Resilient power device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10150504-B2
Application number	US-201715653965-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 19, 2017
Priority date	Jan 19, 2017
Publication date	Dec 11, 2018
Grant date	Dec 11, 2018

Abstract

A resilient power device is adapted to drive a transmission rod of a vehicle, and includes a housing, a rotary shaft adapted to extend and be spaced apart from the transmission rod along a first axis, a power release unit including a first rod and a second rod that extend and are spaced apart from each other along a second axis parallel to the first axis, a power storage clutch adapted to be connected between the transmission rod and the rotary shaft, a power release clutch connected between the first and second rods, a first gear unit mounted to the first rod and the transmission rod, a second gear unit mounted to the rotary shaft and said second rod, and at least one resilient member connected between the housing and the rotary shaft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A resilient power device adapted to drive a transmission rod of a vehicle, which extends along a first axis, said resilient power device comprising:
a housing adapted for the transmission rod to extend rotatably thereinto;
a rotary shaft adapted to extend and be spaced apart from the transmission rod along the first axis;
a power release unit including a first rod and a second rod that are mounted rotatably in said housing, that extend and are spaced apart from each other along a second axis parallel to the first axis, that are spaced apart from said rotary shaft, and that are adapted to be aligned respectively with the transmission rod and said rotary shaft in a direction perpendicular to the first and second axes;
a power storage clutch adapted to be connected between the transmission rod and said rotary shaft, so as to allow for connection and disconnection between the transmission rod and said rotary shaft;
a power release clutch connected between said first and second rods, so as to allow for connection and disconnection between said first and second rods;
a first gear unit mounted to said first rod and the transmission rod such that, rotation is transferred between said first rod and the transmission rod;
a second gear unit mounted to said rotary shaft and said second rod such that, rotation is transferred between said rotary shaft and said second rod; and
at least one resilient member connected between said housing and said rotary shaft;
wherein said resilient power device is transformable between a power storage state and a power release state such that, when said resilient power device is in the power storage state, the transmission rod and said rotary shaft are interconnected by said power storage clutch, and said first and second rods are disconnected from each other by said power release clutch, so as to allow the transmission rod and said rotary shaft to rotate in a first rotational direction, thereby deforming said at least one resilient member to store an elastic potential energy, and when said resilient power device is transformed to the power release state, the transmission rod and said rotary shaft are disconnected from each other by said power storage clutch, and said first and second rods are interconnected by said power release clutch, so as to allow said rotary shaft to rotate in a second rotational direction, which is opposite to the first rotational direction, so as to return said at least one resilient member to its original shape, thereby releasing the elastic potential energy, after which the transmission rod is rotated in the first rotational direction by said second gear unit, said power release unit and said first gear unit.

2. The resilient power device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first gear unit includes a middle gear disposed between the transmission rod and said first rod of said power release unit for transmitting rotation between the transmission rod and said first rod.

3. The resilient power device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said first gear unit further includes a transmission gear sleeved fixedly onto the transmission rod, and meshing with said middle gear, and a first gear sleeved fixedly onto said first rod, and meshing with said middle gear.

4. The resilient power device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said second gear unit includes a rotary gear sleeved fixedly onto said rotary shaft, and a second gear sleeved fixedly onto said second rod of said power release unit, and meshing with said rotary gear.

5. The resilient power device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein:
said housing has a first wall adapted to permit the transmission rod to extend rotatably therethrough, a second wall spaced apart from said first wall, and permitting said rotary shaft to extend rotatably therethrough, a surrounding wall connected between said first and second walls, a first plate disposed between said first and second walls, and permitting said rotary shaft and said second rod to extend rotatably therethrough, and a second plate disposed between said first wall and said first plate, and adapted to permit the transmission rod and said first rod to extend rotatably therethrough; and
said transmission gear and said first gear of said first gear unit abut against said second plate, and said second gear unit abuts against said first plate.

6. The resilient power device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
said rotary shaft has a connecting portion, an engaging portion and a sleeve portion;
said connecting portion is connected to said power storage clutch, and is sleeved by said rotary gear;
said engaging portion has a polygonal cross section, is integrally and coaxially connected to said connecting portion;
said sleeve portion has a polygonal hole engaging said engaging portion in a fitting manner; and
said at least one resilient member is configured as a spiral spring, and has an end fastened to an outer surface of said sleeve portion.

7. The resilient power device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said second wall of said housing is formed with a plurality of openings.

8. The resilient power device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said openings of said second wall are angularly spaced apart from each other, and are fan-shaped.

Assignees

• Univ Nat Taiwan Normal

Inventors

• Hung Yi-Hsuan
• Han Hsueh-Chung
• Xu Ji-Jia
• Kang Kai-Chieh

Classifications

• B62D11/183 Primary

  Control systems therefor · CPC title

• F16H63/00

  Control outputs {from the control unit} to change-speed- or reversing-gearings for conveying rotary motion {or to other devices than the final output mechanism} · CPC title

• B60K25/00

  Auxiliary drives (arrangement of tyre-inflating pumps mounted on vehicles B60C23/10) · CPC title

• B60K2704/04

  with preselection system, e.g. for semi-autonmatic transmission · CPC title

• B62D11/00

  Steering non-deflectable wheels; Steering endless tracks or the like · CPC title