WO2015160623A1 - Three, four, five and n variable transgear assemblies - Google Patents

Abstract

Infinitely variable motion control (IVMC) using Transgear gear assemblies provides rotary motion control without any requirement for connecting or disconnecting gear meshes or use of a clutch. A bevel, miter, ring or spur gear Transgear assembly, defined as a gear assembly having three of variables, input, output and control assigned in a manner so as to provide, for example, one of accumulation of inputs and direction control. A four variable Transgear gear assembly may be one of a spur gear Transgear gear assembly having an additional ring gear surrounding a set of planetary gears or a bevel gear Transgear gear assembly having a double bevel gear, an outer bevel gear, and a bevel gear meshing to the outer bevel gear. A five variable spur/ring gear assembly may comprise an additional outer ring gear whereby a first additional outer ring gear is meshed with a first planetary gear of a set of two planetary gears and a second additional outer ring gear is meshed with the second planetary gear of the set of two planetary gears. An N variable spur/ring gear assembly may be constructed having a multiple diameter output gear with matching planetary gears and multiple control ring gears.

Description

THREE, FOUR, FIVE AND VARIABLE TRANSGEAR ASSEMBLIES

Kyung Soo Han

[00! I This international application claims the right of priority to Li. S, Patent Application Serial No. 14/225,658 filed December 31, 2014, entitled "One-Stroke Internal Combustion Engine:" to U. S. Patent Application Serial No. 14/255,377, filed April 17, 2014, entitled ^wRun-of-the-River or Ocean Current Turbine;" and to U. S. Patent Application Serial No. 1.4/668,315, filed March 25, 2015, entitled "Three Variable and Four Variable Transgear Assemblies," the contents of each of which patent applications are incorporated by reference as to their .entire contents, ail patent applications being ofKyung Soo Han.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0Θ2| The t echnical field of the invention relates to appl ications of Transgear™ gear assemblies having three variables, sech as input, output and control four variables, such as input and output and two. controls, five variables, such as input, output and three controls, and N variables, where N. is greater than fsve, applications thereof, for example, for direction or speed control or other control of a vehicle, m , generator, engine, wind o river turbine or other motive device including, for example, applications for accumulating two or more inputs, to an output under control or two or more controls to an input for providing a single output.

BACKGROUND

ffK | it is generally known in the art to provide devices such as generators, transmissions, engines, pumps or compressors, turbines and vehicles with variable speeds and with forward and reverse direction control. m particular, transmissions are known with many speeds and gears whereby a shifting of gears and speeds typically involves the use of a c lutch device so that a range of speed may be changed, for example, through a- plurality of gears to reach a maximum number of revolutions per minute of an output shaft in each of the plurality of gears while as. input shaft operates within the angular velocity range of, for example, a driving motor. Forward and reverse direction control is another application of a first and second Transgear gear assembly as well as zero-taming, radius assemblies for controlling two sets of two wheels to, for example, park/drive without any turning radius. [ΘΘ4| Applicant has been developing a concept referred to herein as infinitely -variable motion control (IVMC) whereby, for example, three variables, such as a mechanical input,, a control, and an output, provide infinitely variable control of parameters which may be speed, direction, direction of rotation, control of a water turbine hatch, turning radius and the like as well as the accumulation of inputs.

Introductionjo Infinitely Variable ο οη Control (IVMC)

{005} Differential Dynamics Corporation (DDMotion) has developed several different types of motion control technology to convert a given Input to a controlled output. Each technology will be explained briefly first as part of the BACKGROUND. In the SUMMARY, the latest developments in infinitely variable motion controls will be described and, then, in the DETAILED DESCRIPTON of the drawings, the. latest developments will he further described to three and four variable. Tra»sgear assemblies along with applications of the technology to some major applications s ch as direction control and speed control for vehicles and other devices requiring control. Most of the concepts disclosed herein are based on the Kyung Soo Han's previous developmental work as exemplified- by the patents and publications discussed briefly below.

fO ] U. S- Patent No. 6,068,570 discusses speed control with planetary gears, speed control with spw gears, worm and worm gear control and compensated variable speed control. U. S. Patent No, 6,537, 1 8 discusses direction control with bevel gears and direction control with spur gears. U.S. Patent No. 7,731,61(5 discusses & variable pitch can. 1.1 S. Patent No. 7.462,124 discusses three variable control where the variable control comprises an input, an output, -a d a control, U. S. Patent No. 7,731,619 discusses three variable conirol with bevel gears and thre variable control with spur gears. WO20I 1O1 I358A2 is & published International application of PCX U.S. 10/42519 filed July 20, 2010 and claiming priority to U.S. provisional patent application 61/226,943 filed July 20, 2009, which describes a speed converter with cam drive control and a variable torque generator producing a constant frequency and voltage output from a variable input. This PCX application has been filed in the United States as U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13/384,621, filed Januar 18, 20.12, now U. S. Patent No. 8,388,481 issued March 5, 2013, entitled "System and Method for Providing a Constant Output from a Variable Flow Input". Applications of this speed converter/variable- torque generator technology include and are not limited to applications in the field of clean energy generation su h as wind and water dr en electrical energy generators. This application relates io U. S. Patent No. 8,641,570 issued February 4, 2014, entitled "Infinitely Variable Motion Control (IVMC) for Generators, Transmissions and Pumps/Compressors," which utilizes three variable control of input, output and control to different components of a Transgear gear assembly. Referring, for example, to FIG. 22, entitled In ut Compensated IVMC, a sleeve may be the i put and a shaft may be the output and include an input compensating motor for controlling the output with respect to the input. U. S. Patent No. 8,986,149 issued March 24, 2015, describes both speed control and direction control in some detail utilizing, for example, first and second Transgear gea assemblies. Ail of the above-identified patents and published applications are incorporated by reference herein as to their entire contents.

iWI) Ra et L, a Siepless Automatic Variable Transmission, U. S. Patent No. 5,525,116 issued June 1 1 , 1996, describes a stepless automatic variable transmission with gears in a state of constant meshing and which is operational without the need for disengaging or changin -the gears such that the rotational output power can be varied to effect a neutral, low speed, medium speed, overdrive or reverse rotation by selecting a stepless automatic speed change method. The transmission of FIG. ¾ for example, comprises a speed change controlling system ,80, a speed change system 10 and an overdrive system in series with one another. In particular, there, are described an input shaft 12 having an input sun gear integral therewith. Surrounding the input shaft 12 is a so-called control shaft 20. The input shaft 12 extends from the speed change controlling system 80 through the speed change system 1.0 arid ends at an output ring gear, The described transmission speed change system 80 also comprises input differential gears 34 and output differential gears 38.

|¾0S| There appear to be similarities between Ra and a Transgear™ gear assembly of the present invention where Transgear is a common law trademark of Differential Dynamics Corporation of Owings Mills, MP, For example, Ra shows an input shaft 12 having an input sun gear 14, and there is shown a control for output (speed change system 10) in Figures 1-3 such that, according to the Ra Abstract, "A siepless automatic variable transmission with gears in a state of constant meshing which is operational without the need for disengaging or changing the gears such that the rotational output power can be varied to effect a neutral, low speed, medium speed, high speed, overdrive or reverse rotation by selecting a stepless automatic speed change method or a man al speed change method and w ich includes a speed change system, an overdrive system and. a speed change controlling system."

|O09| Input shaft 12 turns an input sun gear 14. T e input sun gear 14 of Ra turns an "input differentia? gear" 34, 34AA which has a "locking pin" 30, 30A. This 'locking pin" 32A may ^'incorrectly describe a "second carrier pin" of a Transgear gear assembly. Also, an "outp t gear 46" is actually an output ring gear 46 (not a sun gear). In actuality, Ra's output ring gear 46 is meshed to output differential gears 38, 38 A having an opposite locking pin 32, 3 A to locking pin 30, 30 A, The input side seen in speed change system 10 at the top of FIG. 2 is meshed to a sleeve which reaches lo speed change controlling system 80 and speed change controlling system 80 reaches hack to output differential gears M, 38A and finally to output ring gear 46.

[010] Also, a. basic spur gear Transgear gear assembly appears on its face to have features of Ra embodiments described between FIG. 26 and FIG. 38 and so Applicant conducted a further analysis of for- example, the embodiment of FIG. 34 to see if there are similarities to Applicant's spur gear Transgear gear assembly. Applicant has performed an analysis of Ra with, emphasis on embodiments described by that are alternative embodiments (Figures 26-38) and comments as follows: A portion of Fig. 34 of Ra, U. S. Patent No. 5,525,116 issued on June 1 L 1996, shows an embodiment ^•described in Cols. 46-47. Specifically at Lines 34-37 ofCoi. 47, the description reads: "To engage the overdrive system,, the overdrive brake means 679 applies a rotational brake force to the tube shaft boss 762 of the carrier 764."

[01 i} ^'Uaderstandiag of the Ra Pateat: From our analysis, the planetary gears 772 and 774 are numbered separately, but comprise a unitary construction, a gear (a single gear), planetary gear 772, 774, which is meshed with two gears, input gear 714 and output gear 722. (There is no control except arguably a brake means 679), Related gears 772B and 774B shown in. FIG. 34 are turned by this one gear 772, 774 which is meshed with input 714 and output 722.

[©121 Analysis of the Ra Pateat: The objective is selectively engaging or disengaging output gear 722 from input gear 714. Let us examine two cases: Case 1: Tube Shaft Boss 762 is held by the Brake Means 679. In this case, input gear 714 is meshed to planetary gear 772-774 and the planetary gear 772-774 is meshed to output gear 722, The output gear 722 is engaged to the input gear 71 in this case.

|013] Case 2: Tube Shaft Boss 762 is sot held by the Brake Means 679 and free to rotate. This time, output gear 722 must be disengaged from the input gear 714. Let us suppose fee output gear 722 is held and not rotating. The output gear 722 is meshed to the planetary gear 772-774, and the planetar}' gear 772-774 is meshed to the input gear 71 . If the output gear 722 is held and not rotating, the input gear 714 cannot be rotated. Therefore, the embodiment cannot be dis-engaged as described. Consequently, we believe that the embodiments represented by Figure 34 In the Ra patent cannot be operated as described.

[014} There remains a need i the art fo an improved Tfansgear gear assembly that may have multiple variables wherein the multiple variables may comprise various functionality, for example, two inputs, a control and one output; one input, three controls and one output; and one input, two control and two outputs (that is a single Transgear gear assembly having three, four or five variables), and thus meet the needs of a plurality of applications in turbines, vehicles, engines, compressors, pumps, transmissions and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE SEVERAL EMBODIMENTS OF A TRANSGEAR.

ASSEMBLY HAVING TfiRIS OR FOUR VARIABLES

{015} This, summary is provided to Introduce a selection of concepts. These concepts are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is this summary intended as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. fSMJ Three variable mechanical controls may be used to convert variable input to constant output or constant input to variable output, for direction control or other turning radius control purposes such as to accumulate two inputs into an output or provide one input, one control and one output. By providing combinations of two three variable Transgear gear assemblies, one may obtain four variables; however, it is desirable if a single Transgear gear assembly apparatus may provide four or five or more variables. By "variable" Is Intended one or more of three types of variables: input output and control, analogous to an electronic transistor. Mechanical controls are efficient and scalable. All gear assemblies having three variables, for example, input, output, and control will be called "Tra-asgear" gear assemblies in this "transistor" context These three variables, input, output and control, may be applied equally to, for example, an input shaft having an- input sun gear, an input sleeve, an output sleeve to carrier gears and assemblies, to ring gears, bevel gears, miter gears, sun gears, carriers and spur gears of various shapes, sizes and meshings.

[017] A first control technology described herein may be referred to as three variable control. Three variable eontroi may be utilized in, for example, a bevel gear Transgear assembly, a raster gear Transgear gear assembly, a ring gear Transgear gear assembly (ring and planetary gears may be either spur gears or helical gears) and a spur helical gear Transgear gear assembly. All such assemblies may have three variables, input, output- and control and combinations thereof such as two inputs accumulated to an output. Practically any component of such a three variable Transgear gear assembly may in one application be assigned to one of the three variables, input, output and control. For example, a sleeve surrounding a shaft may be an input, an output or a control for a ring gear, spur gear, bevel gear, carrier, sun gear, planetary gear or a shaft. Moreover, two input variables may be combined, for example, in a spur/helical gear Transgear gear assembly or. accumulated to achieve an output (which second input may have been otherwise assigned as a control variable and so serve as a second input variable). Spur gears, as used herein, may comprise one of a spur gear or a helical gear where a helical gear comprises teeth cut at. for example, -a 5° helix a g e.

[028) Input compensated infinitely variable motion control may comprise two independent inputs,, a -drive input and a control input, and an output for a three variable control motion control A system of variable output may Be achie ved by releasing the drive input so that, the output may be varied.

[019) In three variable control ring gear Transgear gear assemblies, the assemblies may comprise a number of planetary gears such as three, fbar or more planetary gears which are evenly spaced within and mesh with an outer ring gear and are also carried by a carrier. It is believed that a minimu of three planetary gears is required for a ring gear Transgear gear assembly stability. A three variable (3V) ring gear assembly, for example,- may take the form of a shaft attached to or integral with a carrier assembly embodiment (Figure 3 A) or a sleeve version comparable to a sleeve version with a sleeve attached to or integral with a carrier assembly (Figure 3B). O20j Irs three variable control spur gear Transgear gear assemblies, the assemblies may comprise sets or pairs of planetary gears carried by carriers and spaced about and meshing with at least one sleeve portion surrounding- a central shaft. Figure 5A shows a shaft 501 arid a. first attached or integral sun gear 517 and a sleeve 50 having a second unlabeled sun gear of equal diameter, in the spur gear assembly of Figure SB, there is & first or left sleeve 502 and sun gear and a. right sleeve 506 and sun gear and may be referred- to as a sleeve embodiment. In the spur gear assembly of Figure SB and Figure 6A, a carrier center bracket 521 , 620 is attached to or integral with a carrier assembly carrying planetary gears and pins of various widths and diameters. Moreover, planetary gears may comprise various sizes, and shapes and. planetary? gears may be frequently used in sets of two in which each pair of planetar gear comprises one planetar ' gear which meshes with the other planetary gear which may have a larger or smaller diameter or width. Additionally, a double width planetary gear may be used to mesh with two. other gears such as a sun gear and another planetary gear. Planetary gears for a four variable (4 V) spur gear assembl may be utilized i pairs of differen sizes for different control features ^'as will be further^' described herein. Also, sun gears associated with shafts. r sleeves may have different size diameters.

[ 2! ] A fourth variable may be- added to the concept of a three variable Transgear gear assembly. In such a Transgear gear assembly, the fourth variable may be a second ^•control variable, a second iaput variable, or a -second output variable. The four variables may comprise an input, first and second controls and an output for. for example, forward and reverse direction control. Also, the fourth variable In other embodiments may comprise -a second input so that the four variables are input L input 2, control and output. In particular, as will be described herein, the ourth variable may comprise an added ring gear to a three variable spur gear Transgear gear assembly or added spur gears to a ring gear and spur gears Transgear gear- assembly . Bevel gear Transgear gear assemblies also can add the fourth variable. A four variable (4V) bevel gear assembly may comprise three shafts orthogonal to one another, one of which may carry a double bevel carrier gear. Other variations and embodiments of a Trarssgear assembly may comprise more variables than four by, for example, adding, in series or in parallel, a second three variable or four variable Transgear assembly.

[022] f rthermore, a fifth variable may be added to a four variable {AY) spur gear assembly by taking advantage of add ing a second outer ring gear to control the second planetary gear of a set of two planetary gears. As will be understood herein, first and second planetary gears of a set of planetary gears rotate in opposite directions. By adding a first outer ring gear for controlling, for example, the first left planetary gear of a set of two planetary gears, one. may cause the other planetary gear to rotate in one direction and by adding the second outer ring gear for controlling, for example, the second right planetary gear of the set of two planetary gears, the other planetary gear will thus be caused to rotate in the opposite direction than when held by the additional first, outer ring gear. Consequently, in this embodiment direction control may be achieved by the first and second added outer ring gears for holding the left and right planetary gears of a two gear set of planetary gears and the other three variables may be assigned as input nd first and second other controls, for, for example, input accumulation or for speed control.

[023] Finally, an Nth variable may be added to a five variable gear assembly by !) modifying the output gear to comprise a double, triple or higher multiple gear having different diameter sun-gears, 2) providing a planetary gear that .meshes with each of the multiple gear output sun gears of different diameters and 3) providing an additional control ring gear meshing with the added planetary gear meshing with the multiple sun output gears. There may he an additional planetary gear meshed, for example, with a double gear having two different -diameters so that an added ring -gear meshing with the Srst additional planetary gear and ring gear may comprise a fourth control variable -to the three control variables shown in Figure 8A, SB and 8G, With additional planetary gears meshing with triple, quadradruple and N output sun gear assemblies of different diameters, -there may be corresponding additional ring gears providing N control variables. These additional planetary gear and ring gear assemblies in combination with the larger width and stepped diameter output sleeve and gears may provide, for example, additional speed control to direction control and accumulation of input variables,

|^'024| These several technologies may be further described with reference to particular applications as bevel gear Transgear, miter gear Transgear, ring gear Transgear (ring gear Transgear gear assemblies consist, of ring gear and spur gears), spur, gear Transgear and combination spur gear and outer ring gear Transgear gear assemblies. The four variable Transgear -gear assembly will be introduced in detail by. for example, adding an additional ring gear to a three variable spur gear Transgear gear gear assembly (or adding additional, spur gears to a ring gear Transgear gear assembly) or to construct a four variable bevel gear Transgear gear assembly using the principles of the three variable spar gear Transgear gear assembly having the additional ring gear, A five variable gear assembly may be constructed by adding a second additional ring gear, the first and second added ring gears for controlling the left and right planetary gears of a set of two planetary gears of a spar gear assembly . An N variable spur gear assembly may be constructed by multiplying the number of gears of an o tput sua gear, for example, with stepped diameters such that an added planetary gear and additional ring control gear may be used to provide speed control In addition to direction control and accumulation of inputs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE BRA WINGS

[025] The features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which -like reference numbers may indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Moreover, the first numeral of a reference number indicates in which figure that reference numeral first appears.

1026] Three variable Transgear gear assemblies

[027] Figure 1A is a front view of a bevel gear Transgear gear assembly 100 (shaft and sleeve embodiment) while Figure 18 is a front view of a further bevel gear assembly 150 (sleeve embodiment). Figures 1 A and IB demonstrate that assemblies 190 and 150 may have gears attached to either a shaft (shaft version), for example, shaft 1 1 or to a sleeve (sleeve version), for example, sleeve 104 o 105. A left sun gear 106 is attached to or integral with shaft 101 and a right sun gear 104 is attached to sleeve 104 in Figure 1A (assembly 300) while both sun gears are attached to sleeves 105, 104 in Figure IB. A carrier assembly 103 A, 103B, 102A and 102B is attached to shaft 110 in the Figure I B sleeve embodiment (assembly 150). The shaft version arid sleeve version are shown in Figures 3A and IB respectively. The same logic applies to iter gears shown in Figures 2A and 2B. Moreover, by way of example, assembly 100 may have carrier shafts 103 A, 103 B for carrier gears 102 A, 1028. The carrier center block portion 1 16 of carrier shafts 103A, 103B surrounds the shaft 101 (assembly 100). The shaft 1 3 A, 1038 in Figure IB is an integral part of or attached to carrier center block 1 17, assembly 150, of shaft 1 10. |028J Que may notice in assembly i 50 that the variable Input w assembly 150 may comprise a shaft and carrier component 1 10 including the carrier center block portion 117 which supports the shafts 103 A and 103 for carrying carrier gears 102A, !02B. Shaft 1 10 in combination with carrier center block portion 117 extend through the Transgear gear assembly 150 as seen in front view Figure I B. In assembly 150, a Control variable may be provided by first sleeve and gear 105, the Output variable may be provided by a second sleeve and gear 104 meshed with carrier gears I02A, 102B and the Input variable may be shaft/carrier assembly Π0. Components of the embodiments 100 or 150 can be modified to make the assignment of variable input, Output and Control vary, for example, the Input may be the Output and vice versa.

[029] Figures 1 C and 1 D show respective be el gear assem biles 100, 150 in side view. The Transgear gear assembly of Figure 1C has two idle (carrier) gears 102 A and 102B spaced 180 degrees from one another and the assembly of Figure ID has four idle (carrier) gears, 1G2A,_. I02B, 102C and 102D spaced at 90 degrees from one another. Idle (carrier) gears are positioned in a circular configuration, and there may be one, two, three, four or more sets of idle gears. For example, with three idle gears (not shown), the three idle gears are positioned at 120 degrees about a circle while with four idle gears, the idle gears are positioned at 90 degrees about a circle; (two idle gears spaced at Ι 8Θ degrees from one another are shown in Figure I C).

[630] Figures 2A, 28. 2C and 2D are an introduction to miter gear Transgear gear assemblies represented: by assemblies 200 (shaft and sleeve) and 250 (sleeve) equivalent versions. Miter gear Transgear gear assemblies consist of the same size be vel gears. The front v iews, Figure 2A and Figure 2.B of two three variable control miter gear Transgear gear assemblies 200 and 250 again indicate that each may have gears attached to shafts 2 1 with integral or attached sun gear 206 or to sleeves 204, 205. In assembly 200, for example, carrier shafts 203 A, 203 B for carrier gears 202A, 202B have a carrier center block portion 216 which surrounds the shaft 201. Assembly 200 operates in a similar manner to the operation of assembly 100. Assembly 250 operates in a similar manner to assembly 1 0. Figure 2C is a side view of the same miter gear Transgear gear assembly with two idle gears spaced 180 degrees apart from one another as assembly 200 of Figure 2A. Figure 2D is a side view of a miter gear Transgear assembly having three idle (carrier) gears spaced at 120 degrees from one another. (03l.^'j f gure 3A is a front view of a three variable ring gear Transgear gear assembly 300, and Figure 3C is a side view of the same ring gear Transgear gear assembly 300 which representing a shaft version with integral carrier supported by shaft 301. A sleeve version is shown in Figure 3B, front view, where the sleeve 312 comprises an integral or attached carrier assembly for carrying planetary gears 304A, 304B, (Shaft and sleeve embodiments are defined differently in. ring assemblies 300, 350 than they are defined for bevel gear and m xer gear assemblies,) in such a sleeve em odiment of Figure 3S. right sleeve 12 is integral with the carrier assembly. In a shaft version such as Figure 3 A, assembly 300, the carrier assembly 303 A, 303B, 3G3C is attached to or integral with the shaft 301. Three planetary gears, 3Q4A, 3048, 30 C spaced at 120 degrees apart oft shafts/pins (unlabeled) are best seen, in side view Figure.3C for either 3V ring gear assembly 300, 350. The shafts 301, 31 ik assembly 300, 350 is spaced by bearings, spacers^' or bushings^' from, for example, the sleeve of ring gear 306 or sleeves 302, 312 in either a shaft or sleeve embodiment A carrier assembly comprises carrier brackets 303A, 303B in Figure 3 A for holding shafts/pins for the ^.planetary gears 304A, 304B, 304C which are meshed with the outer ring gear 306 and the shaft 301 and carrier 3Ό3Α, 3Θ3Β, 3-03C Side view Figure 3C shows three planetary gears 304A, 3048, and 304C spaced at 120 degrees. As will be further discussed herein, ring gear assemblies- may comprise different width and different diamete sets or pairs of planetary gears and so form four variable (4V) ring gear assembly.

| 32| Figure 4 provides a perspective view of a basic- spar gear three.- variable (3 V) Transgear gear assembly 400 (constructed, tor example, as Is shown in Figure 5B). In this embodiment, the gear assembl 400 may be five gears wide. On the othe hand, if a carrier gear is a carrier disc (not a gear as shown), the assembly 400 may be four gears wide {not shown). A first variable may be the left sun gear, A second variable may be the carrier gears (earner assembly). A third variable may be the right son gear. There are also shown two sets (pairs) of planetary gears, the lower pair being Indicated as Planetary Gears meshed with one another. Left Sun Gear (Variable #1 ), Carrier gears (Variable #2) and Right Sun Gear (Variable 3) are also shown as spur gears, for example, but helical gears may be used instead.

|033| Figure 5 A, Figure SB and Figure 5€ provide m introduction- to a basic three variable (3V) spur gear Transgear gear assembly 500, 550. One will note that in assembly 500 of Figure 5 A, front view, the diameter of left and right sun gears of shaft 501, 506 are the same. Figure 5A is a front view of a three variable control spur gear Transgear gear assembly 500 (shaft and sleeve version). Figure SB is a front view of a three variable control spur gear assembly 550 (sleeve version) wherein a carrier assembly is attached to o integral with shaft 51 1 by carrier center bracket 521. Figure 5C is a side view of the same spar gear Transgear gear assemblies 500, 550. Figure 5C is a side view of a spur gear Transgear gear assembly similar to those of Figures 5A and 5B but showing two sets of two planetary gears spaced at 180 degrees from one another and having the same diameter. Two sets of planetary gears 507, 508 and 5078, 508B spaced 180 degrees from one another are seen in Figure 5C having the same diameter. Note that shafts/pins support planetary gears 507, 508, 507B, 508.B respectively and are seen in side view Figure 5C. The shafts/pins are supported by carrier brackets 503. 504, (503 represents the left earne bracket and 504 represents the right carrier bracket) associated with shaft 501 or 5Π. The two sets of sun gears and two sets of planetary gears make three gear widths total m Figures 5A and 5B assemblies 500, 550. (Carrier brackets/discs are not gears as shown and net counted here as gears).

|034| Four variable (4¥) spur gear assemblies,

|035] Figure 6A and f gure 6B provide mechanical diagrams and may be used as an Introduction- to a four-variable (4V) spur gear Transgear gear assembly 600. Figures 6A and 68 are identical to assembly 55Θ of Figures 5B and 5C but for the addition of a ring gear 606 which may serve as one of the input, output or control variables as m introduction to the concepts of a four variable (4Y) Transgear assembly and the use of three pairs of planetary gears (Figure 6B) rather than two (Figure 5C). Assembly 600 ha been simplified from assembly 550 of Figure- SB and.,, for example, does not show a left e d of the shaft/'pin (unlabeled) for the planetary gear 612. Three sets of equal diameter planetary gears 61 i, 612; 613, 614: 615, 616 are shown spaced ai 120 degrees relation to one another in assembly 650 of Figure 6B, side view (but there may be a four sets embodiment or a five sets embodiment not all shown in Figure 6B). The planetary gear 612 was shown without the left side of shaft/pin to show the ring gea 606 clearly. Figure 6A is a front view of a four variable spur gear Transgear assembly 600 showing an added .ring gear 606 for, for example, meshing with the left planetary gear 1 1 of a set of planetary gears 611, 612. The added ring gear 606 may be used to convert a three variable (3 V) spur gear Transgear assembly of Figure 5B to a 4V spur gear Transgear assembly. As shown in Figure 6 A, sleeve 602 and added ring gear 606 will be used as controls, Control #1 and Control #2, to explain how the two controls work. Figures 6A and 68 show a front view and a side view respectively of a four variable spur gear Transgear gear assembly 650 having first, second and tiiird sets of planetary, gears of two planetary gears each of same size and gear width 61 1 , 612; 613, 61 ; 615, 616 spaced 120 degrees from One another with the added ring gear 606 surrounding and meshed with the left planetary gear of each of the three sets of equal diameter planetary gears. Figure 6B is a side view of a four variable spur gear Transgear gear assembly having the first, second and third sets of planetary gears of two planetary gears each of same size and gear width spaced 120 degrees from one another (with the added ring gear 606 shown surrounding them). Referring to Figure 6A, there may be seen two sets (pairs) of planetary gears 611, 612 and an un um ered set at the .bottom that may represent one set spaced I SO degrees from the set 61 L 612 or two sets -of planetary gears such as 613, 614; 615, 616 spaced at 120 degrees from one another. Either three, four or even more sets of planetary gears ma be used in a V spur gear Transgear gear assembly. Referring to Figures 6A and 6B, there may be seen that an input variable may be assigned to shaft 601 .having- a carrier center bracket portion 620 integral with or attached to the shaft 601 that- supports carrier assembly left carrier bracket. (603 A, 6038) and right carrier-bracket {603C and 603D). A first control. Control #1, may be a sleeve 602 integral with or attached to a frrst left sun gear. A second control Control #2, may. be the added ring gear 606 (to a basic three variable spur gear Transgear gear assembly) extending around the three sets of planetary gears and carriers as shown in Figure 6A and 6B for holding, for example, the left (or the right) planetary gear of each set The output, Output, may be assigned to a second sleeve (at the right) 60 which is integral with or attached to a right sun gear, for example, of equal diameter to the first sun gear of sleeve 602. As will be described herein, the four variable Transgear gear assembly may function as a direction control by holding Control #1 or holding Control #2 such that the Output 609 may have the same or opposite rotational direction as the input.

[936 j Referring now to Figures 6A and 6B, in each figure, the shaft Input 601 is assumed to be clockwise. The output rotation of second sleeve 609 is changed in direction by holding one of the controls (C#l or C#2) In turn. When, control #1 (sun gear and sleeve 602) is locked, the input variable is shaft 601 , the Output 609 may be clockwise (the same direction of input rotation). Referring now to Control #2 (added ring gear 606), gear 606 may be locked in which case the Input 601 may be -clockwise and t en the Output 609 may be counterclockwise (the opposite direction to input). With the second control which is ring gear 606 locked, the meshed -planetary gear 611, for example, will be rotating around the ring gear 606 and planetary gear 612 may transfer the rotation to turn output second sleeve 609 counter-clockwise. This same principle will be applied to 4V bevel gear Transgear gear assembly. When the added ring gear 606 l cked, the. first sleeve 602 is f ee to rotate and output 609 rotates counter* clockwise.

037} Figures 7 A through 70 will, show added components to construct. four variable (4V) bevel gear transgears. Figures 7A, 7B₅ and 7C look similar to bevel gear Transgear gear assemblies except the carrier gears are double bevel gears comprising larger outer bevel gears 704 A and 704B and inner smaller bevel gears 7G5A and 7G5B. A third shaft 741 (clear to see in Figure 7 A, front view, and Figure 7C, top view) is added orthogonally to shafts 701 and shaft 721 (Figure 7B side view and Figure 7 A front view). All shafis, 70.1, 721, and 741 are attached to . carrier center block 751.

[038] Figures 7D, E and 7F show an. addition of two bevel gears 706A and 706B. Components 706A,706B will be considered in relation to what has been explained above with respect, to the clockwise input and holding of control #1 (or control #2), Since gears 70 A and 706.8 are meshed with carrier gears 704 A and 704B, gears 706A and 706B transfer the rotation of outer bevel carrier gears 704 and 704B to an output bevel gear. The output variable bevel gear is still not shown in Figures 7D through ?F. |039| Figures ?O_s 7E, and 71 show adding a bevel gear and sleeve 710. The rest of the figures. Figures 7 J through 70, are high-lighted differently to describe the operation. Components 706A, 706B are bevel gears and are meshing with 704A and 7Q4B and also with, for example, outer sleeve and output gear 710 (clear to see in Figures 7G and 71 respectively). The beveled gears 706A, 706B will be considered with respect to output variable assignment to outer beveled gear and sleeve 71 . Direction control in a four variable bevel gear Transgear gear assembly 700 occurs in the same manner as described above for a four variable spur gear Transgear gear assembly 600 by holding one of Control #1 and Control #2 for a forward or a. reverse direction Output.

P40] Now in Figures 7.1 (front view), Figure 7K (side view) and Figure 7L (top view), it will be discussed how holding (Control #1. 702) with a clockwise input applied to shaft 701 impacts the turning of Output variable 710. Central orthogonal shaft 721 of shaft 70 I turns bevel carrier gears 705A 704A, 7G5B/7048 counter-clockwise with left, sleeve 702 held. When sleeve/gear 702 is held, gears 705A and 705B may rotate around gear 702 and transfer the motion to gears 706A and 706B through outer, larger bevel gears 704A and 704B. Finally gears 706A and 706B ot te Output gear 710. The counter-clockwise rotation of carrier gears 704A, 704B, 705 A, and 705B means that added gear 706A and 706B will rotate clockwise being meshed together. Since gears 706A and 706B drive outer sleeve 710, the outer sleeve 710 will provide a counterclockwise output which is the opposite rotational direction from the input variable.

[0411 On the other hand, with reference to Figures 7M, 7 and 70, it will be discussed how holding sleeve 708 (Control #2, clear to see in Figure 7N) impacts the direction of turn of output variable 710.. The. input central shaft 701. will still be rotating clockwise, but now holding 708 will cause carrier bevel gears 705A, 705B, 764A, and 704B to rotate around gear 708, clockwise. Then, outer gear 70 A,. 706B rotate counterclockwise and so output gear and sleeve 710 must rotate clockwise which is the same direction as input 70L

|042] Figure SB and Figure 8€ show simplified front views of a five variable (5 V) spur gear assembly similar In construction and using the same reference numerals as four variable (4V) spur gear assembly 600 of Figure 6A, side view, wherein Figure 8 A shows a three variable spur gear assembly before ring gears are added, control fit being sleeve arid first left: sun gear 602 and shows both left planetary gear 61 land right planetary gear^' 612 of a set of planetary gears. Figure SB is a simplified side view of Figure 8A (planetary gears 12 are not shown) showing usage of left planetary gear 61 1 for providing a Control #2. Figure 8B shows that a second control may be a first added outer ring gear 606 that may mesh with first left planetary gear 61 i of the set of planetary gears 611, 612. When ring gear 606 is held* planetary gear 61 1 rotates- around ring gear 606, then gear 61 1 rotates 612, then finally 612 rotates output gear 609 to achieve a first direction of output rotation. Now referring to Figure 8C which is a simplified front view of Figure 8A only showing right planetary gears 6.12 (planetary gears 61 1 not shown) which may be meshed by a second additional ring gear 808. Note that when the ring gear 808 is held, right planetary gear 612 rotates around ring gear 808, and 612 rotates output gear 609. In this case, the left planetary gear 61 1 is not in the loop (similar to gear 602 being not in the loop when ring gear 606 is held), in this manner, a second direction of output 609 rotation is achieved opposite to the first direction of output rotation. Consequently, five variables are achieved by input. 601 , three controls 602, 606 and 808 and output 609.

f Θ43] Figure 9 is a front view of concept for an N variable spur gear assembly where the five variable assembly of Figure 8C is supplemented by, for example, providing a multiple output gear that may be controiied by an additional ring gear -and planetary gear. The addition of a stepped diameter multiple output sun gear, a planetary gear for each stepped diameter sun gear and an additional control ring gear for each may provide speed control in addition to direction control and accumulation of inputs and so N variables selected from input, output and control variables.

|044] These, applications of variations and technologies of infinitely variable motion control (IVMC) with respect to embodiments of 3V, 4V, 5V .and. NY Transgear assemblies will be further described is the detailed description of the drawings which follows.

^'DETAILED BESGMPTIO

[045] The present invention is directed to three variable, four variable, five variable and N variable infinitely variable motion control (IVMC) Transgea gear assemblies useful, for ex m le, in generators, transmissions, vehicles, turbines (wind -and river) and pumps compressors among other applications wherein Transgear gear assemblies are used for control or accumulation. A plurality of different examples of Transgear assemblies having three variables will be described with reference to Figures^' I.A-5C, beginning with a bevel gear assembly, a miter gear assembly, a ring gear assembly and embodiments of a spur gear assembly . Fi gures 6A, 6B and 7A through 70 are directed to four variable Transgear assemblies where the four variables are selected from input, output and control variables. Figures 8A through 8C (with reference to 4V Figures 6A to Figure 6B) are directed to a five variable Transgear assembly where the five variables are selected from input, output and control variables. Figure 9 shows how an N variable gear assembly may be designed to comprise a stepped diameter multiple output sun gear and an associated planetary gear and control ring gear for each stepped diameter of the multiple output sun gear where the N variables are selectable from Input, output and control variables. Tr3s¾ ear #1 and #2; Bevel Gear Transgg

[046] A bevel gear assembly 100, 150, for example, shown in Figure 1 A (from view) and IB (front view), are examples of a ^'fransgear assembly having three variables, input, output and control (or in an alternate application, for example, two inputs and an output). Bevel gear Transgear assemblies may be used, for example, as three variable clutches, differentials, speed control, direction control or other three variable uses, and their application for direction control will be explained with reference to four variable en bod i mortis.

|047| Referring to front, view FIG, 1(A), assembly 100 (shaft embodiment), for example, an input gear 106 may be attached to and may be integral with input shaft 101 extending the length of assembly 100; (a shaft. 110 is also seen in the center of corresponding side view FIG. 1 (B) (sleeve embodiment assembly 150) extending the length of assembly 150). Carrier gears 102A and 1Θ2Β of assemblies 100, 150 are meshed to either the left sun gear 106 of shaft 101 (shaft and sleeve embodiment 100) or a carrier center block portion 117 and shafts/pins 103 A, 1038 of shaft 1 10 of assembly 150 (sleeve embodiment) and rotate freely on carrier shafts pins 103A and 103B. Output gear and sleeve 104 is meshed t carrier gears 1:028 (at bottom) and 102 A (at top) and provides an Integral output sleeve .104 in the form of a right sleeve and ou put bevel gear 104, for example, external to and surrounding the input shaft 101 which extends through the assembly 100 in Figure 1A. Carrier shafts 103 A, 1038 are attached to a carrier center block portion 116 which surrounds input shaft 101 of assembly 100. The carrier center block portion 1 17 is integral with shafts 1 10, 103 A and 103B in assembly 150. Carrier bevel gears 1 2A, 102B are assembled around the carrier shafts 103A. 103^'B -respectively and may rotate freely in either assembly 100, .150.

|Θ48] With respect to assembly 100, when an input is connected to rotate input shaft 101 (for example, motor or propeller driven by wind or water) and carrier assembly 102A/I02B/103A/I03B/116 is fixed (does not move), carrier gears 102 A, 102B become idle gears and output gear 1 4 rotate at the same speed/rpm but in opposite directions from the input sun gear 106 of shaft 101. When gea 104 is fixed (does not move) and shaft 101 rotates, carrier gears 102 A, 102B rotate and so must the carrier assembly block shaft 1 16/103 A/103B, for example, at one half the rotational speed of the input shaft 101 and in the same direction. Gears 102A and 102B ar called idle gears (the carriers). So, for example, carrier assembly 1O2A/1 2B/103A 1O3B/1 16 may .be fixed or rotate and may control output based on input. The assembly 100 -thus comprises a bevel gear Transgear assembly 100 with input, output and control.

|Θ49] The elements of .the drawings, for example, denoted with "B" at the end of each reference numeral (see. for example, FIG. ! A, IB, reference numerals 103 A, 103 B, 192A_S 102B) refer to an extra set of com onents, such as carrier shaft portions, and gears for other than a functional purpose. For example, .gear 103 B may, however, provide greater torque capacity and dynamically balance the system when matched with carrier gear 103 A.

[950] Transgear assembly 150 (sleeve embodiment) operates similarly to assembly 100 (shaft and sleeve embodiment). Shaft 110^' may be assigned an input variable and sleeve 105 may likewise be assigned a control variable or be a control variable. When shaft 1 1^'O rotates clockwise* s does the integral or attached carrier center block 1 17 and carrier shafts 103 A, 103B. If sleeve 105 is held (does not move) and carrier assembly rotates, then carrier gears I.02A and 102B are rotating freely on shafts 103 A and 103B and must be rotated around gear 105. Then, if output is assigned to sleeve and gear 104 the output must rotate clockwise. If the sleeve .105 is free to rotate, the output 104 is free wheeling.

[051 ] Figure 1C, side view, shows two carrier gears i 02A and 102B spaced at_. 180 degree^'s from ©he -another ^'(also called idle gears). Figure IC shows four carrier gears 10 A, 102B, 1Q2C and 102-D spaced at 90 degrees from one another. There may also be a three gear -embodiment with ^'three carrier gears spaced 120 degrees from one another (not shown). In embodiments 100, 150, the number of carrier gears should not be considered to be limited to four. There may be as many carrier gears as practical for the particular application, for example, five or six carrier gears.

.952] Transgear #3 and #4: 3 V Miter Gear Transgear Assemblies

[ 531 Farther, alternative miter gear Transgear gear assemblies 200, 250 are shown in Figure 2A (front view) assembly 200 and Figure 2B (front view) assembly 250 wherein Figure 2A. represents that an input may be a shaft 201 and integral miter sun gear 206 (shaft and sleeve embodiment) and in Figure 2B a shaft 210 having a carrier center block 217 with orthogonal carrier shafts 21.1 A, 21 IB (sleeve embodiment with first sleeve 205 and second sleeve 204). Carrier assembly 216/203A 203B 202A 202B may be an input or a control. Miter gear assemblies comprise the same size bevel gears, In either embodiment 200 or 250, three variable miter gear Transgear gear assembly 200, 250 may comprise embodiments of a three variable miter gear Transgear gear assembly similar n operation to that shown in Figure I A and IB bevel gear assembly 100, 150. Bevel/miter gear Transgear gear assemblies 100, 150, 200 or 250 may be used to create different gear ratios depending on which shafts, gears or carrier to use as input output and control (fix or free). The assembly 100, I 50, 200 or 250 may provide speed control or provide accumulation of two inputs to an output, for example.

[054] Referring to Figure 2A and 2B, a shaft 201. 210 extends through the Transgear gear assemb y, (left to right in each of Figure 2A and Figure 28 and front to back in each of Figure 2C and 2D), In assembly 200, carrier shafts 203A. 203B rotate about carrier center block 2.16 which surrounds shaft 201, In assembly 250, carrier shaft 210. 21 1 A, 21 IB comprises a carrier center block portion 21? and has a rotating vertical shaft portion 2 s 1 A, 21 1 B that is orthogonal and shown as a vertical shaft in .Figures 2B and 2C, As shaft 210 and this vertical shaft portion 211 A, 21 I B turns, so do corresponding carrier miter gears 202A and 202 B which mesh with first (left) sleeve and miter gear 205 which may provide a control variable and miter gear. The input variable may be associated with shaft 201 or shaft 210 and its components in assembly 200, 250. A first (left) surrounding sleeve and miter gear 205 in assembly 250 may perform the Control variable and are labeled as 205. The left miter gear portion 205 of left sleeve and mite gear 205 meshes with corresponding carrier miter gears 202A, 202B. Corresponding miter gears 202A, 202B mesh with second (right) miter gear and sleeve 204. Right miter gear and sleeve 204 may provide the Output variable. Control 205 may be held or be free wheeling. Control 205 when held allows miter gears 202A and 202B to .rotate around control gear 205 and output gear 204 rotates in the same direction as the input but at two times the input speed/rpm. When control ^'205 is free wheeling, the Output 204 will be free wheeling. The control may be held or free or rotate in one or another direction at a different rotational velocity than the Input to control speed and/or direction of output 204. Assembly 200 operates similarly to assembly 100 described above.

055| Miter gear assemblies may be used to similar purposes as bevel gear assemblies. Ring gear Transgear gear assemblies, discussed next, may be used to create different gear ratios depending on which gears or carrier to use as input, output, and control (fix). Ring gear assemblies may be constructed as four variable assemblies by adding a spur gear assembly comprising carriers and planetary gears as discussed later herein.

|©56] Side views Figures 2C and 2D of three variable miter .gear assemblies show two and three idle (carrier) gears respectively where two idle gears may be spaced at 180 degrees and three idle (carrier) gears may be spaced at 120 degree spacing with respect to one another in side views.

1057] Transgear #5 and #6: a 3V Ring Qcar Transgear Assembly with Three (or Four)

Planetary Gears

|058| Referring now to figure 3A (front view shaft version where shaft version is defined as the shaft comprising a carrier assembly), Figure 3B (front view sleeve version defined where right sleeve 312 comprises the carrier assembly) and Figure 3C (side view showing three planetary gears), there is shown a 3 V ring gear Transgear gear assembly 300, 3 SO with three planetary gears spaced about a circle in side view. If a ring gear assembly is provided with spar gear carrier arid planetary gear components, it may be converted to a four variable (4V) ring gear assembly. Shaft 301 extends through the ring gear assembly 300 and has an integral or attached carrier ^'bracket portion 3Q3A which combined with carrier bracket portion 3Θ3.Β supports shafts/pins and the- planetary gears, for example, 304A, 304B_S 304G seen, in Figure 3C which may be spur gears or helical gears. Shaft 311 of embodiment 350 extends through assembly 350 and sleeve 312 has attached or integral carrier assembly (unnumbered) for planetary gears 304A, 304B_S 30 C, Ring gear 306 in either embodiment 300 or 350 comprises a surrounding sleeve of either shaft 301 or shaft 31 1. An outer ring gear 306 or an internal gear may be either a spur gear or a helical gear. Hence, Figure 3A, assembly 300 represents a shaft embodiment and assembly 350, a sleeve embodiment by the definition of supporting respective carrier assemblies. On the other hand, by the definition of supporting respective sun gears. Figure 3A» assembly 300, represents a sleeve embodiment and assembly 350, a shaft embodimen Figure 3 A is a front view of a three variable control ring gear Transgear gear assembly 300, Figure 3B is a front view of assembly 350, and Figure 3C is a side view of the same ring gear Transgear gear assemblies 300, 350 having three planetary gears 304A, 304B and 304C. Three planetary gears, 304A, 304.B, 304C spaced at 120 degrees apart on shafts pins are seen best in side view Figure 3C, Planetary gear 304A at bottom meshes with an attached or integral sun gear of shaft 311 and also meshes with ring gear and sleeve 306 in assembly 350, Planetary gears 304A, 304B, 304C mesh with, integral sun gear with sleeve 302 of assembly 300 and with outer ring gear 306. The three planetary gears 304 A, 04B and 304C in turn are seen meshing with ring gear 306 at top and at bottom sides (Figure 3C). One of the carrier 303A, 303B or the sleeve and carrier 312 may be held or free to rotate and so may be the control variable, The shafts 301. 31 1 are spaced by bearings, spacers or bushings from, for example, the sleeve of ring gear 306 and carrier assembly for planetary gears and pins and sleeve 312. Shaft and carrier 301 or ring gear and sleeve 306 may be the input or the control or the input or control may he the shaft 31 1 or sleeve and assembly 312, Other possibilities exist such that, there may be a freely assignable input output and control

!@S9f Assume thai the shaft 301 rotates and the ring gear 306 is held as a control. Then, the planetary gears-must rotate around ring gear 306 is either embodiment 300, 350. The sleeve sua gear 302 or the sleeve/earner 312 will rotate in the same direction as the input. If the ring gear 306 s set free, the output 302/312 will be free wheeling, [βδθ] Figure 3 A is & front view of a three variable control ring gear Transgear gear assembly 300 wherein the ring gear 306 has a larger diameter than th sun gear of right, sleeve 302. As seen in Figures 3A and 38, gears and carrier assemblies may be attached to either the shaft 301 or a sleeve 312, Three sets of planetary -gears and shafts/pins are seen in Figure 3C spaced 180 degrees- from one another. There may be three, four or more planetary gears meshed with outer ring gear 306. In other embodiments, he planetary gears may comprise sets of planetary gears of two planetary gears each as will be further explained herein when four and Rve variable gear assemblies are discussed.

061 ] When input is connected to ^'Input, shaft ^'301 and a control is fixed, the sleeve 302 may become the control, and ring gear 306 becomes the oatput, having a right side sleeve portion 302 surrounding shaft 301 of the ring gear Transgear gear assembly 300, The angular- velocity and the direction of rotation can be calculated by the formula below:

where N^'k the number of teeth (sun, ring), m is angular velocity of the element (sun, arm/carrier, or ring) where the formula is found under epicyclic gearing in Wikipedia. Since the -angular velocity and rpm are directly proportional, one may use the rpm instead. [^§62] As suggested above, a Transgear gear assembly such as assembly 300, 350 may be utilized to accumulate two inputs to an output and so the control carrier may be a second input. As suggested also above, any component of sun gear (of shaft 311), carrier shaft and ring gear may be any variable of input, control and output and, while shown as spur gears, may, for example, comprise helical gears,

16631 Xranssear #7: a 3V Spur Gear Transgear Assembly wife Tw Sets of Two EotBal Diameter Planetary Gears Shown in Perspective View

Θ64] Figure 4 provides a perspective view of a basic spur gear three variable Transgear gear assembly 400 having a shaf integral with or attached to a left sun gear (which may be a first assigned variable, in ut, output: or control with Variable J I shown). In this embodiment, the gear assembly may be three gears wide, four gears wide or five gears wide (as shown): left s n gear, carrier brackets (carrier brackets may be either brackets or gears) .and planetary- gears, d right sun gear, A first variable may be the left son gear, A second variable may be- the carrier gears, A third variable may be the right, sun gear. There are also shown two sets (pairs) of planetary gears, the lower pair being indicated as Planetary Gears_*

Transgear #7 and Mj A B&sh 3.V Sggj^earJ^

Three Sets of Two Planetary Gears Each

|θ5¾] Figure 5 A, Figure SB and Figure 5C is -a- further introduction to a basic three variable spu r gear Transgear gear assem bly 500 (for exampl e, with two sets of planetary .gears) where Figure 5 A is a shaft embodiment having ai¾ integral or attached sun gear 517 and a sleeve .506 an unlabeled -sun gear and Figure SB (assembly 550) shows a sleeve embodiment having first nd second sleeves 502, 506 with integral or -attached first and second sun gears, and Figure 5C shows two-sets of planetary gear m side view, for example, all four planetary gears having the same diameter (but having left and right sides). Varying the planetary gear width to comprise double width gears of different diameters or to construct and use single width gears of yet still different diameter are all within the scope of embodiments of a three variable spur gear assembly. One will also note that, in assembly 550, the diameter of left and right sun gears of sleeves 501 506 are the same. These diameters may vary in alternative embodiments with the result that different embodiments may result in differen output rotational speeds or be used for different purposes, for example, speed control, direction control and accumulation of inputs. [067] Figure 5A is a front view of a three variable control spar gear Transgear gear assembly 500 (shaft embodiment with left sun gear 517) and Figure SB is a front view of a spur gear Transgear gear assembly 550 (sleeve embodiment of both sen gears where sleeves 502, 506 hav the same diameter first and second son gears). One will note that Figure 5 A raay also show the locations of a third set of planetary gears placed at 120 degrees to one another, for example, as pairs of planetary gears shown In the same relationship as seen In Figure 3C with three single planetary gears. Two sets of two planetary gears each 507, 508; 507B, 508B spaced 380 degrees from one another are seen in Figure 5C having the same diameter and meshed to one another and meshed respectively to the equal diameter .first and second sun- gears 502, 506 having respective sleeves which surround shaft 51 1 (assembly 550), ^'These may be similarly meshed in assembly 500 with a first left sun gear of shaft 501 and a right sun gear and sleeve 506. Note from Figure 5A that Unlabeled shafts/phis support the planetary gears 507, 508, 507B, 508.8 respectively and are seen in side views Figure SC. A carrier assembly in similar crosshatehing indicates that the carrier assembly is attached together or integral with shaft 511 by carrier center bracket .521. Two ^'sets^' of un gears and two sets of planetary gears make three gear widths total, input, output and control variables may^¬ be assigned to any of shaft carrier 501, shaft 511, sleeve 502 and carrie 503, I alternative embodiments, the diameters of the sun gears may vary; the planetar gear diameters may vary; there may be single or double planetary gears and fee like (not shown). The double planetary gears in such embodiments may have different diameters for left and right sides of the double gears.

f068 In Figures 5A, SB and 5C, there are shown basic 3V spur gear Transgear gear assemblies 500 and 550; there may be a sleeve equivalent (sleeves 502, 506 supporting both .sun gears) 550 to shaft embodiment (left-Sun gear 517 of shaft 501 ) 500.

069j First discussing the operation of Figure 5A, embodiment 500, let us assume that the shaft 501 rotates clockwise (CW), and the carrier assembly 503, 504 is control and held. Then, the associated planetary gear 507 rotates counter-clockwise (CCW) and planetary gear 508 clockwise (CW). Therefore, sleeve 506 and sun gear will rotate CCW because It is meshed with planetary gear 508, When carrier 503 Is not held, the sleeve 506 will he free wheeling. Assembly 550 operates similarly. Sleeve 502 may be held as shaft 1 1 rotates clockwise. Then, a left planetary gear rotates CW, the right planetary gear CCW and output sleeve and sun gear CW. Otherwise, the output 506 is free wheeling. While spur gears are shown in Figures 5A, SB and 5C for, for example, sun gears, planetary gears -and carrier gears, in alternative embodiments, helical gears ma be used.

f®7§! Four yaria-jte ransgear assemblies: 4V Spur Gear Transgear Assembly #1 : An introduction Showing Added Ill Gsgj:

[©7.11 Figure 6A and Figure 6B provide mechanical diagrams and may he used as an introduction to a four variable (4V) spur gear Transgear gear assembly 600, 650 with at least three sets of planetary gears (three sets shown in side view. Figure 6B, assembly 650). Shafl pia (all unlabeled shaft/pins, for example, may be identical as shown) for planetary _.gear set 611, 612 shown. Planetary gear 612 is shown w-fthowt the left side of its associated shaft pin (unlabeled) in assembly 600 -and meshes with left planetary gear 61 ! and gear 609. Figure 6A is a front view of a four variable spur gear Transgear gear assembly 600 with an added ring gea 606 and is mechanically equivalent to the 3V spur gear Transgear gear assembly of Figure.5B and. 5C b¾t. for the added rin gear 606 which may be assi gned the- fourth variable for holding left planetary gear 61 1.of -set 61 i, 612. Figure 6B is a side view of a four variable spur gear Transgear gear assembl 650^' having first, second and third sets- of planetary gears of two planetary gears each .61 1, 612; 613, 614; and 15,61 of the same diameter and gear width spaced 120 degrees from one. anothe -(left planetary gear 61 1. within and meshing with the added rin gear 606).

|072] The four variable Transgear gear assembly introduces i Figure 6A, front view, a four variable spur gear Transgear gear assembly 600 having an added ring gear 606 which surrounds, for example, (minimum of) three sets of two planetary gears each, shown of equal diameter, wherein, in each set, th left {or right) planetary gear, for example, left planetary gear 611 may be meshed with added ring gear 606. Figures 6A and 6B are very similar to Figure 5B and Figure 5C but for foe addition of the ring gear 606 which may be assigned, for exampie, as Control #2, for example, for direction control of a vehicle. A Control #1 may he left sleeve and sun gear 602 for meshing with left planetary gear 6.1 .1. With sleeve S02 held, the output 609 is in the same rotational direction as the input as per .Figure 5A.

[0731 A basic concept of a four variable Transgear gear assembly is that there is an opportunity for four variables which may be input, output and control, but there may, for example, be two inputs, an output and a control (for .accumulation, for example) or one input and one output and two controls, for example, for direction control (as will be described), in yet another embodiment, there may be- one input variable, one control variable and first and second output variables depending on the application of the four variable Transgear gear assembly. All three variable Transgear gear assembly types may be -converted to four variable Transgear gear assemblies: bevel gear, miter gear, ring gear and spur gear. A ring gear assembly, for example, per Figure 3 A, 3B or 3€ may comprise a spur gear assembly including a carrier assembly and sets of planetary gears of different widths and diameters (or the same widths and diameters) and so be converted from a three variable to a four variable ring gear assembly.

|θ?4] Referring to Figure 6A and 6B, by way of example, three sets (pains) of planetary gears 61 1 , 612; 613, 614; 615, 616 are shown surrounding a shaft 601 with carrier assembly 603A, 603B, 603C and 603 D and associated shafts pins and planetary- gears and carrier cente bracket 620 such that the carrier assembly may be an input and left sleeve 602 may be a control. Ring Gear 60 may also be a control. Ring gear 606 is meshed with each first or left .planetary gear of each set of two planetary gears. The three pairs of planetary gears of equal diameter are placed at 1.20 degrees with respect to one another as seen in Figure 6B. The diameter of all planetary gears are- constructed to be the same in this example, but may have different widths (for -example, comprise a doable or single gear) and diameter. Also, the diameter of left sun gear of sleeve 602 is shown to be the same as the diameter of right sun gear of sleeve 609 in this example but may be different from one another depending on the application, For example, direction control, speed control or input accumulation. The shaft 6 1 with Integral or attached carrier assembly extends through the assembly 600 such that sleeve and left sua gear and sleeve 602 surround, a left side of shaft 601 per Figure 6A and a sleeve and right sun gear 609 also surround a right side of shaft 601 on respective sides of carrier center bracket 620.

[075] By way of example of assigning four variables to components, an input variable may be assigned to the shaft 601 and carrier assembly (sharing -the same cross-hatching).

The Input variable is given the same cross-hatching to include carrier brackets 603A, 603B, 603 C, 603D, and carrier center bracket 620. Carrier assembly 603A, 603B, 603C, 603D and the planetary shafts/pins (unlabeled) and carrier center bracket 620 all .have the same cross-hatching in Figure 6A suggesting that they may be assigned as input variable. A first control variable may be assigned to the left sleeve and sun gear 602, and a second control variable is assigned to the added ring gear 606. The cross-hatchiag is shown to be the same for control variables 602 and 606 and no hatching for the planetary gears and the output variable 609. An output variable may be assigned to- right sun gear and sleeve 609. Figure 6A shows, sleeve 602 as a first control to have the same cross-hatching while Figures 6A and 68 show ring gear 606 to have the same cross-hatching as a second control One control when held turns output sleeve 609 in the same direction as input and the other control when held turns output sleeve 609 in the opposite rotational direction.

|®76] In a four variable spur gear Transgear gear assembly, a shaft 601, carrier assembly 603 A, 603B, 603C and 603.D and shafts/pins/eamer center bracket may be the clockwise input (for example, the clockwise output of a motor) when control #1, gear 602, is held. The planetary gears are part of causing the output 609 to rotate in the same clock-wise directio as the input. When the left sun gear and sleeve 602 is held and the input shaft/carrier assembly 601 rotates clockwise, the .first left meshed planetary gear, for example, gear 6.1 1 may rotate around- the left sun gear 602 .in a clockwise direction (the same as- the input carrier assembly 603 A, 603B, 603C, 6030, 620 and shafts/pins). Then, the second righ planetary gear 612 meshed with it will rotate counter-clockwise. The right sun gear 609 will then rotate clockwise, the same rotational direction as. the input.

| 77] When the added ring gear 606 seen in Figure 6A and 68, as control #2, gear 606 is he while sleeve 602 is free to rotate, the planetary gear, for example, 611 meshed with it rotates around the ring gear 606 counter-clockwise. Then, the second planetary gear 612 meshed with it will rotate clockwise. As a result, the o tp t sun gear 609 will rotate counterclockwise which is the opposite direction of rotation from the input 601 and carrier assembly. As this discussion shows, the four variable Transgear gear assembly may be used as a direction control operated by the left sun gear 602 and the added ring gear 606 to switch output rotational directions. The four variable spur gear Transgear assembly operates because the second planetary gear of a set transfers Its rotation to the output right sun gear 609. This basic concept may also be used to develop a four variable bevel gear Transgear gear assembly discussed in detail below,

1078] 4V Bevel Gear Transgear Assembly 07 1 Figure 7 A is a front view of a four variable (4V) bevel gear Trartsgear gear assembly 700; f gure 7B is a side view of the same four variable bevel gear Transgear gear assembly 700 and Figure 7C is a top view. The 4V bevel gear Transgear gear assembly 700 Is missing (not shown yet) a right outer sleeve and sun bevel gear seen in Figures 7H through 70 but provides an mtroductioa to this assembly 700. Direction control in a 4V bevel gear Transgear gear assembly 700 occurs Irs the same manner as described above for a 4V spur gear Transgear gear assembly 600 by holding (fixed or not moving) one of Control #1 sleeve 702 and Control #2 sleeve 708 for a forward or a reverse direction Output (not fully shown yet).

[§80] Figures 7A through 70 show in sets of three Figures eac such as Figure 7A front view. Figure 78 side view and Figure 7C top view, how the 4V bevel gear Transgear gear assembly may function as a, direction control by holding control #1 ^'and then holding control #2, Referring to Figure 7A and 7B, it may be understood thai in carrier assembly 700, shaft 701 is attached to orthogonal shafts 721, 741 and to carrier center block. 751 may be assigned as an Input variable and when It turns clockwise, so turns the shafts 721. 741 and block portion 751. thereofin the same clockwise direction. As shaft/carrier assembly 701 turns clockwise, so must (double) bevel gears 705A and 70SB rotate- if left sleeve and bevel gear 702 are held. In general, If one of sleeve 702 (Control #1) or another component (Control #2) sleeve 70S is held, then, the output direction of sleeve 708 may be switched.

PSI] In Figures 7B- (front view), Figure 7E (side view) and Figure 7F (top view), the beveled gears 706A and 706B are added to Figures 7A, 7B and 7C (easier to see in Figures 7 and 7F) which are carried by orthogonal shaft 741. Components 706A and 7G6B are the second planetary gears and will be considered in relation to what has been explained above with respect to the second planetary gear transferring the rotation of first planetary rotating to the output gear, Gears 706A and 70.68 are meshed with upper carriers 704A and 7MB of double bevel gear 704A, 704B, 705A, 7058, The output variable is still not shown in Figures 7D through 7F.

\ i} In Figures 7G (front view), Figure 711 (side view) and Figure 71 (top view), the output outer sleeve 710 is now shown. Bevel gears 706A, 706B are meshing with 704A, 704B (upper or larger portion of double bevel gears) and outer sleeve and output gear 710, The bevel gears 706A, 706B will be considered with respect to transferring rotational output from double gear 704A and 7G4B to outer beveled gear and sleeve 7.10.

(083f Now in Figures 7J (front view), Figure 7K (side view) and Figure 7L (top view), it will be discussed how holding (Control #1) 702 with a clockwise input applied to shaft 701 impacts the turning of Output variable 710. When central shaft 701 turns as an input, gears 705 A, 7058 rotates around gear 702 as the first sleeve 702 and gear is held. The rotation of 705 A and 705B means that added gear 706A and 7Θ6Β will rotate through larger portion of double gear 70 A and 704^'B. Since 706A and 7G6B drives outer sleeve 710, the outer sleeve 710 will provide a counter-clockwise output As previously seen in 4V spur gear assemblies, bevel, gear 705 A and 7Θ4Α are equivalent to planetary gears 61 1 (double width), and gears 706.A and 706B are equivalent to planetary gear 612. Without gears 706 A and 7G6B, there will be no output

984] On the othe han * with- eference to Figures 7M₅ 7 and 70, it will be discussed how holding sleeve 708 (Control #2) impacts he direction of turn of output variable 710. The central shaft 701 will still he rotating clockwise, but now holding 708 will, cause carrier bevel gears 705 A and 705 B to rotate around control gear 70S and transferring the rotation to gears^' 706A and 706B through outer bevel gears 704 A, 70 B. Then, output gear and sleeve 710 must rotate- clockwise which is- t e same direction as input 701.

S]

[0861 Figure 8A Figure 8B and Figure 8C ail show &ont views of a five variable (5V) spur gear assembly similar in construction and using the same reference numerals as four variable^' (4V) spur gear assembl 600 of Figure 6A,. side view, wherein Figure 8 A shows the first control (Control #1) being sleeve and first left sun gear 602 and shows both left planetary gear 1 1 and right planetary gear 6 ! 2 of a set of planetary gears. The same reference numerals from Figure 6A will be used in Figures 8A, SB and 8C to refer to the same components. Figures 8B and 8C have been simplified from the spur gear assembly shown in Figures 6A and 8A which will now be modified to provide a further added ring gear 808 as a control for right planetary gear 612 (left planetary gear 61 1 is not shown). Figure SB is & simplified side view of Figure 8A showing left planetary gear 6Ί 1 meshed with Control #2 or added ring gear 606. Figure 8A shows that a second control may be a first added outer ring gear 606 thai may allow left planetary gear 61 1 of the set of planetary gears 631, 612 to rotate which in turn rotates right planetary gear 612 which in torn rotates output gear 609 in one direction. Note that when added ring gear 606 (Control #2} is held, gear 611 rotates around ring gear 606 and rotates gear 612 and rotates output gear 609 in the opposite direction. Now referring to Figure 8C which is a simplified front view of Figure SA only showing second, right planetary gear 61.2 of a set 61 1, 612 which may he held b a second additional ring gear 808. Note that when the second ring gear 808 (Control #3) is held, right planetary gear 612 rotates around ring gear 808 and so an output gear 609 will rotate m the same direction when control #3 is held. Consequently, five variables are achieved by input 601, three controls: sleeve 602, first added ring gear 606 and second added ring gear 808 and output 609. Controls l and #3 are producing the same direction bat different speed while Control #2 is producing opposite direction with respect to input 601,

[087] An N Variable Spur Gear Assembly Having a Stepped Diameter Output Gear |088] Referring now to Figure 9, there is shown a variation ©f the 5 V spur/ring gear assemblies shown i Figures SB a d 8C. As has been deserifeed above, an input variable may be shaft 601. A first control may be sleeve and sun gear 602. A second control ma be added ring gear 606. A third control may be added ring gear 808, Now, it will be discussed ho adding stepped diameters to an output gear 609 to form a stepped multiple diameter output gear 909 may contribute to ^'constructing an N variable spur gear/ring gear assembly. As has been described above, the two gear sets of planetary gears of a spur gear assembly such as planetary gear set 61 1 , 612 may be separately controlled to provide three control variables, for example, two of which being used for direction control In Figure 9, it is suggested to provide a multi-diameter multiple output sun gear 909, two different stepped diameters shown. The first smaller diameter Is meshed with planetary gear 612 A as described above for, for example, direction control The second, stepped diameter of output gear 909, according to the principles of adding a 6* control variable, is meshed with newly added planetary gear 9I2A which ma share the same pin/shaft with planetary gear 612A. Also, a 6^th control variable additional ring gear 914 is added to mesh with newly added planetary gear 12A which is carried by the same earner assembly. By continuing the stepping of diameters of output sun gear 909 (not shown), more associated planetary gears may be added to the same shaft/pin width-wise along with additional ring gears for control variables 14 until a practical maximum of N control gears is reached for the multiple sun gear 909. By stepping the diameter of the multiple output gear and sleeve 909, the additional control gears may function, for example, as speed control gears, More variables may be added to other embodiments described above by providing more, for example, double bevel gears or multiple bevel gears or multiple planetary gears,

1089] While various aspects of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood- that they have been presented by way of example and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the .relevant art(s) thai various changes in form nd detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary aspects, but should be defined only in accordance with the t l lowing claims arid their equivalents.

( 90] In addition, it should be understood that the figures in the attachments, which highlight the structure, methodology, functionality and advantages of the present invention, are presented for example purposes only. The present invention is sufficiently flexible and configurable, such that it may be implemented in ways other than that shown in the accompanying figures.

[09:11 Further, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the relevant ait{s) who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of this technical disclosure. The Abstract. is not intended to be limiting as io the scope of the present invention in an way.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. infinitely variable motion control apparatus including a three variable bevel gear assembly, the three variable bevel gear assembly comprising an assignable input, output and control variable.

CHARACTERIZED BY

the input comprising an Input shaft for receiving a mechanical rotational input for causing the input shaft of the assembly to rotate at variable rotational velocity along with a left beveled sun gear, the input shall extending through the bevel gear assembly.

the input further comprising the left beveled sun gear being one of attached to or integral with a rotating input shag,

the output comprising a right beveled sun output gear and sleeve for driving an output having a direction of rotational velocity the same direction or opposite in direction to the rotational velocity of the input shaft depending, on control, the^' output right sun gear a d^' sleeve, gear surrounding the input shaft.

a central carrier pin portion for allowing a beveled carrier portion to mesh with the left and right sun gears,

and

the control comprising a carrier assembly including a first carrier pin, the carrier assembly coupled between the input gear and the output gear surrounding, the input shaft, the control for controlling the output based on the input.

2. The bevel gear assembly of claim 1 having- two idle gears.

3. The bevel gear ransgear assembly of claim 1 having at least three idle gears.

4. The infinitely variable motion control apparatus- of claim 1 , the control further comprising

a left sleeve and su gear surrounding the input shaft,

the first carrier pin having an equal and opposite second carrier pin rotating in the same direction as the input shaft, the input being assigned to the input shaft,

the Input being assigned to the input shaft and first and second carrier pins, the control bein the left sleeve and sun gear and the output being me right sleeve and right sun gear.

5. The infinitely variable motion control apparatus of claim I, the input gear comprising a left sun gear, the output gear comprising a right sun gear having a sleeve portion surrounding the input shaft, the sun gear being meshed to carrie gears forming n assembly, the carrier assembly comprising first and second carriers and pins.

6. The infinitely variable motion control apparatus of claim 1 wherein said left beveled son gear and said right beveled sun output gear comprise spur gears,

7. Infinitely variable motion control apparatus including a four variable spur gear assembly, the four variable- spur gear assembly comprising an assignable input, output and control variable to components thereof having four variable assignments, the four variable spur gear assembly

CHARACTERIZED BY

a shaft for receiving a mechanical rotational in ut for causing the shaf¾ of the assembly to rotate at variable rotational velocity along with a sun gear, the input shaft extending through the four variable spur gear Transgear assembly,

the shaft further comprising the sun gear being one of attached to or integral with- the rotating shaft,

a carrier bracket assembly and at least one set -of two planetary gears and pins, further comprising a first sleeve and sun gear surroundin the rotating shaft assignable as one of the four variables; and

a additional ring gear surrounding -the planetary gear set, the carrier bracket assembl and the shaft and meshed with the planetary gear set the additional ring gear assignable a s a second of the four variables,

the output comprising a second sun output gear and sleeve surrounding the shaft for driving ^'an output having a direction of rotational velocity the same direction or opposite in direction to the rotational velocity of the input shaft depending on control, the output right sun gear and sleeve gear surrounding the input shaft,

and

the output providing a similar direction of rotational velocity depending on holding a first assignable variable and the opposite direction of rotational velocity depending on holding the second assignable variable.

8. The four variable spur gear assembly of claim 7 unctioning as a direction control, &n input variable being assigned to the input shaft, first control assigned to the first sleeve and sun gear, a second control assigned to the additional ring gear surrounding the planetary gear set and an output variable assigned to the second sun gear and sleeve, the operation of one of the first and the second control causing the output rotational velocity to be one of the same or the opposite rotation direction from the input.

9. The four variable spur gear assembly of claim 7 farther comprising three sets of two planetary gears of equal width and diameter, one planetary gear meshed with the additional ring gear

10. The four variable spur gear assembly of claim 7 further comprising three ssts of planetary gears of different width and different diameter meshed with the additional ring gear.

11. The lour variable spur gear assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least one set of planetary gears of unequal width and .unequal diameter meshed with the additional ring gear.

! 2, The four variable spur gear assembly of claim 11 wherein the at least one set of planetary gears comprises three sets of planetary gears spaced at 120 degrees front one another.

13. The four variable spur gear assembly of claim 1 1 wherein the at least one set of planetary gears comprises four sets of two planetary gears each spaced at 90 degrees from one another.

14. The four variable spur gear assembly of claim 7 wherein the sun gear and the at least one set of two planetary gears comprise helical gears.

15. Infinitely variable motion .control apparatus including a four variable bevel gear assembly, the four variable bevel gear assembly comprising an assignable input, output and control variable to components thereof

CHARACTERIZED BY

the input comprising an input shaft for receiving a mechanical rotational input for causing the input shaft of the assem bly to rotate at variable rotational velocity along with a central cross shaft portion, the input shaft extending through the bevel gear assembly, the input further comprising the central cross shaft portion being one of attached to or integral with a rotating input shaft,

further comprising a first sleeve and beveled gear surrounding the input shaft, a second sleeve and beveled gear surrounding the input shaft and an additional ring gear surrounding a set of carrier beveled gears rotating around the central cross shaft portion of the input shaft, the output comprising a third outer right beveled gear arid sleeve surrounding the second sleeve and beveled gear and meshed to the ring gear meshed in turn to a carrier gear, the input shaft for driving an. output having a direction of rotational velocity the same direction or opposite in. direction to the rotational velocity of the input shaft depending on control, the third outer output right beveled gear and sleeve gear surrounding the input shaft,

aad

the control comprising one of the first sleeve or the second sleeve and associated beveled gear.

16. The four variable bevel gear assembly of claim 15 -comprising a third orthogonal shaft for supporting first and second beveled carrier gears meshing with the th rd outer righ beveled gear and sleeve.

17. The four variable bevel gear assembly of claim 15 wherein the bevel gear assembly comprises a- plurality of spur gears.

IS. A four variable ring gear assembly comprisin an assignable input, output and control variable to components thereof, the. four variable, ring gear assembly

CHARACTERIZED^' BY

an outer ring -gear and^' integral or attached sleeve surrounding, a shaft, the shaft extending through the four variable ring gear assembly and a earner gear assembly comprising a plurality of planeiary gears meshed with the oute ring gear and being equally spaced about, the outer ring gear as first planetary gears of first and second -planetary gear sets, one planetary gear of one planetary gear set bein meshed with a sun gear.

19. The four variable ring gear assembly of claim 1.8,

the plurality of planetary gears ha ving different predetermined diameters.

20. The four variable ring gear assembly of claim 18,

the p lurality of planetary gears havin different predeterm ined widths.

21. The four variable ring gear assembly of claim 18,

the plurality of planetary gears having the same predetermined diameter.

22. The four variable ring gear assembly of claim 18.

the plurality of planetary gears having the same- redetermined width.

23. The four variable ring gear assembly of claim 18, ifcrther. characterized by & further outer ring gear serving as a further control variable meshed with a second planetary gear of the first and second planetary gear sets making a l ve variable ring/spur gear assembly.

24. The four variable ring gear assembly of claim 23. further characterized by an output gear being a multiple gear having different diameters, the first gear diameter being meshed with the second planetary gear of the first and second planetary gear sets and a second dif&rertt diameter having a first additional planetary gear meshed with the second different diameter, the first additional planetary gear being meshed with a additional outer ring gear making a six variable ring/spur gear assembly,

25. The four variable ring: gear assembly of claim 24 further characterized by providing additional planetary and ring gears meshed w th third, fourth through N different stepped diameters of the multiple output gear makin a^•multi- variable rirsg/spur gear assembly.

26. The four variable ring gear assembly of claim 18

FURTHER CHARACTERIZED IN THAT

the outer ring gear the sun gear and the planetary gears comprise spur gears.

27. The four variable ring gear assembly of claim 18

FURTHER CHARACTERIZED FN THAT

the outer ring gear, the sun gear and the -planetary, gears comprise he Meal gears.