The present invention concerns a device for transforming mechanical energy.

The present invention further relates to a machine comprising said device.

Present invention concerns a device for transforming rotation mechanical energy and transmitting the same by a uniform torque and variable angular speed independently from said torque, said transformation being substantially obtained by mechanical work obtained by gravity action.

It is known that in a device wherein rotation mechanical energy is transformed, power transmission occurs according to the known formula C*n=constant, wherein C represents torque and n angular speed of generic rotor (hypothetically considering that the system is operating under ideal conditions without any passive energy loss).

Thus, every variation of angular speed corresponds to an opposite variation of torque and vice versa. In other words, constant torque transmission of rotation energy cannot occur but with a constant angular speed.

At present, no device or machine exists able to transmit mechanical power with a constant torque and at the same time permitting varying angular speed independently from said torque.

Thus, object of the present invention that of providing a device, and a machine providing said device, permitting overcoming the above drawbacks and, within the same object, obtaining at by a work obtained by inertial forces.

It is therefore specific object of the present invention a device for transforming mechanical energy comprising

- an output shaft, having a rotation axis,

- a rotor, integral and coaxial with respect to said output shaft, during the rotation of the latter;

- a driven shaft;

- means for transferring the rotation motion of the output shaft

- rotor assembly to said driven shaft;

said rotor comprising at least two shafts, each one having its own rotation axis, and symmetrically provided each other with respect to said output shaft rotation axis, said two shafts rotating along with said rotor, and also rotating independently with respect to the same rotor about their own rotation axis, and having each one a relevant inertial mass, center of gravity of each one of said inertial masses being provided eccentric with respect to the axis of its own shaft, said inertial masses being equal each other, and each one of said at least two shafts providing transmission means for transmitting their own rotation motion to said means for transferring the motion to the driven shaft.

Preferably, according to the invention, transmission ratio between said transmission means and said means for transferring the motion is 1 :n, wherein n is an integer higher than 0, preferably 1 :1.

Furthermore, according to the invention, said means for transmitting the rotation motion are comprised of a sun gear, and in that said transmission means are comprised of satellite gears, gearing with said sun gear.

Still according to the invention, said rotor comprises more than two shaft - inertial mass assemblies, particularly four or six or eight shaft - inertial mass assemblies.

Always according to the invention, said rotor comprises a stop for each shaft - inertial mass assembly, to prevent rotation of said torque in the opposite direction with respect to the rotation direction of said rotor.

Particularly, said rotor can comprise a pair of equal and parallel discs, integrally coupled and maintained at a set and not variable distance each other by a plurality of stubs, said stubs being at a uniform angular distance each other.

Still according to the invention, said driven shaft is integrally provided with a flywheel.

The invention further relates to a machine comprising a plurality of devices as described in the above in series.

The present invention will be now described, for illustrative, but not limitative, purposes, making reference to its preferred embodiments, with specific reference to the figures of the enclosed drawings, wherein:

figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention;

figure 2 is a lateral view of device of figure 1 ;

figure 3 is an axial section view of device of figure 1 ;

figure 4 is a perspective view of device of figure 1 , with some parts hidden to better put into evidence other relevant particulars; figure 5 is an exploded lateral view of device of figure 1 ;

figure 6 is a lateral view of machine providing a plurality of devices according to the invention;

figure 7 is a functional scheme of some parts of the inventive solution; and figures 8a and 8b schematically show the kinematic system of the device according to the invention.

In the different figures, similar parts will be indicated by the same references.

Making reference to figures 1 and 2, it is described a device 1 for transformation of mechanical, rotation, energy, comprising, assembled within a housing, generically indicated by reference number 21 , an output shaft 2, having a rotation axis X, a rotor 3, integral and coaxial with said output shaft, rotating with the latter output shaft 2, at least two, particularly, as shown in figure 1 , four shafts, supported by the rotor 3, symmetrically provided with respect to the rotation axis X and rotating along with said rotor 3, and also independently with respect to the same.

Further, toothed wheels 7 or gears, particularly satellite gears, are provided, to transmit the rotation motion of each shaft 4 to a sun gear 8 provided on a driven shaft 9, to which the motion generated by the device according to the invention is transferred.

A flywheel 22 is integrally provided on said driven shaft 9.

More particularly, output shaft 2 that must be thought as output shaft of a generic motor, or of any other rotation mechanical energy, rotating about its own axis X.

Rotor 3 is comprised, in this embodiment, of a pair of equal and parallel discs 15, integrally coupled and maintained at a set and not variable distance each other by a plurality of stubs 16, said stubs 16 being at a uniform angular distance each other.

As already said, rotor 3 is coaxial with output shaft 2, and it is integral with the same, so as to rotate, as a single body, along with output shaft 2 about rotation axis X.

Shafts 4, mounted on rotor 3, are symmetric and parallel each other with respect to the rotation axis X.

Further, shafts 4 are supported by rotor 3 in such a way to freely rotate about its own geometric axis Y by rolling supports 17 provided between discs 15 ad relevant shafts 4. Each one of said shafts 4 provides, integrally provided on the same, an inertial mass 4, center of gravity of which is provided eccentric with respect to the axis Y of its own shaft 4.

Said rotor 3 provides a stop 10 for each shaft 4 - inertial mass 6 assembly, to prevent opposed rotation of said pair with respect to the rotation direction of said rotor 3.

Transmission ratio of each satellite gear 7 gearing with the sun gear 3 is preferably 1 :1.

Device 1 according to the invention transfers to the driven shaft 9 - to which a generic user, or an electric power generator, can be connected - mechanical energy from output shaft 2 as rotation mechanical power, wherein power torque is constant and angular speed is varied independently from torque. Said independent variation of angular speed is obtained by incremental angular variations φ transmitted to the driven conduct 9 sun gear 8 from satellite gears 7, the latter being moved by pendulum movements, which are phase coordinated with rotor 3 rotation and due to the gravity action exerted on eccentric inertial masses 6.

Figure 7 schematically simplifies the above theory, by a simplified geometric representation wherein, by reference number 18 it has been individuated a hypothetic mass centre for eccentric gravitational mass 6, wherein reference number 19 represents a scheme of circular trajectory of centre 18 of a mass due to the dragging action imposed by the rotation of rotor 3, and by reference number 20 the trajectory imposed to the mass centre 18, from stable balancing condition that eccentric mass 6 is obliged to look for by the gravity action.

In view of the above, it is inferred that, being 1 :1 transmission ratio between satellite gears 7 and sun gear 8 of driven shaft, while output shaft 2 and rotor 3 integral with the same make a full rotation (a turn about axis X), sun gear 8, and thus driven shaft 9, make two full rotations (two rounds about axis X).

The above means a supplementary rotation obtained by gravity action, that is not related the torque that, subtracting energy losses due to passive effects, is integrally transmitted from output shaft 2 to drive shaft 9.

In case transmission ratio between satellite gears 7 and sun gear 8 is different, e.g. 1 :2, then angular speed of driven shaft 9 would become a multiple with value 3 of output shaft 2 angular speed value. The above can be summarized by a generic formula that, when transmission ratio is 1 :n, wherein n>0, angular speed of driven shaft 9 is equal to n+1 times the output shaft angular speed.

Device 1 according to the invention can be used as such to transmit a uniform torque, but when angular speed increases between inlet and outlet, or it can be combined with other identical devices 1 to provide a multistage machine 20 comprising a plurality of operative stations 19 connected in series.

In each one of said stations 19, by the effect of the device 1 provided, an increase of exit angular speed with respect the inlet angular speed is obtained, on the basis of the above formula and of the chosen transmission gear.

Therefore, providing in series stations 19 so that driven shaft 19 of a station 19 is at the same time output shaft 2 of a following station 19, it is possible obtaining multistage machines 20 (as the one shown in figure 6, wherein for sake of simplicity a two stage machine is represented), thus obtaining, passing from a station 19 to the following one, said increase of angular speed with the contemporaneous transfer of the torque, which is constant all along the machine 20, obviously subtracting energy losses due to passive effect present in all real machines 20.

An analytic analyses of the actions playing a role in the device 1 according to the invention will be provided in the following.

As already said, the system comprises a variable speed supply unit (not shown), supplying a machine, e.g. a two stage machine, downward which the final user will be provided (not shown as well).

From the above it is observed that each device 1 according to the invention provides a perfectly balanced inertial mass 6 system.

Dimensions of motor - moto-variator system are chosen by the known d'Alambert formula stating that, when a body rotates about a fixed axis, momentum torque C is subjected to and equal to the body mass I axial inertia momentum with respect to the rotation mass for its angular acceleration ε.

Cm = I x ε

I x ε represents the inertia torque, and it can be taken as a fictitious moment opposed to the speed variation of the rotation motion, exactly as inertia force (F = ma) of translator/ motions. Summarizing, d'Alambert formula indicates dynamic balancing condition of rotating rigid bodies. Mass inertia momentum I represents inertia of rotating bodies, i.e. resistance that they oppose to the rotation motion variations.

In a two stage system, employing two devices 1 according to the invention, total mass inertia momentum I, i.e. taking also into account contribution of inertial masses is equal to:

I = 32 kgm ² .

If the system is accelerated at 150 rpm within a suitable time period in order to reach the global energy balance of the system, required torque at the exit of thee motor + variator system is equal to: Cm = I χ ε = 82.4 Nm

As required power:

P = C x cD = 1294 Watt

Taking into consideration frictions between different mechanical members transmitting the motion n = 0.8), theoretical power required to the motor + variator system must be equal to: Ptheoretical + Ptot/p = 1522 Watt

Inertial mass 6 of each single step realize a perfectly balanced system. Thus, if, on one side, said masses cause the total inertia of the system, thus negatively influencing the dimensioning of the motor - variator system, on the other side they can accumulate energy when regime conditions are reached.

In fact, inertial masses 6 can be summarized as rotation rigid bodies, and on the basis of the basic dynamic laws, they have kinetic energy yield as positive contribution as useful power.

Therefore, from the kinetic energy formula of a rotating rigid body

Ec = ¹ / ₂ x ω ² it is immediately obtained calculation of kinetic energy of inertial masses of first and second stage Ec (1 ^Λ stage) = 1530 Joule

Ec (2 ^Λ stage) = 61 19 Joule

Since power is energy produced by a system within a unitary time, it is possible stating that gravitational masse can produce the following specific power:

P1 (1 ^Λ stage) = 1530 Watt

P2 (2 ^Λ stage) = 61 19 Watt From the above, it is evident that delivered power from four inertial masses 6 of first stage can balance power required by motor + variator system. On the contrary, power delivered by four inertial masses of second stage is a useful power that the system can provide to every user. Pusefui = P1 (1 ^Λ stage) + P2 (2 ^Λ stage) = P _th eoreticai = 6127 Watt.

Taking into consideration also in this case friction losses among different components and air resistances of rotating inertial masses, it is possible hypnotizing the following specific power value:

Ptheoreticai (TOT) = 4900 Watt (600 rpm)

Summarizing, system providing devices according to the invention is based on power transfer on a cylindrical toothed wheels with straight teeth and has the peculiarity of acting as round multiplier.

The present invention has been described, for illustrative, but not limitative, purposes, with particular reference to its preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that modifications and/or variations can be introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope as defined in the enclosed claims.