Multiplying nested gearbox

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10634218-B2
Application number	US-201715800775-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 1, 2017
Priority date	Nov 1, 2017
Publication date	Apr 28, 2020
Grant date	Apr 28, 2020

Abstract

A transmission apparatus is disclosed. The transmission apparatus includes at least a first gearset and a last gearset. Each gearset includes a sun gear, a set of planetary gears, and a ring gear. The ring gears have splined outer surfaces. Each gearset has a rotational speed and a torque. A drum encloses and mates with the gearsets. The drum has splined inner surfaces that mate with the splined outer surfaces. The last splined outer surface transfers the last torque of the last gearset directly to the drum. The drum transfers at least a portion of the last torque to the first splined outer surface of the first gearset. This reduces the first rotational speed of the first gearset and increases the first torque of the first gearset, thereby reducing the last rotational speed of the last gearset and increasing the last torque of the last gearset.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A transmission apparatus, comprising:
a first gearset comprising a first sun gear, a first set of planetary gears, and a first ring gear, wherein the first ring gear comprises a first splined outer surface, the first gearset having a first rotational speed and a first torque, wherein the first sun gear is driven by a motor;
a last gearset comprising a last sun gear, a last set of planetary gears, and a last ring gear, wherein the last ring gear comprises a last splined outer surface, the last gearset having a last rotational speed and a last torque, wherein the last rotational speed and the last torque are based on the first rotational speed and the first torque, and wherein the last set of planetary gears is mounted to a stationary object; and
a drum enclosing and mating with the first gearset and the last gearset, the drum comprising a first splined inner surface that mates with the first splined outer surface and a last inner surface that mates with the last splined outer surface, wherein the last splined outer surface transfers the last torque of the last gearset directly to the drum, and wherein the drum transfers at least a portion of the last torque to the first splined outer surface of the first gearset, which reduces the first rotational speed of the first gearset and increases the first torque of the first gearset, thereby reducing the last rotational speed of the last gearset and increasing the last torque of the last gearset.

2. The transmission apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first planetary gears of the first gearset are coupled to the last sun gear of the last gearset.

3. The transmission apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first rotational speed and the first torque of the first gearset is delivered to the last sun gear.

4. The transmission apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second gearset comprising a second sun gear, a second set of planetary gears, and a second ring gear, wherein the second ring gear comprises a second splined outer surface that mates with a second inner surface of the drum, the second gearset having a second rotational speed and a second torque, wherein the second sun gear is coupled to the first set of planetary gears, and wherein the second set of planetary gears are coupled to the last sun gear.

5. The transmission apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the drum further transfers a portion of the last torque to the second splined outer surface of the second gearset, which reduces the second rotational speed of the second gearset and increases the second torque of the second gearset, thereby reducing the last rotational speed of the last gearset and increasing the last torque of the last gearset.

6. The transmission apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of intermediate gearsets comprising intermediate sun gears, intermediate sets of planetary gears, and intermediate ring gears, wherein the intermediate ring gears comprise intermediate splined outer surfaces that mate with an intermediate inner surface of the drum, the plurality of intermediate gearsets having intermediate rotational speeds and intermediate torques, wherein the plurality of intermediate gearsets are coupled in series and driven by the first set of planetary gears, and wherein the last sun gear is driven by the plurality of intermediate gearsets.

7. The transmission apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the drum further transfers a portion of the last torque to the intermediate splined outer surfaces of the plurality of intermediate gearsets, which reduces the intermediate rotational speeds of the plurality of intermediate gearsets and increases the intermediate torque of the plurality of intermediate gearsets, thereby reducing the last rotational speed of the last gearset and increasing the last torque of the last gearset.

8. The transmission apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the motor is mounted to the stationary object, and wherein the motor is at least partially enclosed in the drum.

9. The transmission apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the motor is configured to receive a burst of current that exceeds a maximum operating current of the motor for a predetermined time on startup.

10. The transmission apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the drum comprises a winch spool, an outer surface of the drum comprising a ribbed spiraling path for a winch rope to follow.

11. The transmission apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the winch rope is attached to an end of the drum.

12. The transmission apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the motor rotates clockwise or counterclockwise such that the winch rope spools or unspools around the drum.

13. The transmission apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the motor is mounted to a second stationary object.

14. The transmission apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a drilling attachment is attached to the drum at an end opposite the last gearset.

15. The transmission apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the drum comprises steel, aluminum, other metals, polymers, composites, or combinations thereof.

16. The transmission apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first gearset and the last gearset comprise plastic, brass, steel, other metals, or combinations thereof.

17. The transmission apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the last set of planetary gears is mounted to the stationary object by a disc, the disc comprising an edge with a splined surface, and the stationary object having an opening the shape of the disc, such that the disc fits snuggly into the opening and does not rotate.

18. The transmission apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the drum comprises gear teeth.

19. The transmission apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the drum is coupled to and rotates an internal hub gearing for a wheel, a reel, a grinding or crushing machine, an overhead hoist, fan blades, a rotisserie spit, or a combination thereof.

20. The transmission apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the motor drives the first sun gear by driving a series of other gears that are coupled to the first sun gear.

Assignees

• Hall David R
• Madsen Daniel
• Taylor Benjamin
• Davis Nathan

Inventors

• Hall David R
• Madsen Daniel
• Taylor Benjamin
• Davis Nathan

Classifications

• B66D1/36

  Guiding, or otherwise ensuring winding in an orderly manner, of ropes, cables, or chains · CPC title

• B66D1/225

  variable ratio or reversing gearing (fixed ratio gearing B66D1/22) · CPC title

• B66D1/485

  electrical · CPC title

• F16H1/46 Primary

  Systems consisting of a plurality of gear trains each with orbital gears, {i.e. systems having three or more central gears} · CPC title

• B66D1/30

  Rope, cable, or chain drums or barrels · CPC title