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A differential power coupling for generating forward and reverse motions and allowing stopping of the rotation for a vehicle using a rotational power supply to power a variable speed transmission having first and second outputs. The power coupling uses a rotational outside gear with an outside face

A differential power coupling for generating forward and reverse motions and allowing stopping of the rotation for a vehicle using a rotational power supply to power a variable speed transmission having first and second outputs. The power coupling uses a rotational outside gear with an outside face coupled to the first power supply, a rotational support body coupled to the second power supply and adapted to rotate axles of differential gears around a central axis, and at least one differential gear rotationally mounted on the axle attached to the rotational support body and coupled to the inside face. The differential gear is further coupled to the output shaft and adapted to create a fully variable rotation of the outputs shaft including forward, reverse and stopped rotation. A method is also described for controlling a rotational speed of an output shaft by converting an input rotation into a first and second rotation, differentiating the first rotation and the second rotation to achieve a third rotation; and transferring the third rotation to the output shaft as a function of the difference.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A power transfer apparatus for a vehicle including a rotational power supply, the apparatus comprising:a variable speed transmission adapted to convert the rotational power supply into a first power supply and a second power supply; a rotational outside gear coupled to the first power supply and

1. A power transfer apparatus for a vehicle including a rotational power supply, the apparatus comprising:a variable speed transmission adapted to convert the rotational power supply into a first power supply and a second power supply; a rotational outside gear coupled to the first power supply and adapted to rotate around a first axis, the rotational outside gear including: an inside face, a gear body defining the inside face, the gear body further defining an outside face; an outside tooth ring fixably positioned on the outside face of the gear body; and an inside tooth ring fixably positioned on the inside face; a rotational support body coupled to the second power supply and adapted to rotate around the first axis, the rotational support body including at least one body mounting location distal from the first axis, at least one differential gear rotationally mounted at the at least one body mounting location, the differential gear including a differential face coupled to the inside face, wherein rotation of the differential gear at the at least one body mounting location is proportional to a speed difference between the rotational outside gear and the rotational support body; an output shaft adapted to rotate around the first axis, the output shaft including a shaft face coupled to the differential face of the differential gear; wherein the power transfer apparatus includes only mechanical gearing positioned on parallel shafts; wherein the support body includes a main support body and a supplemental support body, the supplemental support body defining a first side and a second side; and wherein the differential gear comprises: a gear axle mounted to the main support body; a gear shaft rotatably mounted on the gear axle and passing through the supplemental support body; a first end gear attached to the gear shaft on the first side of the supplemental support body; and a second end gear attached to the gear shaft on the second side of the support body. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outside tooth ring is positioned parallel to the inside tooth ring.3. The apparatus of claim 1, the rotational support body comprising:a first body mounting location; a second body mounting location; a third body mounting location, wherein the first, second, and third body mounting location are equi-angularly spaced around the output shaft. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:an output mounting block including a rotational bearing supporting the output shaft. 5. A compact rotational power coupling apparatus for converting a first rotational power input and a second rotational power input to a rotational power output along an output shaft, the rotational power coupling apparatus comprising:a first rotational body rotated by the first power input at a first speed, the first rotational body including a first gear including an inside face and a first outside face; the first gear comprising: a ring body; an outside ring face fixed to the ring body; and an inside ring face coupled to the ring body; a second rotational body adapted to rotate independently of the first rotational body, the second rotational body rotated by the second power input at a second speed; at least one rotational comparator body coupled to the first rotational body, the output shaft, and the second rotational body such that any speed difference between the first speed and the second speed causes a proportional rotation in the comparator body as the rotational vower output; and wherein the second rotational body rotates about the comparator body and the output shaft. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, the second rotational body comprising:a rotational base defining a central rotational axis and at least one distal rotational axis. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, the rotational comparator body comprising:at least one elongated rotational support coupled to the rotational base at the distal rotational axis. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, the rotational comparator body further comprisinga rotational support body defining a central aperture and a differential face, the central aperture adapted to mount the central rotational axis on the rotational support body, and the differential face is coupled to the first gear. 9. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:an output shaft rotationally mounted along the central rotational axis, the output shaft including a shaft face coupled to the differential face. 10. A power coupling apparatus for a vehicle adapted to selectively and controllably transfer a rotational power input to a rotational output shaft, the power coupling comprising:a first variable transmission adapted to convert the rotational power input to a first power input and a second power input; a first gear coupled to the first power input, the first gear including an inside tooth set; a mounting body coupled to the second power input and adapted to rotate around a first axis, the mounting body including at least one mounting location defining a distal second axis rotating around the first axis; at least one second gear rotationally mounted to the mounting body at the second axis and coupled to the first gear, the second gear coupled to the rotational output shaft to rotate the output shaft as a ratio of the speed difference between the first gear and the mounting body, the second gear including a differential tooth set coupled to the inside tooth set; wherein the first gear rotates about the second gear; and wherein the output shaft is adapted to rotate around the first axis, the output shaft defining a shaft tooth set coupled to the differential tooth set. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, the transmission adapted to rotate the first gear at a first speed and the mounting body at a second speed such that zero rotation is achieved on the rotational output.12. The apparatus of claim 11, transmission adapted to rotate the first gear at a higher speed than the mounting body such that a first direction of rotation is achieved on the rotational output.13. The apparatus of claim 12, the transmission further adapted to rotate the first gear at a lower speed than the mounting body such that a second direction of rotation is achieved on the rotational output.14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the ratio is matched.15. The apparatus of claim 10, the at least one second gear including a first inner gear, a second inner gear, and a third inner gear adapted to position the rotatable output shaft on the first axis.