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Multi-spoked wheel assembly

  • US 10,451,156 B1
  • Filed: 05/26/2017
  • Issued: 10/22/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2012
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:

  • a sun gear rotatable about a sun gear axis;

    a braking gear rotatable about the sun gear axis independently of the sun gear;

    a first plurality of planetary gears in mesh engagement with the sun gear;

    a second plurality of planetary gears, wherein each one of the second plurality of planetary gears is in mesh engagement with a corresponding one of the first plurality of planetary gears as well as the braking gear;

    a plurality of axles, wherein each one of the plurality of axles is fixedly attached to one of the second plurality of planetary gears; and

    a plurality of wheels, wherein each wheel in the plurality of wheels is connected to an associated axle of the plurality of axles;

    wherein;

    in a first mode of operation of the apparatus, rotational energy is transferred from the sun gear to the second plurality of planetary gears via the first plurality of planetary gears such that each of the second plurality of planetary gears rotates about an independent planetary gear axis thereof to transfer rotational energy and cause independent rotation of the plurality of axles and the plurality of wheels, andin a second mode of operation of the apparatus, a difference in rotational energy between the braking gear and the sun gear causes the second plurality of planetary gears to rotate in unison around the sun gear axis.

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