Abstract

A load control device including an asymmetrical rack-and-pinion system coupled to a gear set and to a load such that movement of the asymmetrical rack-and-pinion system causes movement of the load, and a biasing element coupled to the asymmetrical rack-and-pinion system. The rack is asymmetrical in that it is configured with a variable linear profile and the pinion is asymmetrical in that its pitch line varies as it rotates. The biasing element may be a coil spring. The asymmetrical rack-and-pinion system may be a single device or a paired set of a first asymmetrical rack-and-pinion device and a second asymmetrical rack-and-pinion device.

IPC Classes  ?

• F16H 19/04 - Gearings comprising essentially only toothed gears or friction members and not capable of conveying indefinitely-continuing rotary motion for interconverting rotary motion and reciprocating motion comprising a rack

Abstract

A load control device including an asymmetrical rack-and-pinion system coupled to a gear set and to a load such that movement of the asymmetrical rack-and-pinion system causes movement of the load, and a biasing element coupled to the asymmetrical rack-and-pinion system. The rack is asymmetrical in that it is configured with a variable linear profile and the pinion is asymmetrical in that its pitch line varies as it rotates. The biasing element may be a coil spring. The asymmetrical rack-and-pinion system may be a single device or a paired set of a first asymmetrical rack-and-pinion device and a second asymmetrical rack-and-pinion device.

IPC Classes  ?

• F16H 19/04 - Gearings comprising essentially only toothed gears or friction members and not capable of conveying indefinitely-continuing rotary motion for interconverting rotary motion and reciprocating motion comprising a rack

Abstract

A backdrive braking element is provided for preventing backdrive of a shaft. It includes a poly-lobed locking mechanism including an unlock shaft that has a polygon shaped inside profile and is coupled to a poly lock drive and brake assembly. The poly lock drive and brake assembly includes a plurality of poly lock drive and brake segments and is contained within the interior cavity of a housing.

IPC Classes  ?

• F16D 67/02 - Clutch-brake combinations
• F16D 13/06 - Friction clutches with means for actuating or keeping engaged by a force derived at least partially from one of the shafts to be connected with clutching members movable otherwise than only axially
• F16D 59/00 - Self-acting brakes, e.g. coming into operation at a predetermined speed
• F16D 41/063 - Freewheels or freewheel clutches with intermediate wedging coupling members between an inner and an outer surface the intermediate members wedging by moving along the inner and the outer surface without pivoting or rolling, e.g. sliding wedges
• B66D 1/14 - Power transmissions between power sources and drums or barrels
• F16H 35/00 - Gearings or mechanisms with other special functional features

Abstract

A gear apparatus for controlling movement of an output by an input coupled to a power source. The apparatus an input member coupled to the input, an output member coupled to the output and the input member so that movement of the input member causes movement of the output, a selectably releasable member coupled to the input member and the output member, wherein the selectably releasable member remains in a fixed position while the input member and the output member move, and a releasable member brake mechanism coupled to the selectably releasable member, wherein the releasable member brake mechanism is arranged to prevent movement of the selectably releasable member when the input member and the output member move and to allow back driving of the selectably releasable member.

IPC Classes  ?

• F16H 35/00 - Gearings or mechanisms with other special functional features
• F16D 13/08 - Friction clutches with a helical band or equivalent member, which may be built-up from linked parts, with more than one turn embracing a drum or the like, with or without an additional clutch actuating the end of the band
• F16H 1/28 - Toothed gearings for conveying rotary motion with gears having orbital motion
• F16H 57/10 - Braking arrangements
• B66D 1/22 - Planetary or differential gearings

Abstract

A self-locking apparatus for a gear set permits forward-driving an input in clockwise or counterclockwise directions and substantially prevents an output from being driven in either or both of those directions. The device includes a gear set with planet gears arranged within a planet carrier within a fixed ring gear. Each of the planet gears is engaged with the planet carrier via a differentiating connector retained in an elongated slot in the planet carrier where it moves to the clockwise position when being forward driven in the clockwise direction and, when the planet carrier is back driven in the clockwise direction, the connector moves to the counter-clockwise position in the slot. This arrangement allows the gear set to be forward driven but not back driven. This differentiated action can engage/disengage with any form of unidirectional engage/disengage mechanism. The apparatus is useful in industrial applications requiring self-locking gear sets.

IPC Classes  ?

• F16H 1/36 - Toothed gearings for conveying rotary motion with gears having orbital motion with two central gears coupled by intermeshing orbital gears
• F16H 1/28 - Toothed gearings for conveying rotary motion with gears having orbital motion
• F16K 31/53 - Mechanical actuating means with toothed gearing
• F16K 35/00 - Means to prevent accidental or unauthorised actuation
• B66D 5/00 - Braking or detent devices characterised by their application to lifting or hoisting gear, e.g. for controlling the lowering of loads
• F16H 35/18 - Turning devices for rotatable members, e.g. shafts
• F16H 35/00 - Gearings or mechanisms with other special functional features

Abstract

A backdrive braking element is provided for preventing backdrive of a shaft. It includes a poly- lobed locking mechanism including an unlock shaft that has a polygon shaped inside profile and is coupled to a poly lock drive and brake assembly. The poly lock drive and brake assembly includes a plurality of poly lock drive and brake segments and is contained within the interior cavity of a housing.

IPC Classes  ?

• F16D 41/06 - Freewheels or freewheel clutches with intermediate wedging coupling members between an inner and an outer surface
• F16D 51/00 - Brakes with outwardly-movable braking members co-operating with the inner surface of a drum or the like
• F16D 59/00 - Self-acting brakes, e.g. coming into operation at a predetermined speed
• F16D 67/02 - Clutch-brake combinations

Abstract

A gear apparatus for controlling movement of an output by an input coupled to a power source. The apparatus an input member coupled to the input, an output member coupled to the output and the input member so that movement of the input member causes movement of the output, a selectably releasable member coupled to the input member and the output member, wherein the selectably releasable member remains in a fixed position while the input member and the output member move, and a releasable member brake mechanism coupled to the selectably releasable member, wherein the releasable member brake mechanism is arranged to prevent movement of the selectably releasable member when the input member and the output member move and to allow back driving of the selectably releasable member.

IPC Classes  ?

• B66D 1/22 - Planetary or differential gearings

Abstract

A gear apparatus for controlling movement of an output by an input coupled to a power source for actuating large loads having a low force required to release the load and an effective backdrive braking system. The apparatus comprises an input member coupled to the input, an output member coupled to the output and the input member so that movement of the input member causes movement of the output, a selectably releasable member coupled to the input member and the output member, wherein the selectably releasable member remains in a fixed position while the input member and the output member move, and a releasable member brake mechanism coupled to the selectably releasable member, wherein the releasable member brake mechanism is arranged to prevent movement of the selectably releasable member when the input member and the output member move and to allow back driving of the selectably releasable member.

IPC Classes  ?

• B66D 1/22 - Planetary or differential gearings

Abstract

A backdrive braking element is provided for preventing backdrive of a shaft. It includes a poly- lobed locking mechanism including an unlock shaft that has a polygon shaped inside profile and is coupled to a poly lock drive and brake assembly. The poly lock drive and brake assembly includes a plurality of poly lock drive and brake segments and is contained within the interior cavity of a housing.

IPC Classes  ?

• F16D 41/06 - Freewheels or freewheel clutches with intermediate wedging coupling members between an inner and an outer surface
• F16H 1/28 - Toothed gearings for conveying rotary motion with gears having orbital motion
• B66D 5/32 - Detent devices

Abstract

A self-locking apparatus for a gear set permits forward-driving an input in clockwise or counterclockwise directions and substantially prevents an output from being driven in either or both of those directions. The device includes a gear set with planet gears arranged within a planet carrier within a fixed ring gear. Each of the planet gears is engaged with the planet carrier via a differentiating connector retained in an elongated slot in the planet carrier where it moves to the clockwise position when being forward driven in the clockwise direction and, when the planet carrier is back driven in the clockwise direction, the connector moves to the counter-clockwise position in the slot. This arrangement allows the gear set to be forward driven but not back driven. This differentiated action can engage/disengage with any form of unidirectional engage/disengage mechanism. The apparatus is useful in industrial applications requiring self-locking gear sets.

IPC Classes  ?

• F16H 1/28 - Toothed gearings for conveying rotary motion with gears having orbital motion
• F16D 41/06 - Freewheels or freewheel clutches with intermediate wedging coupling members between an inner and an outer surface
• F16H 35/00 - Gearings or mechanisms with other special functional features
• F16H 48/11 - Differential gearings with gears having orbital motion with orbital spur gears having intermeshing planet gears
• F16K 1/22 - Lift valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces with pivoted closure members with pivoted discs or flaps with axis of rotation crossing the valve member, e.g. butterfly valves
• F16K 31/53 - Mechanical actuating means with toothed gearing