Power transmission system with a stall prevention feature

A power transmission assembly for rotating a drive shaft member that operates an apparatus that performs an operational function in response to motor means that rotates power input shaft means, said assembly comprising:

• a) flywheel means mounted to rotate on said power input shaft means about a flywheel axis of rotation;
• b) driven output shaft means and means for coupling said driven output shaft means to rotate said drive shaft member of said apparatus;
• c) gear train means for rotating the flywheel means about said flywheel axis of rotation when said motor means rotates the power input shaft means;
• d) said gear train means being mounted to rotate said driven output shaft means upon rotation of said power input shaft means, and
• e) said gear train means including gear means effective to rotate the flywheel means when a load is applied said drive shaft member to the driven output shaft means so that when said motor means increases the rotational speed of the power input shaft means to rotate the driven output shaft means in response to said applied load, the flywheel means will continue to rotate to thereby preclude an adverse effect on the operation of the motor means and provide torque for rotating said driven output shaft means through said gear train means.

A power transmission system for rotating a drive shaft of an apparatus for performing an operational function, said system comprising:

• a) motor means for regulating the rotational speed of rotatable power input shaft means;
• and
• b) a power transmission assembly for transmitting rotational power from the power input shaft means to rotate a driven output shaft means;
• c) said power transmission assembly including flywheel means mounted to rotate on said power input shaft means about a flywheel axis of rotation, and gear train means for rotating the flywheel means about said flywheel axis of rotation when said motor means rotates the power input shaft means;
• d) said gear train means being effective to continue rotation of the flywheel means when a load is applied by said drive shaft of said apparatus to the driven output shaft means so that when said motor means increases the rotational speed of the power input shaft means in response to said applied load, the gear train means will drivingly rotate the flywheel means that will transmit torque to said driven output shaft means through said gear train means and preclude any adverse effect on the operation of the motor means.

In a model train locomotive having a set of drive wheels and a power system for rotating the drive wheels, said power system comprising:

• a) electric motor means mounted for rotating power input shaft means, control means for regulating the amount of electric current supply to the motor means for varying the rotational speed of the power input shaft means, and power transmission means for transmitting power from the power input shaft means to rotate driven output shaft means which is coupled to rotate said drive wheels;
• b) said power transmission means including flywheel means and gear means for rotating said flywheel means about an axis of rotation when said electric motor means is rotating the power input shaft means while the driven output shaft means is not rotating;
• c) said gear means being effective to rotate the driven output shaft means while the flywheel means is rotating without stalling the electric motor means when said control means increases the amount of electric current supplied to said motor means to increase the rotational speed of the power input shaft means and rotate the said drive wheels;
• d) said gear means including first sun gear means mounted to rotate with first drive shaft means about a first axis of rotation, second sun gear means mounted to rotate with said driven output shaft means, and first and second planetary gear means mounted to rotate with second drive shaft means about a second axis of rotation;
• e) said power input shaft means is coupled directly to said first drive shaft means to effect rotation of said first sun gear means about said first axis of rotation;
• f) said second drive shaft means being rotatably mounted to said flywheel means with said second axis of rotation being laterally spaced from and parallel to said first axis of rotation;
• and
• g) said first planetary gear means being frictionally engaged with said first sun gear means and said second planetary gear means being frictionally engaged with said second sun gear means;
• h) said flywheel means is rotatably mounted on said first drive shaft means to rotate about said first axis of rotation;
• i) said first drive shaft means including an input end portion coupled to said power input shaft means, a bearing end portion having an outer surface bearing section, and an intermediate portion located between said input and bearing end portions and having an outer intermediate surface to which said first sun gear means is affixed;
• and
• j) said driven output shaft means including an inner end section having an outside end surface to which said second sun gear means is affixed, and an inside end bearing surface that frictionally rotatably supports said outer surface bearing section of said first drive shaft means.

In a model train locomotive having a set of drive wheels and a power system for rotating the drive wheels, said power system comprising:

• a) electric motor means mounted for rotating power input shaft means, control means for regulating the amount of electric current supply to the motor means for varying the rotational speed of the power input shaft means, and power transmission means for transmitting power from the power input shaft means to rotate driven output shaft means which is coupled to rotate said drive wheels;
• b) said power transmission means including flywheel means and gear means for rotating said flywheel means about an axis of rotation when said electric motor means is rotating the power input shaft means while the driven output shaft means is not rotating;
• c) said gear means being effective to rotate the driven output shaft means while the flywheel means is rotating without stalling the electric motor means when said control means increases the amount of electric current supplied to said motor means to increase the rotational speed of the power input shaft means and rotate the said drive wheels;
• d) said gear means including first sun gear means mounted to rotate with first drive shaft means about a first axis of rotation, second sun gear means mounted to rotate with said driven output shaft means, and first and second planetary gear means mounted to rotate with second drive shaft means about a second axis of rotation;
• e) said second drive shaft means being rotatably mounted to said flywheel means with said second axis of rotation being laterally spaced from and parallel to said first axis of rotation;
• and
• f) said first planetary gear means being frictionally engaged with said first sun gear means and said second planetary gear means being frictionally engaged with said second sun gear means;
• g) said flywheel means including first and second flywheel sections laterally spaced with respect to each other with said second drive shaft means extending between and rotatably mounted in said first and second flywheel sections;
• h) said first planetary gear means being disposed between said first and second flywheel sections and said second planetary gear means being disposed on a side of one of the flywheel sections opposite a side where said first flywheel section is disposed;
• and
• i) counterbalancing means is circumferentially disposed at a location between said flywheel sections to balance the weight of the second drive shaft means and said first and second planetary gear means carried on said second drive shaft means.