The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 20, 2003
Filed:
Oct. 14, 1998
Yoshihide Kiyosawa, Nagano-ken, JP;
Hideo Asawa, Nagano-ken, JP;
Harmonic Drive Systems, Inc., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A wave gear drive ( ) includes an annular rigid internal gear ( ), an annular flexible external gear ( ) arranged inside of the annular rigid internal gear ( ), and a wave generator ( ) fitted inside of the annular flexible external gear. The wave generator ( ) includes a rigid cam plate ( ) having a predetermined outline, and a hub ( ) inserted into a fitting hole ( ) formed in the center of the rigid cam plate ( ). A transfer-torque control mechanism for limiting the torque transferred through the wave generator ( ) to the flexible external gear ( ) is defined by a nut ( ) that fastens the rigid cam plate ( ) and the hub ( ). When the torque equal to or greater than a predetermined value is transferred, a slip is generated in a rotational direction between the rigid cam plate ( ) and the hub ( ), thus limiting the transfer torque to a predetermined limit value. As a result, the torque limiter is not required. The use of the wave gear drive ( ), therefore, makes it possible to configure a small, compact actuator for driving the robot arm or the like as well as reduce the cost.