Gear set
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of Michigan
InventorRevanth Damerla
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gear set comprising an input shaft, an output shaft, a gear; and a friction pad. In a first configuration, the gear set has a first gear ratio for the input shaft rotational speed to the output shaft rotational speed equal to N:1, where N is not equal to 1. In the first configuration, the gear rotates relative to the friction pad. In a second configuration, the gear set has a gear ratio for the input shaft rotational speed to the output shaft rotational speed equal to 1:1, wherein the friction pad prevents rotation of the gear relative to the friction pad.
Claims24
An assembly comprising:
- an input shaft;
- a sun gear coupled to the input shaft for co-rotation with the input shaft;
- a ring gear with an inner surface and an outer surface;
- a carrier;
- a planet gear coupled to the carrier and enmeshed with the inner surface of the ring gear;
- an output shaft coupled to the carrier for co-rotation with the carrier;
- a friction pad positioned between the planet gear and the carrier, or positioned between the carrier and the ring gear, or positioned between the planet gear and the ring gear;
- a clutch engageable with the outer surface of the ring gear;
- wherein the assembly is movable between a first configuration and a second configuration,
- in the first configuration, the clutch engages the outer surface of the ring gear and the assembly has a first gear ratio of the input shaft rotational speed to the output shaft rotational speed equal to N:1, where N is greater than 0 and not equal to 1;
- and
- in the second configuration, the clutch disengages the outer surface of the ring gear and the assembly has a second gear ratio of the input shaft rotational speed to the output shaft rotational speed equal to 1:1.
A gear set comprising:
- an input shaft;
- an output shaft;
- a gear;
- and
- a friction pad;
- wherein in a first configuration the gear set has a first gear ratio for the input shaft rotational speed to the output shaft rotational speed equal to N:1, where N is not equal to 1, wherein the gear rotates relative to the friction pad in the first configuration;
- and
- wherein in a second configuration the gear set has a gear ratio for the input shaft rotational speed to the output shaft rotational speed equal to 1:1, wherein the friction pad prevents rotation of the gear relative to the friction pad.
A gear set comprising:
- an input shaft;
- an output shaft;
- a plurality of gears including at least one frictional feature that causes the plurality of gears to rotate in unison when an input torque on the input shaft is below a threshold torque;
- and
- wherein the gear set has a gear ratio for the input shaft rotational speed to the output shaft rotational speed equal to 1:1 when the input torque is below the threshold torque.
An assembly comprising:
- an electric motor;
- a gear set including a friction pad, wherein the gear set is coupled to the electric motor;
- a linkage coupled to the gear set;
- a prosthetic coupled to the linkage;
- wherein in a first configuration the gear set has a first gear ratio of N:1, where N is not equal to 1;
- and
- wherein in a second configuration the gear set has a gear ratio of 1:1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.