Drive mechanism

A drive mechanism, comprising:

• a frame (14) having an axis (20);
• a first member (16) positioned about said frame (14);
• a first bearing element (26) positioned between said frame (14) and said first member (16) and supporting said first member (16) in rotatable relationship relative to said frame (14);
• a second member (28) having inner (58) and outer (29) surfaces and being positioned generally between the frame (14) and the first member (16), movable in an orbital pathway relative to said frame axis (20) and of a construction sufficient for rotating said first member (16) in response to said second member (18) moving in said orbital pathway, said outer surface (29) being of a construction sufficient for engaging the first member (16);
• first means (31) for rotating said second member (18);
• second means (32) for supporting said second member (18) in said orbital pathway relative to the frame (14);
• and
• a third member (36) connected to the frame (14), positioned in contactable relationship with the second member (18) about said inner surface of said second member (18) and of a construction sufficient for establishing the drive ratio of the first member (16) relative to the second member (18) and receiving and transmitting reaction torquing force on said first member (16) in response to said second member (18) engaging said first member (16).

A drive mechanism (10), comprising:

• a frame (14) having an axis (20);
• a first gear (24) having an inner surface (23) and being positioned about the frame (14), said inner surface (23) being defined by teeth (25) arcuately spaced one from the other;
• a first bearing element (26) positioned between said frame (14) and first gear (24) and supporting said first gear (24) in rotatable relationship relative to said frame (14);
• a second gear (28) having inner and outer surfaces (58,29) and being positioned generally between said frame (14) and said first gear (24) and movable in an orbital pathway relative to said frame axis (20), said inner and outer surfaces (58,29) being defined by teeth (60,30) arcuately spaced one from the other, said teeth (30) of said inner surface (58) being of a construction sufficient for engaging and rotating said first gear (24) in response to said second gear (28) moving relative to the frame (14);
• first means (31) for rotating said second gear (28);
• second means (32) for supporting said second gear (28) in said orbital pathway relative to the frame (14);
• another gear (74) having inner (76) and outer (77) teeth and being positioned generally between said frame (14) and said first gear (24) and movable in an orbital pathway relative to said frame axis (20), said outer teeth (77) being of a construction sufficient for engaging and rotating said first gear (24) in response to said another gear (74) moving relative to the frame (14);
• and
• a third gear (38) having an outer surface (62) and being fixed to the frame (14) and of a construction sufficient for establishing the drive ratio of the first gear (24) relative to the second gear (28) and to said another gear (74) and receiving and transmitting reaction torquing force on said second gear (28) in response to said second gear (28) engaging said first gear (24) and on said another gear (74) in response to said another gear (74) engaging said first gear (24), said outer surface (62) being defined by teeth (64) positionable in engaging relationship with the teeth (60) of the inner surface (58) of said second gear (28) and the inner teeth (76) of said another gear (74).

A drive mechanism (10), comprising:

• a frame (14) having an axis (20);
• a first member (16) positioned about said frame (14);
• a first bearing element (26) positioned between said frame (14) and first member (16) and supporting said first member (16) in rotatable relationship relative to said frame (14);
• a second member positioned generally between the frame (14) and the first member (16) and being movable in an orbital pathway relative to said frame axis (20) and of a construction sufficient for engaging and rotating said first member (16) in response to said second member (18) moving in said orbital pathway;
• first means (31) for rotating said second member (18);
• second means (32) for supporting said second member (18) in said orbital pathway relative to the frame (14);
• a third member (36) connected to the frame (14), positioned in contactable relationship with the second member (18) and being of a construction sufficient for establishing the drive ratio of the first member (16) relative to the second member (18) and receiving and transmitting reaction torquing force on said first member (16) in response to said second member (18) engaging said first member (16);
• a fourth member (49) positioned generally between the frame (14) and the first member (16) and being movable in an orbital pathway relative to said frame axis (20) and of a construction sufficient for engaging and rotating said first member (16) in response to said fourth member (49) moving in said orbital pathway;
• and
• a fifth member (51) of a construction sufficient for establishing the drive ratio of the first member (16) relative to said fourth member (49) and receiving and transmitting the reaction torquing force on said fourth member (49) in response to said fourth member (48) engaging said first member (16).