초록

A propelling and/or steering mechanism uses a planetary gear set and ring gear arrangement, in which the ring gear "floats" upon the planetary gear set, free of a center hub and a bearing connection.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] A drive mechanism comprisinga ring gear having an open annular space free of any interior structure, the open annular space being peripherally bounded soley by an interior peripheral gear surface and being otherwise free of a bearing surface,a sun gear rotatable within the open annu

[ I claim:] [1.] A drive mechanism comprisinga ring gear having an open annular space free of any interior structure, the open annular space being peripherally bounded soley by an interior peripheral gear surface and being otherwise free of a bearing surface,a sun gear rotatable within the open annular space of the ring gear about a rotational axis, anda planetary gear set presenting an exterior peripheral gear surface and being otherwise free of a bearing surface, the exterior peripheral gear surface of the planetary gear set operatively meshing with the sun gear within the open annular space of the ring gear for rotation about the sun gear, the exterior peripheral gear surface of the planetary gear set also operatively meshing with the interior peripheral gear surface of the ring gear to radially support the ring gear for rotation about the sun gear, the operative meshing of the exterior peripheral gear surface of the planetary gear set with the interior peripheral gear surface of the ring gear providing the sole radial support for the ring gear.