Multi-spoked wheel assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a sun gear rotatable about a center axis;
a plurality of first planetary gears in mesh engagement with the sun gear;
a plurality of second planetary gears each in mesh engagement with a corresponding first planetary gear;
a wheel connected to each of the plurality of second planetary gears to allow the apparatus to traverse on the wheels over the ground such that when one of the plurality of second planetary gears rotates about its axis of rotation its corresponding wheel rotates about the same axis of rotation;
wherein rotational force applied to the sun gear causes rotational force on the second planetary gears through the mesh coupling of the first planetary gears; and
a braking gear rotatable about the center axis and in mesh engagement with the plurality of second planetary gears;
where the apparatus is configured to operate in two rotational modes of operation, comprising;
a minor mode where each second planetary gear rotates about its respective axis and rotationally drives its corresponding wheel to allow the apparatus to roll on its wheels over a surface;
ora major mode where each second planetary gear rotates about its respective axis and rotationally drives its corresponding wheel to roll over a surface as in the minor mode and also where each second planetary gear simultaneously travels rotationally around the braking gear thereby allowing the wheels to walk over a surface.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
21 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. An apparatus, comprising:
-
a sun gear rotatable about a center axis; a plurality of first planetary gears in mesh engagement with the sun gear; a plurality of second planetary gears each in mesh engagement with a corresponding first planetary gear; a wheel connected to each of the plurality of second planetary gears to allow the apparatus to traverse on the wheels over the ground such that when one of the plurality of second planetary gears rotates about its axis of rotation its corresponding wheel rotates about the same axis of rotation; wherein rotational force applied to the sun gear causes rotational force on the second planetary gears through the mesh coupling of the first planetary gears; and a braking gear rotatable about the center axis and in mesh engagement with the plurality of second planetary gears; where the apparatus is configured to operate in two rotational modes of operation, comprising; a minor mode where each second planetary gear rotates about its respective axis and rotationally drives its corresponding wheel to allow the apparatus to roll on its wheels over a surface;
ora major mode where each second planetary gear rotates about its respective axis and rotationally drives its corresponding wheel to roll over a surface as in the minor mode and also where each second planetary gear simultaneously travels rotationally around the braking gear thereby allowing the wheels to walk over a surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
6. A multi-spoked assembly, comprising:
-
a sun gear rotatable about a center axis; a plurality of first planetary gears in mesh engagement with the sun gear; a plurality of second planetary gears each in mesh engagement with a corresponding first planetary gear; a wheel connected to each of the plurality of second planetary gears to allow the apparatus to traverse on the wheels over the ground such that when one of the plurality of second planetary gears rotates about its axis of rotation its corresponding wheel rotates about the same axis of rotation; wherein rotational force applied to the sun gear causes rotational force on the second planetary gears via the first planetary gears; a braking gear rotatable about the center axis and in mesh engagement with the plurality of second planetary gears; where the apparatus is configured to operate in two rotational modes of operation, comprising; a minor mode where each second planetary gear rotates about its respective axis and rotationally drives its corresponding wheel to allow the apparatus to roll on its wheels over a surface;
ora major mode where each second planetary gear rotates about its respective axis and rotationally drives its corresponding wheel to roll over a surface as in the minor mode and also where each second planetary gear simultaneously travels rotationally around the braking gear thereby allowing the wheels to walk over a surface; wherein when a rotational force of the braking gear is reduced or the braking gear is prevented from moving or spinning, the plurality of second planetary gears travel around the braking gear. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An apparatus, comprising:
-
a motor driven sun gear rotatable about a center axis; a plurality of first planetary gears in mesh engagement with the sun gear; a plurality of second planetary gears each in mesh engagement with a corresponding first planetary gear; a wheel connected to each of the plurality of second planetary gears to allow the apparatus to traverse on the wheels over the ground such that when one of the plurality of second planetary gears rotates about its axis of rotation its corresponding wheel rotates about the same axis of rotation, a braking gear rotatable about the center axis and in mesh engagement with the plurality of second planetary gears; where the apparatus is configured to operate in two rotational modes of operation, comprising;
a minor mode wherein rotational force applied to the sun gear causes rotational force on the wheels, causing the apparatus to roll on its wheels to traverse across a surface;
or a major mode where each wheel rotates about its respective axis as in the minor mode and also simultaneously travels rotationally around the braking gear thereby allowing the wheels to walk over surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
-
Specification