Rotary units, rotary mechanisms, and related applications

• US 8,668,618 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2011
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christopher C. Sappenfield
• Original Assignee: Christopher C. Sappenfield
• Inventors: Sappenfield, Christopher C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright, Dirk
• Application Number:
  US13/184,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20110290052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 172/216
• US Class Current: 475/331
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/003 made up of a series of annular brush rings; Annular brush rings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/02 power-driven carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/26 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 37/0813 with only one input shaft differentials for four wheel drive vehicles B60K17/346
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19642 Directly cooperating gears
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19647 Parallel axes or shafts

Abstract

The invention relates to rotary units and rotary mechanisms that are suitable for use in numerous applications. Rotary units typically include rotational components that are configured to rotate. In some embodiments, for example, multiple rotary units are assembled in rotary mechanisms such that neighboring pairs of rotational components counter-rotate or contra-rotate relative to one another during operation of the rotary mechanisms. Rotational components generally include one or more implements that are structured to perform or effect one or more types of work as the rotational components rotate relative to one another in a given rotary mechanism. In certain embodiments, implements are configured to rotate and/or to effect the movement of other components as rotational components rotate.

Claims

1. A rotary unit, comprising:

at least one rotational component comprising at least first and second gear components and at least one gear structure receiving area, wherein the first gear component substantially fixedly extends from a first surface of the rotational component, wherein the first gear component is configured to operably engage one or more other gear components of another rotary unit when the first gear component is disposed proximal to the other gear components, wherein the second gear component substantially fixedly extends from a second surface of the rotational component, wherein the second gear component communicates with the gear structure receiving area, wherein the gear structure receiving area is configured to receive one or more gear structures or components thereof, and wherein at least one surface of the rotational component comprises at least one implement; and

,

at least one gear structure comprising at least one support component and at least a third gear component rotatably coupled to the support component, wherein the third gear component is configured to operably engage one or more other gear components when the third gear component is disposed proximal to the other gear components, and wherein the rotational component is configured to rotate relative to the support component, which support component is substantially fixedly positioned when the rotational component rotates relative to the support component.

2. The rotary unit of claim 1, wherein the first and second surfaces substantially oppose one another.

3. The rotary unit of claim 1, wherein the third gear component is configured to rotate relative to the rotational component.

4. The rotary unit of claim 1, wherein the first gear component comprises at least one sun gear component.

5. The rotary unit of claim 1, wherein the second gear component comprises at least one ring gear component.

6. The rotary unit of claim 1, wherein the third gear component comprises at least one planetary gear component.

7. The rotary unit of claim 1, wherein the surface of the rotational component that comprises the implement is configured to rotate substantially non-perpendicular to a rotational axis of the rotary unit.

8. The rotary unit of claim 1, wherein the surface of the rotational component that comprises the implement is configured to rotate substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the rotary unit.

9. A rotational mechanism comprising the rotary unit of claim 1.

10. A rotary mechanism, comprising:

at least two rotary units that each comprises;

at least one rotational component that comprises at least one sun gear component and at least one ring gear component, and

at least one gear structure that comprises at least one support component and at least one planetary gear component rotatably coupled to the support component, and wherein the planetary gear component is configured to operably engage the ring gear component,

wherein the sun gear component of at least a first rotary unit operably engages the planetary gear component of at least a second rotary unit such that when the rotational component of the first rotary unit rotates in a first direction, the rotational component of the second rotary unit rotates in a second direction,

wherein the gear structure of the first rotary unit is operably connected to the gear structure of the second rotary unit such that the support components are substantially fixedly positioned relative to one another at least when the rotational component of the first rotary unit rotates in the first direction, the rotational component of the second rotary unit rotates in the second direction, and

wherein at least one surface of at least one of the rotational components comprises at least one implement.

11. The rotary mechanism of claim 10, wherein at least two of the rotational components are non-concentrically disposed relative to one another.

12. The rotary mechanism of claim 10, comprising at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, at least seven, at least eight, at least nine, at least ten, or more rotary units.

13. A method of rotating an implement, the method comprising:

providing a rotary mechanism that comprises at least three rotary units that each comprises at least one rotational component that comprises at least one sun gear component and at least one ring gear component, and at least one gear structure that comprises at least one support component and at least one planetary gear component rotatably coupled to the support component, wherein the planetary gear component operably engages the ring gear component, wherein the sun gear component of at least a first rotary unit operably engages the planetary gear component of at least a second rotary unit, wherein the sun gear component of the second rotary unit operably engages the planetary gear component of at least a third rotary unit, wherein the gear structure of the second rotary unit is operably connected to the gear structures of the first and third rotary units such that the support components are substantially fixedly positioned relative to one another at least when the rotational components of the rotary units rotate relative to one another, and wherein at least one of the rotational components comprises at least one implement; and

,

moving at least a portion of one or more of the rotary units such that the rotational components of first and third rotary units rotate in a first direction and the rotational component of the second rotary unit rotates in a second direction, thereby rotating the implement.