US3736078A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Drive control and hold-in arrangement for a rotary actuator
Assignee: Bendix Corp
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Filing: 1971-07-01
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Granted: 1973-05-29
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Expires: 1991-07-01
Abstract
Abstract A rotary actuator of the type in which a ring gear is orbited within a stationary reaction gear and about an output gear, the ring gear driven to so orbit by a torque producing vector which is constantly indexing about the circumference thereof to produce its orbiting motion is disclosed, in which an arrangement is provided for producing a hydraulically generated hold-in vector acting on the ring gear at an angle displaced from the torque producing vector and which also constantly indexes about the circumference thereof in the same manner so that the ring gear is maintained in engagement with the reaction and output gear during its orbiting motion without the use of rotary bearings or cranks. This arrangement also provides for a disengagement of the ring gear from the reaction and output gear in the event a hold-in vector of a certain magnitude is not produced to thus provide a means to controllably discontinue drive through the unit.
Inventors
- 👤 R G Read
- 👤 N L Sikora
- 👤 K W Verge
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 00:48
CPC Classifications
F; F03; F03C; F03C2/00; F03C2/30; F03C2/302; F16; F16H; F16H43/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
An actuator comprising: at least one reaction member having a reaction surface; an orbiting member floating with respect to said reaction surface of said reaction member; orbiting means selectively causing said orbiting member to orbit in engagement with said reaction member reaction surface; an output member and means producing rotation of said output member in response to said orbiting movement of said orbiting member including a geared engagement therebetween; hold-in means separate from said orbiting means producing a force acting on said orbiting member so as to maintain said geared engagement thereof with said output member during said orbiting of said orbiting member, whereby said floating orbiting member may be maintained in geared engagement against forces tending to produce disengagement thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
An actuator comprising: at least one reaction member having a reaction surface; an orbiting member floating with respect to said reaction surface of said reaction member; orbiting means selectively causing said orbiting member to orbit in engagement with said reaction member reaction surface; an output member and means producing rotation of said output member in response to said orbiting movement of said orbiting member including a geared engagement therebetween; hold-in means separate from said orbiting means producing a force acting on said orbiting member so as to maintain said geared engagement thereof with said output member during said orbiting of said orbiting member, whereby said floating orbiting member may be maintained in geared engagement against forces tending to produce disengagement thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The actuator of claim 1 wherein said hold-in means includes a fluid motor and means supplying fluid under pressure thereto producing said force on said orbiting member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The actuator of claim 2 wherein said orbiting means includes at least one fluid motor separate from said hold-in means fluid motor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The actuator of claim 1 further including centEring means positioning said orbiting member concentrically with respect to said reaction member and said output member whenever said hold-in force is less than a predetermined magnitude.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The actuator of claim 4 wherein said centering means includes at least one fluid operated device which is biased to tend to produce said centering action on said orbiting member but which bias is overcome by said fluid under pressure supplied to said hold-in fluid motor if of a predetermined magnitude.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The actuator of claim 5 wherein said centering means includes a plurality of fluid operated pistons disposed with their axes about the axis of said reaction member and means for causing said centering action of said orbiting member in response to movement of said pistons towards said reaction member axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The actuator of claim 6 wherein said centering means bias is produced by means biasing said pistons towards said reaction member axis and wherein said bias means is overcome by fluid under pressure supplied to said hold-in fluid motor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The actuator according to claim 1 wherein said hold-in means includes a hold-in member connected to said orbiting member and orbiting therewith and wherein said hold-in force is exerted on said hold-in member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The actuator of claim 8 wherein said hold-in member is disposed within a hold-in reaction member and wherein said hold-in means includes a plurality of fluid chambers partially defined by said hold-in member and hold-in reaction member and further includes means for successively pressurizing and depressurizing said chambers so as to produce said force.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The actuator of claim 9 wherein said hold-in means includes porting means producing said successive pressurization and depressurization of said fluid chambers in response to said orbiting motion of said hold-in member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
The actuator according to claim 9 wherein said porting means includes a stationary hold-in porting plate axially juxtaposed to said member having supply and return ports formed therein connected to a supply source and return respectively, and further including recesses formed in said hold-in member cooperating with said ports in said porting plate to produce said successive pressurization and depressurization of said chambers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
154 words
The actuator of claim 11 wherein said orbiting means also includes a plurality of fluid chambers defined in part by said orbiting member and said reaction member also includes porting means having a porting plate having supply and return ports formed therein and recesses in said orbiting member cooperating to produce said orbiting movement of said orbiting member by successive pressurization and depressurization of said chambers, and wherein one of said hold-in porting means or orbiting porting means supply and return ports are radially spaced from each other and the other are circumferentially spaced from each other, whereby said porting means successive pressurization and depressurization of one said hold-in member or orbiting member is carried out by radial movement of the hold-in or orbiting members and the porting means pressurization and depressurization of the other of said orbiting as hold-in members is carried out by the circumferential movement of the orbiting or hold-in member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
The actuator of claim 8 further including a second reaction member having a reaction surface and second orbiting member floating with respect to said second reaction member and connected to said hold-in member and said first orbiting member and also further includes a second orbiting means selectively causing said orbiting member to orbit in engagement with said second reaction member reaction surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The actuator of claim 13 wherein said hold-in member is connected between said first and second orbiting members.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
The actuator of claim 14 further including centering means acting on said connected orbiting and hold-in members tending to center said assembly on the axes of said reaction members, said centerinG means including means for acting on said connected orbiting and hold-in members along lines of action in planes between each of said orbiting members and said hold-in member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
123 words
An actuator comprising: at least one reaction member having a reaction surface; an orbiting member floating with respect to said reaction surface of said reaction member; orbiting means selectively causing said orbiting member to orbit in engagement with said reaction member reaction surface; an output member and means producing rotation of said output member in response to said orbiting movement of said orbiting member including a geared engagement therebetween; fluid hold-in means separate from said orbiting means producing a fluid force acting on said orbiting member so as to maintain said geared engagement thereof with said output member during said orbiting of said orbiting member, whereby said floating orbiting member may be maintained in geared engagement against forces tending to produce disengagement thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
123 words
An actuator comprising: at least one reaction member having a reaction surface; an orbiting member floating with respect to said reaction surface of said reaction member; orbiting means selectively causing said orbiting member to orbit in engagement with said reaction member reaction surface; an output member and means producing rotation of said output member in response to said orbiting movement of said orbiting member including a geared engagement therebetween; fluid hold-in means separate from said orbiting means producing a fluid force acting on said orbiting member so as to maintain said geared engagement thereof with said output member during said orbiting of said orbiting member, whereby said floating orbiting member may be maintained in geared engagement against forces tending to produce disengagement thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The actuator of claim 16 wherein said fluid hold-in means includes a fluid motor and means supplying fluid under pressure thereto producing said force on said orbiting member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The actuator of claim 17 wherein said orbiting means includes at least one fluid motor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
155 words
An actuator comprising: at least one reaction member having a reaction surface; an orbiting member floating with respect to said reaction surface of said reaction member; orbiting means selectively causing said orbiting member to orbit in engagement with said reaction member reaction surface; an output member and means producing rotation of said output member in response to said orbiting movement of said orbiting member including a geared engagement therebetween; fluid motor hold-in means separate from said orbiting means producing a force on said orbiting member so as to maintain said geared engagement thereof with said output member during said orbiting of said orbiting member; and means selectively discontinuing said hold-in force produced by said hold-in force whereby said floating orbiting member may be maintained in geared engagement against forces tending to produce disengagement thereof when said hold-in force is produced but is allowed to move out of geared engagement when said hold-in force is discontinued.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
155 words
An actuator comprising: at least one reaction member having a reaction surface; an orbiting member floating with respect to said reaction surface of said reaction member; orbiting means selectively causing said orbiting member to orbit in engagement with said reaction member reaction surface; an output member and means producing rotation of said output member in response to said orbiting movement of said orbiting member including a geared engagement therebetween; fluid motor hold-in means separate from said orbiting means producing a force on said orbiting member so as to maintain said geared engagement thereof with said output member during said orbiting of said orbiting member; and means selectively discontinuing said hold-in force produced by said hold-in force whereby said floating orbiting member may be maintained in geared engagement against forces tending to produce disengagement thereof when said hold-in force is produced but is allowed to move out of geared engagement when said hold-in force is discontinued.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The actuator according to claim 19 wherein said hold-in means includes a hold-in member connected to said orbiting member and orbiting therewith and wherein said hold-in force is exerted on said hold-in member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The actuator of claim 19 further including centering means positioning said orbiting member concentrically with respect to said reaction member whenever said hold-in force is discontinued.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
50 words
The actuator of claim 21 wherein said centering means includes at least one fluid operated device which is biased to tend to produce said centering action on said orbiting member but which bias is overcome by fluid under pressure supplied to said hold-in fluid motor if of a predetermined magnitude.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1969651A
Cited
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FR1026500A
Cited
US3389618A
Cited
US3383931A
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US3453966A
Cited
US3490383A
Cited
US3574489A
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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) | 1976-05-28 | 1976-11-27 | 1977-05-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-28 | 1980-11-27 | 1981-05-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-28 | 1984-11-27 | 1985-05-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |