Patent US3691871A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3691871A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Rotary motion transmitting apparatus
Assignee: ROLAMITE Inc
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Filing: 1970-06-25
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Granted: 1972-09-19
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Expires: 1990-06-25
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for transmitting rotary motion between two relatively movable members. The apparatus includes an elongated thin flexible element in the form of a band arranged in a pair of adjoining alternate loops with a roller confined within each of the loops. The rollers roll along a circular path as the band progressively passes around the rollers. The rollers and the band are supported on a cylindrical guide surface and the rate of motion of the components of the apparatus relative to each other permits a high degree of amplification or reduction between input and output elements. As an alternative usage, the apparatus readily lends itself to two inputs in a manner equivalent to a geared differential.
Inventors
- 👤 Dean E Gladow
- 👤 Donald F Wilkes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:41
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H7/00; F16H13/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18568; Y10T74/18832
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
Rotary apparatus comprising: an elongated, thin flexible element arranged in a pair of adjoining alternate loops, an outer roller in one of said loops and an inner roller in the other of said loops, said element in said loops being wrapped on more than one half of the circumference of the surface of the respective rollers, guide means maintaining the centers of said rollers on concentric paths about a common center while said rollers roll relative to said guide means, said guide means including an inner guide surface concentric with said common center at a radius less than the radius of both of said paths, said element extending between said one loop at the surface of said outer roller and said inner guide surface at a first location and being interposed between said inner roller and said inner guide surface at a second location, said locations being spaced circumferentially on said inner guide surface, and tension means applying tension in said band to clamp said element between said inner and outer rollers and between said inner roller and said inner guide surface, whereby said rollers rotate relative to each other and relative to said guide means at a predetermined rate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
Rotary apparatus comprising: an elongated, thin flexible element arranged in a pair of adjoining alternate loops, an outer roller in one of said loops and an inner roller in the other of said loops, said element in said loops being wrapped on more than one half of the circumference of the surface of the respective rollers, guide means maintaining the centers of said rollers on concentric paths about a common center while said rollers roll relative to said guide means, said guide means including an inner guide surface concentric with said common center at a radius less than the radius of both of said paths, said element extending between said one loop at the surface of said outer roller and said inner guide surface at a first location and being interposed between said inner roller and said inner guide surface at a second location, said locations being spaced circumferentially on said inner guide surface, and tension means applying tension in said band to clamp said element between said inner and outer rollers and between said inner roller and said inner guide surface, whereby said rollers rotate relative to each other and relative to said guide means at a predetermined rate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The rotary apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said guide means includes an outer guide surface extending continuously around said common center and cooperating with said outer roller to maintain said roller in said path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The rotary apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said outer guide surface is substantially circular and concentric with said common center, said outer guide surface having a circumference greater than the circumference of said inner guide surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The rotary apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said guide means includes an outer guide surface concentric with said common center, the radial distance between said inner guide surface and said outer guide surface being less than the sum of the diameters of said rollers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The rotary apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said outer guide means includes a thin flexible band, means supporting said band on a cylindrical surface concentric with said common center, said band extending continuously around said outer roller and said band supporting surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The rotary apparatus according to claim 4 including means for rotating said inner guide surface relative to said outer guide surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
151 words
A mechanism comprising support means forming an arcuate support surface, guide means having a substantially arcuate surface, said guide means surface and said support means surface having a common center of curvature and at least one of said surfaces being movable relative to the other about said center, a first roller and a second roller interposed between said support surface and said guide surface, the sum of the diameters of said rollers being greater than the radial distance separating said guide surface and said support surface, drive means wedging said rollers in opposition to each other and each in opposition to one of said surfaces, said drive means including a thin elongated flexible element cooperating with said rollers and said arcuate surfaces to cause predetermined rotation of said rollers relative to each other and relative to said surfaces while progressing as a unitary cluster along an arcuate path between said surfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
151 words
A mechanism comprising support means forming an arcuate support surface, guide means having a substantially arcuate surface, said guide means surface and said support means surface having a common center of curvature and at least one of said surfaces being movable relative to the other about said center, a first roller and a second roller interposed between said support surface and said guide surface, the sum of the diameters of said rollers being greater than the radial distance separating said guide surface and said support surface, drive means wedging said rollers in opposition to each other and each in opposition to one of said surfaces, said drive means including a thin elongated flexible element cooperating with said rollers and said arcuate surfaces to cause predetermined rotation of said rollers relative to each other and relative to said surfaces while progressing as a unitary cluster along an arcuate path between said surfaces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The mechanism according to claim 7 wherein said element extends between one of said rollers and said guide surface in an outer loop and between the other of said rollers and said support surface in an inner loop.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The mechanism According to claim 7 wherein said support surface is provided on the periphery of a rotary drum, and including means for rotating said drum relative to said guide surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
91 words
The mechanism according to claim 9 wherein said element is secured on said support surface; said element extending around one of said rollers in an outer loop, and around the other of said rollers in an inner loop, said element also extending between said guide surface and said outer roller and extending between said support surface and said inner roller, said drum being journaled for rotation about an axis passing through said center of curvature, whereby the drum rotates about said axis to produce translation of said rollers along said path.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
170 words
Motion transmitting mechanism comprising: bearing means having inner and outer curved bearing surfaces, said bearing surfaces being arranged in opposed relation, a pair of rollers interposed between said bearing surfaces in a cluster, the sum of the diameters of said cluster rollers being greater than the radial distance separating said bearing surfaces, the diameter of each roller being less than the radial distance separating said bearing surfaces, a thin flexible band arranged in a pair of alternate adjoining loops between said outer and inner bearing surfaces, said cluster rollers each being positioned within one of the band loops and supporting said band on their respective surfaces, portions of said band passing between said outer bearing surface and one roller and between the other roller and the inner bearing surface and extending away from said roller cluster and being fixed against displacement relative to said inner bearing surface, means for rotating one of said bearing surfaces relative to the other bearing surface, whereby rotary motion is transmitted to said cluster rollers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
170 words
Motion transmitting mechanism comprising: bearing means having inner and outer curved bearing surfaces, said bearing surfaces being arranged in opposed relation, a pair of rollers interposed between said bearing surfaces in a cluster, the sum of the diameters of said cluster rollers being greater than the radial distance separating said bearing surfaces, the diameter of each roller being less than the radial distance separating said bearing surfaces, a thin flexible band arranged in a pair of alternate adjoining loops between said outer and inner bearing surfaces, said cluster rollers each being positioned within one of the band loops and supporting said band on their respective surfaces, portions of said band passing between said outer bearing surface and one roller and between the other roller and the inner bearing surface and extending away from said roller cluster and being fixed against displacement relative to said inner bearing surface, means for rotating one of said bearing surfaces relative to the other bearing surface, whereby rotary motion is transmitted to said cluster rollers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The motion transmitting mechanism according to claim 11 wherein said band is under sufficient tension to prevent relative rotational motion between said cluster rollers and said band.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The motion transmitting mechanism according to claim 11 wherein said inner and outer bearing surfaces have a fixed curvature and said bearing surfaces are concentric.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The motion transmitting mechanism according to claim 11 wherein said outer bearing surface has a variable curvature and includes a flexible guide.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The motion transmitting mechanism according to claim 11 wherein said bearing means include a wheel and a ring, said inner bearing surface being on the periphery of said wheel, said outer bearing surface being on the interior of said ring.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
62 words
The motion transmitting mechanism according to claim 15 including at least one additional roller cluster interposed between said bearing surfaces, said clusters being spaced apart around said wheel surface, said band being arranged in a pair of alternate adjoining loops at each of said roller clusters, whereby said clusters progress relative to said wheel surface while maintaining the spacing between the clusters.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
169 words
Rotary motion apparatus comprising a first rotary shaft and a second rotary shaft, said first and second shafts being mounted for rotation about a common axis, said first shaft having a cylindrical support surface concentric with said axis, inner and outer rollers associated with said support surface, a thin flexible endless drive band intertwined around said inner and outer rollers in alternate adjoining loops, said drive band maintaining said outer roller spaced from said support surface, means mounting a guide surface for rotation coaxially of said support surface, an endless restraining band encircling said guide surface and said outer roller and restraining said inner and outer rollers for translation along circular paths concentric with said axis, means preventing slippage of said bands relative to said rollers and said support surface thereby causing predetermined relative rotation between said rollers and said support surface, and means for transmitting rotary motion betwEen said inner roller and said second shaft, whereby a differential in speed is transmitted between said first and second shafts.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
169 words
Rotary motion apparatus comprising a first rotary shaft and a second rotary shaft, said first and second shafts being mounted for rotation about a common axis, said first shaft having a cylindrical support surface concentric with said axis, inner and outer rollers associated with said support surface, a thin flexible endless drive band intertwined around said inner and outer rollers in alternate adjoining loops, said drive band maintaining said outer roller spaced from said support surface, means mounting a guide surface for rotation coaxially of said support surface, an endless restraining band encircling said guide surface and said outer roller and restraining said inner and outer rollers for translation along circular paths concentric with said axis, means preventing slippage of said bands relative to said rollers and said support surface thereby causing predetermined relative rotation between said rollers and said support surface, and means for transmitting rotary motion betwEen said inner roller and said second shaft, whereby a differential in speed is transmitted between said first and second shafts.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said restraining band has a length different from said drive band, said restraining band and said drive band being maintained in tension, whereby slippage between said rollers and said bands does not occur.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said support surface includes a wheel, said restraining band being supported on the periphery of said guide surface, said guide surface having a larger diameter than said wheel, and said inner roller having a smaller diameter than said outer roller, whereby amplified motion is transmitted between said first and said second shafts.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-19 | 1976-03-20 | 1976-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-19 | 1980-03-20 | 1980-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-19 | 1984-03-20 | 1984-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |