Patent ID: 7980829

Claim:
A reciprocating compressor or pump comprising: a housing defining a crank chamber; a crankshaft comprising a shaft arranged for driven rotation about an axis and a crank pin carried on the shaft eccentric to the axis within the crank chamber; a plurality of cylinders arranged to extend radially about the axis outward from the crank chamber; and a piston and rod structure comprising: a central body pivotally secured to the crank pin and rotatable about an eccentric axis defined by the crank pin eccentric to the axis about which the shaft is rotatable; a plurality of connecting rods each having a first connection at one end thereof to the central body and extending outward therefrom to a second connection, the first connection of each connecting rod allowing generally pivotal motion thereof relative to the central body; and a plurality of pistons each connected to the second connection of a respective connecting rod and being sealed against an interior wall of a respective cylinder, the second connection of each connecting rod allowing generally pivotal motion thereof relative to the piston; and intake and exhaust valves associated with each cylinder and arranged to allow passage of fluid into the cylinder, and subsequent discharge of the fluid therefrom under exertion of pressure on the fluid by the piston during movement thereof along the cylinder away from the shaft under driven rotation thereof; the plurality of connecting rods and the central body all being defined by a single, integral, unitary piece that also defines flexible connections between said connecting rods and the central body, the plurality of connecting rods, the central body and the flexible connections all being of a common material and integral with one another, and said connecting rods being movable relative to the central body in a generally pivotal manner by flexing of the common material at the flexible connections.