Self-reeling belt drive
AssigneeLiftwave, Inc.
InventorsBlake Sessions, Toomas Sepp
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure involves a belt drive mechanism which can be used to pay out or draw belt to or from a belt actuated system (or belt driven system). The mechanism features a self-winding spool which can automatically wind or unwind portions of the belt as they are withdrawn from, or fed to the belt actuated system. A second rotational axle (idler shaft), with one or more sheaves (e.g., pulley's or rollers) can be rotationally coupled to a capstan via a belt, and can be utilized to drive additional mechanisms in the belt drive mechanism, such as a winding mechanism.
Claims20
A self-reeling belt drive mechanism comprising:
- a capstan configured to draw a belt from a belt actuated system;
- an idler shaft coupled to the capstan via the belt, wherein the idler shaft is configured to rotate in a drawing direction or a pay-out direction, the idler shaft comprising:
- a first end configured to accept one or more turns of the belt;
- a second end coupled to a first one-way locking bearing;
- and
- a first gear connected to the first one-way locking bearing, wherein the first one-way locking bearing engages when the idler shaft rotates in the drawing direction, causing the first gear to rotate with the rotating idler shaft, and wherein the first one-way locking bearing disengages when the idler shaft rotates in the pay-out direction, permitting relative rotation between the first gear and the idler shaft.
A self-reeling belt drive mechanism comprising:
- a capstan configured to draw a belt from a belt actuated system;
- an idler shaft coupled to the capstan via the belt, wherein the idler shaft is configured to rotate in a drawing direction when the capstan rotates in a direction to draw the belt, and wherein the idler shaft is configured to rotate in a pay-out direction when the capstan rotates in a direction to pay out the belt;
- and
- a spool configured to receive or pay out a portion of the belt, the spool comprising:
- an outer hub configured to rotate and wind or unwind the portion of the belt around a periphery of the outer hub;
- and
- an inner hub connected to a central axle via a second one-way locking bearing, wherein the second one-way locking bearing permits the inner hub to rotate with respect to the central axle when the outer hub is rotated in a direction to wind the portion of the belt, wherein the second one-way locking bearing prevents rotation between the inner hub and the central axle when the outer hub is rotated in a direction to unwind the portion of the belt, and wherein the inner hub is frictionally engaged with the outer hub such that the outer hub overcomes a frictional force between the inner hub and the outer hub to rotate with respect to the inner hub when rotating in a direction to unwind the portion of the belt.
A method for actuating a belt actuated system comprising:
- actuating a drive mechanism to withdraw belt from the belt actuated system, the drive mechanism comprising:
- a capstan configured to draw a belt from a belt actuated system;
- an idler shaft coupled to the capstan via the belt, wherein the idler shaft is configured to rotate in a drawing direction or a pay-out direction the idler shaft comprising:
- a first end configured to accept one or more turns of the belt;
- a second end coupled to a first one-way locking bearing;
- and
- a first gear connected to the first one-way locking bearing, wherein the first one-way locking bearing engages when the idler shaft rotates in the drawing direction, causing the first gear to rotate with the rotating idler shaft, and wherein the one-way locking bearing disengages when the idler shaft rotates in the pay-out direction, permitting relative rotation between the first gear and the idler shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.