US 8,986,149 B2Granted

Infinitely variable direction control

AssigneeDifferential Dynamics Corporation

InventorKyung Soo Han

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Infinitely variable motion control (IVMC) provides motion control without any requirement for changing gears or use of a clutch. A spur gear transgear, defined as a system having an input, an output and a control, a variable pitch cam having an eccentric inner and outer cam assembly and a driver may be used to form a speed converter. The speed converter is used in various forms to provide an infinitely variable transmission, a differential, embodiments of wind and river turbines and pumps/compressors. In one embodiment, the speed converter drives a direction control assembly (forward, reverse and neutral) and first and second directional control assemblies to provide a vehicle with zero turn radius. A variable torque converter may be used in various embodiments to control torque from a minimum to a maximum by controlling movement of a rotor along a shaft in relation to a stator.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An infinitely variable, forward and reverse, direction control assembly for use with a speed converter, the infinitely variable direction control assembly comprising

an input shaft having first and second left sun gears attached to or integral with the input shaft, the second left sun gear being dispersed longitudinally along the input shaft to have a predetermined distance from the first left sun gear,
first and second right sun gears, the first right sun gear being of a first spur gear transgear assembly and being attached to or integral with a first sleeve surrounding the input shaft, the first sleeve in turn being attached to or integral with an output gear, the second right sun gear being of a second spur gear transgear assembly and being located adjacent to the second left sun gear of the input shaft,
the first left sun gear being associated with a first brake and a first carrier bracket, the first right sun gear being coupled to the output gear such that the first right sun gear and output gear have the opposite rotational direction as the input shaft, responsive to the first brake being actuated, and
the second right sun gear being associated with a second brake and a second carrier bracket, the second right sun gear being fixed, third and fourth carrier brackets and the output gear having the same rotational direction as the input shaft, responsive to the second brake being actuated.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/155,401Filed 15 Jan 2014 · division
Priority: 9 Aug 2011
Published: US 2014/0141927 A122 May 2014
Granted: 24 Mar 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification21 codes

F03B 15/02
Controlling: by varying liquid flow
F03B 3/18
Stators: stator blades; Guide conduits or vanes, e.g. adjustable
F03B 15/08
Regulating, i.e. acting automatically: by speed, e.g. by measuring electric frequency or liquid flow
F03D 15/00
Transmission of mechanical power

Family

PCT/US2010/042519Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Jul 2010
Application61/521,408Us provisional application · filed 9 Aug 2011
Application61/523,846Us provisional application · filed 16 Aug 2011
Application13/425,501Parent of this division · filed 21 Mar 2012
Application13/568,288Parent of this division · filed 7 Aug 2012
Application13/915,785Parent of this division · filed 12 Jun 2013
US 2014/0141927 A1Pre-grant publication · published 22 May 2014
US 8,702,552 B2Parent of this division
US 8,485,933 B2Parent of this division
US 8,641,570 B2Parent of this division
Application13/384,621Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 8,388,481 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
Application13/568,288Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2012/0115662 A1Published application
US 2012/0243991 A1Published application
US 2012/0299301 A1Published application
US 2013/0274056 A1Published application
US 8,986,149 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.