US 5,982,577 A · Batteryless, spring-powered portable cassette player

Abstract

A novel system, e.g., an audio cassette player, is provided herein. The system simultaneously provides mechanical motion driven by a rotatable drive shaft which is rotating at a continuous predetermined desired speed, and for generating a voltage output by an electrical generator having a rotor which is rotating at a continuous predetermined desired speed, the rotatable drive shaft being non-concentric with, being laterally-spaced-apart from, and being parallel to the rotor. The system includes a prime mover which comprises a windable driving spring, which, in turn, includes an interconnecting drive train for separately drivably connecting the driving spring both to the rotatable drive shaft and to the rotor of the electrical generator. The interconnecting drive train comprising a gear train, which has a driving section which is connected to the driving spring means and which is common for driving both the rotatable drive shaft and the rotor at the electrical generator. It also includes two driven sections which are laterally-spaced-apart from one another and which extend in parallel from the driving section. One of the driven sections is drivably-connected to the rotatable drive shaft. The other one of the driven sections is drivably-connected to the rotor of the electrical generator. A speed governor is included for controlling unwinding of the driving spring so as to cause the driving spring to drive both the rotatable drive shaft and the rotor of the electrical generator at the respective continuous predetermined desired speeds.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A system for simultaneously providing mechanical motion driven by a rotatable drive shaft which is rotating at a continuous predetermined desired speed, and for generating a voltage output by electrical generating means having a rotor which is rotating at a continuous predetermined desired speed, said rotatable drive shaft being non-concentric with, being laterally-spaced-apart from, and being parallel to said rotor, said system including a prime mover, said prime mover comprising:

a windable driving spring means, said driving spring means including an interconnecting drive train for separately drivably connecting said driving spring means both to said rotatable drive shaft and to said rotor of said electrical generating means;
said interconnecting drive train comprising a gear train, said gear train having a driving section which is connected to said driving spring means and which is common for driving both said rotatable drive shaft and said rotor of said electrical generating means, and two driven sections which are laterally-spaced-apart from one another, said two driven sections extending in parallel from said driving section, with one of said driven sections being drivably-connected to said rotatable drive shaft and the other one of said driven sections being drivably-connected to said rotor of said electrical generating means;
and
speed governing means for controlling the unwinding of said driving spring means so as to cause said driving spring means to drive both said rotatable drive shaft and said rotor of said electrical generating means at said respective continuous predetermined desired speeds.

1 more element

An audio cassette player comprising:

an audio play-back head located in a signal pick-up station;
a tape drive mechanism comprising a rotatable drive shaft which is rotating at a continuous predetermined desired speed, for driving an audio cassette tape in lineal movement progressively through said signal pick-up station to permit said play-back head to receive signals from said audio cassette tape;
amplifying means which are electrically-connected to said play-back head for receiving signals from said play-back head;
electrical generating means for generating a voltage output including a rotor which is rotating at a continuous predetermined desired speed, for providing electrical power to said amplifying means, said rotatable drive shaft being non-concentric with, being laterally-spaced-apart from, and being parallel to said rotor;
and
a prime mover comprising:
a windable driving spring means, said driving spring means including an interconnecting drive train for separately drivably connecting said driving spring means both to said rotatable drive shaft and to said rotor of said electrical generating means, said interconnecting drive train comprising a gear train, said gear train having a driving section which is connected to said driving spring means and which is common for driving both said rotatable drive shaft and said rotor of said electrical generating means, and two driven sections which are laterally-spaced-apart from one another, said two driven sections extending in parallel from said driving section, with one of said driven sections being drivably-connected to said rotatable drive shaft and with the other of said driven sections being drivably-connected to said rotor of said electrical generating means;
and
speed governing means for controlling the unwinding of said driving spring means so as to cause said driving spring means to drive both said rotatable drive shaft and said rotor of said electrical generating means at said respective continuous predetermined desired speeds.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Batteryless, spring-powered portable cassette player

Life of this patent

Batteryless, spring-powered portable cassette player

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14