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US 4,967,615 AGranted
Mechanical transmission
OwnerNed D. Millsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mechanical transmission converts rotational motion of an input drive shaft to an alternating radially directed motion of a selected amplitude. The alternating motion imparts rotational movement to an output driven shaft through imposition of one-way clutches. The alternating radially directed motion is varied by means of a rotatable self-balancing cam assembly. The self-balancing cam assembly includes a working, radially offsettable cam component and a compensating counterbalance. The cam and counterbalance are interconnected by a plurality of eccentric orbital coupling elements which rotate with the input drive shaft and are selectively rotatable thereabout. These impart simultaneous radial movement to the cam and counterbalance as desired to maintain the transmission in a dynamically balanced condition over its full range of operation.
Claims22
A transmission comprising:
- a rotatable input drive shaft;
- first eccentrically mounted means for imparting alternating radially directed motion of a selected amplitude relative to the input drive shaft upon rotation of the input drive shaft, the first means being mounted to the input drive shaft for selective rotation relative thereto;
- second eccentrically mounted means for imparting alternating radially directed motion of a selected amplitude relative to the input drive shaft which is opposite in radial direction to that imparted by the first means, the second means being mounted to the input drive shaft for selective rotation relative thereto;
- eccentric bearing means secured to the input drive shaft for mounting the first and second eccentrically mounted means to the input drive shaft for selective rotation relative to the input drive shaft;
- a plurality of unidirectional clutch means operably connected to either the first or second eccentrically mounted means for converting its alternating radially directed motion to a rotary motion;
- a rotatable output driven shaft;
- a plurality of rotatable drive means corresponding in number to the plurality of unidirectional clutch means, the rotatable drive means being arranged equiangularly about the output driven shaft and operably connecting the unidirectional clutch means and the output driven shaft for rotating the output driven shaft;
- and
- adjustment means for selectively imparting simultaneous rotational movement to the first and second eccentrically mounted means about the eccentric bearing means to selectively vary the amplitudes of the radially directed motions of the first and second eccentrically mounted means, the adjustment means being shiftable between a first condition in which rotational movement is imparted to the first and second eccentrically mounted means relative to the eccentric bearing means, and a second condition in which the first and second eccentrically mounted means are effectively locked to the eccentric bearing means for rotation with the input drive shaft, the adjustment means comprising:
- orbital eccentric coupling means operably interconnecting the first and second eccentrically mounted means, the orbital eccentric coupling means being mounted for rotation with the input drive shaft and also for selective rotation about the input drive shaft independent of rotation of the input drive shaft;
- whereby rotational speed of the output driven shaft relative to the input drive shaft is selectively variable and no overall eccentric rotational forces are imparted to the input drive shaft;
- wherein the input drive shaft rotates about a central axis, the first and second eccentrically mounted means include respective first and second eccentric axes, the first eccentric axis being displaced from the central axis in one radial direction, the second eccentric axis being displaced from the central axis in a radial direction opposite to the one radial direction;
- and
- the displacements of the first and second eccentric axes from the central axis being unequal.
11 more elements
A transmission comprising:
- a rotatable input drive shaft;
- first eccentrically mounted means for imparting alternating radially directed motion of a selected amplitude relative to the input drive shaft upon rotation of the input drive shaft, the first means being mounted to the input drive shaft for selective rotation relative thereto;
- second eccentrically mounted means for imparting alternating radially directed motion of a selected amplitude relative to the input drive shaft which is opposite in radial direction to that imparted by the first means, the second means being mounted to the input drive shaft for selective rotation relative thereto;
- eccentric bearing means secured to the input drive shaft for mounting the first and second eccentrically mounted means to the input drive shaft for selective rotation relative to the input drive shaft;
- a plurality of unidirectional clutch means operably connected to either the first or second eccentrically mounted means for converting its alternating radially directed motion to a rotary motion;
- a rotatable output driven shaft;
- a plurality of rotatable drive means corresponding in number to the plurality of unidirectional clutch means, the rotatable drive means being arranged equiangularly about the output driven shaft and operably connecting the unidirectional clutch means and the output driven shaft for rotating the output driven shaft;
- and
- adjustment means for selectively imparting simultaneous rotational movement to the first and second eccentrically mounted means about the eccentric bearing means to selectively vary the amplitudes of the radially directed motions of the first and second eccentrically mounted means, the adjustment means being shiftable between a first condition in which rotational movement is imparted to the first and second eccentrically mounted means relative to the eccentric bearing means, and a second condition in which the first and second eccentrically mounted means are effectively locked to the eccentric bearing means for rotation with the input drive shaft, the adjustment means comprising:
- orbital eccentric coupling means operably interconnecting the first and second eccentrically mounted means, the orbital eccentric coupling means being mounted for rotation with the input drive shaft and also for selective rotation about the input drive shaft independent of rotation of the input drive shaft;
- whereby rotational speed of the output driven shaft relative to the input drive shaft is selectively variable and no overall eccentric rotational forces are imparted to the input drive shaft;
- wherein the orbital eccentric coupling means comprises a plurality of rotational elements operably interconnecting the first and second eccentrically mounted means, the rotational elements being selectively rotatable about the input drive shaft;
- and
- direct drive means directly engaging at least one of the rotational elements for imparting a selective rotational driving force to the one element about the input drive shaft to impart simultaneous rotation of the first and second eccentrically mounted means about the eccentric bearing means.
11 more elements
A transmission comprising:
- an input drive shaft rotatable about a central axis;
- a cam selectively rotatable about the central axis with the input drive shaft, the cam being generated about a cam axis parallel to the central axis;
- a plurality of cam follower means engaging the cam for converting rotational motion of the input drive shaft to alternating radially directed motion of a selected amplitude;
- first eccentric bearing means rotatable with the input drive shaft and mounting the cam for rotation about a first eccentric axis parallel to and spaced to one side of the central axis for selectively positioning the cam axis relative to the central axis;
- counterbalance means for offsetting eccentric forces imparted to the input drive shaft during rotation of the cam about the central axis, the counterbalance means being selectively rotatable about the central axis with the input drive shaft and having a counterbalance axis parallel to the central axis;
- second eccentric bearing means rotatable with the input drive shaft and mounting the counterbalance means for rotation about a second eccentric axis parallel to and spaced to the opposite side of the central axis for selectively positioning the counterbalance axis relative to the central axis;
- a plurality of unidirectional clutch means respectively connected to the cam follower means for converting the alternating radially directed motion of the cam follower means to rotary motion of the unidirectional clutch means;
- an output driven shaft;
- a plurality of rotatable drive means arranged equiangularly about the output driven shaft and being operably interposed between the unidirectional clutch means and the output driven shaft for rotating the output driven shaft;
- adjustment means operably connecting the cam and the counterbalance means for angularly moving the cam axis relative to the first eccentric axis and the counterbalance axis relative to the second eccentric axis by simultaneously rotating the cam and the counterbalance means about their respective first and second eccentric axes to impart opposite radially directed movement to the cam and the counterbalance means relative to the central axis, the adjustment means comprising:
- a plurality of rotational elements drivingly interconnecting the cam and the counterbalance means, the driving rotational elements being mounted for rotation with the input drive shaft and also for selective rotation about the input drive shaft independent of rotation of the input drive shaft;
- and
- wherein the offset spacings of the first and second eccentric axes from the central axis are not equal.
10 more elements
A transmission comprising:
- an input drive shaft rotatable about a central axis;
- a cam selectively rotatably about the central axis with the input drive shaft, the cam being generated about a cam axis parallel to the central axis;
- a plurality of cam follower means engaging the cam for converting rotational motion of the input drive shaft to alternating radially directed motion of a selected amplitude;
- first eccentric bearing means rotatable with the input drive shaft and mounting the cam for rotation about a first eccentric axis parallel to and spaced to one side of the central axis for selectively positioning the cam axis relative to the central axis;
- counterbalance means for offsetting eccentric forces imparted to the input drive shaft during rotation of the cam about the central axis, the counterbalance means being selectively rotatable about the central axis with the input drive shaft and having a counterbalance axis parallel to the central axis;
- second eccentric bearing means rotatable with the input drive shaft and mounting the counterbalance means for rotation about a second eccentric axis parallel to and spaced to the opposite side of the central axis for selectively positioning the counterbalance axis relative to the central axis;
- a plurality of unidirectional clutch means respectively connected to the cam follower means for converting the alternating radially directed motion of the cam follower means to rotary motion of the unidirectional clutch means;
- an output driven shaft;
- a plurality of rotatable drive means arranged equiangularly about the output driven shaft and being operably interposed between the unidirectional clutch means and the output driven shaft for rotating the output driven shaft;
- adjustment means operably connecting the cam and the counterbalance means for angularly moving the cam axis relative to the first eccentric axis and the counterbalance axis relative to the second eccentric axis by simultaneously rotating the cam and the counterbalance means about their respective first and second eccentric axes to impart opposite radially directed movement to the cam and the counterbalance means relative to the central axis, the adjustment means comprising:
- a plurality of rotational elements drivingly interconnecting the cam and the counterbalance means, the driving rotational elements being mounted for rotation with the input drive shaft and also for selective rotation about the input drive shaft independent of rotation of the input drive shaft;
- and
- direct drive means directly engaging at least one of the driving rotational elements for imparting a selective rotational driving force to the one element about the input drive shaft to impart simultaneous rotation of the cam and the counterbalance means about their respective first and second eccentric bearing means.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.