US 12,442,440 B2
Gear system
Andrew Robert Hawksworth, Newport (GB); and Saranjit Kular, Wolverhampton (GB)
Assigned to GOODRICH ACTUATION SYSTEMS LIMITED, Wolverhampton (GB)
Filed by Goodrich Actuation Systems Limited, Wolverhampton (GB)
Filed on Mar. 29, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/621,391.
Claims priority of application No. 23275057 (EP), filed on Apr. 5, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0337312 A1, Oct. 10, 2024
Int. Cl. F16H 49/00 (2006.01)
CPC F16H 49/001 (2013.01) [F16H 2049/003 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A strain wave gear system, comprising:
a circular spline arranged around a longitudinal axis;
a flexible spline within and coaxial with the circular spline;
a wave generator within and coaxial with the flexible spline;
wherein the wave generator is non-circular in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
wherein the wave generator is arranged to rotate about the longitudinal axis; and
wherein the flexible spline is arranged to flex in response to rotation of the wave generator, such that the flexible spline selectively engages with the circular spline; and
a bearing arrangement between and coaxial with the wave generator and the flexible spline;
wherein:
the bearing arrangement comprises a plurality of bearings that are spherical and a cage arranged to retain the plurality of bearings;
the plurality of bearings are located at more than two axial positions within the cage;
the plurality of bearings are arranged in a plurality of rows that are oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis, each of the plurality of rows comprises a plurality of the bearings disposed along an axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis; and
the bearings in each of the plurality of rows are offset along the longitudinal axial from the bearings in an adjacent row.