Rotary units, rotary mechanisms, and related applications
First Claim
1. A rotary mechanism, comprising:
- a least two rotational components that each comprises at least one ring gear component, wherein at least one surface of at least one of the rotational components comprise at least one implement, and wherein the surface is configured to rotate substantially non-perpendicular to a rotational axis of the rotational components; and
,at least one counter-rotational mechanism that comprises at least a first gear component that operably engages the ring gear component of at least a first rotational component, at least a second gear component that operably engages the ring gear component of at least a second rotational component, and at least a third gear component that operably engages at least the second gear component such that when the first gear component rotates in a first direction, the first rotational component rotates in the first direction and the second gear component and the second rotational component rotate in a second direction.
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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.
94 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A rotary mechanism, comprising:
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a least two rotational components that each comprises at least one ring gear component, wherein at least one surface of at least one of the rotational components comprise at least one implement, and wherein the surface is configured to rotate substantially non-perpendicular to a rotational axis of the rotational components; and
,at least one counter-rotational mechanism that comprises at least a first gear component that operably engages the ring gear component of at least a first rotational component, at least a second gear component that operably engages the ring gear component of at least a second rotational component, and at least a third gear component that operably engages at least the second gear component such that when the first gear component rotates in a first direction, the first rotational component rotates in the first direction and the second gear component and the second rotational component rotate in a second direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A rotary unit, comprising:
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at least a first rotational component configured to rotate around a rotational axis, which first rotational component comprises at least one ring gear component and at least one surface that comprises at least one implement, wherein the surface that comprise the implement is configured to rotate substantially non-perpendicular to the rotational axis of the first rotational component; and
,at least first gear component that operably engages the ring gear component such that when the first gear component rotates in a first direction, the first rotational component rotates in the first direction.
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14. The rotary unit of 13, comprising at least a third gear component configured to operably engage at least a second gear component of at least a second rotational component when the second rotational component is disposed proximal to the first rotational component such that when the first gear component rotates in the first direction, the first rotational component rotates in the first direction and the second gear component and the second rotational component rotate in a second direction.
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15. The rotary unit of 13, wherein the first rotational component comprises at least one alignment component and/or at least one alignment component receiving area that is configured to align at least the first rotational component relative to at least one other rotational component when the other rotational component is disposed proximal to the first rotational component.
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16. The rotary unit of 13, wherein the surface that comprises the implement is configured to rotate substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the first rotational component.
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17. The rotary unit of 13, comprising at least one drive mechanism component or portion thereof that operably engages at least the first gear component, which drive mechanism component or portion thereof is configured to effect rotation of at least the first gear component.
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18. The rotary unit of 17, wherein the drive mechanism component or portion thereof operably engages at least one other gear component.
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19. The rotary unit of 17, wherein the drive mechanism component or portion thereof comprises at least one shaft component that operably engages at least the first gear component.
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20. The rotary unit of 17, wherein the drive mechanism component or portion thereof comprises at least one drive mechanism component receiving area that is configured to receive and operably engage at least a portion of at least one other drive mechanism component of at least one other rotary unit.
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21. A method of rotating an implement, the method comprising:
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providing at least one rotary mechanism that comprises; at least two rotational components that each comprises at least one ring gear component, and at least one counter-rotational mechanism that comprises at least a first gear component that operably engages the ring gear component of at least a first rotational component, at least a second gear component that operably engages the ring gear component of at least a second rotational component, and at least a third gear component that operably engages the second gear component, wherein the first and/or second rotational component comprises at least one implement, wherein a surface of the first and/or second rotational component that comprises the implement is configured to rotate substantially non-perpendicular to a rotational axis of the first and/or second rotational component; and
,rotating the first gear component in a first direction such that the third gear component and the first rotational component rotate in the first direction and the second gear component and the second rotational component rotate in a second direction, thereby rotating the implement.
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22. A method of making a rotary unit, the method comprising:
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forming at least a first rotational component that comprises at least one ring gear component; forming the first rotational component to comprise at least one implement, wherein a surface of the first retational component that comprises the implement is configured to rotate substantially non-perpendicular to a rotational axis of the first rotational component; forming at least first gear component; and
,positioning the first gear component in operable engagement with the ring gear component of the first rotational component such that when the first gear component rotates in a first direction, the first rotational component rotates in the first direction, thereby making the rotary unit. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A rotary mechanism, comprising:
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at least two rotary units that each comprises; at least one rotational component that comprises at least one ring gear component, wherein at least one surface of at least one of the rotational components comprises at least one implement and wherein the surface is configured to rotate substantially non-perpendicular to a rotational axis of the rotational components, and at least one second gear component configured to operably engage the ring gear component; and
,at least one drive mechanism component or portion thereof that operably engages at least the second gear components of at least first and second rotary units, which drive mechanism component or portion thereof is configured to effect rotation of the second gear components such that the rotational component of the first rotary unit rotates in a first direction and the rotational component of the second rotary unit rotates in a second direction. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification