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US 12,654,804 B2Granted
Rotary force transfer mechanism
AssigneeThe Francis Norbert Hector Sr. & Bertha F. Hector Irrevocable Trust
InventorsFrancis Norbert Hector, Sr., Michael Sean June
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotary force transfer mechanism includes an input (e.g., a pedal or handle) that receives a substantially linear input force (e.g., from a human operator), a rotary structure (e.g., a gear), and a drive element for selective coupling with the rotary structure to transmit the input force to the rotary structure to cause a corresponding rotary motion of the rotary structure. When transmitting the input force to the rotary structure, the drive element engages with an outer circumferential surface of the rotary structure such that the input force is transmitted to the rotary structure in a direction tangential to a position where the drive element is coupled to the rotary structure.
Claims21
A rotary force transfer mechanism comprising:
- an input that comprises a pedal or a handle and is configured to receive a substantially linear input force;
- a rotary structure that comprises a gear with a plurality of gear teeth formed about an outer circumferential surface of the gear;
- a drive element that comprises a rack gear and is configured for selective coupling with the rotary structure to transmit the input force to the rotary structure to cause a corresponding rotary motion of the rotary structure;
- and
- a guide attached to a rigid frame, the drive element comprising a follower that is engaged within the guide and is configured to move along a path defined by the guide;
- wherein the drive element engages, when transmitting the input force to the rotary structure, with the outer circumferential surface of the rotary structure gear, such that the input force is transmitted to the rotary structure in a direction tangential to a position where the drive element is coupled to the rotary structure;
- wherein the rack gear comprises a plurality of rack gear teeth that are formed along a length of the rack gear;
- wherein the plurality of rack gear teeth are configured to engage with the plurality of gear teeth of the gear for transmitting the input force to the gear;
- wherein, at a rear of the pedal or the handle, the pedal or the handle is attached to a static pivot bearing rigidly attached to the frame;
- and
- wherein, at a front of the pedal or the handle, the pedal or the handle is attached to a mobile pivot bearing that is configured such that the rack gear is pivotable relative to the pedal or the handle.
8 more elements
A rotary force transfer mechanism comprising:
- an input that comprises a pedal or a handle and is configured to receive a substantially linear input force;
- a rotary structure that comprises a gear with a plurality of gear teeth formed about an outer circumferential surface of the gear;
- a drive element that comprises a rack gear and is configured for selective coupling with the rotary structure to transmit the input force to the rotary structure to cause a corresponding rotary motion of the rotary structure;
- and
- a guide attached to a rigid frame, the drive element comprising a follower that is engaged within the guide and is configured to move along a path defined by the guide;
- wherein the drive element engages, when transmitting the input force to the rotary structure, with the outer circumferential surface of the gear, such that the input force is transmitted to the rotary structure in a direction tangential to a position where the drive element is coupled to the rotary structure;
- wherein the rack gear comprises a plurality of rack gear teeth that are formed along a length of the rack gear;
- wherein the plurality of rack gear teeth are configured to engage with the plurality of gear teeth of the gear for transmitting the input force to the gear;
- wherein the guide comprises a plurality of parts of the path, each part of the path corresponding to a motion of the rack gear relative to the gear.
6 more elements
A rotary force transfer mechanism comprising:
- an input that comprises a pedal or a handle and is configured to receive a substantially linear input force;
- a rotary structure that comprises a gear with a plurality of gear teeth formed about an outer circumferential surface of the gear;
- a drive element that comprises a downstroke rack gear and an upstroke rack gear, wherein the drive element is configured for selective coupling with the rotary structure to transmit the input force to the rotary structure to cause a corresponding rotary motion of the rotary structure;
- and
- a guide attached to a rigid frame, the drive element comprising a follower that is engaged within the guide and is configured to move along a path defined by the guide;
- wherein the drive element engages, when transmitting the input force to the rotary structure, with the outer circumferential surface of the gear, such that the input force is transmitted to the rotary structure in a direction tangential to a position where the drive element is coupled to the rotary structure;
- wherein, as the follower moves along the path defined by the guide, the drive element moves between an engagement position, in which the drive element is coupled to the rotary structure, and a disengagement position, in which the drive element is decoupled from the rotary structure, in an alternating manner;
- wherein the downstroke rack gear comprises a plurality of rack gear teeth formed along a length of the upstroke rack gear;
- wherein the rack gear comprises a plurality of rack gear teeth formed along a length of the upstroke rack gear;
- wherein the plurality of rack gear teeth of the downstroke and upstroke rack gears are configured to engage with the plurality of gear teeth of the gear;
- wherein the downstroke rack gear and the upstroke rack gear are on opposite sides of the gear from each other in a radial direction of the gear, the downstroke rack gear comprising the follower;
- wherein, at a rear of the pedal or the handle, the pedal or the handle is attached to a static pivot bearing rigidly attached to the frame;
- wherein, at a front of the pedal or the handle, the pedal or the handle is attached to a mobile pivot bearing that is configured such that the rack gear is pivotable relative to the pedal or the handle;
- and
- wherein, between the mobile pivot bearing and the static pivot bearing, the pedal or the handle is attached to the upstroke rack gear at a second mobile pivot bearing, such that the upstroke rack gear is pivotable relative to the pedal or the handle.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.