A power conversion device has a buckled wave disk that has an axis and is radially compressed between a hub and a wave ring. The buckled wave disk is buckled in the radial direction to form circumferential waves which are displaced in the axial direction and extending around the buckled wave disk with lines formed of inflection points of the circumferential waves extending between the hub and wave ring. The wave ring is outwardly radially displaced at nodes corresponding to lines formed of inflection points of the circumferential waves. A wave propagation actuator cooperates with the buckled wave disk for driving a wave and the lines formed of inflection points of the circumferential waves around the buckled wave disk. An outer ring surrounds the wave ring, the outer ring being driven by or driving the wave ring at the nodes. A method of making a wave disk is provided.

A stress-wave actuator is disclosed in which a stressed, elastic member is in frictional contact with a rigid element. A stress altering actuation travels along the elastic element, temporarily and sequentially altering the stress in a portion of it, thereby moving the stressed element relative to the rigid element. When the rigid element is an enclosure, and the elastic member is shaped and sized to be slightly larger in circumference than the enclosure, the elastic member is compressed and stressed. Altering the stress temporally and sequentially in portions of the elastic member causes it to be displaced relative to the rigid member. Stress alteration may be effected by magnetic, electric or physical means depending of the physical nature of the elastic element. The stress wave actuator may be configured to act as a high torque motor, a high gear ratio motion transfer device, and as a clutch.

A wave generator of a strain wave gearing is provided with a rigid plug, a wave bearing mounted to the ellipsoidal outer peripheral surface of the rigid plug, and four elastic claws that rotate integrally with the rigid plug. The balls of the wave bearing include balls in a loose state and balls in a tight state. The loose-state balls adjacent to the tight-state balls are applied with braking force by the elastic claws immediately before they transition into a tight state, and the orbital motion thereof is temporarily prevented or suppressed, whereby the gaps between the loose-state balls and the adjacent tight-state balls are secured. It is possible to prevent increase in rotational torque, damage to the balls or other defects due to ball-to-ball contact by the tight-state balls.

This disclosure relates to a decentralized electric rotating actuator with high torque output. Furthermore, the actuator disclosed may be configured for transmission of electrical power and communications through a network. The actuator includes, actuator housing 1, actuator shaft 2, power module 4, engine (electrical motor) 6a, a motor driver 6 including network module 5 or separate network module 35 and motor driver 36. The power (voltage) and communication signals of the actuator can be transferred internally in both directions via connection means, which may be slip rings or other appropriate connection means 3, between the actuator housing 1 and the actuator shaft 2 at connection points 14, 15. Power and communication signals can be continuously input to or output from the actuator of this disclosure via any connection port 17 located on the housing 1 or shaft 2; allowing the formation of a network with other actuators or similar devices. An increased torque ratio may be achieved by placing an electric motor 6a with external rotor 6b in combination with a strain wave gearing system 18 directly, or in connection, with a planetary gearing system 11 in which the electric motor 6a may be located in the centre of the strain wave gearing system 18. The electric motor 6a with external rotor 6b, with an oval shape and associated oval bearings 38, may be an integral part of the wave generator. Alternatively, the electric motor 6a with external rotor 6b may be present as a sun gear 21 with motor rotor running continuously. A hollow shaft construction may serve to maximise the space available within the actuator and to reduce the size by providing the necessary circuitry as well as other components in the most efficient and space saving manner.

A push-type transmission mechanism has a base, a plurality of fixing discs securely mounted on the base, and a driving component rotatably mounted on the base. The driving component includes a plurality of cam portions. Each fixing disc has a plurality of driven rolling components which can move in radial directions of the fixing discs and can protrude out of outer surfaces by abutment of the cam portions. An inner surface of a transmission block forms a corrugation structure extending continuously in a circumferential direction. The corrugation structure is abutted by the driven rolling components. Thus, speed is changed through the driven rolling component connecting to the corrugation structure. Besides, with the driven rolling components driven by the cam portions, power can be transmitted with high torque.

A power conversion device has a buckled wave disk that has an axis and is radially compressed between a hub and a wave ring. The buckled wave disk is buckled in the radial direction to form circumferential waves which are displaced in the axial direction and extending around the buckled wave disk with lines formed of inflection points of the circumferential waves extending between the hub and wave ring. The wave ring is outwardly radially displaced at nodes corresponding to lines formed of inflection points of the circumferential waves. A wave propagation actuator cooperates with the buckled wave disk for driving a wave and the lines formed of inflection points of the circumferential waves around the buckled wave disk. An outer ring surrounds the wave ring, the outer ring being driven by or driving the wave ring at the nodes. A method of making a wave disk is provided.

A circular wave drive system, and a method for use of a circular wave drive, are provided. In one embodiment, a circular wave drive is provided, the circular wave drive comprising: a substantially enclosed housing having a chamber therein, a ring-shaped wheel residing in the chamber, a wave generator having a wheel-driving portion that is oriented within the hollow central portion of the ring-shaped wheel; and an output element having a wheel-driven portion that is oriented within the hollow central portion of the ring-shaped wheel opposite the wheel-driving portion of the wave generator.

A disc recliner 18 for a seat assembly includes a fixed plate 22 secured to a seat cushion 12 and a rotatable plate 30 secured to a seat back 14. Each of the fixed and rotatable plates 22,30 has a plurality of teeth 40,48, the number of teeth not being equal. A flex spline 26 has a plurality of teeth 52, the number of teeth being equal to the number of teeth on the fixed plate 22. A wave generator 28 causes a portion of the teeth 52 on the flex spline 26 to meshingly engage with the teeth 40,48 on the fixed and rotatable plates 22,30. Rotation of the wave generator 28 causes the teeth 52 on the flex spline 26 which meshingly engage with the teeth 40,48 on the fixed and rotatable plates 22,30 to change, thereby causing the rotatable plate 30 to rotate relative to the fixed plate 22, which in turn causes the seat back 14 to pivot relative to the seat cushion 12.

Provided is a plate harmonic reducer, and more particularly, a plate harmonic reducer, in which design may be further simplified and a manufacturing cost may be reduced.

A push-type transmission mechanism has a base, a plurality of fixing discs securely mounted on the base, and a driving component rotatably mounted on the base. The driving component includes a plurality of cam portions. Each fixing disc has a plurality of driven rolling components which can move in radial directions of the fixing discs and can protrude out of outer surfaces by abutment of the cam portions. An inner surface of a transmission block forms a corrugation structure extending continuously in a circumferential direction. The corrugation structure is abutted by the driven rolling components. Thus, speed is changed through the driven rolling component connecting to the corrugation structure. Besides, with the driven rolling components driven by the cam portions, power can be transmitted with high torque.