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US 9,791,027 B2Granted
Apparatus utilizing planetary gearset coupled to a constant torsion spring
AssigneeReikor Corporation
InventorsRyan Heiraas, Timothy A. Erhart, John Russell Kingery
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gearbox includes a planetary gearset, an input shaft coupled to a sun gear of the planetary gearset, and an output shaft coupled to planet gears of the planetary gearset via a carrier. A constant torsion spring is coupled to a ring gear of the planetary gearset. The constant torsion spring is capable of preventing the ring gear from moving when a torque at the output shaft is below a threshold. The ring gear winds the constant torsion spring in response to the torque exceeding the threshold.
Claims19
An apparatus comprising:
- a planetary gearset comprising a rotatable ring gear;
- an input shaft coupled to a sun gear of the planetary gearset;
- an output shaft coupled to planet gears of the planetary gearset via a carrier;
- and
- a constant torsion spring coupled to the ring gear, wherein the constant torsion spring comprises a first spool coupled to rotate with the ring gear and a second spool that freely rotates, the first and second spools being coupled by a metal band that coils around one or both of the first and second spools, the constant torsion spring storing energy via the ring gear if a torque level at the output shaft exceeds a threshold.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a planetary gearset comprising a sun gear, planet gears, and a rotatable ring gear;
- an input shaft coupled to the sun gear of the planetary gearset;
- an output shaft coupled to the planet gears of the planetary gearset via a carrier;
- and
- a constant torsion spring coupled to the ring gear of the planetary gearset, wherein the constant torsion spring comprises a first spool coupled to rotate with the ring gear and a second spool that freely rotates, the first and second spools being coupled by a metal band that coils around one or both of the first and second spools, the constant torsion spring configured to prevent the ring gear from rotating when a torque at the output shaft is below a threshold, the ring gear winding the constant torsion spring in response to the torque exceeding the threshold.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- driving an input shaft coupled to a sun gear of a planetary gearset, the driving of the input shaft resulting in movement of an output shaft coupled to planet gears of the planetary gearset via a carrier;
- preventing rotation of a ring gear of the planetary gearset via a constant torsion spring while an output torque of the output shaft is less than an output threshold, wherein the constant torsion spring comprises a first spool coupled to rotate with the ring gear and a second spool that freely rotates, the first and second spools being coupled by a metal band that coils around one or both of the first and second spools;
- and
- in response to the output torque of the output shaft beginning to exceed the output threshold, winding the constant torsion spring via the ring gear to prevent the output torque from exceeding the threshold.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- driving an input shaft during an initialization procedure, the input shaft coupled to a sun gear of a planetary gearset and an output shaft coupled to planet gears of the planetary gearset via a carrier, wherein the output shaft is prevented from rotating during the initialization procedure resulting in winding of a constant torsion spring coupled to a ring gear of the planetary gearset;
- after the initialization procedure and during subsequent operation, preventing the constant torsion spring from unwinding;
- and
- in response to a loss of power, releasing the constant torsion spring and preventing the input shaft from turning, wherein the releasing of the constant torsion spring and the preventing of the input shaft from turning moves the output shaft to a home position.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.