Transmission device for converting a torque between rotary movement and linear movement

Abstract

A transmission device for converting a torque from rotary to linear movement includes a rack having a plurality of teeth and a pinion having rollers which mesh with the teeth of the rack, with pressurization provided therebetween. The rack has an arcuate tooth flank diametrically greater than each of the rollers of the pinion. The rack also has a tooth face which has an approach profile progressively moving away from the path of contact of each of the rollers along which each of the rollers would otherwise engage with the tooth face. A plurality of each of the rollers of the pinion concurrently mesh with the corresponding teeth of the rack. Another embodiment converts a torque between rotary and linear movement and comprises a pinion having a plurality of teeth and a rack having a plurality of rollers to mesh with the teeth of the pinion. The device achieves reduced transmission resistance, a silent intermeshing movement with no substantial noise and vibration, as well as reduced wear on the teeth and rollers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.