Discrete roller assembly-based helical drive for translation

Abstract

Systems and methods for operation and assembly of a helical drive are provided. A helical drive includes a discrete roller assembly-based roller worm including a body portion and a plurality of discrete roller assemblies disposed in a first helical pattern about the body portion. The helical drive includes an engagement structure including a primary axis, wherein the roller worm is configured to rotate about a central axis to cause linear translation of the roller worm along a length of the engagement structure and the primary axis. The engagement structure includes a plurality of tracks disposed along the length of the engagement structure, where each of the tracks is configured to receive at least one of the roller assemblies during the rotation of the roller worm.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.