# US 2009/0260469 A1 · Flexspline and wave gear device

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- Number: US 2009/0260469 A1
- Document ID: US20090260469A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/408,029
- Filed: 2009-03-20
- Published: 2009-10-22
- Earliest claimed: 2008-04-18
- Assignees: Harmonic Drive Systems Inc.
- Inventors: Satoru KANAI
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260469A1

## CPC

- F16H 49/001: {Wave gearings, e.g. harmonic drive transmissions}
- F16H 2049/003: {Features of the flexsplines therefor}
- Y10T 74/19: Gearing
- Y10T 74/1987: Rotary bodies
- F16H: GEARING
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

In a flexspline of a wave gear device, an annular flange thereof is constructed from a first annular part bent at a right angle from an outer peripheral edge of a diaphragm, and a second annular part caused to inwardly protrude at a uniform width from a leading end of the first annular part. It is possible for the annular flange to be disposed within the region where the diaphragm is formed, as viewed in the direction of an axis of the device. An outer diameter can be reduced to a greater extent than with a “silk hat”-shaped flexspline; and when a hollow wave gear device is manufactured, a hollow diameter can be more readily increased than in a case where a cup-shaped flexspline is used.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A flexspline that is a structural component of a wave gear device,
the flexspline of the wave gear device comprising:
a radially flexible cylindrical body;
a disc-shaped diaphragm continuous with one open end of the cylindrical body, the disc-shaped diaphragm bending and extending outward in a radial direction;
a rigid, annular flange continuous with an outer peripheral edge of the diaphragm; and
external teeth formed on an outer peripheral surface portion of the cylindrical body on another open end thereof; wherein
the annular flange has a first annular part extending from the outer peripheral edge of the diaphragm and bending at a right angle in a direction away from the cylindrical body, and a second annular part that is a region on a leading end of the first annular part caused to inwardly protrude a fixed amount at a uniform width.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The flexspline of the wave gear device of claim 1,
the flexspline of the wave gear device wherein the annular flange, when viewed in a direction of an axis of the device, is located within a region where the diaphragm is formed.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A wave gear device, comprising:
a rigid circular spline,
the flexspline of claim 1, and
a wave generator for bending the flexspline into an elliptical shape, causing enmeshment with the circular spline at either end portion along a major axis of the ellipse, and causing the meshing locations to move in a circumferential direction, whereby both splines rotate in a correlating manner in accordance with a difference in number of teeth therebetween.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The wave gear device of claim 3,
the wave gear device wherein the wave generator comprises a wave plug made of a rigid member having an elliptical outline, and a wave bearing fitted into the elliptical outer peripheral surface of the wave plug; wherein
the wave plug is a hollow wave plug having a through-hole in a center portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

A wave gear device, comprising:
a rigid circular spline,
the flexspline of claim 2, and
a wave generator for bending the flexspline into an elliptical shape, causing enmeshment with the circular spline at either end portion along a major axis of the ellipse, and causing the meshing locations to move in a circumferential direction, whereby both splines rotate in a correlating manner in accordance with a difference in number of teeth therebetween.