METADRIVE PLANETARY GEAR DRIVE SYSTEM

摘要

A planetary gear drive system in which the planetary gears are made of a resilient plastic or polymer compound so as to allow slippage within the system in response to over-torqueing, and a reverse drive incorporating the planetary gear drive system for use on motor vehicles.

主权项

1. A drive system, comprising:
a) a planetary gear system comprising a plurality of planet gears rotatably mounted on a planet gear carrier, a sun gear, and a ring gear; and b) a locking means for locking and unlocking the sun gear relative to the ring gear and for allowing and preventing the planet gear carrier from rotating, wherein the locking means is movable from
a first position for locking the sun gear relative to the ring gear and for allowing the planet gear carrier to rotateto a second position for unlocking the sun gear relative to the ring gear and for preventing the planet gear carrier from rotating, wherein when the locking means is in the first position, the sun gear rotates in the same rotational direction as the ring gear providing a first drive direction, and wherein when the locking means is in the second position, the sun gear rotates in the opposite rotational direction as the ring gear providing a second drive direction opposite to the first drive direction.