An apparatus includes a rotating drive component for a drive train, the rotating drive component comprising a first rotating element and a second rotating element, wherein the first rotating element and the second rotating element are arranged in a concentric arrangement such that the second rotating element is positioned within the first rotating element; and a shear element extending radially between and coupled to each of the first rotating element and the second rotating element, the shear element having a lower breaking strength than other components in the drive train, wherein if the shear element breaks, the first rotating element and the second rotating element are decoupled from each other and rotate independently of each other.

A drive module for rotating a first robot arm member relative to a second robot arm member comprising a motor, a gear head driven by the motor, a pinion driven by the gear head and a slip clutch including an input section with integral gear teeth driven by the pinon, and an output section configured to be coupled to the second robot arm member. A housing is disposed at least about the pinion and slip clutch and configured to be coupled to the first robot arm member.

A drive module for rotating a first robot arm member relative to a second robot arm member comprising a motor, a gear head driven by the motor, a pinion driven by the gear head and a slip clutch including an input section with integral gear teeth driven by the pinon, and an output section configured to be coupled to the second robot arm member. A housing is disposed at least about the pinion and slip clutch and configured to be coupled to the first robot arm member.

A strain wave gearbox configured to provide over-torque protection. The strain wave gearbox is designed to include a clutch that is at least partially housed within or positioned inside the internal space (herein labeled a chamber or void space interchangeably with internal space) of a flex spline. In some cases, the internal space is utilized to generate the preload for the clutch, and it may be used to provide room for a clutch preload subassembly. The clutch is located outside the flex spline's internal space and is formed to use geometric friction surfaces in the form of mating rings of teeth on mating surfaces or sides of the first and second clutch plates that once preloaded by the clutch preload subassembly require a greater torque than the design torque to rotate to the next tooth.

One embodiment of the present invention provides an actuator comprising: a housing having a mounting space part formed therein; a motor part provided inside the housing and generating power; a reduction gear part of which a plurality of gears respectively having an internal gear and an external gear sequentially engage with each other so as to transmit the power generated in the motor part; and a rod part engaging with the gear disposed at the last position, and linearly moving according to the rotation of the gear, wherein one of the plurality of gears is formed such that the internal gear and the external gear can rotate together or rotate independently.

One embodiment of the present invention provides an actuator comprising: a housing having a mounting space part formed therein; a motor part provided inside the housing and generating power; a reduction gear part of which a plurality of gears respectively having an internal gear and an external gear sequentially engage with each other so as to transmit the power generated in the motor part; and a rod part engaging with the gear disposed at the last position, and linearly moving according to the rotation of the gear, wherein one of the plurality of gears is formed such that the internal gear and the external gear can rotate together or rotate independently.

Embodiments of a system, method and apparatus for a gear are disclosed. For example, a metallic gear hub can include an axis of rotation and metallic gear teeth. The metallic gear teeth can be smaller than a final gear teeth size of the gear. The metallic gear teeth can be co-planar with the axis. In addition, the metallic gear teeth can be non-orthogonal to the axis. A polymer layer can be located on the metallic gear teeth to form polymer gear teeth on the metallic gear teeth. The polymer gear teeth can form the final gear teeth size of the gear.

Embodiments of a system, method and apparatus for a gear are disclosed. For example, a metallic gear hub can include an axis of rotation and metallic gear teeth. The metallic gear teeth can be smaller than a final gear teeth size of the gear. The metallic gear teeth can be co-planar with the axis. In addition, the metallic gear teeth can be non-orthogonal to the axis. A polymer layer can be located on the metallic gear teeth to form polymer gear teeth on the metallic gear teeth. The polymer gear teeth can form the final gear teeth size of the gear.

An actuator has an actuator housing engaged to a portion of a transaxle housing to define a space. A clutch assembly has a support shaft extending through the actuator housing and rotatably supporting gears in the space. At least one pin extends through one gear and a spring urges the pin into engagement with a second gear. An adjustment nut extends through the actuator housing and engages the support shaft to adjustably compress the spring. The actuator may further have an actuator housing forming a motor chamber and a gear chamber. A mounting plate detachably couples the actuator and pump housings, and the plate defines an opening through which a pump control shaft extends. A worm drive is disposed in the gear chamber and driven by an electric motor shaft, and drives a spur gear reduction, the pump control shaft being controlled by the spur gear reduction.

An actuator has an actuator housing engaged to a portion of a transaxle housing to define a space. A clutch assembly has a support shaft extending through the actuator housing and rotatably supporting gears in the space. At least one pin extends through one gear and a spring urges the pin into engagement with a second gear. An adjustment nut extends through the actuator housing and engages the support shaft to adjustably compress the spring. The actuator may further have an actuator housing forming a motor chamber and a gear chamber. A mounting plate detachably couples the actuator and pump housings, and the plate defines an opening through which a pump control shaft extends. A worm drive is disposed in the gear chamber and driven by an electric motor shaft, and drives a spur gear reduction, the pump control shaft being controlled by the spur gear reduction.