Planetary gear assembly with floating ring gear

• US 6,017,289 A
• Filed: 07/21/1998
• Issued: 01/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ortho Kinematics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ortho Kinematics, Inc.
• Inventors: Gaffney, Edward J.
• Primary Examiner(s): ESTREMSKY, SHERRY LYNN
• Application Number:
  US09/120,090
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 475/1, 475/2, 475/3, 475/4, 475/5, 475/7, 475/329, 475/331, 475/346
• US Class Current: 475/346
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/14 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/045 Rear wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1054 Large wheels, e.g. higher than the seat portion
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/10 using gearings with differential power outputs on opposite sides, e.g. twin-differential or epicyclic gears
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/14 differential power outputs being effected by additional power supply to one side, e.g. power originating from secondary power source
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 1/2818 by allowing limited movement of the ring gear relative to the casing or shaft

Abstract

A propelling and/or steering mechanism uses a planetary gear set and ring gear arrangement, in which the ring gear "floats" upon the planetary gear set, free of a center hub and a bearing connection.

Claims

1. A drive mechanism comprising

a ring gear having an open annular space peripherally bounded by an interior peripheral gear surface,

a sun gear rotatable within the open annular space of the ring gear about a rotational axis, and

a planetary gear set presenting an exterior peripheral gear surface operatively meshing with the sun gear within the open annular space of the ring gear for rotation about the sun gear, the exterior peripheral gear surface of the planetary gear set also operatively meshing with the interior peripheral gear surface of the ring gear to radially support the ring gear for rotation about the sun gear, the drive mechanism being otherwise free of a bearing surface engaging the ring gear to provide radial support for the ring gear.

2. A drive mechanism according to claim 1

wherein the ring gear also includes an outer peripheral gear surface, and

further including a gear operatively meshing with the outer peripheral gear surface of the ring gear to impart rotation to the ring gear.

3. A drive mechanism according to claim 1 or 2

wherein the ring gear includes opposite side edges, and

further including restrainers located proximate each side edge of the ring gear to restrain movement of the ring gear axially along the rotational axis without impeding rotation of the ring gear.

4. A drive mechanism according to claim 1 or 2

wherein the ring gear also includes an outer peripheral gear surface,

and further including a transfer gear operatively meshing with the outer peripheral gear surface of the ring gear to impart rotation to the ring gear, a first mechanism operatively coupled to one of the sun gear and planetary gear set for rotating the sun gear, the planetary gear set, and the ring gear, and a second mechanism operatively coupled to the transfer gear for rotating the ring gear independently of the first mechanism.