Pneumatic engine

• US 6,006,517 A
• Filed: 10/26/1998
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spin Master Limited (Spin Master Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Spin Master Toys Far East Limited (Spin Master Corp.)
• Inventors: Kownacki, Charles D., Rehkemper, Jeffrey G., Harary, Ronnen
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOANG M
• Application Number:
  US09/178,595
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 60/370, 60/407, 124/57, 124/70, 124/74, 137/588, 141/3, 141/20, 141/346, 141/347, 141/348, 141/349, 446/37, 446/56, 446/57, 446/176, 446/180, 446/181, 446/186, 446/187, 446/211, 446/207, 446/218, 446/225
• US Class Current: 60/370
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 29/16 by steam or compressed air
• CPC Class Codes: F01B 17/02 Engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/34 Ultra-small engines, e.g. for driving models

Abstract

A fluid engine for use in pneumatically operated toys such as wheeled vehicles or airplanes includes an engine having a fluid input cavity which is in continuous fluid communication with a source of compressed air, a fluid delivery cavity which is in continuous communication with a piston cavity bounded by a moveable piston mounted in a cylinder member and which is separated from the fluid input cavity by a wall having a valve opening, and exhaust apertures which are separated from the fluid delivery cavity. A valve rod is movably housed to open the valve opening and close the exhaust apertures during the piston'"'"'s power stroke, and to close the valve opening and open the exhaust opening during the piston'"'"'s exhaust stroke. The valve rod is operatively connected to a piston to act in synchronism with it by the use of a cam integrally secured to a propeller power shaft.

Claims

1. A fluid input assembly for a pneumatic engine for toy vehicles, the assembly comprising:

(a) a rechargeable inflatable resilient compressed air canister having a normally open mouth thereof; and

(b) an intake manifold of said pneumatic engine, said manifold comprising an internal air inlet for complementally receiving said open mouth of said canister, said manifold further comprising means for enabling continuous flow of compressed air from said canister through said air inlet and to said pneumatic engine.

2. The assembly as recited in claim 1, said intake manifold further comprising:

(c) an external air inlet inclusive of a one-way check valve for permitting selectable external re-pressurization of said air canister without removal thereof from said internal air inlet.

3. The assembly as recited in claim 1, in which an interface of said intake manifold said mouth of said air canister and air canister defines means for complemental positive mechanical securement to thereby ensure secure fluid communication of said air inlet with air canister.

9. The engine as recited in claim 2, in which securement means include a radial cap of said intake manifold having thread means for securement to said canister and an elastomeric seal seated between said intake manifold and said canister.

4. A fluid input assembly for a pneumatic engine for a toy vehicle, the assembly comprising:

(a) a rechargeable inflatable resilient compressed air canister having a normally-open mouth including thread means integrally formed upon an external surface of a mouth-defining neck of said mouth;

(b) a substantially circumferential retaining cap bracket including therein thread means proportioned for complemental securement about said thread means of said neck of said canister; and

(c) an engine-to-canister bracket comprising means for mechanical securement of said canister to exterior surfaces of said pneumatic engine,

whereby said canister is stabilized relative to said pneumatic engine.

5. The assembly as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

retaining mean s positioned about said mouth of said canister.

6. The assembly as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

an external air inlet for said air canister in continuous fluid communication with said input assembly by which selectable external re-pressurization of said canister may be accomplished.

7. A pneumatic engine for toy vehicles, comprising:

(a) a selectably inflatable compressed air canister;

(b) an intake manifold, comprising;

an engine air inlet, in fluid communication with said air canister, the inlet including means for providing compressed air to said canister through said manifold;

(c) a cylinder housing including;

(i) distal and proximal regions thereof,

(ii) an inlet in fluid communication with said engine air inlet, and

(iii) at said proximal region, a plurality of air exhaust apertures;

(d) a one-way check valve including a proximal element, reciprocally situated at least partially within said inlet of said cylinder housing, said check valve residing in a normally closed position relative to said inlet;

(e) a piston slidably mounted along a longitudinal axis of said housing in a substantially fluid-tight relationship relative to internal circumferential walls of said distal region of said cylindrical housing, said piston including an axial member projecting distally toward said cylinder housing inlet and proportioned in diameter for insertion thereinto, said piston having a substantially concave proximal surface thereof;

(f) a piston spring mounted about said axial member of said piston and having a length greater than said axial member and, thereby, at a distal end thereof, having a length sufficient to effect selectable contact with a proximally directed element of said check valve during intervals of high pressure between said piston and said cylinder housing;

(g) a connecting rod having a distal end proportioned for complemental non-rigid mechanical interface with said proximal surface of said piston;

(h) an eccentric rotationally mounted to an engine power delivery shaft, said eccentric rotatable secured to a proximal end of said connecting rod, in which rotation of said eccentric by said rod will transmit angular momentum and force to said system power shaft,

whereby reciprocation of said connecting rod by said eccentric will increase pressure between a distal side of said piston and enclosed internal portions of said cylinder housing and will compress said piston spring against said proximal element of said check valve, thereby imparting potential energy to both said spring and compressed air within said cylinder and, further whereby, at maximum of distal reciprocation, said proximal element of said check valve will urge open relative to said inlet of said cylindrical housing, thereby effecting a brief high pressure input of compressed air from said canister, through said intake manifold and into said distal region of said cylindrical housing, said high pressure air input thereby initiating expansion of said piston spring and movement of said piston toward said proximal region of said cylinder housing, the same causing reiterative cycles of reciprocation of said piston, connecting rod, cam, and engine power shaft.

8. The engine as recited in claim 7, in which said intake manifold and air canister comprise means for complemental positive mechanical securement therebetween which ensures said fluid communication of said air inlet with said air canister.

10. The engine as recited in claim 7, in which said piston comprises:

a piston seal, including a circumferential skirt proportioned in radius to inner walls of said housing, said seal integrally dependent from a proximal surface of said piston.