Patents by Inventor Ted Lumpkin

Ted Lumpkin has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Methods and apparatus for minimizing backlash in a planetary gear mechanism
    Patent number: 7121973
    Abstract: A planetary gear system includes a planetary gear assembly having a first planetary gear, a second planetary gear rotatable relative to the first planetary gear, and a torquing mechanism. The torquing mechanism generates a torsional spring force of the planetary gear assembly to cause the first planetary gear to rotate along a first direction and the second planetary gear to rotate along a second direction, opposite to the first direction. As a result, the teeth of the first planetary gear contact teeth of a corresponding first stationary ring gear and the teeth of the second planetary gear contact teeth of a corresponding second stationary ring gear. The torquing mechanism, along with the configuration of the planetary gear assembly, minimizes or eliminates the presence of gaps between the contacting teeth of the planetary assembly and the stationary gear rings and minimizes backlash within the planetary gear system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: HR Textron, Inc.
    Inventors: Ted Lumpkin, Tom Wolf
  • Methods and apparatus for minimizing backlash in a planetary gear mechanism
    Publication number: 20050250614
    Abstract: A planetary gear system includes a planetary gear assembly having a first planetary gear, a second planetary gear rotatable relative to the first planetary gear, and a torquing mechanism. The torquing mechanism generates a torsional spring force of the planetary gear assembly to cause the first planetary gear to rotate along a first direction and the second planetary gear to rotate along a second direction, opposite to the first direction. As a result, the teeth of the first planetary gear contact teeth of a corresponding first stationary ring gear and the teeth of the second planetary gear contact teeth of a corresponding second stationary ring gear. The torquing mechanism, along with the configuration of the planetary gear assembly, minimizes or eliminates the presence of gaps between the contacting teeth of the planetary assembly and the stationary gear rings and minimizes backlash within the planetary gear system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Inventors: Ted Lumpkin, Tom Wolf