Abstract:
A counter-rotation device is disclosed that has two hollow toroids. One toroid is placed within the other. The device can serve a multitude of purposes, e.g., whenever two counter rotating objects are needed for mechanical, electrical, or ornamental purposes.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/942,266 filed Sep. 16, 2004, which claims the benefit of and is a continuation-in-part of 10/198,462, filed Jul. 18, 2002, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/306,312 filed Jul. 18, 2001. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to the field of mechanical devices. More specifically, the present invention pertains to counter rotating devices. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Devices Other types of counter-rotation devices are know in the art, including those described in U.S. Pat. No. 401,156 discloses two counter-rotating drums one being outside the other, and both rotating about a common axis. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention the counter rotation of two closely-spaced toroids—one inside the other. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an above view of the first embodiment, illustrating the counter-rotation of the two toroid shapes. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is cross section of  FIG. 1  taken at section  2 - 2 , exposing the wheel/race system of the tear-shaped first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view showing the armature of the first embodiment with its attached wheels. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3B  shows the inner toroid of the first embodiment with its race.  FIG. 3C  shows the outer toroid of the first embodiment with its race. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a broken out section showing a cross-sectional view of the wheels and races of the first embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a break out section highlighting the wheel/race arrangement of the second-inner-armature embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of section  7 - 7  taken out of the second embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of a third outer circumscribing armature embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]    The present invention provides a system and method wherein a toroid shaped surface is placed within another toroid shaped surface, and the two surfaces are dynamically connected in such a way that they will counter-rotate with respect to one another. The outer surface of the interior toroid and the inner surface of the exterior toroid, in embodiments, are in close proximity to one another. 
         [0018]    Although the scope of this invention should not be limited to any particular use, it should be understood that the embodiments of the devices herein could provided self-stabilizing benefits. One known application is in gyrostabilizer devices. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,568,291 issued to Inman. Another use is in toys. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,586 issued to Davis. Other uses would be to make one or both toroids transparent to create an ornamental effect. 
         [0019]    A first embodiment of the invention is shown in detail in  FIGS. 1-4 . Looking first to  FIG. 1 , the device of the present invention comprises an exterior toroid  10  and interior toroid  12  as illustrated. Though each toroid is disclosed having nominal thickness, it should be understood that these toroids in reality would have some thickness. Perhaps even substantial thickness. Thus, it should be understood that each toroid could have significant thickness and still fall within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0020]    A space  14  exists between the toroids, namely inner surface  16  of the exterior toroid  10  and the outer surface  18  of inner toroid  12 . 
         [0021]    A rotation device (not shown) is provided within the hole  20  defined through the two toroids. This rotation device rotates the exterior toroid in one direction and the interior toroid in a counter direction to that of the exterior toroid. 
         [0022]    In embodiments, the toroids can be driven using a driving mechanism. The likely embodiment of the driving mechanism is an electric motor (not shown), or some sort of mechanical device such as a hand cranked mechanism (not shown) or a bicycle-type foot actuated drive system (also not shown). 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , also shows a more detailed view of a counter-rotation enabling set  19 . An armature  26  and bearing set  22  create a stationary base around which the toroids counter rotate. 
         [0024]    To begin the counter-rotational process, a rotational driving force is applied to the exterior toroid by one of the means described above. In the preferred embodiment to outer toroid  10 . More specifically, onto the outside of a race  30  on outside toroid. The device used to drive outside toroid  10  would likely be positioned within opening  20 . This, however, is a matter of choice. The driving device could be located in a location other than opening  20 . 
         [0025]    Instead of mechanically creating this rotational force to outer toroid  10 , other means could be used. For example, the desired counter rotation could be created by manually spinning the outer toroid  10 . 
         [0026]    In the preferred embodiment, armature  26  remains stationary. It may either be fixed to some stationary component of the motor, or fixed in some other fashion. Because the armature  26  is fixed, the rotation of the outer toroid necessarily causes the rotation of the inner toroid in the opposite direction. 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, the interior and exterior toroids may be made of vulcanized rubber. Other materials, however, will be known to those skilled in the art that could be used alternatively, e.g., metals, plastics, glass, etc., Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited to any particular material. 
         [0028]    The device and operation of the first embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4  will now be discussed in more detail.  FIG. 1  is kind of an X-ray view of the present invention. From this figure, it may be seen that the device of the first embodiment comprises outer toroid  10  and inner toroid  12 . Also shown in this figure is that the device  6  includes an armature  26  which enables counter rotation of the toroids, one within the other. 
         [0029]    Referring now to cross-sectional  FIG. 2 , we are able to see the inner workings of the device. This figure is actually taken at section two in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2 , however, makes it evident how the device works. The counter rotation between toroids  10  and  12  is enabled by a counter rotation set  19 . Counter rotation set  19  comprises numerous parts. First, the device includes a race  30  for outer toroid  10 . This race  30  has an inner rim which defines opening  20 . Race  30  also has an outer edge of the race  31 . The open center defined by the inside rim of race  30  may be viewed by referring back to  FIG. 1 . Race  30  also includes a rim  34 . Rim  34  is also defined on race  30  and is used to retain an armature wheel set, as will be described hereinafter. 
         [0030]    An inner race assembly  32  is also presented as part of the first embodiment. This race assembly  32  comprises an outer edge  33  and terminates in a V-shaped portion  35 , outer surface of which receives the wheels on an armature  26 . 
         [0031]    Armature assembly  26  may be seen in more detail in  FIG. 3A . The figure shows the armature before it is assembled into the device  6  between the two toroids.  FIG. 3A  shows a plurality of wheels  22  which are part of the armature assembly  26  are mounted on a plurality of angled shafts  24 . These angled shafts  24  are all welded or otherwise fixed onto a ring member  28  at an acute angle to one another. 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  shows the wheels and races of the first embodiment in more detail because it is a broken out section. Some features disclosed in this figure not yet disclosed are that the plurality of wheels  22  each possess a retaining mechanism (e.g. a nut) and a sleeve  38  with an enlarged opposing section. Sleeve  38  and nut  36  serve to maintain the wheel on the armature in a way which will be well known to those skilled in the art. Similar wheels have, e.g., been used on skateboards in the prior art. Here, however, these wheels will be used to enable the counter rotation of toroid  10  relative to toroid  12 . 
         [0033]    Armature  26  is the only part of device  6  which will remain stationary during operation of the device. As may be seen from  FIG. 2 , each of the wheels is pinned between inside race  32  and outer toroid race  30 . The plurality of wheels  22  are able to roll freely on armatures  26 . 
         [0034]    The races  32  and  30  of the present invention may be seen from another perspective in  FIGS. 3B and 3C  respectively. These features are sections drawn to help in the understanding of how the races are configured on the toroid sections. As may be seen with respect to inner toroid  12  in  FIG. 3B , the inner race  32  is what will receive the plurality of wheels  22  from inside. Referring then to  FIG. 3C , we see that the race  30  on outer toroid  10  contains and engages the plurality of wheels  22  from the outside. Viewing these  FIGS. 3B and 3C  while reflecting back on  FIG. 2  helps in this understanding. In  FIG. 2  we see that if race  32  were rotated in such a way that it is coming out of the page, the wheels  22  would drive race  30  into the page. The reverse of this principal is also true. If race  30  is rotationally driven into the page, the wheels  22  would drive race  32  in a direction which would be out of the page. 
         [0035]    In operation, armature  28  will be fixed to a portion of the motor, or some other stationary thing. The manner in which armature  28  is fixed is not shown in any of the figures, but one skilled in the art will understand that this may be done but simply welding or linking armature  28  to something stationary. 
         [0036]    Races  30  and  32  are fixed to toroids  10  and  12  respectively. Thus, because these races counter rotate, the toroids also will rotate opposite one another. Considering this in a more three dimensional sense, race  30  would be traveling counter clockwise around an axis through the center of hole  21  whereas race  30  (as well as toroid  10 ) would be rotating in a clockwise fashion. 
         [0037]    In the case that an electric motor is used, a wheel may be used to drive the outer toroid. The driving motor and driving wheel are not shown, but it will be understood to one in the art that motors able to drive rotating wheels are commercially available, and could easily be located and installed by one skilled in the art to impart rotation to the outside of race  30 , or to any other part of outside toroid  10 . It is preferable that the driving wheel would bear on the outside of race  30  of the outer toroid  10  because the outermost surface of the race  30  is exposed, and also located in close proximity to opening  21 . Though the driving wheel is not shown, if such a wheel were to apply a force conceptionally pushing race  30  into the page, race  33  which is fixed to the inner toroid  12  would be forced to come out of the page, thus creating counter rotation. 
         [0038]    Though the use of an electric motor and driving wheel has been described in most specificity herein, other means to drive the outer toroid could be used as well, such as mechanical pedaling devices, or simply manually rotating the outer race or toroid. Thus, all other driving means would also be included within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0039]    It is also possible, in other embodiments, that the armature  26 , not be fixed at all. In this case, the two toroids would still be able to rotate relative to one another. In such a case the armature, even though not fixed, would still enable the outer and inner toroids to rotate relative to one another. In the case that outer toroid  30  is angularly accelerated, the inner toroid  12  would likely rotate with it to a certain extent, but mostly not. This is because inner toroid  12  has significant mass and is able to rotate freely on the wheels  22 . Because it is not being directly driven by anything, it would substantially drag behind the angular speed of the forcibly driven outer toroid. This difference in angular velocities, even though the inner toroid would rotate in the same direction as the outer toroid, would still create a counter rotation, relatively speaking. Ultimately the rotational speed of the inner toroid would be significantly less than the speed of the outer toroid. Thus, the inner toroids rotation relative to that of the outer toroid would be a relative counter rotation. Even if this statement is semantically incorrect, the term “counter rotation” as used in this specification and in relation to this application is to be defined as including differences in angular velocity between the two toroids. Though it will typically be desirable that armature  26  be stationary, and that the two toroids rotate in opposite angular directions, the device will still work even if the armature is not stationary. In such a case, the two toroids will rotate in the same angular direction, but will have substantially different speeds. This speed difference will result in the inside surface of the outer toroid still moving relative to the outer surface of the inside toroid. In the preferred embodiment, however, the armature is secured in some fashion to make it easier to create greater counter rotation with less effort. 
         [0040]    An alternative embodiment  40  of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 5-7A . Like the first embodiment, second embodiment  40  has an inner toroid  60  which is located inside an outer toroid  58 . Device  40 , however, has a different kind of armature  42 . Armature  42  is internally disposed and has a D-shaped cross sectional appearance. Because it is located inside the toroids, an innermost surface  52  of the armature  42  defines the center hole of the device of the second embodiment  40 . Internal armature  42  has disposed thereon a plurality of wheels  44 . These wheels are received by a race  46  on the inner toroid. On the outer toroid, a race  48  is presented. The plurality of wheels  44  are received by races  46  and  48  to enable counter rotation much like the first embodiment. Unlike with the first embodiment, however, the internal armature  42  possesses a straight cross sectional portion  50 , a curved inner most portion  52 , and an angled wheel support section  54  which collectively create a D-shaped cross section.  FIG. 5  shows all these features in cross section. The curved inner most portion  52  defines the hole through the device. The angled wheel support, in cross section, is a straight short portion on which the angled shaft  56  are welded or otherwise fixed. 
         [0041]    The outer toroid  58  and inner toroid  60  will counter rotate with this embodiment in much the same way in which the toroids of the first embodiment  6 . Armature  42  is the only part shown in  FIG. 5  that remains stationary. As with the earlier embodiment, this armature  42  could either be connected to the engine in some fashion, or fixed to some other stationary thing in a manner that will be within the skill of those skilled in the art. Like with the last embodiment, a wheel could drive the device by engaging an outer portion  55  of the race on the outer sleeve  58 . Other means to rotate the outer toroid  58  could be employed as well. For example, the user could simply rotate the outer toroid  58  by pushing it with his hands. Regardless, upon the rotation of outer toroid  58 , inner toroid  60  will automatically counter rotate because of the rotation of the wheels. Thus, just like the last embodiment, rotation of the outer sleeve  58  in a counter clockwise manner will result in the clockwise rotation of inner sleeve  60  and vice versa. Even if done at moderate speeds a counter-rotation is created. 
         [0042]      FIG. 6  shows how the plurality of wheels  44  are included between the races to create the desired counter rotation. The fundamentals of this counter rotation may also be seen in  FIG. 7A  where, conceptually is easily able to perceive that the movement of race  48  on outer toroid  58  into the page will create a resultant compelling of race  46  out of the page. This is how the counter rotation is accomplished with this second embodiment—much like occurred with the first embodiment. 
         [0043]    Disclosed in  FIGS. 7B and 8  is a third embodiment  70 . Third embodiment  70  includes an outer toroid  72  and an inner toroid  74  just like the first two embodiments. Unlike these embodiments, however, an armature  76  is provided which is disposed on the outside of the toroids. Thus, these semicircular and external to the entire device  70 . It is essentially the same as the second embodiment, except that the third embodiment armature  76  of  FIG. 7B  is basically an inverted version of the former version of the second embodiment in  FIG. 7A . Inverted such that the armature exists on the periphery of the device instead of the interior. 
         [0044]    The second embodiment and third embodiment armatures are each more useful in certain situations. For some uses the armature and motor were more apt to be included within the hole of the device. In these cases, the centrally located armature  42  of the second embodiment would be more useful because the armature and races would be more accessible to the motor and drive wheel (not shown) which would be located near the hole. The third embodiment, however, might be more useful in a situation where it is desired that the motor and drive wheel are located somewhere external to the device  70 . This is because the armature  76 , which is the stationary component of the device, is obviously more accessible from the outside of the toroid with this arrangement. Conversely, the interior armature  42  of device  40  as the only stationary component is more accessible from the middle of the toroid. 
         [0045]    Now moving to more specifics regarding the third embodiment, we see that it&#39;s outside armature has a straight portion  86 , a linear cross sectional portion  88 , and an angled wheel bearing portion  90 , which is a short angled plate on which the wheel shafts  92  are fixed. The plurality of wheels  82  on this embodiment  70  rotate about the shafts  92  and enable counter rotation much like that disclosed in the second embodiment. 
         [0046]    As can be seen, the present invention and its equivalents are well-adapted to provide a new and useful counter-rotation device. Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0047]    The present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments, which are intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. Many alternative embodiments exist but are not included because of the nature of this invention. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0048]    It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out order described.