Multi-spoked wheel assembly
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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Abstract
A robust ground traction (drive) assembly for remotely controlled vehicles, which not only operates smoothly on surfaces that are flat, but also upon surfaces that include rugged terrain, snow, mud, and sand, is provided. The assembly includes a sun gear and a braking gear. The sun gear is configured to cause rotational force to be applied to second planetary gears through a coupling of first planetary gears. The braking gear is configured to cause the assembly (or the second planetary gears) to rotate around the braking gear when an obstacle or braking force is applied.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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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, and in 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus, comprising:
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a sun gear rotatable about a central axis; a braking gear rotatable about the central axis independently of the sun gear, wherein both the sun gear and the braking gear are substantially circular-shaped, wherein the sun gear has a first radius and the braking gear has a second radius, the second radius larger than the first radius; a first plurality of planetary gears in mesh engagement with the sun gear at an outer circumference of the sun gear, wherein each of the first plurality of planetary gears is substantially circular-shaped and has a diameter, wherein the diameter plus the first radius is approximately equal to the second radius such that portions of the first plurality of planetary gears are substantially flush with a circumferential edge of the braking gear to form an engagement surface; a second plurality of gears in mesh engagement with both the first plurality of planetary gears and the braking gears at the engagement surface; 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 attached to a separate 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 gear rotates to transfer rotational energy to and cause independent rotation of the pluralities of axles and wheels, and in 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 central axis. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A multi-spoked assembly, comprising:
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a motor driven sun gear rotatable about a central axis; a braking gear rotatable about the central 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; and a plurality of wheels, each wheel connected to one of the plurality of second planetary gears, wherein; in a first mode of operation of the multi-spoked assembly, 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 and a corresponding one of the wheels rotate about an independent axis of the planetary gear, and in a second mode of operation of the multi-spoked assembly, a difference in rotational energy between the braking gear and the sun gear causes the second plurality of planetary gears and wheels to rotate in unison around the central axis. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification