Anti-backlash planetary gearing for optic rotary joint
AssigneePrincetel Inc.
InventorsHong Zhang, Boying Zhang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An anti-backlash planetary gear system is disclosed for a multi-channel fiber optic rotary joint which requires 2:1 gear ratio. By adding a local degree of freedom, the planet gear assembly could be tilted relative to the carrier by a spring-loaded annular ring through a spherical feature thus force the three, or more planet gears symmetrically mesh into the sun gear and internal gear. A couple of elastomeric sleeves are introduced into the connection between planet housing and carrier so as to balance the load evenly among the three planet assemblies and to reduce the speed fluctuation of transmitted motion as well as the noise and vibration.
Claims6
A anti-backlash planetary gear system for a multi-channel fiber optic rotary joint comprising:
- a sun gear;
- three, or more planet gear assemblies;
- an internal gear;
- a carrier;
- an elastic annular ring symmetrically arranged encircling the said sun gear and the said internal gear;
- a steel holder with an annular slot on one side face to hold the said elastic annular;
- each said planet gear assembly includes a first planet gear, a second planet gear, a pair of planet gear housings, a pair of bearings, and a pair of elastomeric sleeves;
- each said first planet gear meshing with said sun gear;
- each said second planet gear meshing with said internal gear;
- each said first planet gear fixed with each said second planet gear coaxially;
- each said first planet gear and second planet gear being rotational coaxially relative to said planet gear housings;
- said internal gear being stationary;
- said sun gear being rotational coaxially relative to said internal gear through a pair of bearings;
- said carrier being rotational coaxially relative to said internal gear through a pair of bearings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.