A domino-type torque generator, comprising:
- a base member;
- a plurality of toppling members pivotally connected to the base member, each of the plurality of toppling members being pivotable from an upright position to an inclined position or from the inclined position directly to an opposite inclined position, the plurality of toppling members being arranged successively and sequentially along at least one path, and so spaced apart from one another that when a first one of the plurality of toppling members topples from its upright position to its inclined position, following ones of the plurality of toppling members topple successively and sequentially from their upright position to their inclined position, until a last one of the plurality of toppling members topples from its upright position to its inclined position, thereby producing a domino effect;
- a torque shaft fixedly connected to and extending transversely through a lower end portion of each of the plurality of toppling members, whereby toppling of each of the plurality of toppling members generates a torque on the torque shaft, the torque shaft defining a pivot axis about which each of the plurality of toppling members pivots, each torque shaft having a first section extending from a first side of the lower end portion of each of the plurality of toppling members, and an elongated second section extending from an opposite second side of the lower end portion of each of the plurality of toppling members, the first section and the elongated second section being pivotably mounted on the base member;
- a pinion fixedly mounted at a free end of the elongated second section of the torque shaft of each of the plurality of toppling members;
- a plurality of differential gear assemblies connected directly or indirectly to the pinions of the torque shafts of selected ones the plurality of toppling members, and served as a plurality of accumulators to accumulate torques generating on the torque shafts of the selected ones of the plurality of toppling members, wherein the plurality of differential gear assemblies comprises:
- a first differential gear assembly comprising a first side gear, a second side gear, and a first output gear of a first rotating cage for torque output, the first side gear of the first differential gear assembly being engageable with the pinion of the torque shaft of a first selected one of the plurality of toppling members, the second side gear of the first differential gear assembly being engageable with the pinion of the torque shaft of a second selected one of the plurality of toppling members, and
- a second differential gear assembly comprising a third side gear, a fourth side gear, and a second output gear of a second rotating cage for torque output, one of the third and fourth side gears of the second differential gear assembly being engageable directly or indirectly with the first output gear of the first rotating cage of the first differential gear assembly,
- whereby torques generated by the toppling of the first and second selected ones of the plurality of toppling members are transmitted to the first and second side gears of the first differential gear assembly respectively, accumulated by the first differential gear assembly, and output through the first output gear of the first rotating cage of the first differential gear assembly;
- an accumulated torque output through the first output gear of the first rotating cage of the first differential gear assembly is transmitted to one of the first and second side gears of the second differential gear assembly, and whereby torques transmitted to the first and second side gears of the second differential gear assembly are accumulated by the second differential gear assembly, and output through the second output gear of the second rotating cage of the second differential gear assembly, until a final accumulated torque is output through a last rotating cage of a last differential gear assembly;
- and
- a drive mechanism configured to repeatedly drive the plurality of toppling members to pivot from their upright position to their inclined position or from their inclined position to their opposite inclined position, and pivot from their inclined position to their upright position or from their opposite inclined position to their inclined position, thereby continuously toppling the plurality of toppling members, and continuously generating the torques.