Rotary units, rotary mechanisms, and related applications

• US 8,715,133 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2011
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• 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:
  US13/219,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20110308351A1
• Time in Patent Office: 982 Days
• Field of Search: 173/216, 475/331, 475/337, 475/221
• US Class Current: 475/337
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/26 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 2204/002 using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 37/0813 with only one input shaft differentials for four wheel drive vehicles B60K17/346
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19074 Single drive plural driven

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 mechanism, comprising:

at least two rotary units that each comprises;

at least one rotational component that comprises at least a first gear component, and

at least one second gear component configured to operably engage the first 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 comprises at least a first shaft operably connected to the second gear component of the first rotary unit and at least a second shaft operably connected to the second sear component of the second rotary unit, wherein the first and second shafts are non-concentrically disposed relative to one another and 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.

2. The rotary mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first gear component comprises at least one ring gear component.

3. The rotary mechanism of claim 1, wherein at least one surface of at least one of the rotational components comprises at least one implement.

4. The rotary mechanism of claim 3, wherein the surface is configured to rotate substantially non-perpendicular to a rotational axis of the rotational components.

5. The rotary mechanism of claim 3, wherein the surface is configured to rotate substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the rotational components.

6. The rotary mechanism of claim 1, comprising at least one positioning component that is configured to position the rotary units relative to one another.

7. The rotary mechanism of claim 6, wherein the positioning component comprises a frame structure.

8. The rotary mechanism of claim 6, wherein at least one surface of the positioning component comprises at least one friction reducing material.

10. The rotary mechanism of claim 6, wherein the first and second shafts are positioned relative to the positioning component via at least one mount bracket.

11. The rotary mechanism of claim 1, comprising more than two rotary units.

12. The rotary mechanism of claim 3, wherein the implement is configured to effect the movement of one or more other components when the implement operably engages the other components.

13. The rotary mechanism of claim 3, wherein the implement comprises one or more of:

a blade, a razor, a prong, a peg, a claw, a tine, a chain, a stake, a column, a pillar, an arch, a bracket, a gear component, a bristle, a plume, an abrasive component, an elastomeric component, a nail filing component, a nail buffing component, a hair cutting component, a massaging component, or a post.

14. The rotary mechanism of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the implement comprises at least one cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of:

a circle, an oval, a square, a rectangle, a trapezoid, an irregular n-sided polygon, and a regular n-sided polygon.

15. The rotary mechanism of claim 3, wherein the implement is rotatably coupled to the rotation component.

16. The rotary mechanism of claim 15, wherein the implement is configured to operably engage one or more gear components of one or more other rotational components.

17. A device comprising the rotary mechanism of claim 1.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of:

a held-held device, a rototiller, a hair cutting device, a massaging device, nail grooming device, a propulsion device, a woodworking device, a lathe, a woodchipping device, a machining device, a dermabrasion device, a medical device, a dental device, a cleaning device, an engine, a snowblower, a nozzle, a food preparation device, a grinder, a pencil sharpener, a lawn mower, a vacuum cleaner, a hair dryer, a plumbing device, a weapon, a surfboard, a scuba device, a component thereof, and a combination thereof.

19. A vehicle comprising the rotary mechanism of claim 1.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of:

a farming vehicle, a mining vehicle, a construction vehicle, a submarine, an aircraft, a marine vehicle, a boat, a personal watercraft, and a military vehicle.

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

providing a rotary mechanism comprising;

at least two rotary units that each comprises;

at least one rotational component that comprises at least a first gear component, and

at least one second gear component configured to operably engage the first 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 comprises at least a first shaft operably connected to the second sear component of the first rotary unit and at least a second shaft operably connected to the second gear component of the second rotary unit, wherein the first and second shafts are non-concentrically disposed relative to one another and wherein at least one surface of at least one of the rotational components comprises at least one implement; and

,

moving at least the portion of the drive mechanism 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, thereby rotating the implement.