Abstract: A gear profile for orbital gear transmission is disclosed in which an outer gear (10) and an inner gear (30) are included. At least one of the gears is constrained for orbital motion to impart rotary motion to the other of the gears. The profile of teeth (34) of inner gear (30) is sinusoidal at least in the vicinity of pitch circle (36) of the gear (30) and the pitch circle (36) coincides with the point of inflection (52) of the sinusoidal profile of the teeth (34). The outer gear (10) has a pitch circle (25) and the point of inflection (19) of the inner gear (30) rolls across the point of the profile of teeth (14) of the outer gear (10) where the pitch circle (25) intersects the profile of the teeth (14). Orbital transmission systems are disclosed in which one or the other of the inner gear (10) or outer gear (30) is mounted on an eccentric (63) which is driven by an input shaft (64).

Abstract: A double orbital transmission is disclosed which has first and second input shafts (12 and 13) which carry first and second eccentrics (14 and 16). The pawl carrier (24) is mounted on the second eccentric and the pawl carrier carries a plurality of pawls (32 and 34). An orbital body (50) is mounted on the first eccentric (16) and carries first and second assembler rings (42 and 44) for engaging with the pawls (32 and 34). The pawls (32 and 34) are restrained to undergo orbital motion by an orbit control plate (104) and the orbital body (50) is also constrained to undergo orbital motion and orbital control plate coupled to an output (120). A phase controller is provided to control the phase relationship between the two input shafts (12 and 13) and therefore the drive ratio of the transmission by controlling the phase relationship between the eccent rics (14 and 16).

Abstract: A ratchet mechanism for enabling motion to be transferred in one direction but not in the opposite direction as disclosed which does not require springs. The mechanism includes an engagement member (16, 50, 100, 250, 330) which has teeth for engaging teeth on an outer member (12, 70, 200, 300). The engaging member (16, 50, 100, 250, 330) is mounted on an inner member (30, 80, 220, 320). A drive surface (120, 255, 323) on the engagement member (16, 50, 100, 250, 330) contacts teeth of the outer member (12, 70, 200, 300) when rotated in one direction so as to move the engagement member into position whereby a tooth (18, 110, 258, 335) can engage teeth of the outer member. When rotated in the opposite direction, the engagement member is moved out of engagement with the outer member to enable the ratchet to freewheel. In other arrangements, a cam (34, 321) either alone or in engagement with a drive surface causes engagement or disengagement of the teeth of the engagement member with the outer member.

Abstract: A phase control mechanism controls phase relationship between two shafts. The phase control mechanism may be used to control various mechanical devices such as the pitch of propellers of aircraft and boats, the pitch of power producing windmills, opening and closing lathe and drill chucks and controlling the eccentricity of some forms of continuously variable transmissions when the mechanisms are not only stationary but also in normal operational motion. The phase control mechanism includes first gears 3,4; 56,64 coupled to the output shafts which are to be phase controlled. A transfer gear 5; 16,17; 52,54 is provided for rotation or operation independent of the input and is coupled to the first gears 3,4; 56,64 to allow rotary motion to be transferred between the first gear members and a phase adjuster 10; 80 causes the first gears 3,4; 56,64 to advance or regress relative to one another to change the phase relationship between the outputs.

Abstract: A transmission is disclosed which has an input power supply (53, 34, 328) and a plurality of secondary members which are driven by the input power supply. The secondary members can be in the form of pawls (344, 361) or rack and pinion arrangements (54, 56). An infinitely variable gear ratio adjustment mechanism which can adjust the gear ratio between a maximum and minimum ratio is provided and generally comprises a fixed inner eccentric (318) and a movable outer eccentric (320). The outer eccentric (320) can be moved to adjust the eccentricity of the eccentrics to thereby set the gear ratio to any ratio between the minimum and maximum. The pawls (344, 361) or racks and pinions (54, 56) are arranged on the eccentrics (318, 320) and are driven by the input for only part of each revolution of the input other than when the gear ratio is set as 1:1.