Driving module and motion assist apparatus including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12350226-B2
Application number	US-202318307751-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 26, 2023
Priority date	Jul 20, 2022
Publication date	Jul 8, 2025
Grant date	Jul 8, 2025

Abstract

Provided is a driving module including: a driving source for generating power; a ring gear disposed coaxially with the driving source; and a gear train disposed between the driving source and the ring gear. Here, the gear train includes: a first gear set of which at least a portion is inserted into the driving source; and a second gear set, the first gear set includes: a sun gear coupled to the driving source to rotate by power transmitted from the driving source; and a first planetary gear engaged with the sun gear to revolve around the sun gear, the second gear set includes a second planetary gear fixed and coupled onto the first planetary gear at a side opposite to the driving source, and the second planetary gear is engaged with the ring gear.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A driving module comprising:
a driving source configured to generate power;
a ring gear disposed coaxially with the driving source; and
a gear train disposed between the driving source and the ring gear,
wherein the gear train comprises:
a first gear set of which at least a portion is inserted into the driving source; and
a second gear set,
wherein the first gear set comprises:
a sun gear coupled to the driving source to rotate by power transmitted from the driving source; and
a first planetary gear engaged with the sun gear to revolve around the sun gear,
wherein the second gear set comprises a second planetary gear fixed and coupled onto the first planetary gear at a side opposite to the driving source,
wherein the second planetary gear is engaged with the ring gear, and
wherein the second planetary gear has a diameter greater than that of the first planetary gear.

2. The driving module of claim 1 , wherein the first planetary gear and the second planetary gear are disposed coaxially with each other.

3. The driving module of claim 1 , wherein the number of sawteeth of the second planetary gear is greater than that of sawteeth of the first planetary gear.

4. The driving module of claim 1 , wherein the driving source comprises:
a driving source housing;
a stator disposed in the driving source housing;
a rotor disposed in the stator to provide an inner space through which an axis passes; and
a driving shaft disposed in the inner space and connected to the rotor to rotate,
wherein at least a portion of the first gear set is disposed in the inner space, and the sun gear is coupled to the driving shaft to rotate.

5. The driving module of claim 4 , further comprising an intermediate ring gear disposed between the driving source and the ring gear and fixed and coupled to the driving source housing,
wherein the first planetary gear is engaged with the intermediate ring gear.

6. The driving module of claim 5 , wherein the intermediate ring gear comprises:
an intermediate plate that provides an arrangement hole through which the axis passes; and
an intermediate gear body that is coupled to an inner side of the intermediate plate and provides an intermediate sawtooth structure engaged with the first planetary gear,
wherein the intermediate gear body has a diameter equal to or less than that of the inner space, and at least a portion of the intermediate gear body is inserted into the inner space.

7. The driving module of claim 4 , further comprising:
an external housing disposed coaxially with the ring gear to surround the ring gear; and
a first bearing disposed between the external housing and the ring gear,
wherein the external housing is fixed and coupled to the driving source housing.

8. The driving module of claim 1 , wherein each of the first planetary gear and the second planetary gear is provided in plurality.

9. A motion assist apparatus comprising:
a fixing module fixed to one portion of a body of a user;
a support module configured to support the other portion of the body of the user and rotate with respect to the fixing module; and
a driving module having one side coupled to the fixing module and the other side coupled to the support module,
wherein the driving module comprises:
a driving source; and
a gear train coupled to the driving source,
wherein the gear train comprises:
a first gear set of which at least a portion is inserted into the driving source; and
a second gear set disposed at the outside of the driving source,
wherein the first gear set comprises:
a sun gear coupled to the driving source coaxially with the driving source; and
a first planetary gear configured to revolve around the sun gear, and
wherein the second gear set comprises a second planetary gear coupled onto the first planetary gear at a side opposite to the driving source.

10. The motion assist apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the driving module further comprises a ring gear disposed coaxially with the driving source,
wherein the second planetary gear is engaged with the ring gear, and
the support module is fixed and coupled to the ring gear.

11. The motion assist apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the driving source comprises:
a driving source housing;
a stator disposed in the driving source housing;
a rotor disposed in the stator to provide an inner space through which an axis passes; and
a driving shaft disposed in the inner space and connected to the rotor to rotate,
wherein the fixing module is fixed and coupled to the driving source housing.

12. The motion assist apparatus of claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the first gear set is disposed in the inner space, and
the sun gear is coupled to the driving shaft to rotate.

13. The motion assist apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:
an external housing disposed coaxially with the ring gear to surround the ring gear; and
a first bearing disposed between the external housing and the ring gear,
wherein the external housing is fixed and coupled to the driving source housing.

14. The motion assist apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the driving module further comprises an intermediate ring gear disposed between the driving source and the ring gear and fixed and coupled to the driving source housing,
wherein the first planetary gear is engaged with the intermediate ring gear.

15. The motion assist apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the second planetary gear has a diameter greater than that of the first planetary gear.

16. A driving module comprising:
a driving source having an axis extending in a first direction;
a ring gear configured to rotate around the axis; and
a gear train disposed between the driving source and the ring gear,
wherein the gear train comprises:
a first planetary gear of which at least a portion is inserted into the driving source; and
a second planetary gear coupled onto the first planetary gear at a side opposite to the driving source,
wherein the first planetary gear revolves around the axis by the driving source, and
the second planetary gear is engaged with the ring gear to revolve around the axis together with the first planetary gear wherein the second planetary gear has a diameter greater than that of the first planetary gear.

17. The driving module of claim 16 , wherein the driving source comprises:
a driving source housing;
a stator disposed in the driving source housing;
a rotor configured to rotate with respect to the stator and provide an inner space through which the axis passes; and
a driving shaft extending in the first direction on the axis,
wherein at least a portion of the first planetary gear is disposed in the inner space, and the first planetary gear revolves around the driving shaft.

18. The driving module of claim 17 , further comprising an intermediate ring gear disposed between the driving source and the ring gear and fixed and coupled to the driving source housing,
wherein the first planetary gear is engaged with the intermediate ring gear.

Assignees

• Korea Inst Sci & Tech

Inventors

• Lee Jongwon

Classifications

• H02K7/08

  Structural association with bearings · CPC title

• A61H2201/1472

  Planetary gearing · CPC title

• F16H2057/02034

  Gearboxes combined or connected with electric machines · CPC title

• F16H2057/02039

  Gearboxes for particular applications · CPC title

• H02K7/116

  with gears · CPC title