US 6,547,689 B2 · Angular motion translator

Abstract

The angular motion translator is a device with direct mechanical coupling which allows a user to reliably and durably change the angular relationship between two elements in a rotating frame (i.e. two output shafts) by changing the angular relationship between two elements in a static reference frame, whereby the change in the angular relationship of the elements in the rotating frame is proportional to the change in the angular relationship of the elements in the static reference frame. Essentially, the angular motion translator is comprised of two linked identical planetary gear sets facing one another as mirror images. Matching elements in the two planetary gear sets are held static, although one of the static elements may be rotated with respect to the other, matching elements are rigidly attached together so that they rotate as a single unit, and the remaining matching elements are attached to either the input shaft and the inner output shaft or the outer output shaft respectively.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An angular motion translator comprised of:

an input shaft;
an inner output shaft;
an outer output shaft;
a first planetary gear set comprised of three elements;
and
a second planetary gear set comprised of three elements;
wherein:
said second planetary gear set is identical to said first planetary gear set, such that said elements of said second planetary gear set match said elements of said first planetary gear set;
one of said elements of said first planetary gear set is rigidly attached to said input shaft and to said inner output shaft, and said matching element of said second planetary gear set is rigidly attached to said outer output shaft;
another of said elements of said first planetary gear set is rigidly attached to said matching element of said second planetary gear set;
and
remaining of said elements of said first planetary gear set and said second planetary gear set are held static.

9 more elements

An angular motion translator comprised of:

an in put shaft;
an inner output shaft;
an outer output shaft;
a first planetary gear set comprised of three elements;
and
a second planetary gear set comprised of three elements;
wherein:
said second planetary gear set is identical to said first planetary gear set, such that said elements of said second planetary gear set match said elements of said first planetary gear set;
one of said elements of said first planetary gear set is rigidly attached to said input shaft and to said inner output shaft, and said matching element of said second planetary gear set is rigidly attached to said outer output shaft;
another of said elements of said first planetary gear set is rigidly attached to said matching element of said second planetary gear set;
remaining of said elements of said first planetary gear set and said second planetary gear set are held static;
one of said elements held static is rotatable with respect to the other of said elements held static;
and wherein a rotation between said elements held static produces a proportional rotation between said inner output shaft and said outer output shaft;
said three elements of said first planetary gear set are further comprised of a sun gear, a planetary gear array, and an annular gear, and said three elements of said second planetary gear set are further comprised of a sun gear, a planetary gear array, and an annular gear;
and
said sun gear of said second planetary gear set and said outer output shaft are hollow, such that said inner output shaft passes through said sun gear of said second planetary gear set and said outer output shaft without directly interacting with said sun gear of said second planetary gear set or said outer output shaft.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Angular motion translator

Life of this patent

Angular motion translator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23