Patent ID: 7011052
Filing Date: 2006-03-14
Classification: F02B,F02D,F04B

Abstract:
1. A drive apparatus, comprising: a piston slidably carried in a cylinder for stroking reciprocally in the cylinder; a piston rod having a first end connected to the piston and a second end with a circular bushing; an outer crank member having a circular bushing surface that slidably engages the bushing, and a circular inner crank portion that is eccentric to the circular bushing; an inner crank member having a circular portion in sliding engagement with the inner crank portion, the inner crank member being rotatable about a main drive axis that is eccentric relative to the inner and outer crank members, such that a single downward and a single upward stroke of the piston causes one revolution of the inner crank member about the main drive axis; a set of circular gear teeth on the outer crank member; an adjustment gear in engagement with the gear teeth of the outer crank member, the gear teeth having a ratio relative to the adjustment gear so that the outer crank member revolves once about the adjustment gear while the adjustment gear is stationary while the piston strokes at least downward twice and upward twice, the adjustment gear being selectively rotatable to cause the outer crank member to rotate to a different position relative to the inner crank member to vary the stroke of the piston; and wherein the gear teeth are located on an inner diameter portion of the outer crank member.