a straight path 7.

[0073] As anticipated, the illustrated possible embodiments are subdivided according to the embodiment of the transmission means, i.e., whether they use “external” gears, FIG. 1, 2, 5, 6, 10, 14, or “internal” gears, FIGS. 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13.

[0074] Depending on the various connections of the arms and gears, illustrated in the various figures, point 3 belonging to the proximal arm (FIG. 2) may perform one or more rectilinear translations and the distal arm perform more or less wide oscillations (see for example FIGS. 4 and 5), but the oscillating mass will always perform a cycloidal trajectory.

[0075] With particular reference to FIG. 3, as for FIG. 13, the counterweight allows to obtain the configuration of a third-type lever in which, if the mass of the gear 11 is predominant with respect to that of the arm 1, it is counterweighted as a first-type lever with respect to the fulcrum 14.

[0076] The driving of the wheel gears requires that the wheel train 11 must be driven by a double arm 13.

[0077] Referring to FIG. 4, the arm 24 is a first-type lever and the counterweight is an extension beyond the fulcrum 14; depending on the mass of the gear 11, the arm 13 must be counterweighted as a first-type lever, extending it beyond the fulcrum 14. The driving of the wheel trains involves the wheel trains 11 and 34 being driven by respective double arms.

[0078] In FIG. 5, the distal arm 24 is preferably formed by a wheel train. The arm 24 is a third-type lever whose mass is balanced with that of the arm 1. The arm 13 which drives the toothed wheels is a first-type lever to be counterbalanced beyond the fulcrum 14. The driving of the wheel trains is carried out by a double arm.

[0079] Similar considerations apply for FIG. 10.

[0080] Similarly, FIG. 6 includes that the added arm 24 is a first-type lever to be counterbalanced beyond the fulcrum 14. The driving of the wheel trains requires that both trains are driven by respective double arms.

[0081] In FIG. 7, the distal arm 24 is preferably formed by a wheel train. With regard to the counterweights, the internal rotation 11 is a first-type lever while the arm 24 is a third-type lever. The driving of the wheel trains requires the wheel trains 11 to be driven by a double arm.

[0082] According to the configuration of FIG. 8, the distal arm 24 is preferably formed by a wheel train, while the two internal wheels 11 and 25 form a first-type lever to be counterbalanced beyond the fulcrum 14, while the arm 24 is a third-type lever. The wheel trains 11 and 25 are driven by respective double arms.

[0083] With regard to FIGS. 8 and 9, as well as FIGS. 11 and 12, the distal arm consists of a wheel train. The wheel trains form a first-type lever and the distal arms 24 form third-type levers. The wheel trains 11 and 25 are driven by respective double arms.

[0084] Preferably, with particular reference to FIG. 13, the wheel train 11 is driven by a double arm.

[0085] The figures therefore show possible configurations to obtain such a trajectory, both with one and with two oscillating masses, as illustrated in FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 12.

[0086] In particular, FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate two possible variants of the pendulum device object of the present invention, respectively with “internal” gears and with “external” gears, in which the distal arm has a weight 41.

[0087] Such a weight 41 is intended to balance the masses, so that the resulting oscillating mass is almost only the oscillating mass and not the mass of the arms.

[0088] The weight 41 therefore has a value preferably equal to the weight of the arms and gears.

[0089] Furthermore, the friction compensation system, shown with the reference numeral 42, is illustrated in such figures.

[0090] Such a friction compensation system, i.e., the loss of kinetic energy by the oscillating mass, provides a rotation, continuous or discrete over time, to the external crown of FIG. 13 or to the gears of FIG. 14.

[0091] Furthermore, such a system, as described above, may operate in combination with oscillating mass position detection sensors, such as the number 43 of FIGS. 13 and 14.

[0092] Finally, FIGS. 15 to 16a illustrate some possible embodiments of inverters, operable by pendulum torque with horizontal and vertical harmonic movements, producing rotational movement with constant motion and constant driving torque.

[0093] In particular, FIG. 16 illustrates a reciprocal conversion device between two alternating linear motions, orthogonal to each other, and a rotary motion. The rotary torque 30 is centred through the gears 31a, 31b and 31c, with the respective fulcrums 32a, 32b and 32c, and is crossed orthogonally by the rotating pin 33, to which the segments 35 and 36 are integral. One end of the segment 35 may be provided integral with the point belonging to the proximal arm of the pendulum having vertical linear motion, while one end of the segment 36 may be fixed to the point of the cycloidal pendulum with horizontal linear motion.

[0094] FIG. 16bis illustrates the cross-section of the device of FIG. 16.

[0095] The application of motion with harmonic trends to the points 37 and 38 induces the constant rotation of the pin 33, the wheel 30 and the wheels 31a, 31b and 31c. Reciprocally, a constant rotational motion imprinted at one or more of the wheels 31a, 31b and 31c induces the point 33 to a circular motion with constant speed and the points 37 and 38 to linear motions orthogonal to each other and harmonic velocities.

[0096] Based on what has been described and on experimental tests related to obtaining the device object of the present invention, it is possible to outline some fundamental features:

the distal arm in each configuration is intended to consist of a gear train as in FIG. 1;

[0097] The fulcrum of each toothed wheel is considered to be held by two parallel arms located at the ends of the rotation pin;

the configurations whose distal arm is attributable to a third-type lever, the centre of gravity of the mass of the distal arm is considered to be in equilibrium with that of the proximal arm, without the oscillating mass 20. This balance is similar to that of a first-type lever when the mass of the distal arm exceeds that of the proximal arm (see FIG. 13);
the wheel trains attributable to a first-type lever are placed in an indifferent rotational equilibrium with masses opposite the rotation fulcrum;
the coupled levers (see FIGS. 5,6,7,8,9,10,11 and 12), attributable to different types of levers, are intended to be placed in equilibrium individually, with regard to each mass, or overall.

[0098] Furthermore, based on the attached images and the previous description, it can be seen that the device object of the present invention has the following advantageous aspects:

kinetic energy input necessary for continuous operation
total kinetic energy availability.

[0099] In particular, in the configurations shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 12, the continuous movement of the device requires the kinetic energy necessary to compensate for mechanical and aerodynamic frictions resulting from the motion of the kinematic mechanisms.

[0100] According to these configurations, the contribution is made by means of constant rotational energy, which has the same characteristic as the total kinetic energy obtained.

[0101] In detail, in FIG. 5 the contribution of kinetic energy is obtained through the constant rotation of the wheel train 17 and/or the wheel train 19 and/or the arm 13 and/or the fulcrum pin 14. Such elements also make it possible to obtain the availability of total kinetic energy.

[0102] In FIG. 6 the contribution of kinetic energy is obtained through the constant rotation of the wheel train 17 and/or wheel train 19 and/or wheel train 25 and/or wheel train 28 and/or arm 13 and/or arm 24 and/or fulcrum pin 14. Such elements also make it possible to obtain the availability of total kinetic energy.

[0103] In FIG. 7 the contribution of kinetic energy is obtained through the constant rotation of the wheel train 11 and/or wheel train 15 and/or arm 13 and/or fulcrum pin 14. Such elements also make it possible to obtain the availability of total kinetic energy.

[0104] In FIGS. 8 and 9 the contribution of kinetic energy is obtained through the constant rotation of the wheel train 11 and/or wheel train 25 and/or wheel train 15 and/or arm 13 and/or the arm 26 and/or fulcrum pin 14. Such elements also make it possible to obtain the availability of total kinetic energy.

[0105] Finally, in FIG. 10 the contribution of kinetic energy is obtained through the constant rotation of the wheel trains 17 and/or wheel trains 19 and/or arms 13 and/or fulcrum pin 14. Such elements also make it possible to obtain the availability of total kinetic energy.

[0106] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, some preferred embodiments have been shown in the drawings and described in detail.

[0107] It should be understood, however, that there is no intention of limiting the invention to the specific illustrated embodiment but, on the contrary, it aims to cover all the modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0108] The use of “for example”, “etc.”, “or” refers to non-exclusive non-limiting alternatives, unless otherwise stated.

[0109] The use of “includes” means “includes but not limited to”, unless otherwise stated.