Counter-rotation drive

Abstract

The mechanical counter-rotation drive according to the present invention is based on the laws of relative motion of an eccentric part of one of at least two shafts, which are constitutive parts of this drive, with respect to the plates of a determined shape whose motion is confined by pins arranged in a determined arrangement, is illustrated in FIG. 1 , where in the housing 10 which supports the mechanical counter-rotation drive are accommodated the first (driving) plate 30 and the second (driven) plate 40 in such a manner that they are approximately or completely parallel to one another. In the housing 10 are embedded a plurality of pins 20 of which each one represents a shaft which bears and around which rotates at least one cylinder 35 which is in operational contact with the perimeter 135 of the first plate 30 which is in rigid contact with the first shaft 50 (which shaft is not visible in FIG. 1 ). In the first plate 30 are embedded a plurality of second pins 80 of which each one represents a shaft which bears and around which rotates at least one cylinder 85 which is in operational contact with the perimeter 145 of the second plate 40 . Ball bearings 90 function as a sliding support for the second shaft 60 in the part 10 a of the housing, which part is in this case removed in order to allow the view of the design of the counter-rotational drive according to the invention inside the housing 10 . In the preferred embodiment of the invention the sliding support of the first shaft 50 in the housing 10 and/or of the second shaft 60 in the part of the housing 10 a is realized by ball bearings, but the sliding support can be realized by using other sliding elements and/or sliding surfaces. The axis of rotation of the first shaft 50 , which is not visible in FIG. 1 , belongs approximately or exactly to the same line as the axis of rotation of the second shaft 60 , and the angular direction of rotation of the first shaft 50 is the first direction 55 , while the angular direction of rotation of the second 60 shaft is 65 , such that the angular directions of rotation 55 and 65 are opposite to each other.

1 . A counter-rotation device, comprising:
 a first drive shaft having an eccentric portion and a second drive shaft, both shafts having a same axis of rotation, the first drive shaft rotating in a first angular direction of rotation and the second drive shaft rotating in a second angular direction of rotation;   a first plate having a plurality of lobes, connected with the eccentric portion of the first drive shaft and having a center that is not aligned with the axis of rotation of the first or second drive shafts, and rotates with respect to the axis of rotation;   a plurality of first pins connected to a support structure and arranged having a portion of a perimeter of the first plate in rolling contact with the first pins causing the first plate to rotate in the second angular direction of rotation;   a plurality of second pins connected to the first plate, or are a constitutive part of the first plate; and   a second plate having a plurality of lobes and connected with the first plate such that a portion of a perimeter of the second plate is in rolling contact with the second pins of the first plate causing a rotation of the second plate in the second angular direction of rotation,   wherein the second shaft is connected to the second plate or is a constitutive part of the second plate, and is driven by the second plate.   
   
   
       2 . A method to counter rotate adjacent shafts, comprising:
 providing a first lobed plate connected to an eccentric portion of a first drive shaft, the first drive shaft rotating in a first angular direction;   providing a second lobed plate connected to and a second drive shaft, the second drive shaft being driven by the second plate and rotating in a second angular direction, wherein the first and second drive shafts have the same axis of rotation;   providing a plurality of stationary pins in rolling contact with a periphery of the first lobed plate as to produce a rotation of the first lobed plate in a second angular direction;   providing a plurality of second pins affixed to the first lobed plate and in rolling contact with the a periphery of the second lobed plate as to produce a rotation of the second lobed plate in the second angular direction,   wherein the first and second lobed plates rotate with respect to the axis of rotation and the second drive shaft is caused to rotate in a second angular direction.   
   
   
       3 . A method of operating a compressor for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
 providing a plurality of stationary compressor blades; and   providing a plurality of rotating compressor blades, wherein the rotating compressor blades are attached to a counter-rotation device, comprising;   a first drive shaft having an eccentric portion and a second drive shaft, both shafts having a same axis of rotation, the first drive shaft rotating in a first angular direction of rotation and the second drive shaft rotating in a second angular direction of rotation;   a first plate having a plurality of lobes, connected with the eccentric portion of the first drive shaft and having a center that is not aligned with the axis of rotation of the first or second drive shafts, and rotates with respect to the axis of rotation;   a plurality of first pins connected to a support structure and arranged having a portion of a perimeter of the first plate in rolling contact with the first pins causing the first plate to rotate in the second angular direction of rotation;   a plurality of second pins connected to the first plate, or are a constitutive part of the first plate; and   a second plate having a plurality of lobes and connected with the first plate such that a portion of a perimeter of the second plate is in rolling contact with the second pins of the first plate causing a rotation of the second plate in the second angular direction of rotation,   wherein the second shaft is connected to the second plate or is a constitutive part of the second plate, and is driven by the second plate.