Three dimensional power transmission apparatus

摘要

Transmission of torque forces between an in put shaft and an output shaft is provided in an apparatus whereby the axis of the input shaft and the output shaft may be displaced 90 DEG in any direction. The input shaft and output shaft are respectively connected to a pair of drive plates, each pair of which is respectively rotatably mounted on a drive ring. The drive rings are rotatably mounted within a case which maintains the rings at a predetermined spaced-apart distance. A yoke assembly is rotatably mounted within each of the input and output drive rings, and are interconnected by a pair of revolving plates which maintain the input and output drive yoke assemblies at respective spaced-apart distances. The input drive ring and the output drive ring are each rotatable about respective predefined parallel axes, and are maintained in a predetermined relationship during rotation about the respective parallel axes by a pair of flexible cables interconnecting the input and output drive rings. In a similar manner, the input yoke and output yoke assemblies are each rotatable about respective parallel axes and are maintained in predetermined relationship during rotation about their respective axes by a pair of cables interconnecting the input and output yoke assemblies.