SE543331C2 - Assembly for cross-axis rotation of bodies - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rotational assembly (1) comprising a primary body (100), a plurality of secondary bodies (300), and three sets of gearing mechanisms (200) arranged inside said primary body (100), wherein each set of gearing mechanisms (200) comprises a plurality of interlinked gears (206), or at least one flexible gearing member extending in a continuous loop and a plurality of rollers supporting said flexible gearing member, and wherein each set of gearing mechanisms (200) defines a respective rotational path around a center of said primary body (100), and wherein each set of gearing mechanisms (200) is arranged in meshed connection with at least one of said plurality of secondary bodies (300) and is configured to move said at least one secondary body (300) around said rotational path, and wherein said plurality of sets of gearing mechanisms (200) are arranged such that said rotational paths defined thereby intersect each other.

Description

The present invention relates to a rotational assembly for enablingcross-axis rotation of a plurality of bodies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Commonly available solutions for allowing a number bodies tosimultaneously orbit a single midpoint have a number of problems, amongwhich the fact that it is challenging to provide a solution that allows therotational paths of the bodies to intersect. Many solutions allow rotation abouta single midpoint, but does so by providing rotational paths of differentdiameters for each body that is rotating about the midpoint. When using sucha solution in applications such as blenders, radar devices or fans, it is difficultto get complete rotational coverage of the orbiting bodies.

Thus, there is a need for a solution that allows an improved rotation oforbiting bodies about a single midpoint.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION lt is an object of the present invention to alleviate at least some of thementioned drawbacks of the prior art and to provide a rotational assembly forenabling cross-axis rotation of a plurality of bodies. This and other objects,which will become apparent in the following, are accomplished by a rotationalassembly as defined in the accompanying independent claim.

The term exemplary should in this application be understood asserving as an example, instance or illustration.

The present invention is at least partially based on the realisation thatby providing a rotational assembly having means for controlling asynchronised rotation of a plurality of secondary bodies around and relative toa primary body, said means comprising a plurality of sets of gearingmechanisms arranged inside said primary body, an improved rotation of thesecondary bodies about the primary body may be achieved. By having rotational paths defined around a midpoint of said primary body, and byhaving said secondary bodies be arranged to move along said rotationalpaths, an increased rotational coverage of the secondary bodies is achieved.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a rotationalassembly for enab|ing cross-axis rotation of a plurality of bodies is provided.The rotational assembly comprises: a primary body and a plurality ofsecondary bodies, wherein said primary body comprises guides for definingrotational paths. The rotational assembly further comprises three sets ofgearing mechanisms arranged inside said primary body, wherein each one isarranged in a plane that is perpendicular to the geometrical planes of theother two sets of gearing mechanisms, and wherein each set of gearingmechanisms comprises: a plurality of interlinked gears, or at least one flexiblegearing member extending in a continuous loop and a plurality of rollerssupporting said flexible gearing member. Each set of gearing mechanismsand said guides define a respective rotational path around a center of saidprimary body, wherein each one of said rotational paths has the same radius,curvature and midpoint as the others. Each set of gearing mechanisms isarranged in meshed connection with at least one of said plurality of secondarybodies and is configured to move said at least one secondary body aroundsaid rotational path. Said three sets of gearing mechanisms are arrangedsuch that said rotational paths defined thereby intersect each other. Saidrotational assembly further comprises an interface gearing member arrangedin meshed connection with each one of the three sets of gearing mechanismsand which interface gearing member is configured to drive or be driven byeach one of the three sets of gearing mechanisms.

The rotational assembly of the present invention may be used in eitherone of two main configurations. Either the rotational assembly is arranged in across-axis output configuration, or in a cross-axis input configuration.

The rotational paths defined by each set of gearing mechanisms is thepath along which the respective set of gearing mechanisms is arranged tocause a secondary body to travel. The rotational path may additionally oralternatively be jointly defined by each set of gearing mechanisms and saidprimary body.

According to one exemplary embodiment, said primary body comprisesguides for defining said rotational paths. ln the cross-axis output configuration, the assembly is provided with aninput portion comprising an input gearing member arranged in meshedconnection with the plurality of sets of gearing mechanisms, such that arotation of said plurality of secondary bodies may be controlled by said inputportion of said rotational assembly. Thus, each one of the secondary bodiesmay be caused to rotate about the primary body along their respectiverotational paths using a single input gearing member.

Typical applications for the cross-axis output configuration are forexample:o blenders, mixers, fans or stirrers for agitating or stirring fluids,o radar devices having a wider spatial coverage than traditional devices,o flying devices or flight simulators,o amusement rides, for example a pendulum ride.ln the cross-axis input configuration, the assembly is provided with anoutput portion comprising an output gearing member arranged in meshedconnection with the plurality of sets of gearing mechanisms, such that arotation of said plurality of secondary bodies about said primary body causesa rotation of said output gearing member. Thus, the output gearing membermay be driven by the rotation of each one of the secondary bodies about theprimary body along their respective rotational paths.

Typical applications for the cross-axis input configuration are forexample: o devices for generation of electricity by means of harnessing wind orwater, o an electric motor, in which the rotation of the secondary bodies iseffected by means of electromagnets arranged on said primary body.According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the primary body comprises an outer casing. The outer casing may be shaped as a spheresegmented into eight pieces of substantially the same size. The rotationalpaths defined by each set of gearing mechanisms extend along the partitionlines between the different segments of the outer casing.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the rotationalassembly further comprises an interface gearing member arranged in meshedconnection with each one of the plurality of sets of gearing mechanisms andwhich interface gearing member is configured to drive or be driven by eachone of the plurality of sets of gearing mechanisms.

The interface gearing member may be referred to as either an inputgearing member, or an output gearing member. When the assembly isarranged in the cross-axis output configuration, the interface gearing memberacts as an input gearing member, causing the rotation of the plurality ofsecondary bodies. When the assembly is arranged in the cross-axis inputconfiguration, the interface gearing member acts as an output gearingmember, to which may be connected a generator or other means of utilizingthe rotational energy generated by the rotation of the secondary bodies.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the interface gearingmember is a bevel gear arranged in meshed connection with each one of theplurality of sets of gearing mechanisms. Each one of said sets of gearingmechanisms may for example be provided with a correspondingly angledbevel gear for being arranged in meshed connection with the interfacegearing member.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, said interfacegearing member is connected to an interface shaft through which rotation ofthe interface gearing member may be translated. ln the cross-axis inputconfiguration, the interface shaft may be referred to as an output shaft. ln thecross-axis output configuration, the interface shaft may be referred to as aninput shaft.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the interface shaftextends through an outer casing of said primary body and is arranged suchthat it may rotate about its longitudinal axis independently of the rotation ofthe primary body. This may for example be achieved by not having theinterface shaft contact the primary body at all, or by connecting the interfaceshaft to the primary body by means of a roller bearing or a ball bearing.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the rotationalassembly further comprises a control member connected to said primary body, said control member being arranged so as to control a rotation of saidprimary body.

Said control member may for example be a rod or cylinder, one end ofwhich is connected to an outer casing of said primary body. Thus, rotation ofsaid control member about an axis coinciding with its longitudinal extensioncauses the primary body to rotate. This allows a user of the rotationalassembly to control the relative rotation of the primary body, in which theplurality of sets of gearing members are arranged, and an interface gearingmember that is connected to said plurality of gearing members. Thus, a fixedrotational speed of the interface gearing member may be used, while therotational speed of the control member may be used to control the rotationalspeed of the secondary bodies about their respective rotational paths.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, said control memberis arranged so as to control a rotation of said primary body about an axis thatis coincident with the rotational axis of said interface gearing member.

Thus, the speed of the interface gearing member may be held at aconstant while the rotational speed of the secondary bodies connected to saidinterface gearing member via said plurality of sets of gearing mechanisms iscontrolled by varying the relative rotational speed of the control member andthe interface gearing member. For example, if the control member rotates in afirst direction at a given speed, thus causing the primary body and theplurality of sets of gearing mechanisms to rotate as well, the secondarybodies may be caused to rotate about the primary body by rotating saidinterface gearing mechanism at any given speed and direction other than thespeed and direction of the control member. As such, the control member maybe rotated such that the relative rotational speed of the interface gearingmember and the control member is zero, thus causing the secondary bodiesto be still in relation to the primary body. Alternatively, the control membermay be rotated such that the relative rotational speed of the interface gearingmember and the control member is non-zero, thus causing the secondarybodies to move in relation to the primary body.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, each rotational pathdefined by said sets of gearing mechanisms is arranged in a respective geometrical plane, and wherein the geometrical plane for each rotational pathis angled in relation to the geometrical planes for the other rotational paths.This allows for a great degree of rotational coverage of the secondary bodiesthat are arranged to travel around the primary body along the rotational paths.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the rotationalassembly comprises three sets of gearing mechanisms, wherein each one isarranged in a plane that is perpendicular to the geometrical planes of theother two sets of gearing mechanisms. This means that the spaces betweenthe three rotational paths defined by the three rotational assemblies form aneight-sectioned sphere. Thus, complete rotational coverage may be achievedby rotating the primary body 45° along any geometrical axis intersecting itsmidpoint.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, each set of gearingmechanisms defines a respective intersecting rotational path around amidpoint of said primary body. lntersecting means that each one of theserotational paths intersects each other rotational path.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, each one of saidintersecting rotational paths has the same radius, curvature and midpoint asthe others.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, each one of saidrotational paths intersects each other rotational path at two points each.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, said flexible memberis a toothed belt, timing belt or a roller chain. By having a flexible membersuch as a toothed belt, timing belt or a roller chain, the input delay in thegearing mechanism may be reduced. For a system of meshing gears, there isalways a small delay between the moment when the input gear starts rotatingand the moment when the output gear responds. This is due to the smallgaps that are present between the teeth of each gear. By using a flexiblegearing member as described above, this delay may be reduced.

Generally, all terms used in the description are to be interpretedaccording to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitlydefined otherwise herein. All references to “a/an/the [element, device,component, means, step, etc.]” are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc.,unless explicitly stated otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other features and advantages of the present invention willnow be further c|arified and described in more detail, with reference to theappended drawings showing different embodiments of a rotational assemblyaccording to the present invention.

Figure 1a is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the rotationalassembly according to one aspect of the present invention, Figure 1b is an assembled perspective view of the portion of therotational assembly of Fig. 1a, Figure 2a is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the rotationalassembly according to one aspect of the present invention, Figure 2b is an assembled perspective view of the portion of therotational assembly of Fig. 2a, Figure 3a is a perspective view of the rotational assembly according toone aspect of the present invention, without an outer casing to cover therespective sets of gearing mechanisms, Figure 3b is another perspective view of the rotational assembly of Fig.3a, Figure 3c is a third perspective view of the rotational assembly of Fig.3a, in which figure one set of gearing mechanisms is removed, Figure 4a is a perspective view of the rotational assembly according toone aspect of the present invention, Figure 4b is another perspective view of the rotational assembly of Fig.4a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS ln the following detailed description, some embodiments of the presentinvention will be described. However, it is to be understood that features ofthe different embodiments are exchangeable between the embodiments andmay be combined in different ways, unless anything else is specifically indicated. Even though in the following description, numerous specific detailsare set forth to provide a more thorough understanding of the presentinvention, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present inventionmay be practiced without these specific details. ln other instances, well knownconstructions or functions are not described in detail, so as not to obscure thepresent invention.

Figure 1a is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the rotationalassembly according to one aspect of the present invention. Shown herein is aset of gearing mechanisms 200, arranged on a substantially disc-shapedgearing base 202. The gearing base 202 comprises two cover members 204,between which a number of gears 206 are arranged. At a periphery of eachone of the two cover members 204, a guide 208 or a guide rail is arranged.The guide 208 extends perpendicular to the cover members 204 and definesa gap between the two cover members 204. This gap, together with the gears206 arranged between the two cover members 204, define a rotational patharound the midpoint of the rotational assembly 1.

The set of gearing mechanisms 200 comprises a number of gears 206or gear members. ln the illustrated embodiment, the gears 206 are dividedinto four groups of three gears 206 each, with each group being connected tothe others by means of a timing belt 210. Each gear 206 in the same group isarranged in meshed connection with the others. Thus, synchronised rotationof each group of gears 206 is achieved. ln another embodiment of theinvention, not illustrated herein, each set of gearing mechanisms 200 consistsof a single flexible timing belt or other flexible gearing member, that extendsaround the circumference of the gearing base 202 and which is supported bya number of rollers. ln each one of these embodiments, one of the gears 202has a bevel gear 212 that is connected thereto, such that rotation of the gears206 may be affected by rotation of the bevel gears 212. This bevel gear 212is connected to the gears 206 at an opposite side of one of the covermembers 204, and when the rotational assembly 1 is in an assembled state,connected to an interface gearing member 108.

Figure 1a also shows the secondary bodies 300 that are arranged totravel along the rotational path defined by the guide 208 and the gears 206.

The secondary bodies 300 each have a base 302, to which an arm 304 isconnected. The arm 304 of the secondary body 300 extends outwards fromthe midpoint of the rotational assembly 1 and carries an application member306. What this application member 306 is differs for each application area forthe rotational assembly 1. ln the illustrated embodiment, a placeholderapplication member 306 is shown, having no specific function. ln otherembodiments, the application member 306 may for example be a seat for anamusement ride, a fan for stirring fluids, a wing for generating energy fromwind or water currents, or similar. The base 302 of the secondary body 300comprises a toothed portion 308, which is arranged to mesh with the gears206 of the gearing mechanism 200. Thus, the secondary body 300 may bedriven forwards along the rotational path by means of the gearing mechanism200.

Figure 1b is an assembled perspective view of the portion of therotational assembly 1 of Fig. 1a. Here, the two cover members 204 have beenconnected to each other, with the gearing mechanism 200 and the secondarybodies 300 arranged therebetvveen.

Figure 2a is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the rotationalassembly 1 according to one aspect of the present invention. This set ofgearing mechanism 200 is arranged on a substantially disc-shaped gearingbase 203 like the one of Figure 1a, but this gearing base 203 is bisected suchthat it may be connected to the gearing base 202 of Figure 1a. Other thanthat, the two portions of the rotational assembly 1 are substantially identical.Figure 2b is an assembled perspective view of the portion of the rotationalassembly 1 of Fig. 2a.

Figure 3a is a perspective view of the rotational assembly 1 accordingto one aspect of the present invention, without an outer casing 102 to coverthe respective sets of gearing mechanisms 200. Here, two sets of the gearingmechanisms 200 illustrated in Figures 2a and 2b have been connected to aset of gearing mechanisms 200 as illustrated in Figure 1a and 1b to formthree perpendicular sets of gearing mechanisms 200. These sets of gearingmechanisms 200 together outline a spherical shape. Shown herein is also acontrol shaft 104 that is configured to be connected to a spherical outer casing 102 of the rotational assembly 1. Thus, the rotation of the entirerotational assembly 1 may be controlled. Furthermore, the rotationalassembly 1 comprises a drive shaft 106 arranged inside the cylindricallyshaped control shaft 104. The drive shaft 106 is connected to an interfacegearing member 108, which in turn is connected to the bevel gears 212 of thesets of gearing mechanisms 200. Thus, the sets of gearing mechanisms 200may be actuated by means of the drive shaft 106.

Figure 3b is another perspective view of the rotational assembly 1 ofFig. 3a, in which the control shaft 104, the drive shaft 106, and the interfacegearing member 108 is more clearly shown. Finally, figure 3c is a thirdperspective view of the rotational assembly 1 of Fig. 3a, in which figure oneset of gearing mechanisms 200, with its gearing base 202, is removed. Thus,the interface gearing member 108 and its connection with the sets of gearingmechanisms 200 is more clearly shown in this figure.

Figures 4a and 4b are perspective views of the rotational assembly 1according to one aspect of the present invention. The rotational assembly 1comprises a primary body 100 having a substantially spherical outer casing102, inside of which three sets of gearing mechanisms 200 are arranged,each of which is arranged on a respective gearing base 202. Each one of thegearing bases 202 comprises two planar cover members 204, between whichthe set of gearing mechanisms 200 is arranged. At a periphery of each one ofthe two planar cover members 204, a guide 208 or a guide rail is arranged.

The sets of gearing mechanisms 200 and the guide 208 collectivelydefine a respective rotational path around a center or midpoint of therotational assembly 1. This rotational path is defined by the outer perimeter ofthe gears 206 that constitute each set of gearing mechanisms 200. Eachrotational path intersects the rotational path of the other two sets of gearingmechanisms 200 at two points each, at which points the two intersectingrotational paths are perpendicular to each other.

Furthermore, the rotational assembly 1 comprises six secondary bodies 300 that are arranged in connection with the gearing mechanisms 200.

Each set of gearing mechanisms 200 is connected to two secondary bodies300, and these secondary bodies 300 extend outvvards from and are 11 arranged on opposite sides of the primary body 100. The rotational assemblyfurther comprises an interface gearing member 108 that is arranged inmeshed connection with a bevel gear 212 of each one of the sets of gearingmechanisms 200. The interface gearing member 108 and the bevel gears 212of the gearing mechanisms 200 are all bevel gears, with the interface gearingmember 108 being arranged in meshed connection with the bevel gears 212of each set of gearing mechanisms 200. Thus, the interface gearing member108 is configured to drive or be driven by each one of the sets of gearingmechanisms 200. The interface gearing member 108 is connected to a driveshaft 106 that extends outwards from the primary body 100, through rotationof which the sets of gearing mechanisms 200 may be actuated.

The rotational assembly 1 further comprises a control member or acontrol shaft 108 that is rigidly connected to the primary body 100 so as tocontrol a rotation thereof. The control shaft 108 extends along an axis thatcoincides with the extension of the drive shaft 106, which means that therotation of the secondary bodies 300 about the primary body 100 may becontrolled by means of relative rotation of the drive shaft 106 and the controlshaft 108.

The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by nomeans is limited to the embodiments described above. The features of thedescribed embodiments may be combined in different ways, and manymodifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appendedclaims. ln the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shallnot be construed as limiting to the claim. The word "comprising" does notexclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed in theclaim. The word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude thepresence of a plurality of such elements.

Claims (2)

1. A rotational assemblynfljg for enabling cross-axis rotation of a pluralityof bodies, said assembly comprising: a primary body gfitand a plurality of secondary bodiesiiwherein said printarv body (títti) eernprieee euidee tëtšåt ter cietinineretetieitai getha, three sets et' eeariite rneehanienwe (êüíii rrieeiiertiettie--arranged inside said primary body "tßü , wherein eachene ie arranded in a eiane that ie eereendicuiar to the deernetricaipianea et the ether time sets et dearind rnechaniarns íZGÜt, whereineach set of gearing mechanisms Qggicomprises: a plurality of interlinked gearsiLišjg, orat least one flexible gearing member extending in a continuousloop and a plurality of rollers supporting said flexible gearingmember; wherein each set of gearing mechanisms (Etftü) and eaid euides (298)definee a respective rotational path around a center of said primarybody ttítü), wherein each ene ef eaid retatienai naths has the sameraditie. ettrvattire and rnidneint ae the ethers. and wherein each set of gearing mechanisms Låíißjmis arranged in meshedconnection with at least one of said plurality of secondary bodies Qflïßjand is configured to move said at least one secondary body å)around said rotational path; wherein said th_r¿e_e_sets of gearing mechanisms tätarearranged such that said rotational paths defined thereby intersect eachothegngrgg witerein said aseenibiv tt i 'ftirther cerneriees an interface eearinemember (titt-Ei arranned in meshed connection erith eaeh one et thethree eete ef eeariiwn mechanisms (20%) and ißshieh interface neerindrnernber (1633 ie cenfidtired te drive er be driven bi; eecn ene ef thethree eete ef eeariitn rneehanienwe (Éütii. 21----A-retatienal--as-serfibly--aeeerdšrtg--t-o--eiaiann-it;--fartiteaf--eerrifpafisšrtg--aia iifiteiffaee-gearihg--itfiemia-ar--aifranged--ih--itfieshed--fsenifieetien--with--eaeh- \ .-\ ________________ __A rotational assembly according to any one of the precedingclaims, further comprising a cotttroi rod or a control cylinder (404), oneend of vvhich is connected to ah otites' casinq (192) of said prirharvhodv 1993.. " ' y, said coiwtroå rod or control cylinder (164) being arranged so as to control a rotation of said primary body giíliíïig. f? f)\ u.. ~ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ vA rotational assembly according to claim-s- -íš--gwheh--dependetftehaeiaiefieê, wherein said control rod or control cylinder (1943 eehtreârhehabefeis arranged so as to control a rotation of said primary bodyíjšïflabout an axis that is coincident with the rotational axis of said interface gearing member (mål. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ “A rotational assembly according to any one of the precedingclaims, wherein each rotational path defined by said sets of gearingmechanismsjï is arranged in a respective geometrical plane, andwherein the geometrical plane for each rotational path is angled inrelation to the geometrical planes for the other rotational paths. gggggggggggggggg vA rotational assembly according to any one of the precedingclaims, wherein each set of gearing mechanisms gëüßt defines arespective intersecting rotational path around a center of said primary bodygtcog v .-\ ________________ __A rotational assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each one of said rotational paths intersects each otherrotational path at two points each. *v \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ vA rotational assembly according to any one of the precedingciaims, wherein said flexible member is a toothed beit, timing beit or a roller chain.