Apparatus for and method of coupling shafts

An apparatus including:

• a first rotatable member;
• at least two second rotatable members connected to said first rotatable member,
• each of said second rotatable members having a connecting part eccentrically mounted thereon;
• a third rotatable member connected to said second rotatable members;
• a flexible connecting member connecting said connecting parts together;
• drive means connected to said third rotatable member for rotating it in a first direction;
• whereby when said third rotatable member is rotated each of said connecting parts is moved in an arc in a second direction;
• whereby to change the length of said flexible connecting member so that torque is transferred from said third rotatable member to said first rotatable member;
• and
• thereby to rotate said first rotatable member in said first direction and wherein said connecting parts are curved pins and said flexible connecting member is a shaped, self-supporting belt having a plurality of substantially straight sides joined by curved corners which fit around said curved pins.

An apparatus including:

• a rotatable sun gear;
• at least two rotatable planet gears operatively connected to said sun gear through meshing teeth;
• each of said planet gears having a pin eccentrically mounted on a surface thereof and extending outwardly from said surface;
• a rotatable hub;
• said planet gears being pivotally connected to said hub;
• a flexible belt trained about and connecting said pins together;
• drive means connected to said hub for rotating it in a first direction;
• whereby when said hub is rotated each of said pins is moved in an arc in a second direction;
• whereby to change the length of said flexible belt so that torque is transferred from said hub to said sun gear;
• and,
• thereby to rotate said sun gear in said first direction.

An apparatus including:

• a rotatable sun gear;
• at least two rotatable planet gears connected to said sun gear through meshing teeth;
• each of said planet gears having a pin eccentrically mounted on a surface thereof and extending outwardly from said surface;
• a rotatable ring gear connected to said planet gears through meshing teeth;
• a flexible belt trained about and connecting said pins together;
• drive means connected to said ring gear for rotating it in a first direction;
• whereby when said ring gear is rotated each of said pins is moved in an arc in a second direction;
• whereby to change the length of said flexible belt so that torque is transferred from said ring gear to said sun gear;
• and,
• thereby to rotate said sun gear in said first direction.

An apparatus for transmitting torque from one shaft to another comprising:

• a first shaft having a centerline;
• a second shaft having a centerline, said centerline being an extension of said centerline of said first shaft, said shafts being in end-to-end relationship;
• a cover plate fixedly connected to said second shaft;
• a pressure plate frictionably connected to said cover plate;
• a ring gear operatively connected to said pressure plate;
• a plurality of planet gears operatively connected to said ring gear and rotatable in a plane normal to said centerline of said shafts;
• a plurality of connecting gears at least one of which is fixedly and eccentrically mounted on each of said planet gears, said connecting parts being spaced uniformly on the circumference of a circle also having ghe centerlines of said shafts as its centerline;
• a flexible connecting member connecting said connecting parts together;
• said first shaft having gear means on its circumference;
• said planet gears each having gear means on its circumference operatively connected to said gear means on said first shaft;
• drive means connected to said first shaft for rotating said first shaft and said gear means on its circumference in a first direction;
• whereby when said first shaft is rotated in said first direction each of said planet gears is rotated in a second direction through the operative connection of said gear means on the circumference of said planet gears with said gear means on the circumference of said first shaft and;
• thereby moving said connecting parts in an arc in a second direction away from said first shaft;
• whereby to change the length of said flexible connecting member so that torque is transferred from said first shaft to said second shaft and
• thereby to rotate said second shaft in said first direction and wherein said connecting parts are curved pins and said flexible connecting member is a shaped, self-supporting belt having a plurality of substantially straight sides joined by curved corners which fit around said curved pins.

An apparatus for transmitting torque from one shaft to another comprising:

• a first shaft having a centerline,
• a second shaft having a centerline, said centerline being an extension of said centerline of said first shaft, said shafts being in end-to-end relationship;
• a cover plate fixedly connected to said second shaft;
• a pressure plate frictionably connected to said cover plate;
• a ring gear having inner gear means operatively connected to said pressure plate and having the centerlines of said shafts as its centerline;
• a plurality of planet gears operatively connected to said ring gear and rotatable in a plane normal to said centerlines of said shafts;
• a plurality of connecting parts at least one of which is fixedly and eccentrically mounted on each of said planet gears, said connecting members being spaced uniformly on the circumference of a circle also having the centerlines of said shafts as its centerline;
• a flexible connecting member connecting said connecting parts together;
• said first shaft having gear means on its circumference;
• said planet gears each having gear means on its circumference operatively connected to said gear means on said first shaft;
• drive means connected to said second shaft for rotating it in a first direction;
• whereby when said second shaft is rotated in said first direction each of said planet gears is rotated and;
• thereby moving said connecting parts in an arc in a second direction away from said first shaft;
• whereby to change the length of said flexible connecting member so that torque is transferred from said second shaft to said first shaft and
• thereby to rotate said first shaft in said first direction and wherein said connecting parts are curved pins and said flexible connecting member is a shaped, self-supporting belt having a plurality of substantially straight sides joined by curved corners which fit around said curved pins.