ARTICULATED RING SET

摘要

An articulated ring set includes a plurality of concentric rings connected by axles having axes of rotation that are perpendicular to the axes of symmetry of the rings. The axles are angularly offset from one another such that they are non-orthogonal and non-parallel to one another. In an embodiment, some of the rings define a race and the axles coupling the rings to other rings of the pluralit of concentric rings are slidable within the race. First and second coils may be positioned within an innermost ring and coupled to a circuit that senses current in one coil and, in response, induces a current in the other coil. Magnets in one or more other rings both induce current in the coils and are accelerated by current in the coils.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of concentric rings defining a plurality of adjacent ring pairs each including an inner ring and an outer ring having an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the inner ring such that the inner ring is insertable and rotatable within the outer ring; a plurality of axle pairs, each axle pair associated with an adjacent ring pair and including first and second axles positioned on opposite sides of the inner ring of the adjacent ring pair and defining an axis of rotation, the first and second axles rotatably coupling the inner ring to the outer ring of the adjacent ring pairs, the axis of rotation being perpendicular to axes of symmetry of both the inner and outer rings; wherein the axes of rotations of the plurality of axle pairs are at non-orthogonal and non-parallel angles with respect to one another.