Abstract:
A harmonic drive, having: a housing; an output shaft within the housing; an input shaft within the housing, the input shaft is configured for being in a first position in which rotation of the input shaft rotates the output shaft, and a second position that is axially offset from the first position, in which rotation of the input shaft does not rotate the output shaft; a solenoid coil within the housing that, when energized, moves the input shaft to the second position; and a spring within the housing that, when the solenoid coil is not energized, moves the input shaft to the first position.
Abstract:
A harmonic gearset, having: a drive shaft; first and second ground gears spaced apart from each other along the drive shaft; an output gear disposed on the drive shaft, between the first and second ground gears; a first flexspline disposed radially between the drive shaft, the first ground gear and the output gear; and a second flexspline disposed radially between the drive shaft, the second ground gear and the output gear, wherein the first and second flexsplines are axially adjacent to each other.
Abstract:
A failsafe electro-mechanical actuator, the actuator having: an output shaft having a first and second ends spaced apart from each other along a shaft axis, and outwardly facing helical grooves formed along the first end; a motor shaft surrounding the output shaft; a harmonic drive between the motor and output shafts that transfers motion between these shafts in a first mode of operation; ball bearings seated at the first end of the motor shaft and project inwardly from the motor shaft; in the first mode of operation: the ball bearings are disengaged from the output shaft and the output shaft rotates with the motor shaft, and in a second mode of operation, the motor shaft axially moves toward the first end of the output shaft; the motor shaft is rotationally fixed; and the ball bearings engage the helical grooves in the output shaft, whereby the output shaft rotates.
Abstract:
A harmonic drive, having: a housing; an output shaft within the housing; an input shaft within the housing, the input shaft is configured for being in a first position in which rotation of the input shaft rotates the output shaft, and a second position that is axially offset from the first position, in which rotation of the input shaft does not rotate the output shaft; a solenoid coil within the housing that, when energized, moves the input shaft to the second position; and a spring within the housing that, when the solenoid coil is not energized, moves the input shaft to the first position.
Abstract:
A harmonic drive, having: a ground ring; a first flex spline extending axially from the ground ring; a first input shaft that is radially exterior to the first flex spline, the first input shaft includes a first wave generator that engages the first flex spline; a second flex spline, radially within the first flex spline and rotationally coupled to the first flex spline, a second input shaft that is radially within the second flex spline, the second input shaft includes a second wave generator that engages the second flex spline; an output shaft coupled to the second flex spline, the first flex spline includes a first spline that faces radially inward; the second flex spline includes a second spline that faces radially outward; a circular gear having a third spline that face outwardly and engages the first spline; a fourth spline that faces radially inward and engages the second spline.
Abstract:
A harmonic drive, having a housing extending from first to second outer ends, the housing has radial outer and inner walls that extend axially between the first and second outer ends of the housing to define an annular channel having first and second ends that taper toward the first and second outer ends of the housing; a flex spline that extends axially between first and second ends and has a radial outer surface, and the first and second ends of the flex spline taper radially outwardly, the flex spline is located within the annular channel so that the first end of the flex spline is located within the first end of the annular channel and the second end of the flex spline is located within the second end of the annular channel; and first and second clamps that are clamped against the first and second ends of the annular channel.
Abstract:
A harmonic drive assembly with selective disconnect includes a motor with a motor drive shaft, a harmonic drive operatively coupled to the motor drive shaft, and a wave generator operatively coupled to the motor drive shaft and a flex gear of the harmonic drive. Also included is a ring gear of the harmonic drive operatively coupled to the flex gear with a plurality of ring gear teeth configured to mesh with a plurality of flex gear teeth. Further included is an output shaft operatively coupled to the harmonic drive. Yet further included is a retracting mechanism configured to selectively retract the motor drive shaft and the wave generator to decouple the motor drive shaft and the wave generator from the harmonic drive, wherein a clearance between the ring gear teeth and the flex gear teeth is established upon retraction of the motor drive shaft and the wave generator.
Abstract:
A harmonic drive, having a housing extending from first to second outer ends, the housing has radial outer and inner walls that extend axially between the first and second outer ends of the housing to define an annular channel having first and second ends that taper toward the first and second outer ends of the housing; a flex spline that extends axially between first and second ends and has a radial outer surface, and the first and second ends of the flex spline taper radially outwardly, the flex spline is located within the annular channel so that the first end of the flex spline is located within the first end of the annular channel and the second end of the flex spline is located within the second end of the annular channel; and first and second clamps that are clamped against the first and second ends of the annular channel.
Abstract:
A harmonic gearset, having: a drive shaft; first and second ground gears spaced apart from each other along the drive shaft; an output gear disposed on the drive shaft, between the first and second ground gears; a first flexspline disposed radially between the drive shaft, the first ground gear and the output gear; and a second flexspline disposed radially between the drive shaft, the second ground gear and the output gear, wherein the first and second flexsplines are axially adjacent to each other.
Abstract:
A failsafe electro-mechanical actuator, the actuator having: an output shaft having a first and second ends spaced apart from each other along a shaft axis, and outwardly facing helical grooves formed along the first end; a motor shaft surrounding the output shaft; a harmonic drive between the motor and output shafts that transfers motion between these shafts in a first mode of operation; ball bearings seated at the first end of the motor shaft and project inwardly from the motor shaft; in the first mode of operation: the ball bearings are disengaged from the output shaft and the output shaft rotates with the motor shaft, and in a second mode of operation, the motor shaft axially moves toward the first end of the output shaft; the motor shaft is rotationally fixed; and the ball bearings engage the helical grooves in the output shaft, whereby the output shaft rotates.