Hydraulic Spring Drive Apparatus

Abstract

Hydraulic spring drive apparatus comprising: a rotatable cam shaft having fixed thereon a number of cams; a number of rocker arms, one following each cam, each pivotally attached at one end to a pressure bar and at another to an expansible, compressible connecting means in turn connected to a crank portion of a crank shaft. The cams, crank shaft, and expansible compressible connecting means are arranged so that a number of connecting means expand against the compression of one connecting means. The pressure bar is movable to position the rocker arms for a selected degree of connecting means compression.

1 . An energy efficient motor system comprising:
 a rotatable cam shaft;   a plurality of cam members axially spaced along a length of the cam shaft and fixed to the cam shaft for rotation therewith;   wherein each of the cam members comprises an edge varying in distance from a center of rotation of the cam member between a maximum distance and a minimum distance;   a plurality of rocker arms, one following each of said cams, pivotally attached at a first end to a hydraulic energy input and connected at a second end to an expandable, compressible power unit assembly; and   a crank shaft having a crank portion for connection with each power unit assembly, rotatably drivable application of a force on the first and of at least one rocker arm by rotation of said cam shaft and reciprocal movement of said power unit assembly.   
   
   
       2 . The motor system of  claim 1  wherein said edge of each cam member is at a maximum distance from the cam shaft through approximately 90° of rotation and at a minimum distance from the cam shaft through approximately 135° of rotation. 
   
   
       3 . The motor system of  claim 2  wherein each of the power unit assemblies are connected to the crankshaft at a degree of rotation of the crankshaft whereas a crank portion rotates away from the cam member while the cam member is at the maximum distance from the cam shaft. 
   
   
       4 . The motor system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a pressure bar operatively connected to each of the first ends of the rocker arms and variably positionable relative to the cam members for controlling compression applied to said power unit assembly.   
   
   
       5 . The motor system of  claim 4  wherein the hydraulic energy input comprises a hydraulic pump operably connected to the crank shaft for applying hydraulic pump operably connected to the crank shaft for applying hydraulic pressure to position the pressure bar. 
   
   
       6 . The motor system of  claim 5  further comprising:
 a throttle means for controlling a flow of hydraulic fluid to variably position the pressure bar.   
   
   
       7 . The motor system of  claim 5  further comprising:
 an electric pump for applying hydraulic pressure to position the pressure bar.   
   
   
       8 . The motor system of  claim 1  wherein the power unit assembly comprises a spring cup pivot operably connected to the cam shaft, a nose piece operably connected to the crank shaft, a central shaft connected to the nose piece and slidably receivable by the spring cup pivot, and a spring supported within the spring cup pivot and adapted to encourage separation of the nose piece and the spring cup pivot during operation of the motor.