Patents by Inventor Walter Ray Woodward

Walter Ray Woodward 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).

  • Patent number: 4117356
    Abstract: Speed capability of a rotary stepping motor of the harmonic drive type is markedly increased by providing a stiffer, i.e. harder to radially deflect, structure of its rotor. Elimination of magnetically permeable bridging material as heretofore employed is made possible also in an alternate construction. Basically, thickness of a flexrotor or flexspline wall is made greater than hitherto relative to its outside diameter to provide a stiffness insuring efficient operation at increased natural or resonant frequency. Higher capability of the thicker-stiffer flexspline to maintain its sinusoidal shape during operation results in less tooth wear and increased efficiency over a longer operating life. When concentric ring bridging is incorporated, its total wall-to-outside-diameter ratio thickness is advantageously substantially that of the novel flexrotor or flexspline itself to obtain higher step rates efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1978
    Assignee: USM Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Longworth Mansfield, Walter Ray Woodward