Patent US3807243A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3807243A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mechanical power transmission apparatus using balls
Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
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Filing: 1972-11-17
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Granted: 1974-04-30
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Expires: 1992-11-17
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a new mechanical power transmission apparatus using a plurality of balls which are held by a grooved ball-retainer between a threaded transmission shaft and a grooved cylinder. The transmission apparatus can be connected between a driving member and a driven member in the form of a mechanical couples, thus permitting these members to align with each other.
Inventors
- 👤 T Yada
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 19:45
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H25/00; F16H25/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/1836; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19642; Y10T74/19698; Y10T74/19702; Y10T74/19744; Y10T74/19749
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A mechanical power transmission apparatus comprising in combination, a transmission shaft having a spiral groove thereon, a ball-retainer having at least one groove, said ball-retainer enclosing said transmission shaft in coaxial relation, a cylinder having a plurality of parallel grooves on the inner surface thereof, said cylinder encircling said ball-retainer in coaxial relation, said shaft, ball-retainer and cylinder moving independently of each other and said grooves being inclined in the opposite directions to one another and having different lead angles from one another, and a plurality of balls which are rotatably fitted in the space defined by said spiral groove of said transmission shaft, said groove of said ball-retainer and said parallel grooves of said cylinder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
A mechanical power transmission apparatus comprising in combination, a transmission shaft having a spiral groove thereon, a ball-retainer having at least one groove, said ball-retainer enclosing said transmission shaft in coaxial relation, a cylinder having a plurality of parallel grooves on the inner surface thereof, said cylinder encircling said ball-retainer in coaxial relation, said shaft, ball-retainer and cylinder moving independently of each other and said grooves being inclined in the opposite directions to one another and having different lead angles from one another, and a plurality of balls which are rotatably fitted in the space defined by said spiral groove of said transmission shaft, said groove of said ball-retainer and said parallel grooves of said cylinder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A mechanical power transmission apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises external means for feeding back said balls from one end to the other end of said groove of said ball-retainer, thus forming a closed loop path to allow said balls to circulate through the entire apparatus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A mechanical power transmission apparatus according to claim 2 wHerein said apparatus further comprises external means to detect a defective ball among the balls circulating in the entire apparatus and means responsive to detection of a defective ball to change the defective ball for a new one.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A mechanical power transmission apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said parallel grooves of said cylinder is in parallel with the longitudinal axis of said apparatus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A mechanical power transmission apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said parallel grooves of said cylinder is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of said apparatus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A mechanical power transmission apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said groove of said ball-rretainer is in parallel with the longitudinal axis of said apparatus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A mechanical power transmission apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said groove of said ball-retainer is spiral.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
125 words
A mechanical power transmission apparatus comprising a transmission shaft having a spiral groove thereon, a plurality of ball-retainers each having at least one groove, a set of cylinders of a number which is smaller by one than the number of said ball-retainers, each of said set of cyliners having a plurality of parallel grooves on the innersurface thereof and a spiral groove on the outersurface thereof, one cylinder having a plurality of parallel grooves on the innersurface only thereof, said ball-retainers and said set of cylinders being alternately and telescopically fitted over said transmission shaft and said one cylinder being fitted in the outermost position of the coaxial assembly thus formed, and a plurality of balls rotatably fitted in the spiral grooves of said ball-retainers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
125 words
A mechanical power transmission apparatus comprising a transmission shaft having a spiral groove thereon, a plurality of ball-retainers each having at least one groove, a set of cylinders of a number which is smaller by one than the number of said ball-retainers, each of said set of cyliners having a plurality of parallel grooves on the innersurface thereof and a spiral groove on the outersurface thereof, one cylinder having a plurality of parallel grooves on the innersurface only thereof, said ball-retainers and said set of cylinders being alternately and telescopically fitted over said transmission shaft and said one cylinder being fitted in the outermost position of the coaxial assembly thus formed, and a plurality of balls rotatably fitted in the spiral grooves of said ball-retainers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-29 | 1977-10-29 | 1978-04-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-29 | 1981-10-29 | 1982-04-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-29 | 1985-10-29 | 1986-04-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |