The Orbitless Drive

Abstract

A fixed low-ratio Epicyclic drive is developed that resembles a Planetary drive but has crank-shaft pinions and an additional carrier replacing its ring gear. It provides half the reduction ratio of a Planetary drive with similar pinions, making reduction ratios at or near 2:1 practical. It shares many properties with a Planetary drive such as torque splitting and co-axial drive shafts that spin in a common direction but with no ring gear, reverse bending, or assembly criteria. It has many optional configurations and modes, does not slip or jam, is easily back-driven, has low pitch and bearing velocities, and favorable churning properties. It is a viable option for both reduction and overdrive applications that promises low noise / vibration / harshness (NVH) levels.