# US 2019/0170228 A1 · Simplified gearbox mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0170228 A1 - Document ID: US20190170228A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/266,629 - Filed: 2019-02-04 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-12 - Assignees: Motus Labs, LLC - Applicants: Motus Labs, LLC - Inventors: Carlos A. Hoefken - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170228A1 ## CPC - F16H 25/06: with intermediate members guided along tracks on both rotary members - Y10T 74/18296: Cam and slide - F16H: GEARING - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The improved gearbox mechanism of the present invention includes a plurality of cam-actuated simplified gear block assemblies, which transfer power from a power shaft to a secondary or output gear element. Each gear block assembly includes a gear block having a surface that periodically interfaces with a secondary or output gear element. In a preferred embodiment the interface surface comprises a plurality of projections or teeth which correspond to complementary projections or gear teeth on the output gear element. Each gear block assembly further includes a gear block, a torque lever arm, cam followers and/or a socket, which connect or link the gear block to a cam assembly, which in turn is connected to a power source. The cam assembly includes about its circumference a unique pathway or groove for each linkage assembly of a particular gear block assembly so that the movement of the gear block may be controlled in two dimensions in accordance with a certain design parameter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gearbox mechanism comprising: a cam element having at least two pathways formed within one or more planes of the cam element and said planes being perpendicular to a central axis about which the cam element rotates; an output element with at least one output element interface surface; at least one cam-actuated gear block assembly comprising: a gear block having at least one gear block interface surface for engagement with the at least one output element interface surface; a torque lever coupled to the gear block; a first cam follower coupled to the torque block for following a first pathway of the cam element; and a second cam follower coupled to the gear block for following a second pathway of the cam element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gearbox mechanism of claim 1, wherein the output element interface surface and the gear block interface surface engage one another during one or more rotation cycles of the cam element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gearbox mechanism of claim 1, wherein the output element is coaxially aligned with central axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gearbox mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a main body configured to allow the output element and the cam element to interact through one or more gear block assemblies. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The gearbox mechanism of claim 4, wherein the output element is placed within the main body through a main body opening. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The gearbox mechanism of claim 1, wherein said at least one gear block assembly engages with at least one interior surface of the main body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The gearbox mechanism of claim 1, wherein the torque lever interacts with a socket. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The gearbox mechanism of claim 1, wherein the gear block interacts with a socket. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The gearbox mechanism of claim 1, wherein the torque block and gear block interact with a socket at one or more pivot points. ### Claim 10 A gear block assembly comprising: a gear block having at least one gear block interface surface; a torque lever being pivotally coupled to the gear block; and at least one cam follower coupled to the gear block; and at least one cam follower coupled to the torque lever. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The gear block assembly of claim 10, wherein the gear block further comprises at least one rotational point. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The gear block assembly of claim 11, wherein the rotational point further comprises a gear block opening that is sized and configured to accept a torque lever post. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The gear block assembly of claim 10, wherein the gear block has a gear block post. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The gear block assembly of claim 13, wherein a first cam follower is rotably coupled to the gear block post. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The gear block assembly of claim 10, wherein the torque lever has a torque lever post. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The gear block assembly of claim 10, wherein the torque lever has a torque lever aperture to allow a gear block post to pass through. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The gear block assembly of claim 10, wherein the torque lever has a cam follower post. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The gear block assembly of claim 17, wherein a second cam follower is rotatably coupled to the cam follower post. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The gear block assembly of claim 10, further comprises a socket for receiving and interacting with a portion of the torque lever. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The gear block assembly of claim 10, further comprising a socket for receiving and interacting with a portion of the gear block. ### Claim 21 (depends on 10) The gear block assembly of claim 10, further comprising a socket for receiving and interacting with a portion of the gear block and a portion of the torque lever. ### Claim 22 A method of operating a gearbox mechanism comprising: causing a cam element to rotate, said cam element having at least two pathways formed within one or more planes of the cam element, said planes being perpendicular to a central axis about which the cam element rotates; following each of said at least two pathways with a cam follower; generating a pivot motion in a torque lever coupled to a first cam follower; rotating a gear block with a rotational motion in relation to the pivot motion of the torque lever through a set of rotational positions; engaging a gear block interface surface with an output element interface surface during one of the rotation positions of the gear block; and producing a rotational movement to an output element through the said interface surfaces and rotation of the gear block caused by the rotation of the cam element. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, further comprising coupling the cam element to a rotating device. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the at least two pathways comprise a first pathway and a second pathway. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the generating step further comprises pivoting the torque lever with the pivot motion and engaging the torque lever against at least one interior surface of the main body. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the generating step further comprises pivoting the torque lever with the pivot motion and engaging the torque lever against a socket. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the engaging step further comprises disengaging the gear block interface surface from the output element interface surface based on a rotational position of the gear block. ### Claim 28 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein during the rotational movement the gear block interface surface is positively biased against the output interface surface. ### Claim 29 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein during the rotational movement the gear block interface surface is negatively biased against the output interface surface. ### Claim 30 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein during the rotational movement the gear block interface surface is neutrally biased against the output interface surface.