Connecting rod and piston for an oil-less pneumatic motor

• US 10,408,058 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2015
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Circle Dynamics Inc.
• Original Assignee: Circle Dynamics Inc.
• Inventors: Doyle, James Laurence
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazo, Thomas E
• Application Number:
  US14/959,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20160160645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F01B 9/02 with crankshaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 7/00 Connecting-rods or like links pivoted at both ends coupling-rods for locomotive driving-wheels B61C17/10; Construction of connecting-rod heads heads rigid with crossheads F16C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 7/023 for piston engines, pumps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 1/22 with universal joint, e.g. ball-joint

Abstract

A connecting rod and piston assembly for use in an oil-less pneumatic motor, wherein said connecting rod and piston do not require a wrist pin for connecting said rod to said piston; said connecting rod having at least two ends, connected to each other by a connecting member of a predetermined length; said at least two ends being a piston end and a crankshaft end; said piston end being distant said crankshaft end; said piston having a cylinder end and a connecting rod piston end receiving end, wherein said connecting rod piston end receiving end matingly engages said connecting rod piston end; said piston end is substantially ball shaped and said crankshaft end is shaped for engagement with a crankshaft; said connecting rod piston end receiving end is a socket shape to matingly receive said ball shaped piston end.

Claims

1. An oil-less pneumatic motor comprising a connecting rod and piston assembly;

said connecting rod comprising at least two ends, connected to each other by a connecting member of a predetermined length;

said at least two ends comprising a piston end and a crankshaft end;

said piston end being distant said crankshaft end;

said piston comprising a cylinder end and a connecting rod piston end receiving end, wherein said connecting rod piston end receiving end matingly engages said connecting rod piston end;

said piston end being substantially ball shaped and said crankshaft end shaped for engagement with a crankshaft wherein said crankshaft end is arcuate shape with a raised arcuate edge of a radial thickness greater than a greatest thickness of said connecting member in a direction of the rotational axis of the crankshaft for use with a combination retaining ring/thrust washer and said connecting rod piston end receiving end further comprises a piston seal, for sealing said connecting rod piston end in said piston;

said connecting rod piston end receiving end being substantially socket shaped for matingly receiving said ball shaped piston end;

said connecting rod and piston assembly in an oil-less pneumatic motor driving paint mixing paddles.

2. The oil-less pneumatic motor of claim 1 wherein the connecting rod and piston assembly is made of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic pellets combined with oil;

oil encapsulated plastic pellets;

acetal resin;

nylon plastic;

polytetrafluoroethylene filled acetal homopolymer resin;

internally lubricated acetal-based material;

oil filled cast nylon 6;

MDS (molybdenum disulphide) filled nylon 6; and

combinations thereof.

3. The oil-less pneumatic motor of claim 1 wherein said piston seal is made of a material is selected from the group consisting of Buna-N (nitrile rubber);

fluoroelastomer;

EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber;

perfluoroelastomer;

polytetrafluoroethylene;

polyurethane and combinations thereof.

4. The oil-less pneumatic motor of claim 1 wherein said piston further comprises a sleeve seal for sealing said piston in a cylinder sleeve.

5. The oil-less pneumatic motor of claim 4 wherein said sleeve seal is made of a material selected form the group consisting of urethane;

UHMW (ultra-high molecular weight) polyethylene;

fluoroelastomer;

Buna-N; and

combinations thereof.

6. The oil-less pneumatic motor of claim 5 wherein said piston is substantially cylindrical in shape, for engagement with said cylinder sleeve and made of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic pellets combined with oil;

oil encapsulated plastic pellets;

acetal resin;

nylon plastics;

polytetrafluoroethylene filled acetal homopolymer resin;

internally lubricated acetal-based material;

oil filled cast nylon 6;

MDS (molybdenum disulphide) filled nylon 6; and

combinations thereof.

7. The oil-less pneumatic motor of claim 6 wherein when said connecting rod is connected to said piston, said piston end is matingly engaged with said piston allowing for a pendulum movement of said connecting rod in said piston in at least two planes.

8. The oil-less pneumatic motor of claim 7 wherein said pendulum movement is greater than two planes.

9. The oil-less pneumatic motor of claim 6 wherein said oil for said plastic pellets combined with oil is mineral oil;

said oil encapsulated plastic pellets is oil impregnated nylon;

said acetal resin is acetal homopolymer resin; and

said nylon plastics is oil filled nylon plastic.

10. The oil-less pneumatic motor of claim 1 with the proviso of no wrist pin in said connecting rod and piston assembly.

11. The oil-less pneumatic motor of claim 1 or 2 wherein said crankshaft end is arcuate shape and said connecting rod piston end receiving end further comprises a retainer, for retaining said connecting rod piston end in said piston.

12. The oil-less pneumatic motor of claim 11 wherein said connecting rod and piston assembly further comprises a retainer lock for locking said retainer in place with said piston.

13. The oil-less pneumatic motor of claim 12 wherein said retainer further comprises a guide allowing for a pendulum movement of said connecting rod in said piston in at least two planes.

14. The oil-less pneumatic motor of claim 13 wherein said retainer further comprises a slot for engaging with said connecting rod.

15. An oil-less pneumatic motor comprising a connecting rod and piston assembly;

said connecting rod comprising at least two ends, connected to each other by a connecting member of a predetermined length;

said at least two ends comprising a piston end and a crankshaft end;

said piston end being distant said crankshaft end;

said piston comprising a cylinder end and a connecting rod piston end receiving end, wherein said connecting rod piston end receiving end matingly engages said connecting rod piston end;

said piston end being substantially ball shaped and said crankshaft end shaped for engagement with a crankshaft;

said connecting rod piston end receiving end being substantially socket shaped for matingly receiving said ball shaped piston end;

wherein said crankshaft end is arcuate shaped with a raised arcuate edge of a radial thickness greater than a greatest thickness of said connecting member in a direction of the rotational axis of the crankshaft;

said oil-less pneumatic motor driving paint mixing paddles.

16. A paint mixing assembly comprising an oil-less pneumatic motor comprising a connecting rod and piston assembly;

said connecting rod comprising at least two ends, connected to each other by a connecting member of a predetermined length;

said at least two ends comprising a piston end and a crankshaft end;

said piston end being distant said crankshaft end;

said piston comprising a cylinder end and a connecting rod piston end receiving end, wherein said connecting rod piston end receiving end matingly engages said connecting rod piston end;

said piston end being substantially ball shaped and said crankshaft end shaped for engagement with a crankshaft for mixing paint;

said connecting rod piston end receiving end being substantially socket shaped for matingly receiving said ball shaped piston end;

wherein said crankshaft end is arcuate shape with a raised arcuate edge of a radial thickness greater than a greatest thickness of said connecting member in a direction of the rotational axis of the crankshaft.

17. A paint mixing assembly comprising an oil-less pneumatic motor comprising a connecting rod and piston assembly;

said connecting rod comprising at least two ends, connected to each other by a connecting member of a predetermined length;

said at least two ends comprising a piston end and a crankshaft end;

said piston end being distant said crankshaft end;

said piston comprising a cylinder end and a connecting rod piston end receiving end, wherein said connecting rod piston end receiving end matingly engages said connecting rod piston end;

said piston end being substantially ball shaped and said crankshaft end shaped for engagement with a crankshaft for mixing paint wherein said crankshaft end is arcuate shape with a raised arcuate edge of a radial thickness greater than a greatest thickness of said connecting member in a direction of the rotational axis of the crankshaft for use with a combination retaining ring/thrust washer and said connecting rod piston end receiving end further comprises a piston seal, for sealing said connecting rod piston end in said piston;

said connecting rod piston end receiving end being substantially socket shaped for matingly receiving said ball shaped piston end.