Gyroscopic torque converter

[0002] The disclosures herein relate generally to power transmission and more particularly to a gyroscopic torque converter.

[0003] Many attempts have been made to provide an efficient mechanical power transmission device that can successfully be used between a constant speed power source and a variable speed load for appreciable magnitudes of power. Most of those devices have been faced with the same problem, namely, after a spinning flywheel has been precessed 180°, there is a change in direction of the gyroscopic torque that is developed. Previous devices have attempted to overcome this reversal by allowing the gyroscope flywheel to turn about four axes, namely, the spin axis, the precession axis, the power axis, and a fourth axis which keeps the output torque unidirectional. This leads to a complex mechanism which cannot practically deliver appreciable power in a machine of usable size. Furthermore, this complexity leads to a prohibitive manufacturing cost.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 1,992,457, discloses a torque converter in which a spinning gyroscope is given a unidirectional input precession motion and which will produce a unidirectional resultant torque on an ultimately driven member varying within a wide range of values according to the resisting load on the ultimately driven member, and in which the resultant output precession movements of the gyroscope take place about the axis of the ultimately driven member.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 2,639,631, discloses a torque converter which utilizes the gyroscopic torque by decreasing the flywheel spin speed during the portion of the precession cycle when the direction of the developed torque is opposite to the desired direction. Hence, a number of flywheels, each producing an oscillating torque which is greater in one direction, can be combined to produce a constant unidirectional torque.

[0006] Therefore, what is needed is a torque converter device which overcomes the problems associated with previous devices and which is not overly complex or costly.

[0007] One embodiment, accordingly, provides a torque converter which provides an efficient mechanical power transmission device that can be used between a constant speed power source and a variable speed load for appreciable magnitudes of power. To this end, a gyro torque converter includes an input shaft and an output shaft. An outer gimbal is supported by the input shaft and the output shaft. An inner gimbal is rotatably mounted within the outer gimbal. The inner gimbal is connected to be rotatably driven by the input shaft. A gyro is rotatably mounted within the inner gimbal.

[0008] A principal advantage of this embodiment is that the torque converter device avoids the problems associated with prior devices without undue mechanical complexity or cost.

[0009] FIG. 1 is an isometric view illustrating an embodiment of a gyroscopic torque converter.

[0010] FIG. 2 is an isometric view illustrating another embodiment of a gyroscopic torque converter.

[0011] FIG. 3 is an isometric view illustrating a further embodiment of a gyroscopic torque converter.

[0012] In FIG. 1, a gyro torque converter is designated 10 and includes an input shaft 12 and an output shaft 14. An outer gimbal 16 is supported by the input shaft 12 and the output shaft 14. An inner gimbal 18 is rotatably mounted within the outer gimbal 16. The inner gimbal is connected to be rotatably driven by the input shaft 12. A gyro 20 is rotatably mounted within the inner gimbal 18.

[0013] A first drive member 22 is connected to rotate with the input shaft 12, and a second drive member 24 is rotatably driven by the first drive member 22. In this embodiment, the first and second drive members 22, 24, respectively, are a pair of meshed gears, however it is recognized that other first and second drive members can be interconnected by a drive belt (not shown).

[0014] A first shaft 26 is connected to the second drive member 24 and to the inner gimbal 18 for rotating the inner gimbal 18. A second shaft 28 is mounted in the inner gimbal 18 for supporting the gyro 20. The first shaft 26 is positioned at an angle ∝ relative to the second shaft 28. The angle ∝ is less than 90 degrees.

[0015] A roller clutch 30 is mounted on the output shaft 14 so that the outer gimbal 16 is rotatable in only one direction. Roller clutch 30 is a commercially available device and can be purchased from Berg Manufacturing.

[0016] The second drive member 24 is mounted on an outer peripheral surface 16aof outer gimbal 16. Also, a counter-balance member 32 is mounted on the outer gimbal 16 and positioned substantially opposite the second drive member 24 to counter the weight of the second drive member 24.

[0017] In FIG. 2, a gyro torque converter 110 includes an input shaft 112 fixedly connected to rotate a first drive member 122. An outer gimbal 116 is supported by the input shaft 112. A second drive member 124 is driven by the first drive member 122. An inner gimbal 118 is mounted within the outer gimbal 116. A gyro 120 is rotatably mounted within the inner gimbal 118 and an output shaft 114 is connected to rotate with the outer gimbal 116.

[0018] An intermediate drive means interconnects the first drive member 122 and the second drive member 124. The intermediate drive means includes a plurality of gears 123, 125, 127 meshed between the first drive member 122 and the second drive member 124. It is recognized that other drive members can be interconnected by a drive belt (not shown).

[0019] A first shaft 126 is connected to the second drive member 124 and the inner gimbal 118 for rotating the inner gimbal 118. A second shaft 128 is mounted in the inner gimbal 118 for supporting the gyro 120. The first shaft 126 is positioned substantially at a right angle ∝ relative to the second shaft 128.

[0020] A roller clutch 130 is mounted on the output shaft 114 so that the outer gimbal 116 is rotatable in only one direction Roller clutch 130 is commercially available as mentioned above.

[0021] The second drive member 124 is mounted on an outer peripheral surface 116aof outer gimbal 116. Also, a counter-balance member 132 is mounted on the outer gimbal 116 and positioned substantially opposite the second drive member 124 to counter the weight of the second drive member 124.

[0022] In FIG. 3, a gyro torque converter 210 includes an input shaft 212 fixedly connected to rotate a first drive member 222. An outer gimbal 216 is supported by the input shaft 212. A second drive member 224 is driven by the first drive member 222. An inner gimbal 218 is mounted within the outer gimbal 216. A gyro 220 is rotatably mounted within the inner gimbal 218 and an output shaft 214 is connected to rotate with the outer gimbal 216.

[0023] An intermediate drive means interconnects the first drive member 222 and the second drive member 224. The intermediate drive means includes a plurality of gears 223, 225, 227, 229 meshed between the first drive member 222 and the second drive member 224. It is recognized that other drive members can be interconnected by a drive belt (not shown). The plurality of gears includes bevel gears 225, 227, otherwise the embodiment of FIG. 3 is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 2.

[0024] A first shaft 226 is connected to the second drive member 224 and the inner gimbal 218 for rotating the inner gimbal 218. A second shaft 228 is mounted in the inner gimbal 218 for supporting the gyro 220. The first shaft 226 is positioned substantially at a right angle ∝ relative to the second shaft 228. A roller clutch 230, as discussed above, is also mounted on the output shaft 214.

[0025] The gyro used in the foregoing embodiments is preferably an electrically driven gyro that may be fabricated or may be commercially available. The gyro can be continuously rotated by an electric motor. Rotation of one of the two shafts (input shaft) produces a torque on the other shaft (output shaft). Power in one shaft can transfer power to a load on the other shaft. In one example, a steel gyro 4 inches in diameter and 3 inches long, rotating at 3700 rpm, and with the power input shaft rotating at 5200 rpm, will transmit about 180 horsepower to the output shaft.

[0026] As it can be seen, the principal advantages of these embodiments are that a non-complex, cost efficient gyro torque converter is provided which has practical uses such as, for example, in automobile transmissions.

[0027] Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.