Low force epicyclic gear apparatus hold and release mechanism
AssigneeWedgerock LLC
InventorThomas C West
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gear apparatus for controlling movement of an output by an input coupled to a power source. The apparatus an input member coupled to the input, an output member coupled to the output and the input member so that movement of the input member causes movement of the output, a selectably releasable member coupled to the input member and the output member, wherein the selectably releasable member remains in a fixed position while the input member and the output member move, and a releasable member brake mechanism coupled to the selectably releasable member, wherein the releasable member brake mechanism is arranged to prevent movement of the selectably releasable member when the input member and the output member move and to allow back driving of the selectably releasable member.
Claims16
An apparatus for regulating movement of an output caused by movement of an input, wherein the input is coupled to a power source, the apparatus comprising:
- an input member coupled to the input so that movement of the input causes movement of the input member;
- an output member coupled to the input member so that movement of the input member causes movement of the output member, and wherein movement of the output member causes movement of the output;
- a selectably releasable member variably coupled to the input member and the output member, wherein the selectably releasable member remains in a fixed position while the input member and the output member move;
- and
- a selectably releasable member brake mechanism coupled to the selectably releasable member, wherein the selectably releasable member brake mechanism is arranged to prevent movement of the selectably releasable member when the input member and the output member move and to allow back driving of the selectably releasable member, wherein the selectably releasable member brake mechanism includes a brake and a brake release controller, wherein the brake is arranged to prevent movement of the selectably releasable member when the input member rotates, and wherein the brake release controller is arranged to decouple the brake from the selectably releasable member to permit back driving of the selectably releasable member.
An apparatus for regulating movement of an output caused by movement of an input, wherein the input is coupled to a power source and to a planetary gear, the apparatus comprising:
- a selectably releasable ring gear of the planetary gear coupled to the input so that movement of the input causes movement of the ring gear;
- a carrier of the planetary gear coupled to the ring gear so that movement of the ring gear causes movement of the carrier, and wherein the carrier is coupled to the output so that movement of the carrier causes movement of the output;
- a sun gear of the planetary gear coupled to the ring gear and the carrier, wherein the sun gear remains in a fixed position while the ring gear and the carrier move;
- a sun gear brake releasably coupled to the sun gear, wherein the sun gear brake is arranged to prevent movement of the sun gear when the ring gear and the carrier move;
- and
- a brake release controller coupled to the sun gear brake, wherein the brake release controller is arranged to decouple the sun gear brake from the sun gear for back driving of the sun gear,
- wherein the sun gear brake is a wrap spring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.