Non-Circular Gears

[Chief Pride]

http://www.wimp.com/planetarygear/

Wow... Does anyone have any kind of idea as to what this type of gear could be used for?

[IKE]

They are sometimes used as a function generator. For instance, if you used a particular geometry, you can input a constant speed, and the output it s sine wave.

[glennzo]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-circular_gear

It looks like most applications involve pumping fluids.

Non-circular gears (super oval flowmeter)
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqDTwP1a6bo&feature=related)

One web site mentioned high performance bicycles.

[PAR_WIG1350]

They basically act as cams, but instead of having a variable, linear motion output, they have a variable, rotary motion output, So they could be used for a lot of things such as rotary kickers that speed up when the flipper is near the ground or to move an arm (the closer to horizontal it is the harder it is to turn, thus, a variable gear ratio that has a higher reduction when the arm is horizontal than when it is vertical is ideal)

[Rick TYler]

Spirograph!

[kgzak]

My dad said the one was the same principle of the Wankel Engine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wankel_engine

[KarenH]

They are kinetic art.