Phase-Oriented Gears (GSC-14790)

Abstract:
The general purpose of this invention is to significantly increase the speed reduction of Gear Bearing Planetary Transmissions and, thereby, to improve pointing precision for science instruments and torque output for deployment mechanisms. Very high speed reduction planetary transmissions require two (2) stage planets where each planet is individually phase-tuned to mesh with the output ring gear. This is typically accomplished by custom fabrication of each planet such that its upper stage is individually shifted with respect to its lower stage. Phase-Oriented gears enable identical planets to accomplish the phase-tuning by rotating each planet until it meshes with the output ring. This is possible because phase-oriented planets are constructed such that the bottom stage has a different tooth count than the upper stage and the phase relationship between corresponding tooth pairs, upper to bottom, changes with the rotation angle. The result is that speed reduction is significantly increased and that costs and complexity are significantly reduced. The technology will work in all known flight and cryogenic conditions. Applicatons include: 1. Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) microwave gimbals 2. JWST precision test wheel (NOTES final stage). 3. Joint Strike Fighter F-35 (supported by space act agreement in cooperative effort between NASA and DOD contractor.) Phase-Oriented Gears are two (2) stage planetary gears that are part of an epicyclical planetary transmission with very large speed reduction. Very large speed reduction requires that each two (2) stage planetary gear be at its own unique mesh cycle phase at any instant in time.

Type of Offer: Licensing



« More Space Technology Patents

---