Rotary driven reciprocating mechanism and method

Abstract

A rotary driven reciprocating mechanism and method permit a rotary motion to be converted into a reciprocating motion that may be used to control the operation of various devices. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the rotary driven reciprocating mechanism may be used for electronic valve timing control in an internal combustion engine. The rotary driven reciprocating mechanism may also be used as a pump valve timing mechanism or for any other purpose in which it is desirable to convert rotary motion into reciprocating motion.

1 . A rotary driven reciprocating mechanism that causes the reciprocating motion of a member, comprising: 
 a motor that produces a rotational output;    a reciprocating member that is coupled to the rotational output of the motor;    a cam track affixed to a rigid member, the cam track having a first portion and a second portion connected together wherein the first and second portions are at different vertical locations; and    the reciprocating member further comprises a follower member attached to the reciprocating member wherein the follower member rotates around the track in the cam track at the reciprocating member is rotated by the motor so that the reciprocating member moves between an first vertical position when the cam follower is in the first portion of the cam track and a second vertical position when the cam follower is in the second portion of the cam track so that the reciprocating member moves between the first vertical position and the second vertical position due to the rotation of the motor.    
     
     
         2 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the motor and follower member rotate continuously during the operation of the mechanism.  
     
     
         3 . The mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the first portion of the cam track further comprises a flat portion so that the remains in a closed position for some predetermined time during the rotation of the motor and follower member.  
     
     
         4 . The mechanism of  claim 3 , wherein the rotation speed of the motor is varied during an engine cycle to provide variable valve timing.  
     
     
         5 . The mechanism of  claim 3  further comprising a second follower member and a second cam track wherein the second follower member is located on an opposite side of the follower member to balance the forces of the reciprocating member and wherein the second follower member rotates around the second cam track.  
     
     
         6 . The mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the reciprocating member further comprises one piece reciprocating member that rotates continuously when the motor rotates.  
     
     
         7 . The mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the reciprocating member further comprises a rotation joint between an upper portion and a lower portion of the reciprocating member so that the lower portion of the reciprocating member is not required to rotate when the motor rotates.  
     
     
         8 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the motor and follower member rotate periodically during the operation of the mechanism wherein the motor rotates when the reciprocating member moves between the first and second positions.  
     
     
         9 . The mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the cam track further comprises a slanted track between the first portion and the second portion.  
     
     
         10 . The mechanism of  claim 9 , wherein the rotation speed of the motor is varied during an engine cycle to provide variable valve timing.  
     
     
         11 . The mechanism of  claim 9  further comprising a second follower member and a second cam track wherein the second follower member is located on an opposite side of the follower member to balance the forces of the reciprocating member and wherein the second follower member rotates around the second cam track.  
     
     
         12 . The mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the reciprocating member further comprises a one piece reciprocating member that rotates continuously when the motor rotates.  
     
     
         13 . The mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the reciprocating member further comprises a rotation joint between an upper portion and a lower portion of the reciprocating member so that the lower portion of the reciprocating member is not required to rotate when the motor rotates.  
     
     
         14 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the reciprocating member further comprises a one piece reciprocating member that rotates when the motor rotates.  
     
     
         15 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the reciprocating member further comprises a rotation joint between an upper portion and a lower portion of the reciprocating member so that the lower portion of the reciprocating member is not required to rotate when the motor rotates.  
     
     
         16 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid member further comprises an engine block and wherein the reciprocating member further comprises a valve in an internal combustion engine.  
     
     
         17 . The mechanism of  claim 16 , wherein the first vertical position comprises a valve open position and the second vertical position further comprises a valve closed position.  
     
     
         18 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid member further comprises a pump body and wherein the reciprocating member further comprises a pump valve.  
     
     
         19 . The mechanism of  claim 1  further comprising a transmission that couples the rotational output of the motor to the reciprocating member.  
     
     
         20 . The mechanism of  claim 19 , wherein the transmission further comprises a drive gear connected to the motor and a driven gear located adjacent to the drive gear wherein the teeth of the drive gear are meshed with the teeth of the driven gear.  
     
     
         21 . A method for imparting a reciprocating motion to a reciprocating element, the method comprising: 
 producing a rotary motion using a motor;    coupling the rotary motion to a reciprocating member so that the reciprocating member rotates;    converting the rotary motion of the reciprocating member into an axial motion wherein the reciprocating member travels between a first vertical position and a second vertical position in response to the rotary motion produced by the motor.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the converting step further comprises providing a follower member to the reciprocating member wherein the follower member rotates around a track in a cam track and the reciprocating member is rotated by the motor so that the reciprocating member moves between an first vertical position when the cam follower is in the first portion of the cam track and a second vertical position when the cam follower is in the second portion of the cam track so that the reciprocating member moves between the first vertical position and the second vertical position due to the rotation of the motor.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the producing step further comprises continuously producing rotary motion.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the producing rotary motion further comprises varying the rotation speed of the motor during an engine cycle to provide variable valve timing.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the converting further comprises providing a second follower member and a second cam track wherein the second follower member is located on an opposite side of the follower member to balance the forces of the reciprocating member and wherein the second follower member rotates around the second cam track.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the producing rotary motion further comprises periodically producing rotary motion wherein the motor rotates when the reciprocating member is moving between the first and second positions.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the rotation speed of the motor is varied during an engine cycle to provide variable valve timing.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the converting further comprises providing a second follower member and a second cam track wherein the second follower member is located on an opposite side of the follower member to balance the forces of the reciprocating member and wherein the second follower member rotates around the second cam track.  
     
     
         29 . A rotary driven reciprocating mechanism that causes the reciprocating motion of a member, comprising: 
 means for producing a rotational output;    a reciprocating means coupled to the rotational output means;    means for converting the rotational motion of the rotational output means into a vertical motion of the reciprocating means, the converting means further comprising a track having a first portion and a second portion wherein the first and second portions are at different vertical locations; and    the reciprocating means further comprises following means attached to the reciprocating means wherein the follower means rotates around the track in the track at the reciprocating member is rotated by the motor so that the reciprocating member moves between an first vertical position when the cam follower is in the first portion of the track and a second vertical position when the cam follower is in the second portion of the track so that the reciprocating member moves between the first vertical position and the second vertical position due to the rotation of the motor.    
     
     
         30 . The mechanism of  claim 29 , wherein the rotation producing means and follower means rotate continuously during the operation of the mechanism.  
     
     
         31 . The mechanism of  claim 30 , wherein the first portion of the track further comprises a flat portion so that the valve remains closed for some predetermined time during the rotation of the rotation producing means and follower means.  
     
     
         32 . The mechanism of  claim 31 , wherein the rotation speed of the rotation producing means is varied during an engine cycle to provide variable valve timing.  
     
     
         33 . The mechanism of  claim 31  further comprising a second follower means and a second track wherein the second follower means is located on an opposite side of the follower means to balance the forces of the reciprocating means and wherein the second follower means rotates around the second track.  
     
     
         34 . The mechanism of  claim 30 , wherein the reciprocating means further comprises a one piece reciprocating member that rotates continuously when the rotation producing means rotates.  
     
     
         35 . The mechanism of  claim 30 , wherein the reciprocating means further comprises a rotation joint between an upper portion and a lower portion of the reciprocating means so that the lower portion of the reciprocating means is not required to rotate when the rotation producing means rotates.  
     
     
         36 . The mechanism of  claim 29 , wherein the rotation producing means and the follower means rotate periodically during the operation of the mechanism.  
     
     
         37 . The mechanism of  claim 36 , wherein the track further comprises a slanted track between the first portion and the second portion.  
     
     
         38 . The mechanism of  claim 37 , wherein the rotation speed of the rotation producing means is varied during an engine cycle to provide variable valve timing.  
     
     
         39 . The mechanism of  claim 37  further comprising a second follower means and a second track wherein the second follower means is located on an opposite side of the follower means to balance the forces of the reciprocating means and wherein the second follower means rotates around the second track.  
     
     
         40 . The mechanism of  claim 36 , wherein the reciprocating means further comprises a one piece reciprocating means that rotates continuously when the rotation producing means rotates.  
     
     
         41 . The mechanism of  claim 36 , wherein the reciprocating means further comprises a rotation joint between an upper portion and a lower portion of the reciprocating means so that the lower portion of the reciprocating means is not required to rotate when the rotation producing means rotates.  
     
     
         42 . The mechanism of  claim 29 , wherein the reciprocating means further comprises a one piece reciprocating means that rotates when the rotation producing means rotates.  
     
     
         43 . The mechanism of  claim 29 , wherein the reciprocating means further comprises a rotation joint between an upper portion and a lower portion of the reciprocating means so that the lower portion of the reciprocating means is not required to rotate when the rotation producing means rotates.  
     
     
         44 . The mechanism of  claim 29 , wherein the rigid member further comprises an cylinder head and wherein the reciprocating member further comprises a valve in an internal combustion engine.  
     
     
         45 . The mechanism of  claim 44 , wherein the first vertical position comprises a valve open position and the second vertical position further comprises a valve closed position.  
     
     
         46 . The mechanism of  claim 29 , wherein the rigid member further comprises a pump body and wherein the reciprocating member further comprises a pump valve.  
     
     
         47 . The mechanism of  claim 29  further comprising a transmission that couples the rotational output of the motor to the reciprocating member.  
     
     
         48 . The mechanism of  claim 47 , wherein the transmission further comprises a drive gear connected to the motor and a driven gear located adjacent to the drive gear wherein the teeth of the drive gear are meshed with the teeth of the driven gear.  
     
     
         49 . A system for controlling the actuation of valves having a valve stem within a cylinder head in an internal combustion engine comprising: 
 a cam track operatively connected to the internal combustion engine, the cam track defining a valve timing path;    a cam track follower operatively connected to the valve stem for following the valve timing path defined by the cam track;    a motor operatively connected to the cam track follower for causing rotational movement of the cam track follower relative to the cam track;    an electronic control system operatively connected to the electric motor for controlling the speed of the motor.    
     
     
         50 . A system as in  claim 49 , wherein the electric motor is operatively connected to the valve stem and the valve rotates with respect to the cylinder head.  
     
     
         51 . A system as in  claim 49 , wherein the electric motor is operatively connected to the cam track and cam track rotates with respect to the valve stem.  
     
     
         52 . A system as in  claim 49  further comprising a linear actuation system operatively connected to the cam track and wherein the cam track is tiltable with respect to the valve stem and wherein actuation of the linear actuation causes tilting of the cam track with respect to the valve stem.  
     
     
         53 . A system as in  claim 49  wherein the electronic controller varies the speed of rotation within one rotation cycle.  
     
     
         54 . A system as in  claim 49 , wherein the tip of the cam follower includes a biasing system.  
     
     
         55 . A system as in  claim 49 , wherein the tip of the cam follower includes a roller.  
     
     
         56 . A system as in  claim 49 , wherein the transmission system.  
     
     
         57 . A system of  claim 49 , wherein the motor is powered by one of air and other fluids and gases.