Variable gear ratio transfer gear set for actuation system

A variable gear ratio gear set system, comprising:

• a planetary gear set including:
• a sun gear disposed at a central axis of rotation;
• a plurality of planet gears meshed with the sun gear and retained at a carrier;
• and
• a ring gear surrounding the plurality of planet gears and meshed therewith;
• an input shaft to input rotational energy to the planetary gear set at a first rotational speed;
• an output shaft to output rotational energy from the planetary gear set at a second rotational speed;
• a plurality of one-way clutches disposed in the gear set and engageable such that the system has a first gear ratio when the input shaft is rotated in a first direction, and a second gear ratio when the input shaft is rotated in a second direction;
• wherein each of the one-way clutches of the plurality of one-way clutches includes:
• a ramp disposed at a first component;
• a ring disposed at a second component;
• and
• a roller disposed between the ramp and the ring, such that during rotation of the first component in a first rotation direction urges the roller up the ramp to jam between the ramp and the ring preventing rotation of the first component relative to the second component, and rotation of the first component in a second rotation direction there is free rotation of the first component relative to the second component.

An actuation system, comprising:

• an actuator configured to drive movement of a component coupled to the actuator;
• a power source operably coupled to the actuator to drive operation of the actuator;
• and
• a variable gear ratio gear set system, comprising:
• a planetary gear set including:
• a sun gear disposed at a central axis of rotation;
• a plurality of planet gears meshed with the sun gear and retained at a carrier;
• and
• a ring gear surrounding the plurality of planet gears and meshed therewith;
• an input shaft operably connected to the power source to input rotational energy to the planetary gear set at a first rotational speed;
• an output shaft to output rotational energy from the planetary gear set to the actuator at a second rotational speed;
• a plurality of one-way clutches disposed in the gear set and engageable such that the system has a first gear ratio when the input shaft is rotated in a first direction, and a second gear ratio when the input shaft is rotated in a second direction;
• wherein a first one-way clutch of the plurality of one-way clutches is disposed between and operably coupled to the ring gear and the output shaft;
• wherein a second one-way clutch of the plurality of one-way clutches is disposed between and operably coupled to the carrier and the output shaft.