A speed reducer that houses steel balls between two pistons.

Abstract

This system is a power storage device that uses off-peak electricity to raise a lead weight to the top floor of a building and store the energy. When needed, the weight is lowered to convert the potential energy into electricity, acting as a generator. The weight does not fall all at once but descends slowly over a long period of time, providing a speed reducer when necessary. The weight's gravity does not rotate the speed reducer; instead, all of it becomes a force that rotates the generator, and the weight's potential energy is not consumed by the speed reducer but is entirely converted into electrical energy. [Solution] When a piston pushes against the surface of the sand in an hourglass, the descent speed will not increase no matter how heavy the piston is. The force of the piston does not act on the sand, but all of it becomes the force that rotates the generator connected to the piston, and the potential energy lost as the piston descends is not consumed by the speed reducer but is all converted into electrical energy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a speed reducer that accommodates a plurality of steel balls between two pistons (PS1) and a piston (PS2) facing each other at a certain distance.

Background Art

[0002] An ordinary speed reducer involves a large frictional loss as the speed ratio increases, and decelerates due to frictional resistance. No matter how large a force is applied to the sand in an hourglass from above with a piston, the discharge speed of the sand does not increase according to the discharge speed. By utilizing this, it is possible to slowly rotate an object that rotates at high speed with a large force. This speed reducer can decelerate without any resistance and without energy loss, so it can be said that it has no resistance at all.

[0003] Patent Document 1 is an invention in which the sand in an hourglass is replaced with steel balls, and the size of the steel balls is made such that they do not enter between the piston and the inner wall of the hourglass. This speed reducer cannot operate continuously for a long time. Patent Document 2 proposes a discharge port such that many steel balls are not discharged from the discharge port at once, but are discharged little by little.

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Summary of the Invention

[0005] When the surface layer of the sand in an hourglass is pushed with a piston, the descending speed does not increase even with a heavy piston. The surface layer of the sand descends slowly even without being pushed by the piston, and descends using the self-weight of the sand as power. The surface layer of the sand in the hourglass is a part that blocks the descent of the piston and retreats by its own weight.

[0006] A "conventional gearbox," which slows down the rotation of a motor, is driven by the motor, and not only does the electric motor that drives the motor also drive the gearbox. If the surface of the sand rotates using its own weight as power, and the motor pushes the surface of the sand via a piston, then the surface of the sand will descend by the motor without using the motor's electrical energy.

[0007] A "conventional speed reducer" slows down the motor with frictional resistance, which is merely frictional resistance. A "conventional speed reducer" slows down the motor with a loss of electrical energy. The surface of sand acts as a speed reducer for the motor, slowing it down without any loss of electrical energy.

[0008] While batteries exist to power automobiles, batteries capable of storing large amounts of electricity, such as surplus solar power or nighttime electricity, are not recognized except for pumped-storage batteries that return large amounts of water to a dam. As explained in Figure 14, although a method of generating electricity while lowering a weight that has been raised high has been devised, in order to generate electricity for a long period of time by slowly lowering the weight, a speed reducer is necessary to slow down the weight as it falls rapidly. By employing the speed reducer that utilizes the hourglass principle of the present invention, all of the potential energy can be converted into electrical energy.

[0009] The speed reducer utilizing the hourglass principle of the present invention becomes easier to understand when compared to a "conventional door closer" that slows down a door. If the axis of rotation of a door is vertical and there is no frictional resistance around the axis of rotation, no force is required to rotate it. For a spring-operated door to start rotating no matter where you release it after opening it, a force greater than the static frictional force around the axis of rotation is required at every point. As long as a force greater than the static frictional force continues to act on the door, even if the static frictional force is small, the door will continue to accelerate and will produce a loud bang when fully closed.

[0010] A "conventional door closer" is equipped with a hydraulic tank and slows down using the viscous resistance of the oil sprayed from the tank. The spring built into the door closer requires a force greater than the viscous resistance of the oil, as well as a force greater than the static friction force of frictional resistance around the rotation axis. When the piston that presses against the surface of the sand in the hourglass moves in conjunction with the door, the part that prevents the piston from moving retracts on its own without the help of a spring, and all of the spring's force becomes the force that turns the door. Therefore, unlike a door that moves with a "normal door closer," it does not feel heavy when opening.

[0011] However, the door needs to be opened and closed many times, and the sand needs to be put back in place. A typical hourglass consists of two containers, one above the other, with an outlet in the middle. Sand from the upper container moves through the outlet into the lower container, and once all the sand has moved into the lower container, it is turned upside down to return the sand to its original position.

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the speed reducer of the present invention adds two pistons to an hourglass with two containers, one above the other. The piston in the upper container presses down on the sand in the upper container, and the piston in the lower container pushes up the sand in the lower container and returns it to its original position. As a means of enlarging the discharge opening when returning the sand to its original position, the root portion, which is the part of the hourglass where the cross-section gradually narrows, is made into a retractable cross-sectional side surface.

[0013] The two pistons are connected by a connecting rod with the cross section in the middle, and a large amount of sand is placed between the two pistons. As soon as the door stops and the two pistons stop, the container below becomes full of sand and the discharge of sand stops. The door does not stop midway, and the sand does not continue to discharge until the container is empty, like an hourglass.

[0014] As shown in Figure 3, when placed on a plane that is slightly inclined from the horizontal, the steel ball rolls and moves back to its original position. The speed reducer of the present invention replaces the sand with the steel ball, and by slightly lifting the steel ball after it has finished descending, the slope of the plane is reversed, and the steel ball can be returned to its original position with minimal energy.

[0015] As shown in Figure 1, the speed reducer of the present invention is a speed reducer in which a large number of steel balls contained in a container above the discharge port descend along the transverse side surface and are discharged little by little from the discharge port, causing the surface of the steel balls to slowly descend and the piston pressing against the surface of the steel balls to decelerate. The present invention aims to return the steel balls to their original position with minimal energy. [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0016] Both the hourglass and the speed reducer of this invention, which uses steel balls, utilize the phenomenon of objects falling from a high place to a low place due to their own weight. In order to utilize this phenomenon of falling due to gravity not just once but multiple times, the challenges are "how to return the speed reducer to its initial state" and "how to return the steel balls that have fallen to a low place due to their own weight back to their original high place." [Means for solving the problem]

[0017] All of the speed reducers of the present invention are as shown in Figure 1. "The container (SL) for housing multiple steel balls (SA) is provided with a cross-sectional side surface (WS3) that gradually reduces the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path of the steel balls (SA) to reduce the size of the discharge port (HS), and the piston (PS) that slides along the inner wall of the container (SL) is provided with two pistons (PS1) and piston (PS2) facing each other at a certain distance apart with the discharge port (HS) in the middle, and a connecting plate (PL) that connects the two pistons (PS1) and piston (PS2), and the piston (PS1) presses the surface surface (SAS) of the steel balls (SA) that are descending toward the discharge port (HS) by their own weight, and the piston (PS2) supports the steel balls that are discharged toward the discharge port (HS) as a reducer 1." In Figure 1, the root section (SLB) is a cross-sectional side (WS3) that gradually reduces the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path for the steel balls (SA) and thus reduces the size of the outlet (HS).

[0018] All the speed reducers shown in the embodiments of the present application have the same structure and operation. A large number of steel balls (SA) are accommodated between two pistons (PS1) and piston (PS2) facing each other at a certain distance, and they descend due to their own weight and pass through the discharge port (HS) little by little. The surface layer (SAS) of the steel balls descends little by little, and the piston (PS) pressing on the surface layer (SAS) of the steel balls moves slowly. If the distance from the surface layer (SAS) of the steel balls to the discharge port (HS) is long, the surface layer (SAS) of the steel balls will not descend due to the pressing force of the piston (PS). All the speed reducers shown in the embodiments of the present application have this speed reduction mechanism.

[0019] Also, as described in FIG. 3, the speed reducer 1 "Between the connecting plate (PL) connecting the two pistons (PS1) and piston (PS2), it is divided into an upper chamber (G1) and a lower chamber (G2) from the discharge port (HS), and there is a gap (Gr) not filled with steel balls (SA) in the lower chamber (G2). A speed reducer that stops when the gap (Gr) is filled." There is a gap (Gr) under the discharge port (HS), and the steel balls (SA) pass through the discharge port (HS). When the gap (Gr) under the discharge port (HS) is filled, the steel balls (SA) do not pass through the discharge port (HS). When the piston (PS) stops, the speed reducer also stops.

[0020] As described in FIG. 6 and illustrated in FIG. 11 for clarity, "The container (SL) of the speed reducer 1 is divided into two containers, a container (SLL) that accommodates a plurality of steel balls (SA) in a chamber (G) surrounded by two pistons (PS1), piston (PS2), and connecting plate (PL), and a container (WC) that mounts a transverse side surface (WS3). A speed reducer 2 in which one container moves along the other container."

[0021] Since all the speed reducers 1 shown in the embodiments of the present application include pistons (PS1), piston (PS2), and connecting plate (PL), a chamber (G) is formed when surrounded by them. A plurality of steel balls (SA) can be accommodated by a "box-shaped container (SLL) without a lid" having a chamber (G) with a chamber (G) and a "container (WC) corresponding to a lid" that mounts a transverse side surface (WS3). Figures 6 to 15 show embodiments of the speed reducer 2. In the speed reducers of FIGS. 12 to 14, the container (SLL) moves along the stationary container (WC), and in the speed reducer of FIG. 15, the container (SLL) moves along the stationary container (SLL). In either case, the speed at which the piston (PS1) approaches the transverse side surface (WS3) decreases.

[0022] As illustrated in FIGS. 12 to 15, a speed reducer for reducing the continuously rotating rotating shaft is "The speed reducer 3 in which a plurality of one of the two containers of the speed reducer 2 are connected and revolve around the rotating shaft (Z) and pass through the other container of the two containers." However, "pass through" is only a special case of the operation of "move along".

[0023] In FIGS. 12 to 15, there is a discharge port (HS) only in the middle of the two pistons (PS1) and the piston (PS2) facing each other at a certain distance, and this is the speed reducer of the present application. It operates as the speed reducer of the present application only when it relatively penetrates between the two pistons (PS1) and the piston (PS2). The operation of the speed reducer of the present application is when it "moves along".

[0024] The means for passing through is described in FIG. 14. As illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, "The piston (PS) of any one of the speed reducers 1 to 3 is the speed reducer 4 provided with an opening through which the transverse side surface (WS) passes." The "means for passing through" of the speed reducer 4 can also be adopted in FIGS. 12 and 13. When adopted in FIGS. 4 to 11, the distance that the steel balls (SA) are pushed and moved by the length that the piston (PS1) passes through from the base end portion to the tip end portion of the transverse side surface (WS3) becomes longer, and the deceleration time becomes longer. Also, the number of steel balls (SA) pushed back by the length that the piston (PS2) passes through increases, and the deceleration time becomes longer. This will not be described later.

[0025] Figures 4 to 9 show a speed reducer in which the container (SL) is slightly inclined from the horizontal, A reduction gear comprising a reciprocating slider-crank mechanism that converts the rotation of a rotating body (C) into the reciprocating motion of the piston (PS), wherein the cross-sectional side surface (WS3) oscillates between a place that resists the steel ball (SA) and a place that does not, and the steel ball (SA) rolls on a bottom surface (WF) that is slightly inclined from the horizontal plane, and the slope of the bottom surface (WF) reverses to return it to its original position. It is equipped with a retractable cross-sectional side surface.

[0026] The containers (SL) in Figures 10-14 are approximately vertical and represent an example of reduction gear 2. Multiple steel balls (SA) are placed inside a "box-shaped container without a lid (SLL)" and the entire box is lifted. The container (SL) in Figure 15 is nearly horizontal and contains multiple steel balls (SA) in a "box-shaped container without a lid (SLL)," but the box itself is not moved. In Figures 12-15, the discharge port (HS) passes relatively between the pistons (PS1) and (PS2), returning the device to its initial state. [Effects of the Invention]

[0027] Even with renewable energy generation, the facilities for storing the energy are insufficient. While there are facilities that store energy by returning large amounts of water to a dam, such as pumped-storage hydroelectric systems, when lifting water, it needs to descend slowly rather than falling all at once. The speed reducer of this invention is an effective means of converting large potential energy into large electrical energy. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0028] Figures 1-3 illustrate the process from the hourglass to the speed reducer of the present invention. [Figure 1] The two pistons (PS1 and PS2) move along the upper container (SL1) and lower container (SL2) with the discharge port (HS) as the boundary, and the descent speed of piston (PS1) that presses against the surface layer (SS) of the granular material follows the discharge speed of the granular material discharged from the discharge port (HS). [Figure 2]Take the container (SL) in Figure 1 on its side and remove the lower half to create a "bottom surface (WF) that is slightly inclined from horizontal," and replace the powder (S) with "steel balls (SA) that roll on the bottom surface (WF)." Reverse the slope of the bottom surface (WF) and return the steel balls (SA) to their original position. [Figure 3] If the upper container (SL1) and the lower container (SL2) are made into single-row containers (SL) where no steel balls (SA) rest on top of each other on the bottom surface (WF), the steel balls (SA) will continue to roll and will not stop along the way.

[0029] Figures 4-9 show a gearbox in which steel balls (SA) reciprocate on a nearly horizontal base (WF). [Figure 4] The rotating body (C) rotates continuously, while the single-row container (SL) swings like a pendulum around a fixed support shaft (SW). The direction of rotation of the rotating body (C) is such that both pistons (PS1, PS2) press against the downward-sloping surface of the steel ball (SAS), but do not lift the steel ball (SA). [Figure 5] When multiple speed reducers, as shown in Figure 4, are rotated simultaneously, the potential energy gained by the lifted container (SL1) and the potential energy lost by the pushed-down containers (SL2, SL3) cancel each other out, and the energy required to rotate the rotating body (CC) approaches zero.

[0030] Figures 6 and beyond show a speed reducer in which a box containing steel balls (SA) moves. [Figure 6] The rotating body (C) of the device in Figure 4 is a speed reducer that moves like a pendulum around the axis of rotation (O). When it rotates in the opposite direction to the rotation direction in Figure 4, both pistons (PS1, PS2) push up the steel ball (SA). The transverse side surface (WS3), which blocks part of the flow path and reduces the size of the outlet (HS), retracts, and the steel ball (SA) descends towards the piston (PS1) and returns to its original position. [Figure 7] This gearbox, which rotates in the opposite direction to the rotation direction in Figure 4, does not require that either piston (PS1, PS2) push up the steel ball (SA), and the container (SL) does not need to be a single row; the distance from the bottom surface WF of the cylindrical single row to the top surface may be more than twice the diameter of the steel ball. [Figure 8] Figure 4 shows a speed reducer with a fixed container (SL), where a piston (PS2) pushes up the steel balls (SA) and returns them to their original position. When the container (SL) is not arranged in a single row, the piston (PS2) cannot lift up the many descending steel balls (SA) even if it tries to push them up from below.

[0031] Figures 9-14 show a gearbox in which a box containing steel balls (SA) moves vertically up and down. [Figure 9] Containers (SL) that contain numerous steel balls (SA) rather than a single row must be used upright with gaps (Gr) between them. They cannot be used if the bottom surface (WF) is slightly tilted from the horizontal plane. [Figure 10] In this speed reducer, a box-shaped container (SLL) without a lid houses numerous steel balls (SA) that are balanced by a counterweight and pushed up along a vertical side (WS1) which has a transverse side (WS3). The steel balls (SA) are pushed up only by friction with the side (WS1), and the energy consumed during speed reduction is small. [Figure 11] When the container (SL) is used vertically, if the check valve (WG) is stopped with the outlet (HS) reduced in size and the steel ball (SA) is pushed up, then a force is also required to push up the steel ball (SA) above the check valve (WG).

[0032] Figures 12 onwards show a gearbox that reduces the rotation of the rotating axis (Z). [Figure 12] Four open box-shaped containers (SLLs) house numerous steel balls (SA) and rotate around a rotation axis (Z). In a speed reducer, each box-shaped container (SLL) passes along a transverse side (WS3) provided on a fixed lid, causing the piston (PS) of each box-shaped container (SLL) to move along the transverse side (WS3). [Figure 13] Four open box-shaped containers (SLL) house numerous steel balls (SA) and rotate around a pivot axis (Z), while multiple cylindrical rods (B) penetrate fixed lids and enter the containers (SLL) to form cross-sectional sides (WS3). [Figure 14]Four open box-shaped containers (SLLs) house numerous steel balls (SA) and rotate around a pivot axis (Z), with pistons (PS) in each box-shaped container (SLL) passing through the transverse sides (WS3) provided in the fixed lids. [Figure 15] A single open box-shaped container (SLL) houses and holds numerous steel balls (SA), and a transverse side (WS3) provided on a rotating body (C) that rotates around a rotation axis (Z) passes through the piston (PS) of each box-shaped container (SLL). [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0033] The details regarding Figure 1 are described above in the "Summary of the Invention." The piston (PS) shown in Figure 1(a) comprises a piston (PS1) and a piston (PS2) facing it at a certain distance apart. The pistons (PS1) and (PS2) are connected by a connecting plate (PL) with an outlet (HS) in between.

[0034] Container SL consists of two containers sharing an outlet (HS), and pistons (PS1) and (PS2) move along the inner wall of the upper container (SL1) and the lower container (SL2), respectively, above the outlet (HS). The arrows in the diagram indicate the direction in which the powder (S) falls. The size of the discharge port (HS) must be large enough to allow the powder (S) to be discharged without stopping. This size varies depending on the shape of the cylinder (SL) near the discharge port (HS), but it is generally considered that discharge will stop if the size is approximately six times the diameter of the sand particles.

[0035] Each of the upper container (SL1) and the lower container (SL2) consists of a section where the cross-sectional area of ​​the pistons (PS1) and (PS2) that move is constant, and a route section (SLB) where the cross-sectional area of ​​the pistons that do not move increases as they move away from the outlet (HS). The root section (SLB) is also a "cross-sectional side surface (WS3) whose cross-sectional area increases as it moves away from the discharge port (HS)," as described later. The speed reducer of the present invention is characterized by having a cross-sectional side surface (WS3).

[0036] The distance from the surface surface (SS) of the granular material pressed by the piston (PS) to the discharge port (HS) is the distance over which the piston's (PS) movement speed does not change significantly depending on the magnitude of the force applied by the piston (PS) to the surface surface (SS). If the upper container (SL1) is a cylindrical container, the portion of the upper container (SL1) that exceeds a certain length is not affected by the force applied to the surface surface (SS).

[0037] Numerous granular materials (S) are contained inside the container (SL) between the pistons (PS1) and piston (PS2). The numerous granular materials (S) contained in the upper container (SL1) gradually fall out of the discharge port (HS) due to their own weight and are contained in the lower container (SL2). The surface layer (SS) of the powder material descends slowly, and the piston (PS1) that presses against the surface layer (SS) of the powder material also descends slowly.

[0038] No matter how much force the piston (PS1) applies to the surface layer (SS) of the granular material, the rate at which the surface layer (SS) descends does not change, and the rate at which the surface layer (SS) descends follows the rate at which the granular material (S) is discharged from the outlet (HS) per unit time. A moving body (UN), not shown in the diagram, is directly or indirectly connected to the piston (PS), and the discharge rate of the granular material (S) does not change regardless of how much force the moving body applies to the piston (PS1). The speed of the moving body (UN) follows the descent rate of the surface layer (SS) of the granular material, and the moving body (UN) is decelerated. The granular material (S) descends by its own weight, not by being pushed by the piston (PS).

[0039] Since the large force of the moving body does not act on the powder (S), the speed reducer in Figure 1 does not consume the energy of the moving body. There is no energy loss during deceleration. Incidentally, in gear-driven speed reducers, frictional losses increase as the speed ratio increases, and when a moving object (UN) driven by a large force is significantly decelerated, it can decelerate to the point of becoming immobile, or it may not decelerate at all. Deceleration is by no means easy, and a portion of the moving object's energy is consumed as frictional losses.

[0040] The piston (PS1) alone can decelerate a moving body (UN) driven by a large force. However, without the piston (PS2), if only the piston (PS1) is present, the powder (S) will continue to be discharged from the outlet (HS) until the upper container (SL1) is empty, even if the piston (PS1) stops. With the presence of the piston (PS2), when the lower container (SL2) is filled with powder (S), the discharge of powder (S) from the outlet (HS) stops.

[0041] The volume of the container (SL) between pistons (PS1) and piston (PS2) is constant. If pistons (PS1) and piston (PS2) are the same size, the amount by which the volume of the upper container (SL1) decreases when the upper piston (PS1) moves down is the same as the amount by which the volume of the lower container (SL2) increases when the lower piston (PS1) moves down. The total amount of powder (S) is not enough to completely fill the container (SL) between the upper piston (PS1) and the lower piston (PS2), and there is always an unfilled cavity (AS) in the lower container (SL2). This cavity (AS) is called a gap (Gr).

[0042] Because there is a cavity (AS) in the lower container (SL2), the powder (S) is discharged from the outlet (HS). When the cavity (AS) disappears, discharge will stop. When the moving body (UN) stops, the upper piston (PS1) and the lower piston (PS2) stop simultaneously, but the discharge of powder (S) from the discharge port (HS) continues until the lower container (SL2) is completely filled.

[0043] When the lower container (SL2) is completely filled, a gap of the same volume as the cavity (AS) that existed in the lower container (SL2) is created between the surface of the granular material (SS) and the pressing surface of the upper piston (PS1) that presses it. The upper piston (PS1) becomes movable, and the moving body (UN) does not remain stationary. The duration for which the powder (S) continues to be discharged from the discharge port (HS) after the lower piston (PS2) stops is shorter as the size of the cavity (AS) in the lower container (SL2) decreases.

[0044] If the moving body (UN) that is linked to the piston (PS) is, for example, a door (D), and the door (D) is buffeted by a strong wind and accelerates rapidly, pressing strongly against the piston (PS), the rotational speed of the door (D) will be reduced to a predetermined speed according to the discharge speed of the powder (S) from the discharge port (HS). Moreover, because of the piston (PS2) below, if the door (D) stops, it will remain stopped almost simultaneously, and if the door (D) starts moving again, it will be reduced to a predetermined speed.

[0045] Here, we assume that the weight of the powder (S) stored in the lower container (SL2) keeps the lower piston (PS2) and the moving body (UN) that moves with it stationary. The weight of the powder (S) stored in the lower container (SL2) presses against the inner wall of the lower container (SL2), and a frictional force acts along the inner wall of the lower container (SL2). The powder (S) stored in the lower container (SL2) is supported by the piston (PS2) and this frictional force.

[0046] The frictional force acting along the inner wall of the lower container (SL2) prevents the piston (PS2) from rising, and if there is a sufficient amount of powder (S) accumulated in the lower container (SL2), no matter how strong the force pushing up the lower piston (PS2) is, it will not be able to push up the lower piston (PS2). When the moving object (UN) is a door (D), there is a drawback in that rotation in the opening direction is prevented once the door is partially closed.

[0047] To open the door, the piston (PS) needs to be raised. When the piston (PS) rises, the root section and outlet (HS) retract, and even if the root section becomes a cylindrical container (SL), as long as the cylindrical container (SL) is vertical, it cannot push up the piston (PS2) below. Even if it is not vertical, it is difficult to push and move granular material (S) such as sand.

[0048] Patent Document 1 describes how granular material (S) is transformed into rolling steel balls (SA). The size of the steel balls (SA) is such that they do not get stuck in the gap between the piston PS and the inner wall of the cylinder SL. Figure 1(b) shows a steel ball (SA) that is not large enough to enter the gap (GPS) between the piston PS and the inner wall of the cylinder SL.

[0049] As shown in Figure 1(b1), the force (F) acting on the steel ball (SA) by the piston (PS) passes through the point of contact between the piston (PS) and the steel ball (SA) and the center of the steel ball. Even if the steel ball (SA) is too small to fit into the gap (GPS), if the radius of the steel ball is smaller than the gap (GPS), a component of the force (F) pressing against the inner wall of the container (SL) acts, and the wedge effect of the steel ball (SA) widening the gap (GPS) prevents the piston (PS) from moving.

[0050] As shown in Figure 1(b2), if the radius of the steel ball is larger than the gap (GPS), then the force (F) that presses against the inner wall of the container (SL) does not act on the steel ball (SA), and the radius of the steel ball (SA) that does not enter the gap must be larger than the gap (GPS).

[0051] Steel balls (SA) are spherical objects made of iron that move along a drop due to their own weight. For example, they are the balls in a ball bearing, and are resistant to deformation and wear. Two adjacent steel balls (SA) touch each other at a single point and do not interlock like granular material. Two adjacent steel balls (SA) can either revolve around one steel ball (SA) or slide against the other, making them easily movable. Stainless steel is preferable to avoid magnetism.

[0052] However, as shown in Figure 1(c), when the flow path width (GSL) is slightly less than twice the diameter of the steel balls, the force of the two steel balls (SA) pushing against each other expands the flow path width (GSL) and a wedge effect occurs, causing the two steel balls (SA) to remain stationary and close the flow path. In a flow path where the cross-section gradually decreases as it approaches the outlet (HS), either through the route section (SLB) leading to the outlet (HS) or the transverse side (WS3) described later, such a wedge effect is not assumed to occur.

[0053] To use an hourglass multiple times, the sand that has fallen must be returned to its original height. Similarly, the speed reducer in Figure 1 needs to lift the granular material (S) accumulated in the lower container (SL2) up to the upper container (SL1). However, unlike granular materials (S), steel balls (SA) have a significant characteristic: "If the horizontal surface is only slightly inclined, the steel ball will roll and move due to its own weight." They can be returned to their original position without having to be lifted high. The following examples use steel balls (SA) that move under their own weight on a plane slightly inclined from the horizontal, rather than sand or granular material (S).

[0054] In Figure 2, steel balls (SA) are used instead of granular material (S). Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the container (SL) in Figure 1 when it is cut by a vertical plane passing through the central axis Z, and is a state diagram when the central axis Z is tilted from vertical to closer to horizontal. In Figure 2(a), the dashed line shows the lower half of the container (SL) below the horizontal when the container (SL) in Figure 1 is horizontal. The container (SL) in Figure 2 is the same as the container (SL) in Figure 1, but tilted on its side and the lower half replaced with a "bottom surface (WF) that is slightly inclined from the horizontal plane," where hh represents the horizontal plane.

[0055] Figure 2(a) shows the state when container (SL1) is above container (SL2), with Figure 2(a1) being the state when piston (PS1) has begun pressing against the surface layer (SAS) of the steel ball, and Figure 2(a2) being the state when pressing has finished. Figure 2(b) shows the state when container (SL2) is lifted and the slope of container (SL) is reversed, with container (SL2) above container (SL1).

[0056] Unlike powders and granules (S), steel balls (SA) on a horizontal surface will immediately begin to roll over due to their own weight even if the horizontal surface is only slightly tilted, so they will return to their original position without needing to be lifted. The present invention utilizes this property to decelerate reciprocating motion or continuous rotational motion.

[0057] Even if the powder (S) in container (SL) in Figure 1 is replaced with steel balls (SA), if the horizontal surface of container (SL) is only slightly inclined, all the steel balls (SA) in the upper container (SL1) will not move to the lower container (SL1). Also, it is not possible to return all the steel balls (SA) accumulated in the lower container (SL2) to the upper container (SL1). This can be achieved by making the lower half of container (SL) in Figure 1 a bottom surface (WF) that is slightly inclined from the horizontal surface.

[0058] In Figure 2, the upper container (SL1) is half the size of the upper container (SL1) in Figure 1, and the lower container (SL2) is half the size of the lower container (SL2) in Figure 1. The upper container (SL1) and the lower container (SL2) share a bottom surface (WF) and an outlet (HS).

[0059] As shown in Figure 2(a1), when the upper piston (PS1) begins to press against the surface of the steel ball (SAS), there is a space (SLG1) in the upper container (SL1) where there is no steel ball, and the upper piston (PS1) is movable. Since the upper piston (PS1) and the lower piston (PS2) are connected by a connecting plate (PL), if the upper piston (PS1) moves, the lower piston (PS2) also moves the same distance.

[0060] The decrease in space (SLG1) within the upper container (SL1) corresponds to an increase in space (SLG2) within the lower container (SL2) where there are no steel balls. If the space (SLG1) within the upper container (SL1) does not disappear immediately after the upper piston (PS1) begins pressing against the surface (SAS) of the steel balls, and the steel balls (SA) in the upper container (SL2) do not move into the lower container (SL2), then the upper piston (PS1) cannot move downward. Once all the steel balls (SA) have stopped, both the upper piston (PS1) and the lower piston (PS2) will stop.

[0061] The movement of the steel balls (SA) occurs when there is a gap beneath them, and the steel ball above it descends to fill the gap. The area previously occupied by the upper steel ball becomes a gap, and the steel ball above that upper steel ball moves. In this way, the entire respiration moves. The state when the movement of the gap steel balls (SA) stops is when the gap is completely filled and disappears.

[0062] As shown in Figure 2(a2), even if there is an empty space (SLG2) in the lower container (SL2) where there are no steel balls, if the steel balls (SA) that exit from the outlet (HS) ride up on top of the steel balls (SA) inside the lower container (SL2), or if too many steel balls (SA) are initially placed in the lower container (SL2), causing them to pile up and create a mountain of immobile steel balls (SA) in front of the lower piston (PS2), then there will be no space below the steel balls (SA) trying to exit from the outlet (HS). The steel balls (SA) will no longer exit from the outlet (HS). Figure 2(a2) shows a state where none of the steel balls (SA) are descending by their own weight, and all the steel balls (SA) are stationary.

[0063] The situation in which steel balls (SA) accumulate in the lower container (SL2), causing both the steel balls (SA) and the pistons (PS1 and PS2) to stop, will occur similarly even if the slope of the bottom surface (WF) is reversed, as shown in Figure 2(b). Therefore, both the upper container (SL1) and the lower container (SL2) must be containers (SL) on which steel balls (SA) do not accumulate.

[0064] Figure 2(b) shows that when the piston (PS2) of the lower container (SL2) moves in a direction that presses against the surface surface (SAS) of the steel balls in the lower container (SL2), the lower container (SL2) becomes the upper container (SL1) in Figure 2(a), and the piston (PS2) of the lower container (SL2) becomes the piston (PS1) of the upper container (SL1), resulting in the same gearbox as in Figure 2(a) where the piston (PS1) presses against the surface surface (SAS) of the steel balls. The gearbox in Figure 2 is a gearbox that decelerates both the forward and return journeys by reversing the slope of the bottom surface (WF) so that the steel balls (SA) reciprocate, and the piston (P) reciprocates in the same direction as the steel balls (SA).

[0065] The container in Figure 3 is a container (SL) designed so that steel balls (SA) do not accumulate in either the upper container (SL1) or the lower container (SL2) in Figure 2. Figure 3(a) is a cross-sectional view of the side of the channel, where hh is the horizontal line and the container (SL) is slightly inclined from the horizontal plane. Figure 3(b) is a cross-sectional view of the channel, an enlarged view of the channel cross-section as seen from the arrow bb shown in Figures 3(a) and 3(c1). Figure 3(c) is a plan view of the channel. Figure 3(d) shows a state in which multiple steel balls (SA) are pushed against each other and become immobile in a narrow channel.

[0066] In Figure 3, both the container above the outlet (HS) (SL1) and the container below it (SL2) are rectangular containers (hereinafter referred to as rectangular cross-section containers (SL)) as shown in Figure 3(a), consisting of two parallel sides (WS1, WS2) and a parallel bottom (WF) and top (WC). No more than two steel balls (SA) are arranged in the direction between the bottom (WF) and top (WC), while multiple steel balls (SA) are connected in the direction between the two sides (WS1, WS2).

[0067] A channel in which no more than two steel balls (SA) can be stacked on the bottom surface (WF), and in which the steel balls (SA) continue to descend without interruption due to their own weight, is hereafter referred to as a single-row channel. In Figure 3, the bottom surface (WF) of the rectangular cross-section container (SL) is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, and the steel balls (SA) continue to descend without interruption due to their own weight.

[0068] The container in Figure 3 is a rectangular cross-section container (SL) with an outlet (HS) located near the center. Similar to the containers (SL) shown in Figures 1 and 2, it consists of two containers sharing an outlet (HS). As shown in Figure 3(a), the common bottom surface (WF) of the two containers intersects with the horizontal plane (HH), and the two containers are the container above the outlet (HS) (SL1) and the container below it (SL2).

[0069] Hereafter, the length between the bottom surface (WF) and the top surface (WC) will be called the flow path height (GH), and its orientation will be called the vertical. The length between the two sides (WS1, WS2) will be called the flow path width (GW), and its orientation will be called the horizontal. In addition, the length perpendicular to the cross-section of a rectangular container will be called the flow path length (GL), and its direction will be called the longitudinal direction.

[0070] The piston (PS) consists of a piston (PS1), a piston (PS2) facing it at a certain distance, and a connecting plate (PL) that connects piston (PS1) and piston (PS2). Similar to the pistons (PS) shown in Figures 1 and 2, piston (PS1) and piston (PS2) move along the inner walls of the upper container (SL1) and the lower container (SL2), respectively. Piston (PS1) presses against the descending steel ball surface (SAS), and piston (PS2) receives the descending steel ball surface (SAS).

[0071] Each of the upper container (SL1) and the lower container (SL2) consists of a section where the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the piston (PS1) or piston (PS2) is constant, and a root section (SLB) where the flow path cross-sectional area decreases as it approaches the outlet (HS). Neither piston (PS1) nor piston (PS2) moves in the root section (SLB).

[0072] The route portion is a plane that rises perpendicularly to the bottom surface in the rectangular cross-section container (SL), and is hereafter referred to as the transverse side (WS3). The transverse side (WS3) is a side that crosses a flow path in which the flow path cross-sectional area decreases as it approaches the outlet. The base end of the transverse side (WS3) is in contact with or connected to one of the two sides (WS1, WS2) of the rectangular cross-section container (SL), and the space between the end of the transverse side (WS3) and the other side (WS2) of the two sides (WS1, WS2) of the rectangular cross-section container (SL) is the outlet (HS).

[0073] The protrusion located approximately in the center of the container (SL) shown in Figure 3(c) is a roughly triangular shape with the dashed line portion of one of the two sides (WS1, WS2) (WS1) as its base, as shown in Figure 3(c). The protrusion that attaches to one of the two sides (WS1, WS2) (WS1) and reduces the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path while leaving the outlet (HS) open will hereafter be called the facet (WSS). The flow path between the end of the transverse side (WS3) or the tip of the facet (WSS) and the other side (WS2) of the two sides (WS1, WS2) will hereafter be called the outlet (HS).

[0074] The two hypotenuses of the roughly triangular facet (WSS) are two inclined surfaces, both of which have ends that are continuous transverse surfaces (WS3) attached to one side (WS1) of the facet (WSS). The facet (WSS) has two transverse surfaces (WS3) back to back, and the transverse surfaces (WS3) are not parallel to the direction in which the steel ball (SA) descends toward the outlet (HS). These are inclined surfaces that cross the flow path which is not parallel to the direction in which the steel ball (SA) descends toward the outlet (HS).

[0075] The total volume of the empty space (SLG) in the container of the first track remains constant and does not change. The number of steel balls (SA) released from the outlet (HS) is the same as the number of steel balls (SA) that were in the upper container (SL1) decreasing, and the number of steel balls (SA) that were in the lower container (SL2) increasing. The decrease in the volume of the empty space (SLG1) in the upper container (SL1) is equal to the increase in the volume of the empty space (SLG2) in the lower container (SL1).

[0076] Both piston (PS1) and piston (PS2) move the same distance (L). Figure 3(c1) is a state diagram before the piston (PS) moves, and Figure 3(c2) is a state diagram after it moves. In Figure 3(c1), the volume of the shaded area in the upper container (SL1) is the same as the volume of the shaded area in the lower container (SL2) in Figure 3(c2). In both Figure 3(c1) and Figure 3(c2), the volume of the space (SLG2) in the lower container (SL2) where there is no steel ball (SA) remains constant and does not change. Therefore, the steel ball (SA) continues to pass through the discharge port (HS), and the moving piston (PS) does not stop midway.

[0077] Furthermore, if the piston (PS) stops midway, regardless of where it stops, the number of steel balls (SA) remaining in the empty space (SLG2) in the lower container (SL2) will gradually increase, and the steel balls (SA) at the outlet (HS) will also become stationary. All steel balls (SA) will stop moving before the empty space (SLG2) is completely filled with steel balls (SA). The more horizontal the bottom surface (WF) is and the more the steel balls (SA) on the bottom surface (WF) are barely able to descend by their own weight, the more likely it is that all steel balls (SA) will stop moving before the space is completely filled.

[0078] Before the piston (PS) stops midway and all the steel balls (SA) cease to move, a gap forms between the piston (PS1) and the surface of the steel balls (SAS). When the piston (PS1) starts moving again, it free-runs until it presses against the surface of the steel balls (SAS1). If the moving body (UN) that is linked to the piston (PS) is a door (D), then even if the door (D) stops midway and then starts moving again, the door (D) will be decelerated in the same way as before.

[0079] Instead of numerous steel balls (SA) exiting the discharge port (HS) all at once, they pass through the discharge port (HS) gradually, reducing the speed of the steel ball surface (SAS). Even if the piston (PS1) attempts to move in the downward direction of the steel balls, it is blocked by the steel ball surface (SAS), causing the piston (PS) to decelerate. The speed of the piston (PS1) is determined by the speed of the steel ball surface (SAS), and the speed of the steel ball surface (SAS) is not affected by the piston (PS1).

[0080] The larger the volume of the upper container (SL1) is compared to the cross-sectional area of ​​the outlet (HS), the longer the piston (PS) will decelerate. The larger the cross-sectional area of ​​the upper container (SL1) and the longer the length of the upper container (SL1), the longer the piston (PS) will decelerate. The speed reducer of the present invention operates in this manner, and this speed reduction mechanism is observed in all embodiments.

[0081] Let's explain Figure 3(d). As shown in Figure 3(d1), the weights of two adjacent steel balls (SA1, SA2) create a pushing force against each other, which widens the gap between the two sides (WS1, WS2). The line of action of the pushing force (F) passes through the centers of the two steel balls (SA1, SA2), and the component of the pushing force (F) presses against the inner wall of the container (SL), causing friction to stop the downward movement of the steel ball (SA1).

[0082] As shown in Figure 3(d1), the component force pressing against the inner wall of the container (SL) increases as the two steel balls (SA1, SA2) are aligned horizontally, causing the two steel balls (SA1, SA2) to remain stationary. As shown in Figure 3(d2), the component force decreases as they are aligned vertically, causing them to no longer remain stationary. Two steel balls (SA1, SA2) that remain stationary between two opposing surfaces in this manner are called wedge balls.

[0083] Two wedge-shaped balls are also formed between the bottom surface (WF) and the top surface (WC). Even in a single-row channel where no more than two steel balls (SA) are lined up between the bottom surface (WF) and the top surface (WC), if the channel height (GH) between the bottom surface (WF) and the top surface (WC) is slightly less than twice the diameter of the steel ball, the steel ball (SA) will not continue to descend without interruption due to its own weight. If it is greater than twice, the steel ball (SA) will pile up and form a block of immobile steel balls (SA). Therefore, for a single-row channel in which the steel ball (SA) continues to descend without interruption due to its own weight, the channel height (GH) must be much less than twice the diameter of the steel ball.

[0084] As shown in Figure 3(b), even if there are not two or more steel balls SA lined up between the bottom surface (WF) and the top surface (WC), as shown in Figure 3(d1), if the sum of the diameters of the two steel balls (SA1, SA2) is slightly larger than the flow path width (GW) of the container (SL), the force of the steel balls (SA1, SA2) trying to descend due to their own weight acts as a force that widens the flow path height (GH), and the two steel balls (SA1, SA2) remain stationary due to the wedge effect. As shown in Figure 3(d2), if the sum of the diameters of the two steel balls (SA1, SA2) is much larger than the flow path width (GW) of the container (SL), the more vertically aligned the two steel balls (SA1, SA2) are, the less likely they are to remain stationary, and the less horizontally aligned the two steel balls (SA1, SA2) are.

[0085] When a small steel ball (SA2) is mixed with a large steel ball (SA1), the sum of the diameters of the large steel ball (SA1) and the small steel ball (SA) is less than twice the diameter of the large steel ball (SA1). The flow path width (GW) through which the two steel balls (SA1,SA2) remain stationary is smaller when the diameter of the large steel ball (SA1) and the small steel ball (SA) pass through than when two large steel balls (SA1) pass through.

[0086] If the flow path width (GW) is large enough for two large steel balls (SA1) to pass through, mixing smaller steel balls (SA) with the larger steel balls (SA1) allows more steel balls (SA1) to pass through. However, as shown in Figure 3(d3), when three steel balls (SA1) pass through, mixing smaller steel balls (SA) with the larger steel balls (SA1) results in a greater force increasing the flow path width (GW) than when three large steel balls (SA1) are lined up side by side. Therefore, it is desirable that all steel balls (SA) contained in the container (SL) are the same size.

[0087] As shown in Figure 3(d3), the three steel balls that remain stationary are hereafter referred to as the three-wedge balls. The two-wedge balls and three-wedge balls are more likely to occur when the flow path width (GW) is slightly smaller than an integer multiple of the steel ball diameter, such as 2 or 3 times. As shown in Figure 3(d4), a curve formed by a chain of multiple steel balls (SA) is called an arch, and the curved surface formed by the chain is called a dome. Steel balls (SA) at the ends of arches and domes that support the arch or dome along the inner wall of the container (SL) are called support balls. Steel balls that do not follow the inner wall of the root section and that make up the arch or dome are called internal balls.

[0088] Arches and domes in which both the support balls and internal balls are stationary are called "unbreakable arches" or "unbreakable domes." The gaps that form beneath the "unbreakable arches" or "unbreakable domes" are not filled, and all the steel balls inside the container (SL) remain stationary. When the support balls of the "unbreakable arches" or "unbreakable domes" are supported at the root section, no steel balls (SA) are discharged from the outlet (HS).

[0089] A "non-collapsible dome" cannot be formed if the size of the outlet (HS) of the cylindrical container is greater than three times the diameter of the steel balls (SA). A "non-collapsible arch" cannot be formed if the size of the outlet (HS) of a single-row passage is large enough for three or more steel balls (SA) to pass through. As shown in Figure 3(d3), when the two sides (WS1, WS2) are parallel, an arch or dome made of three or more steel balls (SA) will collapse under its own weight even if the middle steel ball pushes apart the multiple steel balls adjacent to it.

[0090] As shown in Figure 3(d4), when the two sides (WS1, WS2) are not parallel (hereinafter referred to as a tapered flow path), in arches or domes consisting of three or more steel balls (SA), the central steel ball pushes out the adjacent steel balls, causing an upward force to act on the support balls. The outlet (HS) may be blocked without collapsing under its own weight. As shown in Figure 3(d3), when the support spheres are supported on the inner surfaces of two parallel containers (SL), the arch or dome formed by the chain of three or more steel balls (SA) collapses. However, as shown in Figure 3(d4), when they are supported on the inner surface of a tapered container (SL) where the flow path cross-sectional area decreases towards the bottom, they may not collapse.

[0091] When the size of the outlet (HS) of a cylindrical container is greater than three times the diameter of the steel ball (SA), and when the size of the outlet (HS) of a single-row container is large enough for three or more steel balls (SA) to pass through, the inner surface of the container (SL) above the outlet (HS) has a larger cross-sectional area than the outlet (HS), and the supported arch or dome is larger than the arch or dome discharged from the outlet, but collapses into the gap created after the arch or dome has been discharged from the outlet.

[0092] From the discharge port (HS) of a cylindrical container larger than three times the diameter of the steel balls (SA), and from the single-row discharge port (HS) that can accommodate three or more steel balls (SA), the steel balls (SA) are discharged by their own weight without interruption until the container (SL) is empty.

[0093] The larger the dome or arch, the more prone it is to collapsing. Granular materials (S) have irregular shapes and interlock strongly with each other, so large domes made up of many granular materials do not easily collapse. Steel balls touch each other without interlocking. Domes made up of only a few steel balls are prone to collapsing even if small.

[0094] Even though the size of the discharge port (HS) is more than three times the diameter of the steel ball (SA), a typical steel ball (SA) is larger than fine powder (S), so it cannot be said whether a discharge port (HS) that is six times the size of the particle size of the powder (S) or a discharge port (HS) that is three times the diameter of the steel ball (SA) is larger. Furthermore, when the steel ball (SA) is made as small as possible and the container (SL) is made as small as possible, the similarity law does not stand.

[0095] The gearbox in Figure 4 is a deceleration mechanism in which the steel ball (SA) reciprocates inside the container by repeatedly reversing the gradient of the bottom surface (WF), and the piston (PS) is decelerated in both the forward and reverse directions. The container (SL) in Figure 4 is the same as the rectangular cross-section container (SL) shown in Figure 3, and the piston (PS) in Figure 4 is the same as the piston (PS) shown in Figure 3.

[0096] In Figure 4, the end of the container (SL) is pivotally supported around a fixed support shaft (SW) located on the fixed part (W). The rotating body (C) is pivotally supported around a fixed support shaft (O) located on the fixed part (W), and the connecting shaft (Pcp) located on the piston (PS) is connected to the rotating body (C). In each drawing, the area on the paper is referred to as the fixed part (W).

[0097] The gearbox in Figure 4 is a reciprocating slider mechanism linkage device, in which the rotational motion of the rotating body (C) is converted into the reciprocating motion of the piston (PS). Due to the rotation of the rotating body (C), the container (SL) in Figure 3 swings up and down like a pendulum around the fixed support shaft (SW). Figure 4(a) is a side view, where Figure 4(a1) shows the piston (PS) being pushed into the container (SL) toward the fixed support shaft (SW), and Figure 4(a2) shows the piston (PS) being pulled away from the fixed support shaft SW.

[0098] As the rotating body (C) rotates further, Figure 4(a3) shows the state in which the piston (PS) is pulled as far away from the fixed support shaft (SW), and the connecting shaft (Pcp), the axis of rotation (O) of the rotating body (C), and the fixed support shaft (SW) are aligned in a straight line on the horizontal plane (hh). As shown in Figure 4(a3), there are two locations in which the connecting shaft (Pcb), the axis of rotation (O) of the rotating body (C), and the fixed support shaft (SW) are aligned on a single horizontal line (X).

[0099] As shown in Figure 4(a1), when the connecting shaft (Pcp) is above the horizontal line (X), the container (SL) slopes downward toward the fixed support shaft SW, and as shown in Figure 4(a2), when the connecting shaft (Pcp) is below the horizontal line (X), it slopes upward toward the fixed support shaft (SW). The steel ball (SA) reciprocates inside the container (SL).

[0100] The piston (PS), like the piston (PS) in Figure 3, comprises two pistons (PS1, PS2) and a connecting plate (PL) that connects the two pistons (PS1, PS2), and is inserted into the container (SL) and slides within the container (SL). Numerous steel balls (SA) are housed in the space (G) inside the container sandwiched between the two pistons (PS1, PS2), and a faceplate (WSS) and an outlet (HS) are provided on the inner wall of the container (SL) between the two pistons (PS1, PS2).

[0101] The two pistons (PS1) and piston (PS2) reciprocate within the container (SL) due to the rotation of the rotating body (C), and the chamber (G) between the two pistons (PS1) and piston (PS2) also reciprocates within the container (SL). The connecting plate (PL) is part of the piston (PS), which consists of two pistons (PS1) and piston (PS2) attached to both ends of the connecting plate (PL). The connecting plate (PL) moves along the top surface (WC) of the container (SL). The space (G) is below the connecting plate (PL) and above the bottom surface (WF) of the container (SL), and is sandwiched between the two pistons (PS1) and piston (PS2).

[0102] As the rotating body (C) rotates, it moves back and forth through space (G). When the rotating body (C) rotates in the direction of arrow A in the figure, as shown in Figures 4(a1) and 4(a2), the piston (PS) descends down the slope together with the steel ball (SA) and does not ascend up the slope while pushing up the steel ball (SA). Figure 4 shows a speed reducer for reducing the rotational motion of a motor or the like, in which the rotating body (C) rotates continuously in the direction of arrow A in the figure, and does not rotate continuously in the opposite direction of arrow A in the figure. The rotating body (C) rotates in a direction in which either of the two pistons (PS1) or piston (PS2) presses against the surface of the descending steel ball (SAS), and neither piston lifts the steel ball (SA). The arrows in the diagram indicate the direction of continuous rotation of the rotating body (C) or the direction of movement of the pistons (PS).

[0103] The piston (PS) constantly reciprocates within the container (SL) in the same direction as the downward movement of the steel ball (SA), always pressing against the surface surface (SAS) of the steel ball as it moves. The downward speed of the piston (PS) is reduced in accordance with the downward speed of the surface surface (SAS) of the steel ball. This is a speed reducer in which numerous steel balls (SA) housed inside a rectangular cross-section container (SL) between two pistons (PS1) and two pistons (PS2) pass through an outlet (HS) provided between the two pistons (PS1) and two pistons (PS2) in small increments, thereby slowing down the pistons (PS).

[0104] Ideally, the steel balls (SA) should be continuously discharged one by one from the discharge port (HS) without stopping along the way. Generally, in a route section continuous with a discharge port (HS) large enough for two steel balls (SA) to pass through, the closer the transverse side surface (WS3) is to being parallel to the downward direction of the steel balls (SA), and the longer the portion that is nearly parallel to the downward direction of the steel balls (SA), the more continuously the steel balls (SA) will be discharged one by one.

[0105] The center of the facepiece (WSS) is the outlet (HS), and two transverse sides (WS3) are provided back-to-back above and below the outlet (HS). The two inclined surfaces of the facet (WSS) are the transverse side (WSS1) far from the fixed support shaft SW and the transverse side (WSS2) close to the fixed support shaft SW, and the two pistons (PS1) and piston (PS2) face the transverse side (WSS1) and the transverse side (WSS2), respectively.

[0106] The space (G) is called a chamber (G), and is divided into a chamber (G1) on the side farther from the fixed support shaft (SW) and a chamber (G2) closer to the fixed support shaft (SW), with the outlet (HS) as the boundary. The volume of the space (G) is constant as the sum of the volumes of chamber (G1) and chamber (G2), but the volumes of chamber (G1) and chamber (G2) can increase or decrease individually, and an increase in the volume of one chamber (G1) or chamber (G2) results in a decrease in the volume of the other.

[0107] As shown in Figure 4(a3), there are two instances during one rotation of the rotating body (c) when the connecting shaft (Pcp), the rotation axis (O) of the rotating body (C), and the fixed support shaft S(W) are aligned in a straight line on the horizontal line (X), and in both cases, the volume of one chamber (G1) and the volume of the other chamber (G2) are at their maximum. When the container (SL) is horizontal, the steel ball (SA) stops moving and does not pass through the outlet (HS). The pistons (PS1) and (PS2) can move by pressing on the steel ball (SA), but they decelerate the stationary steel ball (SA) by moving it. This is not deceleration without frictional resistance, as when the steel ball (SA) descends by its own weight and passes through the outlet (HS), but rather deceleration with frictional resistance, as the steel ball (SA) itself becomes a frictional resistance.

[0108] The highest and lowest points of the end of the container (SL) opposite the fixed support shaft (SW) are, as shown in Figures 4(a1) and 4(a2), when the axis of the rotating body (C) and the axis of the piston (PS) (the axis is defined as the straight line passing through both ends of the link, or the connecting shaft between both ends) intersect at a right angle, the steel ball (SA) descends at the steepest gradient, and the piston (PS) pressing against the surface of the steel ball (SAS) decelerates at the slowest rate. The fastest deceleration occurs when the container (SL) becomes horizontal and the piston (PS) begins to press against the surface of the steel ball (SAS).

[0109] The discharge port (HS) is fixed to the container (SL) and is located between pistons (PS1) and (PS2). When the end of the container (SL) opposite the fixed support shaft (SW) is raised to its highest and lowest positions, the discharge port (HS) is located approximately in the center of the chamber (G). When the outlet (HS) and facepiece (WSS) are located in the center of the chamber (G), the volume between the piston (PS1) and the transverse side (WS31) is the same as the volume between the piston (PS2) and the transverse side (WS32).

[0110] Next, I will explain how it works. The position of the connecting shaft (Pcp) shown in Figure 4(a3) is defined as 0 degrees, the highest position of the connecting shaft (Pcp) is defined as 90 degrees, and the lowest position is defined as 270 degrees. The position of the connecting shaft (Pcp) when the rotating body (C) rotates 1 full turn in the direction of arrow A in the figure is defined as 360 degrees. While the connecting shaft (Pcp) rotates from a 90-degree position to a 270-degree position in the direction of arrow A in the diagram, the container (SL) does not lift the steel ball (SA). While the connecting shaft (Pcp) rotates from a 270-degree position to a 90-degree position in the direction of arrow A in the diagram, the container (SL) lifts the steel ball (SA).

[0111] While the connecting shaft (Pcp) rotates from 0 degrees to 90 degrees in the direction of arrow A in the diagram, the steel ball is lifted and the piston (PS1) begins to push the surface of the steel ball (SAS) in the direction that causes the steel ball (SA) to descend. Subsequently, while the connecting shaft (Pcp) rotates from 90 degrees to 180 degrees, it continues to push the steel ball (SA) as it descends the slope. Subsequently, while the connecting shaft (Pcp) rotates from the 180-degree position to the 360-degree position, the piston (PS2) continues to press against the surface surface (SAS) of the descending steel ball (SA).

[0112] As the connecting shaft (Pcp) rotates from 0 degrees to 180 degrees in the direction of arrow A in the diagram, the steel ball (SA), having completed its downward slope toward the fixed support shaft SW, moves down a newly created downward slope toward the fixed support shaft SW as the connecting shaft (Pcp) passes the 180-degree position. The piston (PS2) presses against the surface (SAS) of the steel ball (SA) as it descends toward the fixed support shaft SW. Either piston (PS1) or piston (PS2) continues to push down the steel ball (SA).

[0113] While the connecting shaft (Pcb) rotates from 270 degrees to 0 degrees in the direction of arrow A in the diagram, the steel ball (SA) continues to be lifted, but the piston (PS2) continues to push the surface surface (SAS) of the steel ball (SA) as it descends away from the fixed support shaft SW. While the connecting shaft (Pcb) rotates from 0 degrees to 90 degrees in the direction of arrow A in the diagram, the steel ball (SA) continues to be lifted, but the piston (PS1) continues to push the surface surface (SAS) of the steel ball (SA) as it descends toward the fixed support shaft SW. The rotating body (C) is constantly decelerated by the steel ball (SA) descending on a downward slope, but it is also decelerating while doing work to lift the steel ball (SA).

[0114] As the rotating body (C) rotates many times, the container (SL) reverses its downward slope to an upward slope many times. Each time, the piston (PS2) that supports or lifts the descending steel ball (SA) back to its original height is replaced by a piston (PS1) that decelerates while pressing against the surface (SAS) of the descending steel ball.

[0115] While the rotating body (C) rotates many times, either piston (PS1) or piston (PS2) continuously pushes against the surface (SAS) of the steel ball (SA) as it descends at a downward slope. Furthermore, since the rotation direction of the rotating body (C) is not opposite to the direction of arrow A in the figure, neither the rotating piston (PS1) nor the piston (PS2) moves in a direction that lifts the surface (SAS) of the steel ball (SA). When the connecting shaft (Pcb) is at 0 degrees or 90 degrees, the steel ball (SA) is pressed by the piston (PS1) or (PS2) and accelerated. However, when it is not at 0 degrees or 90 degrees, it descends from the outlet (HS) by its own weight with little effect, decelerating the rotating body (C).

[0116] The facepiece (WSS) is installed to penetrate and move in and out of the side (WS1) of the central part of the single-row passage. By adjusting the movement of the facepiece (WSS), the facepiece (WSS) can be fixed to the container (SL), and the speed of the piston (PS) can be adjusted. Alternatively, the piston (PS) speed can be adjusted to prevent pulsation by reducing the size of the outlet (HS) when the bottom surface (WF) of the container (SL) tilts significantly from horizontal as the facepiece (WSS) moves in and out of the container (SL), and by widening the outlet (HS) when the bottom surface (WF) of the container (SL) approaches horizontal.

[0117] As shown in Figure 4(a1), while the container (SL) changes from a downward slope toward the fixed support shaft (SW) to an upward slope toward the fixed support shaft (SW), as shown in Figure 4(a2), all the steel balls (SA) in the space (G) reciprocate between chamber (G1) and chamber (G2). Although the downward direction of all the steel balls (SA) in the space (G) is reversed, the steel balls (SA) are always descending the slope by their own weight alone. The downward speed of the steel balls (SA) can be adjusted by moving the facepiece (WSS) in and out, which adjusts the deceleration of the piston (PS) that moves while pressing the surface (SAS) of the descending steel balls.

[0118] In Figure 4(a1), the piston (PS1) descends and is resisted by the steel ball (SA) in the chamber (G1). In Figure 4(a2), the piston (PS2) descends and is resisted by the steel ball (SA) in the chamber (G2). The speed of both pistons (PS1 and PS2) follows the speed of the steel ball (SA) as it descends while resisting the facet (WSS). The reciprocating motion of the piston (PS) follows the speed of the steel ball (SA) as it descends while resisting the facet (WSS). The rotational speed of the rotating body (C) also follows the speed of the steel ball (SA) descending from the outlet (HS). In this way, the rotating body (C) is decelerated twice during one rotation.

[0119] In Figure 4, while the connecting shaft (Pcb) rotates from a 90-degree position to a 270-degree position in the direction of arrow A, the steel ball (SA) loses potential energy and the rotating body (C) gains potential energy, causing the rotating body (C) to accelerate. However, while the connecting shaft (Pcb) rotates from a 270-degree position to a 90-degree position in the direction of arrow A, the rotating body (C) lifts the steel ball (SA), causing the rotating body (C) to decelerate, but this deceleration involves energy loss.

[0120] As the connecting shaft (Pcb) rotates from a 90-degree position to a 270-degree position in the direction of arrow A in the diagram, the rotating body (C) accelerates due to the inertial force it gains. However, as the connecting shaft (Pcb) rotates from a 270-degree position to a 90-degree position in the direction of arrow A in the diagram, the rotating body (C) does not lift the steel ball (SA), and deceleration involves energy loss. Even if a high-speed rotating motor is decelerated, the motor's force will weaken.

[0121] Deceleration consists of two types: deceleration due to the work done to lift the steel ball (SA) and deceleration due to the retreat of the steel ball's surface (SAS). The energy loss of the moving body (UN) is largely associated with the former and almost negligible with the latter. As shown in Figure 4, when the base (WF) does not move significantly up and down around the horizontal plane, the work done to lift the steel ball (SA) is small, and the energy loss of the moving body (UN) due to the work done to lift the steel ball (SA) is small. Furthermore, the amount of deceleration of the rotating body (C) due to the work done to lift the steel ball (SA) is small, and is sufficiently small compared to the amount of deceleration due to the receding of the steel ball surface (SAS).

[0122] Incidentally, neither piston (PS1) nor piston (PS2) pushes the steel ball (SA) upward. Even if the chamber (G) is not a single-row structure, the steel ball (SA) moves back and forth without stopping. Even if the distance from the bottom surface (WF) to the top surface is more than twice the diameter of the steel ball, if the length between the connecting shaft (Pcp) and the fixed support shaft (O) is increased so that one side of the container (SL) is higher and the other is lower, the steel ball (SA) moving back and forth between chamber (G1) and chamber (G2) will pass through the discharge port (HS).

[0123] In the gearbox shown in Figure 4, the gradient on the bottom surface (WF) changes from steep to gentle, causing the speed at which the steel balls (SA) roll on the bottom surface (WF) to change. The upper limit of the speed of the steel ball surface (SAS) also changes, causing the piston (PS) to speed up or slow down. The gearbox in Figure 5 is equipped with multiple gearboxes identical to the one in Figure 4, and these operate simultaneously, causing the piston (PS) speed to become nearly constant without pulsation.

[0124] When the surface surface of the steel ball (SAS) slowly retracts and decelerates the piston (PS) that presses against the surface surface of the steel ball (SAS), the surface surface of the steel ball (SAS) is a "retracting contact" that prevents the movement of the piston (PS). The surface of the steel ball (SAS) retracts not due to the force of the piston (PS), but due to the downward movement of the steel ball (SA), with gravity doing work and the moving body (UN) doing no work. No energy is consumed by the moving body (UN) during the deceleration caused by the retraction of the surface of the steel ball (SAS).

[0125] However, the speed reducer in Figure 4 attempts to repeatedly decelerate the moving body (UN) with a single speed reducer, which involves repeatedly lifting the steel ball (SA). Each time it is lifted, the energy of the moving body (UN) is consumed. When attempting to repeatedly decelerate a moving body (UN) using two speed reducers, the rotating body (C) of one speed reducer rotates to lift the steel ball (SA), while the rotating body (C) of the other speed reducer is rotated by the descending steel ball (SA). The energy of the moving body (UN) is consumed and supplied simultaneously.

[0126] Even if the steel ball (SA) in one speed reducer rises high, if the steel ball (SA) in the other speed reducer simultaneously descends significantly, the consumed potential energy and the supplied potential energy will balance each other, and the energy of the moving body (UN) will not be consumed. The speed reducer shown in Figure 5 repeatedly decelerates a single moving object (UN) using numerous speed reducers. The goal is to operate as many speed reducers simultaneously as possible on a single moving object (UN) so that the energy of the moving object (UN) is not consumed.

[0127] In the gearbox shown in Figure 4, the gradient of the bottom surface (WF) changes periodically, and consequently, the downward speed of the steel balls (SA) passing through the outlet (HS) also changes. The rotational speed of the rotating body (C) also changes periodically. For example, each time the container (SL) becomes horizontal, the downward speed of the steel ball (SA) is minimized, and the speed of the piston (PS) is also minimized. The deceleration of the moving body (UN), such as the motor that is linked to the piston (PS), is not constant.

[0128] The speed reducer shown in Figure 5 comprises multiple speed reducers identical to those shown in Figure 4, which operate simultaneously in conjunction with a moving body (UN) not shown. The steel balls (SA) are omitted from the illustration in Figure 5. hh represents a horizontal line. The gearbox shown in Figure 5 has three of the same gearboxes as the gearbox shown in Figure 4, and these three gearboxes are three separate gearboxes with a phase difference of 120 degrees each. As the number of gearboxes increases to four, five, and so on, the deceleration of the moving body (UN) approaches a constant.

[0129] As shown in Figure 5(a), the three connecting shafts (Pcp1, Pcp2, Pcp3) are located at the ends of three cranks (C1, C2, C3) that rotate around the axis of rotation (Z), and are equally spaced on a circle centered on the axis of rotation (Z). The axis lines (ZC1, ZC2, ZC3) of each crank (C1, C2, C3) revolve at the same speed while always maintaining a 120-degree intersection angle with the axis lines of adjacent cranks (ZC2, ZC3, ZC1).

[0130] Figure 5(a) is a side view taken along the line a-a in the plan view of Figure 5(b). In Figure 5(a), the center of the axis of rotation (Z) is the dashed line (Z) in Figure 5(b). In Figure 5(b), the axis of rotation (Z) of the three cranks (C1, C2, C3) is common and is the dashed line (Z). In Figure 5(b), the rotating shaft (CC) is linked to the moving body (UN), and its rotation is transmitted to the cranks (C1, C2, C3) via three chains (CH1, CH2, CH3).

[0131] Three connecting shafts (Pcp1, Pcp2, Pcp3) are each connected to a piston (1PS, 2PS, 3PS), and each piston (1PS, 2PS, 3PS) is housed in a container (SL1, SL2, SL3). The containers (SL1, SL2, SL3) are rotatably supported around a common fixed support shaft SW. The cranks (C1, C2, C3) shown in Figure 5(b) are all the rotating bodies (C) shown in Figure 4, and the pistons (1PS, 2PS, 3PS) shown in Figure 5 are all the pistons (PS) shown in Figure 4. The faces (WSS 1, WSS 2, WSS 3) shown in Figure 5 are all the faces (WSS) shown in Figure 4, and the three containers (SL1, SL2, SL3) shown in Figure 5 are all the containers (SL) shown in Figure 4.

[0132] The rotating body (CC) rotates in the direction of arrow A in the diagram, and each of the pistons (1PS, 2PS, 3PS) moves in the direction of the arrows in the diagram. Each of the three connecting shafts (Pcp1, Pcp2, Pcp3) is fitted with the same reduction gear shown in Figure 4(a), and the three identical reduction gears operate simultaneously. In Figure 4, when the connecting shaft (Pcp) is at the 0-degree and 180-degree positions, the rotating body (CC) is not decelerated. The rotating body (CC) is not decelerated twice in one rotation. In Figure 5, the rotating body (CC) does not decelerate each time the connecting shaft (Pcb1) rotates 60 degrees from the 0-degree position. The rotating body (CC) does not decelerate 6 times in one rotation.

[0133] In a speed reducer where the same four speed reducers as shown in Figure 4 operate simultaneously, the speed reduction is not performed 8 times per rotation. Multiple connecting shafts (Pcp) are arranged at equal intervals on the circumference of the rotating body C, centered on the rotation axis O. By attaching multiple reduction gears identical to the reduction gear shown in Figure 4, the more reduction gears that operate simultaneously, the more times the rotation does not slow down. The number of times the rotation is slowed down simultaneously also increases, causing the rotating body C to slow down and rotate at a constant speed. The rotational speed of the rotating body C stops pulsating.

[0134] Similar to Figure 4, the piston (PS) and the steel ball (SA) move in the same direction, and instead of the piston (PS) lifting the steel ball (SA) back up, the steel ball (SA) descends under its own weight and returns to its original position. No energy is required to return the steel ball (SA) to its original position. However, when the connecting shaft (Pcp) rotates from a 270-degree position to a 90-degree position, energy is required to lift the steel ball (SA). In a speed reducer equipped with many speed reducers similar to the one shown in Figure 4, operating simultaneously, this energy is hardly required at all.

[0135] Each of the three containers (SL1, SL2, SL3) contains an equal amount of steel balls (SA), with one end opposite the fixed support shaft (SW) being lifted and the other being pushed down. Each crank (C1, C2, C3) lifts one end of the three containers (SL1, SL2, SL3) and pushes the other down. The potential energy gained from lifting the end opposite the fixed support shaft (SW) and the potential energy lost from pushing it down cancel each other out, so that the energy required to rotate the rotating body (CC) approaches zero.

[0136] The gearbox in Figure 6 is a linkage device with a reciprocating slider mechanism, similar to the gearbox in Figure 4. The rotating body (C) does not rotate but reciprocates between 270 degrees and 90 degrees in the figure, and the container (SL) swings up and down like a pendulum around the fixed support shaft (SW). The rotating body (C) rotates around the axis of rotation (Z) and is connected to the piston (PS) by the connecting shaft (Pcb).

[0137] The piston (PS) comprises piston (PS1) and piston (PS2), and piston (PS1) and piston (PS2) are connected by a connecting plate (PL). Many steel balls (SA) are housed in a container (SL) between pistons (PS1) and piston (PS2), and the piston (PS) reciprocates within the container (SL) together with the steel balls (SA).

[0138] As shown in Figure 6(a), the lid (WCC) is provided with a transverse side surface (WS3), and the lid (WCC) is biased by a compression spring (U) and contacts a contact point (GW) provided on the fixing part (W), thereby restricting rotation in the direction of "L" in the figure. As shown in Figure 6(a2), when the container (SL) is horizontal, the lid (WCC) contacts the contact point (GW) and comes to rest in a position where it becomes the upper surface WC of the container (SL).

[0139] In Figure 6(a), the black-filled portion of the upper surface WC of the container (SL) is the opening into which the lid WCC fits. When the lid WCC fits into the opening, a transverse side surface WS3 is provided in the single row passage between pistons PS1 and PS2. When the connecting shaft (Pcb) is in the range from the 90-degree position to the 0-degree position in the diagram, the lid (WCC) moves up and down while remaining on the top surface (WC) of the container (SL). When the connecting shaft (Pcb) is in the range from the 0-degree position to the 270-degree position in the diagram, the lid (WCC) separates from the top surface (WC) of the container (SL). In the speed reducer shown in Figure 6, the transverse side (WS3) is retractable, and when the container (SL) is below the horizontal plane hh, the transverse side (WS3) retracts outside the container (SL) and does not obstruct the descent of the steel ball (SA).

[0140] The rotating body (C) is linked to the door (D), and the opening and closing of the door (D) is controlled by the reciprocating motion of the piston (PS). When the door (D) is closed, the rotating body (C) rotates in the direction of A in the diagram, and when the door (D) is opened, it rotates in the opposite direction to A in the diagram. When fully open, as shown in Figure 6(a1), the end of the container (SL) opposite the fixed support shaft (SW) is at its lowest point, and the steel ball (SA) is returned to the chamber (G1). When fully closed, as shown in Figure 6(a3), the end of the container (SL) opposite the fixed support shaft (SW) is the highest, and the steel ball (SA) is descending into the chamber (G2).

[0141] Whether the chamber is partially open from a fully closed position or partially closed from a fully open position, as shown in Figure 6(a2), the chamber (G1) accommodates all the steel balls (SA) when the rotation axis (Z) of the rotating body (C) and the fixed support shaft (SW) are on the horizontal line (X) and the connecting shaft (Pcb) is furthest from the fixed support shaft (SW). The dashed line hh indicates a cross-section in the horizontal plane.

[0142] As shown in Figure 6(a1), if the connecting shaft (Pcb) is below the horizontal line (X), the transverse side (WS3) is not inside the container (SL), and the container (SL) has an upward slope toward the fixed support shaft (SW). If the door is in the process of closing from its fully open position, the rotating body (C) rotates in the direction of (I) in the diagram, drawing the steel ball (SA) into the chamber (G1), and the door (D) is not decelerated. If the door is opening while it is closing, the rotating body (C) rotates in the opposite direction to (I) in the diagram, and the piston (PS1) pushes the steel ball (SA) into the chamber (G2). The frictional resistance when the steel ball is lifted causes deceleration, and the door (D) is not decelerated by the steel ball (SA) descending under its own weight.

[0143] As shown in Figure 6(a3), if the connecting shaft (Pcb) is below the horizontal line (X), the transverse side (WS3) is inside the container (SL), and the container (SL) slopes downward toward the fixed support shaft (SW). The transverse side (WS3) is located inside the container (SL) and resists both opening and closing of the door (D), whether it is in the process of opening from a fully closed position or closing from a partially opened position.

[0144] If the door is opening from a fully closed position, the rotating body (C) rotates in the opposite direction to (I) in the diagram, drawing the steel ball (SA) into the chamber (G1) and encountering resistance from the transverse side (WS3). If the door is closing from an open position, the rotating body (C) rotates in the direction of (I) in the diagram, and the piston (PS1) pushes the steel ball (SA) into the chamber (G2), lifting the steel ball while the door (D) is slowed down by the steel ball (SA) descending under its own weight.

[0145] When the connecting shaft (Pcp) is at the 0-degree position in the diagram, the door (D) is just before it is fully closed. When the connecting shaft (Pcp) is between the 0-degree and 90-degree positions in the diagram, the door (D) is between the position just before it is fully closed and the fully closed position. When the door (D) is slightly ajar, it experiences resistance from the transverse side (WS3) when opening and closing, but when the door (D) is wide open, it experiences no resistance from the transverse side (WS3) when opening and closing.

[0146] When opening a fully closed door (D), if it is opened even slightly, the steel ball (SA) will descend under its own weight and return to its original position, so no force is required to return the steel ball (SA) to its original position. When closing a fully open door (D), the steel ball (SA) will descend under its own weight and decelerate the door until just before it closes. No force is required to decelerate the steel ball (SA). In the linkage device shown in Figure 1 of Patent Document 3, the rotating body (C) rotates significantly during the section from just before the door (D) is fully closed until it is fully closed, when the door (D) is rotating slightly. During the other section from just before the door (D) is fully closed until it is fully open, when the door (D) is rotating significantly, the rotating body (C) rotates slightly.

[0147] When the door (D) shown in Figure 6(b) is fully closed, there is a gap (Gr2) in the chamber (R2) between the transverse side (WS3) and the piston (PS2) that does not contain the steel ball (SA). When the door (D) opens rapidly, the gap (Gr2) disappears instantly before some of the steel balls (SA) pushed up by the piston (PS2) can pass through the outlet (HS). The speed reducer in Figure 6 is a speed reducer that stops abruptly when the door (D) opens rapidly.

[0148] In normal use, when opened slowly, the container (SL) slowly approaches horizontal, and some of the steel balls (SA) pushed up by the piston (PS2) pass through the outlet (HS), while the piston (PS2) pushes up the steel balls (SA) inside the chamber (R2) while reducing the gap (Gr2). In this way, the disadvantage of encountering resistance on the transverse side (WS3) when opening a fully closed door (D) becomes an advantage. It does not resist when subjected to a gust of wind after being opened.

[0149] In Figure 4, neither of the two pistons (PS1, PS2) moves in the direction that lifts the steel ball (SA). However, when the rotating body (C) rotates in the opposite direction to arrow A in the figure, from the state shown in Figure 6(a2), and when the rotating body (C) rotates in the opposite direction to arrow A in the figure, from the state shown in Figure 6(a3), the piston (PS2) lifts the descending steel ball (SA). The piston (PS2) experiences frictional resistance from the inner wall of the container (SL). When the piston (PS2) lifts vertically, it must overcome not only the total weight of the steel balls (SA) inside the container (SL), but also the friction between the inner wall of the container (SL) and the steel balls (SA) to lift the steel balls (SA).

[0150] Except when the container (SL) is a single track and the slope of the bottom surface (WF) is slightly inclined from the horizontal plane, the piston (PS2) cannot lift the steel ball (SA) that is descending vertically inside the container (SL) in the vertical direction, as will be described later in Figure 8(a).

[0151] In Figure 4, the connecting plate (PL) that links the two pistons (PS1, PS2) moves along the top surface (WC) of the container (SL), but in Figure 6, it moves along the bottom surface (WF) of the container (SL). Therefore, in Figure 6, the connecting plate (PL) can move as a receptacle for the steel balls (SA). When the connecting plate (PL) with the steel ball (SA) on it is inserted into the container (SL) and moves along the bottom surface (WF) of the container (SL), the friction between the steel ball (SA) and the inner wall of the container (SL) becomes only the friction between the steel ball (SA) and the top surface (WC).

[0152] In this case, the connecting plate (PL) is the bottom surface (WF) that supports the steel balls (SA), and a receiving tray with piston (PS1) and piston (PS2) pressing surfaces rising from both ends of the bottom surface (WF) moves inside the container (SL). Even if the container (SL) consists of only three surfaces, a top surface (WC) and two sides (WS1, WS2), and is a U-shaped container (SL) without a bottom surface (WF), the steel balls (SA) are transported without spilling out.

[0153] Furthermore, if the connecting plate (PL) is the bottom surface (WF), and the pressing surfaces of pistons (PS1) and pistons (PS2) rise up at both ends of the bottom surface (WF), and two side surfaces (WS1, WS2) not shown are attached, it becomes a box-shaped container (SLL) with a U-shaped cross-section and no top surface (WC). Even if the box-shaped container (SLL) with a U-shaped cross-section and no top surface (WC) moves along a container (SL) with only a top surface (WC), the steel balls (SA) will be transported without spilling out.

[0154] In this case, the speed reducer in Figure 6 does not have the top surface (WC), but it houses many steel balls (SA) and reciprocates along the top surface (WC) which is provided with a retractable transverse side surface (WS3). The rectangular cross-section container is a box-shaped container with a U-shaped cross-section, and three of its surfaces move along the one surface which has the transverse side surface (WS3). When the connecting plate (PL) supports the steel ball (SA) and moves back and forth inside the container (SL), there is no friction between the steel ball (SA) and the bottom surface (WF). When the bottom surface (WF) of a box-shaped container with a U-shaped cross-section, to which two sides (WS1, WS2) are attached, moves with the steel ball (SA) on it, there is no friction not only between the steel ball (SA) and the bottom surface (WF), but also between the two sides (WS1, WS2). The U-shaped container will be described later in Figure 11(c).

[0155] Therefore, in Figure 6, the speed reducer in which the connecting plate (PL) acts as a receptacle for the steel balls (SA) is described as "a speed reducer in which a box-shaped container containing multiple steel balls (SA), comprising two pistons (PS1, PS2) and a connecting plate (PL) connecting them, moves along a container (WC) having a cross-sectional side (WS3)," and in Figure 6, the container (WC) is not just the top surface (WC). However, the top surface (WC) alone is sufficient.

[0156] Furthermore, the speed reducer in Figure 6 is a speed reducer in which the piston (PS) moves in the direction in which the steel ball (SA) descends, and is also a speed reducer in which the piston (PS) moves in the direction opposite to the direction in which the steel ball (SA) descends, and does not depend on the direction of movement of the "speed reducer that moves along the container (WC) having a transverse side surface (WS3)" described above.

[0157] Unlike Figure 6, Figure 7 shows that, regardless of the degree of door (D) opening, the steel ball (SA) is not pushed up and returned to the chamber (G1) by the piston (PS2). The steel ball (SA) descends under its own weight and returns to the chamber (G1). Unlike Figure 6, Figure 7 does not require the chamber (G1) to be a single-track chamber.

[0158] The linkage device in Figure 7 is a linkage device that does not perform a fixed motion, consisting of five links: a fixed part (W), a rotating body (C), a connecting rod (CC), a container (SL), and a piston (PS) that slides inside the container (SL). However, when the piston (PS) does not slide inside the container (SL), the four links rotate and are connected in pairs to form a four-bar rotating mechanism, which then performs a fixed motion. In the figure, hh indicates the horizontal plane. The piston (PS) comprises a piston (PS1), a piston (PS2), and a connecting plate (PL) that connects them.

[0159] The rotating body (C) is linked to the door (D), and rotates in the direction of "A" in the figure when the door (D) closes. Unlike Figure 6, in Figure 7 the chamber (G1) is not a single-row chamber, so the steel ball (SA) moves from chamber (G1) to the single-row chamber G (G2) while encountering resistance. Since the piston (PS) does not slide inside the container (SL), the linkage device in Figure 7 becomes a four-bar rotary mechanism in which four links rotate and are connected in pairs.

[0160] The container (SL) houses numerous steel balls (SA), and the higher the flow path height (GH1) of the chamber (G1), the greater the resistance the piston (PS) experiences when the door (D) closes, causing it to decelerate and simultaneously fix the piston (PS) to the container (SL). The linkage device in Figure 7 is a four-bar rotary mechanism. Around the fixed support shaft (SW), the container (SL) oscillates between a position where it rests in contact with the contact point (GS1) and a position where it rests in contact with the contact point (GS2).

[0161] When the door (D) closes, as shown in Figure 7(a1), the container (SL) rotates in the direction of the arrow (L) in the figure, and the container (SL) comes into contact with the contact (GS1) and is fixed to the fixing part (W), and the piston (PS) moves in a direction toward the fixing shaft (SW).

[0162] The transverse side surface (WS3) provided on the fixed part (W) penetrates the through hole (WCH) provided on the top surface (WC) of the container (SL) and is inserted into the chamber (G2), causing the steel ball (SA) to encounter even greater resistance and further decelerating the door (D). The piston (PS) moves inside the container (SL) while pressing against the surface (SAS) of the descending steel ball, and the door (D) decelerates until it is fully closed.

[0163] Figure 7(a2) is a diagram showing the state when the door (D) does not close abruptly. The steel ball (SA) moves with relatively little resistance, and the piston (PS) moves easily inside the container (SL), so the container (SL) comes into contact with the contact point (GS2) and comes to rest due to its own weight. With the transverse side (WS3) retracted outside the chamber (G2), the door (D) gradually closes completely.

[0164] In Figure 7, as the steel ball (SA) inside the container (SL) moves on the connecting plate (PL), the lower the flow path height (GH1) of the chamber (G1), and the closer the container (SL) is to the horizontal plane, the less able it becomes to lift the piston (PS), and as shown in Figure 7(a1), the container (SL) does not rotate in the direction of arrow B in the figure.

[0165] Figure 7(a2) is a diagram showing the state when the door (D) is opened. When the door (D) is opened, the linkage device consisting of five links causes the container (SL) to come into contact with the contact point (GS2) by its own weight and come to rest. Each link moves in the opposite direction to the arrow in the figure, and the steel ball (SA) descends by its own weight and returns to the chamber (G1). In Figure 7, as in Figure 6, the direction of movement of the piston (PS) does not reverse during the rotation of the rotating body (C). The linkage operates in this manner whether the door (D) is closing or opening, whether the direction of rotation of the door (D) changes during its rotation, and at any degree of door (D) opening (regardless of the position of the rotating body (C)).

[0166] The piston (PS1) or piston (PS2) is always The pistons (PS1 and PS2) move in the direction of the downward movement of the steel ball (SA) while pressing against it. Neither piston (PS1) nor piston (PS2) pushes the steel ball (SA) upward. Therefore, the chamber (G) does not need to be a single-row structure, and the distance from the bottom surface (WF) to the top surface may be more than twice the diameter of the steel ball.

[0167] As shown in Figure 7(a1), even if the flow path height (GH1) of chamber (G1) is more than twice the diameter of the steel ball (DSA), if the flow path width (GL) is more than four times the diameter of the steel ball (DSA), the steel ball (SA) will pass through the entrance of chamber (R2) without stopping midway. As shown in Figure 7(b), the flow path height (GH2) of chamber (G2) should be set to a height (hh) that is slightly less than twice the diameter of the steel ball DSA, and the length (ll) should be increased only by increasing the height (hh).

[0168] Even if the steel balls (SA) in a single-row furnace with a downward slope are pushed up by the piston (PS), as shown in Figure 7(a2), it is quite difficult for the piston (PS) to push up the steel balls (SA) in a chamber (G1) where the flow path height (GH1) is more than twice the diameter of the steel ball (DSA). Figure 8(a) is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation in which a piston (PS2) lifts a steel ball (SA) that is descending vertically inside a container (SL) in a vertical direction. Figure 8(a1) is for a cylindrical container, and Figures 8(a2, a3) are for a rectangular cross-section container. Figures 8(a1, a2) are elevation views, and Figure 7(a3) is a cross-sectional view.

[0169] The containers (SL) shown in Figures 8(a1) and 8(a2) are a vertically standing cylindrical container and a single-row rectangular container, respectively. When the same number of steel balls (SA) are placed in each, they are stacked lower in the cylindrical container and higher in the single-row container. The pressure exerted by the weight of the steel balls (SA) on the bottom surface is higher in the rectangular container. However, the surface area of ​​the sides subjected to the internal pressure is far smaller in the cylindrical container.

[0170] A cylindrical container accommodates many steel balls within its cross-section and has the shortest circumference, while a rectangular container accommodates fewer steel balls (SA) within its cross-section and has the longest circumference (sum of the sides of the rectangular cross-section). Furthermore, while steel balls (SA) within a rectangular cross-section tend to align parallel to the surrounding edges, not all steel balls (SA) within a circle align parallel to the circumference. In a cylindrical container, one upper steel ball (SA) exerts a force that pushes the circumference outward by weaving between two or more lower steel balls (SA), but the force exerted by a single-row steel ball (SA) within a rectangular cross-section pushing the sides (WS) outward is small.

[0171] Cylindrical containers experience greater internal pressure on their sides (WS) than rectangular single-row containers, resulting in greater frictional forces acting on the sides (WS). While the weight of the steel balls (SA) alone creates a significant frictional force on the inner wall of a cylindrical container, the weight of the steel balls (SA) alone does not create a significant frictional force on the inner wall of a rectangular single-row container.

[0172] In Figures 8(a1) and 8(a2), a circular piston (PS) and a rectangular piston (PS) push up steel balls (SA) from below. Steel balls in the cylindrical section cannot be pushed up from below, even in small quantities, but steel balls (SA) in a single row of the rectangular section can be pushed up from below unless there is a considerably large quantity. Figure 8(a3) is a cross-sectional view when a single row of rectangular sections is vertical. In a single row of rectangular sections (rectangular container (SL)), the steel balls (SA) that have moved downwards can be pushed back to their original positions.

[0173] In Figures 8(a1) and 8(a2), when the piston (PS) is moved downward, the steel ball (SA) above it also descends along with the piston (PS). If the piston (PS) is withdrawn instantaneously, the steel ball (SA) falls all at once. Unless a route section with a reduced flow path cross-sectional area or a tapered flow path is provided at the bottom of the container, the steel ball (SA) will not fall slowly but will fall all at once. A rectangular cross-section container will cause the ball to fall all at once more than a cylindrical container. By providing a root section or tapered channel at the bottom of the container where the channel cross-sectional area decreases, the arrangement of the steel balls (SA) is disrupted, and the upper steel balls intersect with the lower steel balls (SA), creating a force that widens the reduced channel cross-sectional area.

[0174] Even in a cylindrical container, if the vertical flow path is not long, the steel balls (SA) discharged from the outlet will not be affected by the pressing force of the piston (PS) pressing against the surface layer (SAS) of the steel balls, unless there is a route section at the tip where the flow path cross-sectional area decreases. Even in a single-row rectangular cross-section flow path, if the flow path tapers to reduce the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path, the steel balls (SA) discharged from the outlet will not be affected by the pressing force of the piston (PS).

[0175] The internal pressure of the steel ball (SA) pushes the inner wall of the container outward, resisting the downward movement of the steel ball (SA). In a cylindrical container with a root section, pressing the surface layer (SAS) of the steel ball with a piston (PS) does not change the amount of steel ball discharged from the outlet per unit time. This tendency is not pronounced in a single-row rectangular cross-section with a transverse side. In a tapered single-row section, the force of internal pressure pushing outward against the inner wall of the container is weaker than in a cylindrical container with a root section.

[0176] In Figure 8(a2), if the flow path height (GH) is set to a size that prevents two steel balls (SA) from passing through, rather than a size that allows one steel ball (SA) to pass through, then, as shown in the side cross-sectional view of Figure 8(a3), there will be many arrangements of steel balls (SA) that approximate a wedge of two balls, and the force pushing the inner wall of the container outward due to internal pressure will increase. When a rectangular cross-section container (SL) with a single row of tracks is tilted from a vertical position to a position slightly tilted from horizontal, the energy required to return it to its original height is small at a gentle slope. Furthermore, the force pushing the inner wall of the container outward due to internal pressure weakens, making it easy to return the descending steel balls (SA) to their original position.

[0177] However, when the steel balls (SA) descend within a single-row container (SL) that is slightly tilted from the horizontal, the tendency that "the amount of steel balls (SA) discharged from the outlet (HS) per unit time does not change even when the piston (PS) strongly presses against the surface (SAS) of the steel balls" is not observed. This can be corrected by providing a transverse side (WS3).

[0178] The speed reducer in Figure 8(b) is a door closer that uses steel balls (SA) instead of oil, and the linkage device in Figure 8(b) is a device that fixes the container (SL) of the linkage device in Figure 7. The rotating body (C) reciprocates in conjunction with the door (D). As shown in Figure 7, the direction of movement of the piston (PS) sliding inside the container (SL) follows the direction of rotation of the rotating body (C), and as shown in Figure 6, the direction of movement of the piston (PS) does not reverse during the rotation of the rotating body (C).

[0179] The container (SL) has a single track, the bottom surface (WF) is slightly sloped from the horizontal plane, and the transverse side surface (WS3) rests in a position that resists the movement of the steel ball (SA) when the door (D) is closed, and retracts to a position that does not resist when the door (D) is opened. The rotating body (C) is always decelerated while the door (D) is closed, but when the door (D) is opened, the piston (PS2) pushes the steel ball (SA) upward from below. In the container (SL) of Figure 7, the chamber (G1) is not a single track, making it difficult to push the steel ball (SA) upward from below. In the container (SL) of Figure 8, both chamber (G1) and chamber (G2) have a single track.

[0180] While a single-row rectangular cross-section container cannot accommodate as many steel balls (SA) as a cylindrical container, it can accommodate more by extending the section through which the piston moves. By gradually discharging the balls through the transverse side (WS3) and extending the duration of deceleration, this design is sufficient, especially if limited to applications such as door closers. The "container within a container" described later in Figure 9 is a container (SSL) that can hold and lift a large number of steel balls (SA) inside the "container (SL) within a container (SSL)". Even if it is a rectangular cross-section container, it can be filled to a large number of balls, just as it can be filled to a cylindrical container.

[0181] Figures 8(b1) and (c1) show a cross-sectional view and a plan view of the flow path when the door (D) is open, respectively, while Figures 8(b2) and (c2) show a cross-sectional view and a plan view of the flow path when the door (D) is closed, respectively. A rectangular cross-section piston (PS) is connected to a rotating body (C) via a connecting rod (CC) and inserted into a rectangular cross-section container (SL) fixed to a fixed part W, and slides along the inner wall of the container (SL). The inside of the container (SL) is a single row of rectangular cross-sections with a downward slope toward the bottom of the container (SL). The opening and closing of the door (D) is achieved by the reciprocating motion of the piston (PS).

[0182] The piston (PS) comprises two rectangular cross-section pistons (PS1) and (PS2), connected by a connecting plate (PL). The connecting plate (PL) moves along the top surface (WC) of the container (SL). Below the connecting plate (PL), the space between pistons (PS1) and (PS2) inside the container (SL) is a single-row rectangular cross-section chamber (G) that houses multiple steel balls (SA). The steel balls (SA) are sandwiched between pistons (PS1) and (PS2) and move up or down inside the container (SL) with the pistons (PS) by opening and closing a door (D).

[0183] A retractable transverse side (WS3) is provided in the center of the bottom surface (WF) of the container (SL), and is located between two pistons (PS1, PS2). Both pistons PS1 and PS2 reciprocate, moving closer to and further away from the transverse side WS3, but they do not pass over the transverse side WS3. The transverse side (WS3) that has been retracted outside the container (SL) is shown by a dashed line in Figure 8(c1), and the transverse side (WS3) that is inside the container (SL) and resists the descending steel ball (SA) is shown by a solid line in Figure 8(c2). In Figures 8(c1) and (c2), one end of the transverse side (WS3) is in contact with the side (WS1), and the space between the other end and the side (WS2) is the discharge port (HS).

[0184] The chamber (G) sandwiched between pistons (PS1) and (PS2) is divided into an upper chamber (G1) and a lower chamber (G2) by a transverse side (WS3). As the steel ball (SA) inside chamber (G) moves in and out of chamber (G1) and chamber (G2) through the discharge port (HS), the volume of one chamber (G1) and the volume of the other chamber (G2) increases, causing the surface surface (SAS) of the steel ball to descend, and the piston (PS) pressing against the surface surface (SAS) of the steel ball to move.

[0185] As shown in Figures 8(b1) and (c1), when the door (D) is opened, the rotating body (C) rotates in the direction of arrow A in the figure, and the piston (PS2) pulls up the "steel ball (SA) that descends by its own weight," and the transverse side (WS3) retracts. If the door (D) stops midway through opening, the piston (PS) also stops. Assume that the piston (PS2) does not descend due to the "steel ball (SA) that descends by its own weight," causing the rotating body (C) to rotate and preventing the door (D) from starting to close. When the door (D) is open, and even when stopped and stationary, there is always a gap (Gr) inside the chamber (G1) between the surface of the steel ball (SAS) and the pressing surface of the piston (PS1) that does not accommodate the steel ball (SA), and the piston (PS1) is always able to move in the downward direction of the steel ball (SA).

[0186] As shown in Figures 8(b2) and (c2), when the door (D) closes, the rotating body (C) rotates in the opposite direction to arrow A in the figure, causing the piston (PS1) to push down the "steel ball (SA) which is descending by its own weight," and the cross-sectional side (WS3) is inside the container (SL). When the door (D) is opened, the steel ball (SA) is lifted, and when the door (D) is closed, the steel ball (SA) descends by its own weight rather than being pressed against the surface surface (SAS) by the piston (PS1), and is discharged little by little from the outlet (HS), causing the piston (PS1) to decelerate.

[0187] Whether the door (D) begins to close while it is opening, or begins to close when the door (D) is stopped and stationary, there is a gap (Gr) between the surface of the steel ball (SAS) and the pressing surface of the piston (PS1) that does not accommodate the steel ball (SA), and the piston (PS1) travels freely before contacting the surface of the steel ball (SAS). The distance traveled by the piston (PS1) and the distance traveled by the piston (PS2) are the same, and a gap (Gr) of the same size as the gap (Gr) that was in the chamber (G1) is created in the chamber (G2).

[0188] It might seem that the gap (Gr) in chamber (G2) decreases as the steel ball (SA) moves from chamber (G1) to chamber (G2), but the piston (PS1) descends, and the piston (PS2) descends the same distance. The size of the new gap (Gr) created when the piston (PS2) descends is the same as the size of the gap (Gr) in chamber (G2) filled by the steel ball (SA) that moved from chamber (G1) to chamber (G2), so a gap (Gr) always exists in chamber (G2).

[0189] When the door (D) stops midway through closing, the piston (PS) also stops, and the steel balls (SA) inside the chamber (G1) continue to descend until they fill the gap (Gr) inside the chamber (G2). Once filled, all the steel balls (SA) stop, and a gap (Gr) is created between the surface of the steel balls (SAS) and the pressing surface of the piston (PS1). The piston (PS1) is always able to move in the direction of the downward movement of the steel balls (SA).

[0190] The volume of chamber (G) is the sum of the volumes of both chambers (G1) and (R2), and chamber (G) comfortably accommodates all the steel balls (SA). When the door (D) remains closed, the steel balls (SA) are fed from chamber (G1) to chamber (G2) and accumulate in chamber (G2), but the downward movement of the piston (PS2) prevents chamber (R2) from becoming so full that it blocks the outlet (HS).

[0191] As the door (D) closes, the chamber (G1) is always full, stopping the movement of the piston (PS1) that presses against the surface surface (SAS) of the steel ball. However, the chamber (G2) is not full, and the steel ball (SA) passes through the outlet (HS), causing the surface surface (SAS) of the steel ball to continue descending. As the surface surface (SAS) of the steel ball continues to descend, the piston (PS1) descends.

[0192] If the door (D) stops while closing completely, the piston (PS2) also stops, and the increase in the volume of the chamber (G2) stops. Discharge of steel balls (SA) from the outlet (HS) continues for a while, and the chamber (G2) quickly becomes full with steel balls (SA). The full capacity of steel balls (SA) blocks the outlet (HS), and no more steel balls (SA) are sent from the chamber (G1) to the chamber (G2). Even if the door (D) stops midway, the piston (PS2) stops, and the discharge of steel balls (SA) from the outlet (HS) continues, preventing the chamber (G1) from becoming empty. By providing piston (PS2) in addition to piston (PS1), the discharge of steel balls (SA) does not continue until the chamber (G1) is empty.

[0193] As the door (D) stops closing midway, and the discharge of the steel ball (SA) from the outlet (HS) continues for a while, a gap is created between the surface of the steel ball (SAS) and the pressing surface of the piston (PS1), allowing the piston (PS1) to move in the downward direction of the steel ball (SA). Incidentally, the piston (PS2) can always move in the upward direction of the steel ball (SA). As door (D) begins to close again, piston (PS1) moves until the gap in chamber (G1) is eliminated, and piston (PS2) retracts by the same distance that piston (PS1) moved. A gap of the same volume as the one eliminated in chamber (G1) is created in chamber (G2), and the steel ball (SA) begins to descend from chamber (G1) to chamber (G2) by its own weight.

[0194] If the "sum of the volumes of both chambers having enough clearance to accommodate all the steel balls (SA)" is reduced, all the steel balls will stop almost simultaneously when the door (D) stops and the pistons (PS1) and (PS2) stop. Even if the door (D) tries to close from the position where it has stopped, the pistons (PS1) and (PS2) will remain stopped unless the steel balls (SA) are discharged from the outlet (HS), and the door (D) will not start to close.

[0195] The cross-sectional side (WS3) will now be described. The rod-shaped body with a roughly triangular cross-section shown in Figure 8 is a check valve (WG) that rotates on a support shaft (Z) provided in the container (SL). The check valve (WG) has a surface (WS33) that becomes the cross-sectional side (WS3) when upright and a surface (WFF) that becomes the bottom surface (WF) when collapsed, with these surfaces facing each other. It is equipped with a contact point (G33) that abuts against the bottom surface (WF) to keep the check valve (WG) stationary. The check valve (WG) is raised by a descending steel ball (SA) and collapsed by an ascending steel ball (SA), but is always biased by a compression spring (U) to try to stand upright, and is stopped at a position where it resists the descent of the steel ball by the contact point (G33).

[0196] Figures 8(b1) and (c1) show the state when the door (D) opens, where the rising steel ball (SA) causes the compression spring (U) to expand and contract, causing the surface (WS33) to rotate in the direction of arrow B in the figure and retract below the bottom surface (WF), and the steel ball (SA) rises through a single track without reducing the flow path width. The steel ball (SA) is fed from chamber (G2) to chamber (G1) without encountering resistance. Figures 8(b2) and (c2) show the state in which, when door D closes, the surface WS33 rotates in the opposite direction to arrow 'b' in the figure due to the descending steel ball (SA) and compression spring (U), the surface (WS33) appears above the bottom surface (WF), and the steel ball (SA) descends through a single-row path with a reduced flow path width. The figure shows the state in which the steel ball (SA) passes through the discharge port (HS) and is sent from chamber (G1) to chamber (G2).

[0197] In Figures 6 and 7, the cross section (WS3) extends from outside the container (SL) into the steel ball inside the container (SL). However, the cross section (WS3) in Figure 9 is located inside the container (SL) and, like the cross section (WS3) in Figure 8, is a one-way operating check valve driven by a descending steel ball (SA), and does not retract outside the container (SL).

[0198] In both Figure 8 and Figure 9, the transverse side (WS3) oscillates between a position inside the resisting container (SL) and a retracted position outside the container (SL) where it does not resist, but in Figure 8 it attaches to the top surface (WC) and in Figure 9 it attaches to the bottom surface. Inside the container (SL), the steel balls (SA) are more densely arranged as they approach the bottom surface (WF) and more sparsely arranged as they move away from it. The transverse side (WS3) can rotate more easily when attached to the top surface (WC) than when attached to the bottom surface (WF).

[0199] In Figure 8(b), when the piston (PS2) pushes up the steel ball (SA), frictional resistance acts between the steel ball (SA) and the inner wall of the container (SL). Figure 9 shows an improved version of the reducer in Figure 8(b), in which a box-shaped container is formed by having the pressing surfaces of pistons (PS1) and pistons (PS2) rise up at both ends of the connecting plate (PL) of Figure 8(b), and two sides (WS1, WS2) attached, which houses a large number of steel balls (SA) and moves along the top surface (WC). A check valve (WG) with a transverse side surface (WS3) is attached to the top surface (WC).

[0200] A box-shaped container (SLL) that houses multiple steel balls (SA) and moves within a container (SL) is called an inner container (SSL). The steel balls (SA) inside the inner container (SLL) are lifted not only without friction against the inner surface of the container (SL), but also without friction against the inner surface of the inner container (SLL) because they do not move within the inner container (SLL).

[0201] As shown in Figure 8(b), when the base (WF) is approximately horizontal and the steel balls (SA) on the base (WF) do not stack in two or more layers, the steel balls (SA) roll on the base (WF) without friction. In Figure 8(b), the closer the base (WF) is to vertical, the more the steel balls (SA) rub against the inner wall of the container (SL). The depth of the container (SSL) in Figure 9 is more than twice the diameter of the steel balls, so even when many steel balls (SA) are housed and moved, no frictional resistance acts on the steel balls (SA).

[0202] Figures 9(a1) and 9(b1) show a side cross-sectional view and a plan view when the container inner container (SSL) is slightly tilted from the horizontal plane, while Figures 9(a2) and 9(b2) show a side cross-sectional view and a plan view when the container inner container (SSL) is significantly tilted from the horizontal plane. hh is the horizontal plane.

[0203] As shown in Figure 9(a1), when the container inner container (SSL) is slightly tilted from the horizontal plane, the steel balls (SA) are laid out without gaps on the connecting plate (PL), as shown in Figure 9(b1), and there are no gaps (Gr) as seen in Figure 8(b1). Only when there are gaps (Gr) can the steel balls (SA) above the gaps (Gr) fill the gaps (Gr) and descend by their own weight, but if there are no gaps (Gr), all the steel balls (SA) remain stationary and do not move. The piston (PS) of the gearbox moves as steel balls (SA) pass through the outlet (HS). If there are no steel balls (SA) passing through the outlet (HS), the gearbox will not function.

[0204] As shown in Figure 9(a1), if the check valve (WG) does not rotate until it is suspended, the check valve (WG) slides on the steel ball (SA), causing the piston (PS) to move, and the gearbox will not function. If the check valve (WG) rotates until it is suspended, the steel ball (SA) between the cross-sectional side surface (WS3) of the check valve (WG) and the pressing surface of the piston (PS1) becomes immobile, preventing the piston (PS) from moving. The gearbox will not operate.

[0205] As shown in Figure 9(a2), when the container inner casing (SLL) is significantly tilted from the horizontal plane, a gap is created inside the container inner casing (SSL), as shown in Figure 9(b2). Gaps are created both inside the container above the transverse side (WS3) and inside the container below the transverse side (WS3), allowing the piston (PS) to move up and down, and the reducer to operate and function.

[0206] When the piston (PS) moves upward, the gap in the container below the transverse side (WS3) disappears, and the gap in the container above the transverse side (WS3) increases by the same amount. The transverse side (WS3) can rotate while lifting the steel ball (SA), and the piston (PS) can move upward.

[0207] When the piston (PS) moves downward, the gap in the container above the transverse side (WS3) disappears, and the gap in the container below the transverse side (WS3) increases by the same amount. The piston (PS) can move downward. A gap is created in the lower container, allowing the steel ball (SA) to pass through the outlet (HS). The piston (PS), which presses against the surface of the steel ball (SAS), moves. In this way the gearbox functions.

[0208] Therefore, containers (SL) that contain numerous steel balls (SA) rather than a single row must be used with the container standing vertically, leaving gaps (Gr). Furthermore, regardless of whether the container (SL) is an inner container (SLL) or not, it cannot be used if the bottom surface (WF) is slightly tilted from the horizontal plane.

[0209] The above embodiments relate to a speed reducer in which steel balls (SA) reciprocate on a substantially horizontal base (WF). The following embodiments relate to a speed reducer that lifts steel balls (SA) along a substantially vertical base (WF). In Figure 10(a), two containers (SLL1, SSL2) containing multiple steel balls (SA) and having the same weight are connected by a rope (RO) and suspended by a pulley (RR). The moments of the two containers (SLL1, SLL2) around the pulley (RR) are balanced, and the two containers (SLL1, SSL2) move up and down in opposite directions.

[0210] In Figure 10(a), the rotating body (C) rotates continuously in one direction. The rotation of the rotating body (C) is converted into the reciprocating motion of one of the two container containers (SLL1, SLL2) (SLL1) via the connecting rod (CC), while the other container container (LSL2) moves up and down in the opposite direction to the other (SLL1). No force is required to raise the two container containers (SLL1, SLL2). Since one of the two container containers (SLL1) (SLL1) gains potential energy as it rises and the other (SLL2) loses an equal amount of potential energy as it descends, the rotational energy of the rotating body (C) is not consumed.

[0211] Each of the two container inner units (SLL1, SLL2) consists of a "lidless box-shaped container (SLL)" that contains many steel balls (SA) and a lid. The "lidless box-shaped container (SLL)" is a U-shaped container (SLL) in cross-section, consisting of a bottom surface (WF), a top surface (WC), and the other of two sides (WS1, WS2), with pistons (PS1, PS2) rising from both ends of the bottom surface (WF) of the U-shaped container (SLL), forming the "lidless box-shaped container (SLL)".

[0212] The lid is one of the two sides (WS1, WS2), and the two "lidless box-shaped containers (SLL)" move along their respective lids. Each lid has a transverse side (WS3), which is pivotally supported around a pivot axis (Z) provided on one of the two sides (WS1, WS2), WS1.

[0213] In Figure 10(a), the two box-shaped containers (SLL1, SLL2) are each suspended vertically and fixed to a fixing part (W), moving vertically along one of their sides (WS1) which has a transverse side (WS3). Since the descended steel balls (SA) are returned to their original position without experiencing significant frictional resistance, the flow path of the two box-shaped containers (SLL1, SLL2) is not limited to a single path. The two box-shaped containers (SLL1, SLL2) can accommodate many steel balls (SA). Furthermore, the cross-section of the box-shaped container (SLL) is arbitrary and not limited to circular or rectangular shapes.

[0214] The box-shaped containers (SLL) shown in Figure 10(a) and Figure 10(b) are all the same. The cross-sectional sides (WS3) shown in Figure 10(a) and Figure 10(b) are also the same, and the cross-sectional sides (WS3) rotate within the box-shaped container (SSL) and do not retract outside the box-shaped container (SSL), but rather rotate as the steel balls (SA) inside the box-shaped container (SLL) move up and down together with the box-shaped container (SLL).

[0215] The box-shaped container (SLL) descends, and its transverse side (WS3) comes to rest perpendicular to the length of the flow path. The rotating body (C) decelerates in resistance to the descending steel ball (SA). In Figure 10(a), the rotating body (C) rotates continuously in one direction, and as soon as the box-shaped container (SLL) finishes descending, it begins to rise. As the box-shaped container (SLL) rises, the transverse side (WS3) comes to rest in the longitudinal direction of the flow path, and the rotating body (C) does not decelerate as it does not resist the rising steel ball (SA).

[0216] Both box-shaped containers (SLL1, SSL2) move up and down alternately, and the rotating body (C) is always slowed down by one of the two box-shaped containers (SLL1, SSL2). The rotating body (C) is slowed down twice during one rotation. The irregularities on the back surface of the transverse side (WS3) are provided with recesses into which the descending steel ball (SA) fits, so that the box-shaped container (SLL) rotates as soon as it begins to descend and comes to rest perpendicular to the length of the flow path.

[0217] In Figure 10(a), two box-shaped containers (SLL1, SSL2) move up and down alternately, and the rotating body (C) rotates continuously in one direction to reduce the rotational speed of the motor or generator. However, when linked to a reciprocating door (D), only one box-shaped container (SLL1) needs to move up and down. In such cases, if you use only one of the two containers (SLL1, SSL2) and replace the other (SSL2) with a counterweight, you won't need any lifting force when opening the door (D) and pulling up one of them (SSL1).

[0218] Figure 10(b) shows a speed reducer for reciprocating doors (D) or covers, which acts as a shock absorber to prevent the doors or covers from accelerating too quickly and closing. A mainspring (VU) is mounted around the rotation axis (ZZ) in place of the counterweight, and the mainspring (VU) biases the box-shaped container (SLL) in an upward direction, balancing it with the box-shaped container (SLL).

[0219] Figure 10(b) is a diagram showing the state when the door (D) or lid is opened, the box-shaped container (SLL) is lifted up, and then released, causing the box-shaped container (SLL) to begin descending. The state when the box-shaped container (SLL) is lifted up is the state of the box-shaped container (SLL2) in Figure 10(a1). In Figure 10(b), the piston (PS1) cannot descend unless the steel ball (SA) is discharged from the outlet (HS) and the surface of the steel ball (SAS) descends. However, as shown in Figure 10(b), there is a gap (Gr) between the piston (PS1) and the surface of the steel ball (SAS), allowing the piston (PS1) to descend.

[0220] The state after the piston (PS1) has descended and come into contact with the surface layer (SAS) of the steel ball is the state of the box-shaped container (SLL1) shown in Figure 10(a1). The steel balls (SA) are discharged from the outlet (HS) by their own weight and are not pushed out by the piston (PS1). No matter how strongly the piston (PS1) presses against the surface (SAS) of the steel balls, the downward speed of the piston (PS1) is determined by the amount of steel balls (SA) discharged from the outlet (HS) per unit time. This reduction mechanism is the reduction mechanism recognized in all embodiments of this application.

[0221] The solid of revolution (3C) shown in Figure 10(aa) comprises three solids of revolution (C1, C2, C3) identical to the solid of revolution (C) shown in Figure 10(a), and the three solids of revolution (C1, C2, C3) share a rotation axis (Z) and are arranged to divide the circle (CR) into three equal parts.

[0222] Although the explanatory diagram is omitted, the three rotating bodies (C1, C2, C3) each operate the same three speed reducers as shown in Figure 10(a) via connecting rods (CC), just like the rotating body (C) shown in Figure 11(a). The rotating body (3C) is reduced six times during one rotation. As in Figure 5, the rotating body (C) operates multiple speed reducers simultaneously. The more you do it, the more constant the deceleration speed becomes.

[0223] In the above examples, the rotation of the rotating body (C) was converted into the reciprocating motion of the piston (PS) to decelerate the piston (PS). However, in Figure 11 and subsequent figures, the rotation of the rotating body (C) is decelerated. There are two types of box-shaped containers (SLLs): one is a nearly horizontal box-shaped container (SLL) in which the steel ball (SA) descends, and the other is a nearly vertical box-shaped container (SLL) in which the steel ball falls. Figure 9(a) shows the latter embodiment, and the cross-section of the box-shaped container (SLL) in Figure 9 is U-shaped. The three faces of the U-shaped cross-section are the bottom surface (WF) and both sides (WS1, WS2), and the bottom surface (WF) is slightly inclined from the horizontal plane to support the steel ball (SA). The other face that makes the cross-section rectangular is the top surface (WC), and the faces rising from both ends of the bottom surface (WF) are the pressing surfaces of the pistons (PS1) and (PS2). Figure 9(b) shows the latter embodiment, where the U-shaped container (SSL) in Figure 11 is the U-shaped container (SSL) in Figure 9(a) in an upright position.

[0224] In Figure 8, a piston (PS) moves along the inner wall of the container (SL), pushing up and down the steel ball (SA) contained within the container (SL). In Figure 9, a box-shaped container containing the steel ball (SA) moves inside the container (SL). When the steel ball (SA) is lifted, the friction between the steel ball (SA) and the inner wall of the container (SL) decreases.

[0225] In the speed reducer shown in Figure 11, the container (SL) is approximately vertical, and the steel balls (SA) fall approximately vertically within the container (SL). Figure 11(a) is a cross-sectional view of the speed reducer cut along a vertical plane, where hh represents the horizontal plane. Figure 11(b) is a side view of the speed reducer, showing the flow path after removing the top surface (WC) shown in Figure 11(a), and is a top view of the box-shaped container (SLL). Figure 11(c) is a cross-sectional view illustrating a U-shaped container (SSL).

[0226] The rotating body (C) shown in Figure 11 rotates back and forth around a rotation axis (Z) provided on the fixed part (W), as shown in Figure 11(a), in conjunction with a door (D) not shown. The rotating body (C) is equipped with two pistons (PS1) and piston (PS2) equidistant from the rotation axis (Z) and a connecting plate (PL) that connects them. The rotating body (C) is a box-shaped container, with the pressing surfaces of pistons (PS1) and piston (PS2) rising from both ends of the connecting plate (PL), and has a transverse side (WS3) that moves along the stationary side (WS1).

[0227] The space (G) sandwiched between the connecting plate (PL), piston (PS1), and piston (PS2) houses numerous steel balls (SA) and moves up and down. The steel balls (SA) move up and down without moving within the space (G). The space (G) is the interior of a container (SSL) that moves within a container (SL), the container (SL) consists only of its sides (WS1), and the rotating body (C) containing the space (G) is the container inner container (SSL).

[0228] The container (SL) encloses multiple steel balls (SA) within the container (SL) and prevents them from coming out of the container (SL). The inner wall surface of the container (SL) is divided into a fixed surface to which the transverse side surface (WS3) is attached and a movable surface equipped with a piston (PS). The container (SL) in the "container inner container (SSL) that moves within the container (SL)" is a container (SL) that does not contain the entire container inner container (SSL) that moves within the container (SL) even when it is oscillating up and down, as it has a fixed surface.

[0229] The container (SL) does not move on only one of its two sides (WS1, WS2), which is WS1. The container inner container (SSL) is a "lidless box-shaped container (SLL)" consisting of a top surface (WC), a bottom surface (WF), the other side of the two sides (WS1, WS2), and two pistons (PS1, PS2) rising from both ends of the bottom surface (WF).

[0230] The box-shaped container (SLL) houses multiple steel balls (SA) and moves along the lid (one side (WS1)). The multiple steel balls (SA) move without friction with the surfaces that make up the box-shaped container (SLL), but friction with the surfaces that make up the lid. The larger the total area of ​​the former and the smaller the total area of ​​the latter, the less frictional resistance the steel ball (SA) experiences.

[0231] The box-shaped container (SSL) shown in Figures 11(a1) and (a2) consists of a top surface (WC), a bottom surface (WF), and two sides (WS1, WS2), the other of which is the other side (WS2), and is a U-shaped container in cross-section as shown in Figure 11(c1). Figure 11(c1) is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow cc in Figures 11(a1) and (b1). The top surface (WC) of the box-shaped container (SLL) is a cylindrical curved surface centered on the axis of rotation (Z), just like the connecting plate (PL), and the connecting plate (PL) is the bottom surface (WF) that faces the top surface (WC).

[0232] The rotating body (C) is a U-shaped container with a "space (G) for housing multiple steel balls (SA)", the chamber (G) swings up and down, and the numerous steel balls (SA) pass across a facepiece (WSS) to which one side (WS1) that does not move is attached. Both of the two faces of the facepiece (WSS) are transverse sides (WSS3, WSS33), each facing one of two pistons (PS1) and the other (PS2). Both pistons (PS1) and (PS2) reciprocate, moving closer to and away from the facepiece (WSS), but never approaching a position where they contact the facepiece (WSS).

[0233] As shown in Figures 11(a1) and (b1), the outlet (HS) lies on a horizontal plane (hh) passing through the axis of rotation (Z), and the outlet (HS) is located between the tip of the facet (WSS) and the other side (WS2) of the two sides (WS1, WS2). The chamber (G) is divided into two parts at the outlet (HS): the upper chamber (G1) and the lower chamber (G2). As pistons (PS1) and (PS2) descend the same distance, the decrease in the volume of chamber (G1) is equal to the increase in the volume of chamber (G2).

[0234] The steel ball (SA) repeatedly ascends and descends as the door (D) opens and closes. When ascending, the steel ball (SA) receives frictional resistance from only one side (WS1). The "open box-shaped container (SLL)" and the lid form a rectangular cross-section container (SL), but if the friction surface area of ​​the lid is made very small compared to the total surface area of ​​the rectangular cross-section container (SL), the piston (PS2) can push the steel ball (SA) vertically from below even if the chamber (G) is not a single-row structure.

[0235] Numerous steel balls (SA) housed within the chamber (G1) gradually pass through the outlet (HS) and descend in a nearly vertical direction, while the piston (PS1) slowly descends, pressing against the steel balls (SA) inside the chamber (G1). The rotating body (C) decelerates as it descends while pressing against the surface (SAS) of the steel balls. When the door (D) stops, the rotating body (C) stops, and the lower chamber (R2) is filled with steel balls (SA), all the steel balls (SA) stop.

[0236] As shown in Figures 11(b1) and (b2), a check valve (WG) is attached to the tip of the facepiece (WSS). The check valve (WG) is rotatably mounted on a pivot axis (ZZ) which is provided perpendicularly near the apex of the facepiece (WSS). As shown in Figures 11(a1) and 11(b1), when the door (D) closes, the rotating body (C) rotates in the direction of arrow A in the figure, and the check valve (WG) rotates in the direction of arrow B in the figure due to the descending steel ball (SA) to minimize the outlet (HS). The check valve (WG) comes into contact with the contact (WGG) and stops, resisting the descending steel ball (SA).

[0237] While the door (D) is opening, the check valve (WG) stops with the discharge port (HS) enlarged. When the door (D) opens, regardless of the position of the door (D) while it is opening, it remains stationary at a position where the discharge port (HS) is enlarged and does not resist the steel ball (SA) that rises and passes through the discharge port (HS).

[0238] Except when the door (D) is fully closed, the steel ball (SA) remains in the chamber (G1) and biases the check valve (WG) in the direction of arrow B in the figure. When the steel ball (SA) starts to lift, the check valve (WG) reduces the discharge port (HS). Regardless of the position of the door (D) while it is closing, the check valve (WG) remains stationary at a position where the discharge port (HS) is reduced when the door (D) closes and resists the steel ball (SA) passing through the discharge port (HS). Not only the check valve (WG) but also the transverse side surface (WSS33) of the solid body (WSS) resists the rise of the steel ball (SA).

[0239] When attempting to open from the closing state, the check valve (WG) stops with the discharge port (HS) reduced. To rotate the check valve (WG) in the direction of arrow B in the figure, a force is required to push up the steel ball (SA) above the check valve (WG). The check valve (WG) is biased by the toggle spring (V) so that a large force acts simultaneously when the door (D) is slightly opened.

[0240] Each time the toggle spring (V) crosses the rotation axis (ZZ) of the check valve (WG), the direction in which the toggle spring (V) biases the check valve (WG) reverses. When the door (D) is slightly opened, the steel ball (SA) slightly rises, and the check valve (WG) pressed by the steel ball (SA) rotates slightly. Even if the toggle spring (V) has been biasing the check valve (WG) in the direction of reducing the discharge port (HS) until then, the check valve (WG) rotates slightly so that the toggle spring (V) crosses the rotation axis (ZZ). When crossing the rotation axis (ZZ), the check valve (WG) continues to rotate and does not stop until the discharge port (HS) becomes sufficiently large.

[0241] When opening the door (D), even if the check valve (WG) widens the outlet (HS), the facepiece (WSS) remains in place and the entire flow path does not open. The rotating body (C) is also decelerated by the piston (PS2) pushing up the steel ball (SA). Figure 11 shows a door closer that does not rotate rapidly when buffeted by strong winds.

[0242] Figure 11(c) illustrates the box-shaped container (SLL). As shown in Figure 11(c1), pistons (PS1, PS2) rise from each end of a U-shaped container (SLL1) with a U-shaped cross-section on three sides, forming a "lidless box-shaped container (SLL2)". This "lidless box-shaped container (SLL)" is called a box-shaped container (SLL). Adding one side that corresponds to a lid results in a rectangular container (SL).

[0243] As shown in Figure 11(c2), pistons (PS1, PS2) rise from each end of the L-shaped container (SLL2) with an L-shaped cross-section on two sides, forming a "box-shaped container without a lid (SLL2)". Two sides corresponding to a lid are added to form a rectangular container (SL). As shown in Figure 11(c3), pistons (PS1, PS2) rise from each end of the I-shaped cross-section container (SLL3) with one side forming an I-shape, forming a "box-shaped container without a lid (SLL)," and three sides corresponding to a lid are added to form a rectangular cross-section container (SL).

[0244] A rectangular cross-section container (SL) consisting of a box-shaped container without a lid (SLL) and a lid does not allow steel balls (SA) to protrude outside the container (SL). A U-shaped container with three sides (SLL1), a U-shaped container with two sides (SLL2), and a single-sided I-shaped container (SLL1) are all box-shaped containers (SLL) if they are equipped with a chamber (G) sandwiched between a connecting plate (PL) and two pistons (PS1 and PS2) and can accommodate a large number of steel balls (SA).

[0245] The cross-sectional I-shaped container (SLL1) shown in Fig. 11(c3) is a box-shaped container (SLL) composed of a connecting plate (PL), a piston (PS1), and a piston (PS2), and the connecting plate (PL) is the bottom surface (WF). The box-shaped container (SLL) contains and moves many steel balls (SA), and the many steel balls (SA) are lifted by the piston (PS) not only along a surface slightly inclined from the horizontal plane but also along a vertical plane as shown in Fig. 8(a). It is not subject to frictional resistance from the entire inner surface of the container (SL), but is lifted while being resisted only by the surface corresponding to the lid. The smaller the total area of the surface corresponding to the lid, the less the frictional resistance received.

[0246] The weight (WT) shown in Fig. 11(a) is a counterweight attached to the rotating body (C), and about the rotation axis (Z), the moment of force around the left side of the chamber (G) and the moment of force around the right side of the weight (WT) are balanced. The rotating body (C) rotates in conjunction with the door (D), but the rotating body (C) does not rotate by the force of the door (D). The door is decelerated without the force of the door (D) decreasing. Since the door does not lift the chamber (G) back to its original position by the force of the door (D), the door does not feel heavy when it is opened.

[0247] In all of the above embodiments, even when the rotating body (C) rotates, it is converted into the reciprocation of the piston (PS) and decelerated. The pistons (PS) and (PS2) reciprocate and do not contact even when approaching the transverse side surface (WS3), nor do they pass through the transverse side surface (WS3). In Fig. 12, the piston (PS) continuously rotates around the rotation axis (Z) and passes through the transverse side surface (WS3). Since the decelerator stops simultaneously when the piston (PS) contacts the transverse side surface (WS3), it must move to a position where neither the piston (PS) nor the transverse side surface (WS3) contacts.

[0248] Figure 12(a) is a cross-sectional view of the speed reducer cut in a vertical plane. The rotating body (C) has four chambers (G) that house numerous steel balls (SA), and the four chambers (G1, G2, G3, G4) rotate around the axis of rotation (Z). hh is the horizontal plane, the rotating body (C) rotates in the direction of arrow A in the figure, and the steel balls (SA) in chamber (G1) descend from top to bottom in a nearly vertical direction. Figure 12(b) is a plan view of the flow path, and the cross-section of the flow path cut in the horizontal plane hh is the same as in Figure 11(a2).

[0249] In Figure 12(a), the base (WF) and top (WC) are concentric circles, and the base (WF) and top (WC) are part of a solid of revolution (C) that rotates together with the axis of revolution (Z). As shown in Figure 10(b), the rotating body (C) is a U-shaped container (SLL) with a bottom surface (WF), a top surface (WC), and a side surface (WS2), and moves along the side surface (WS1) to which the transverse side surface (WS3) is attached.

[0250] In Figure 12(a), there is one fixed transverse side (WS3) that resists only the steel ball (SA) in chamber (G1) of the four chambers (G1, G2, G3, G4). One side (WS1) with the cross-sectional side (WS3) shown in Figure 12(b) is fixed to the fixed part (W) and does not rotate. In Figure 12(d), the U-shaped cross-sectional containers (SLL) of the three speed reducers, described later, are fixed to the rotation axis (Z) and rotate with the rotation axis (Z). The side (WS1) of the three speed reducers is rotatably supported around the rotation axis (Z) and does not rotate with the rotation axis (Z), and is fixed to the fixed part (W) and does not rotate. The rotation axis (Z) rotates around the bearing (ZC).

[0251] The four partition plates (PLLs) that separate the four chambers (G1, G2, G3, G4) are connected to a rotating side (WS2), and each partition plate (PLL) is equally spaced on a circle centered on the axis of rotation (Z), with the piston (PS1) being the front surface and (PS2) being the back surface. There are no gaps (Gr) between the multiple steel balls (SA) housed in the upper chamber with the transverse side (WS3) in the middle, and the surface of the partition plate (PLL) that presses against the surface (SAS) of the steel balls is a piston (PS1). There is a gap (Gr) in the chamber below the transverse side (WS3), and the surface that supports the steel balls (SA) is a piston (PS2).

[0252] As piston (PS1) passes the transverse side (WS3), the back side of the passed piston (PS1) becomes piston (PS2). It then retracts while receiving multiple steel balls (SA) that rest on top of piston (PS2). Figure 12(a) is a state diagram showing the state when the piston (PS1) of chamber (G1) begins to decelerate, and after the piston (PS2) of chamber (G1) has passed the transverse side (WS3). None of the steel balls (SA) in chamber (G) have yet been discharged from the outlet (HS). All the steel balls (SA) in chamber (G) are now resting on the transverse side (WS3).

[0253] Assuming that the transverse side (WS3) retracts outside the chamber (G) so that the partition plate (PLL) can pass through, and the retracted transverse side (WS3) enters the next chamber (G2) after the partition plate (PLL) has passed through, the transverse side (WS3) will lift, to some extent, the steel balls (SA) that are stacked vertically inside the chamber (G2) from the bottom.

[0254] As shown in Figures 6-8, when the container (SL) is approximately horizontal, the steel ball (SA) inside the container (SL) can be inserted into it. Also, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, even when the container (SL) is approximately vertical, the retracted transverse side (WS3) can be inserted into the steel ball (SA) inside the container (SL) by the descending steel ball (SA).

[0255] As shown in FIG. 8(b1), when the transverse side surface (WS3) of the check valve retreats and the back surface of the transverse side surface (WS3) becomes the bottom surface (WFF), the partition plate (PLL) passes over the transverse side surface (WS3). In any case, after passing through, assuming that the retreated transverse side surface (WS3) is inserted from outside the chamber (G) into the chamber (G), it is difficult to move to a position where it resists the steel ball (SA) while lifting the steel ball (SA) above the transverse side surface (WS3).

[0256] In FIG. 12(b), the transverse side surface (WS3) does not move, and the piston (PS) revolves around the transverse side surface (WS3) while rotating and passes through. In FIG. 13(b), the transverse side surface (WS3) retreats, the partition plate (PLL) passes through, and after passing through, the retreated transverse side surface (WS3) resumes its position. In FIGS. 14 and 15, neither the transverse side surface (WS3) nor the partition plate (PLL) retreats, and the partition plate (PLL) passes through. [[ID=�10]]

[0257] In this way, with the transverse side surface (WS3) in the middle, a large number of steel balls (SA) are accommodated between the piston (PS1) of the upper partition plate (PLL) and the piston (PS2) of the lower partition plate (PLL). A large number of steel balls (SA) descend due to their own weight, receive the resistance of the transverse side surface (WS3), are discharged from the discharge port (HS), and the piston (PS1) decelerates. This is the same as the above embodiments.

[0258] In this way, the transverse side surface (WS3) resists the steel balls (SA) in the chambers (G3, G4) that are sequentially replaced. Each time the rotating body (C) makes one rotation, the rotating body (C) decelerates four times. If the rotating body (C) rotates 100 times, it decelerates 400 times. In any deceleration, a large number of steel balls (SA) in the chamber (G) receive the resistance of the transverse side surface (WS3), are discharged from the discharge port (HS), and the piston (PS1) decelerates. This is the same as the above embodiments.

[0259] In the gearbox shown in Figure 12, an open box-shaped container (SSL) contains multiple steel balls (SA) and moves along a lid (WS1). Some box-shaped containers (SSL1) descend with the steel balls (SA), while others (SSL3) push the steel balls (SA) upward. In the box-shaped container (SSL3) that pushes the steel balls (SA), only the steel balls (SA) moving along the side (WS1) experience resistance from the side (WS1), while most of the steel balls (SA) are lifted without experiencing frictional resistance.

[0260] The steel balls (SA) experience frictional resistance from the sides (WS1) and not from the inner wall of the box-shaped container (SSL). The frictional area of ​​the sides (WS1) is small compared to the total area of ​​the inner wall of the box-shaped container (SSL), and in the reducer shown in Figure 12, the steel balls (SA) in the box-shaped container (SSL) do not move within the box-shaped container (SSL), so they are lifted back to their initial height without experiencing frictional resistance. Since the piston (PS) does not push up the steel ball (SA), the box-shaped container (SSL3) does not need to have a single-row structure.

[0261] In addition to the effect of "lifting to the initial height without frictional resistance," in the gearbox shown in Figure 12, there are pistons (PS2) that are pushed down by the steel balls (SA), and pistons (PS2) that push up the steel balls (SA). The forces acting on both are balanced, and the more chambers (G) there are, the better the balance. Furthermore, there are box-shaped containers (SSL1) that descend together with the steel ball (SA), and box-shaped containers (SSL3) that push the steel ball (SA) upward. The former gains potential energy, while the latter loses it. These two cancel each other out, reducing the energy required to push the steel ball (SA) upward.

[0262] During the deceleration process, the steel balls (SA) are slowly discharged from the discharge port (HS) at the beginning of deceleration, and then discharged all at once just before they are completely discharged. The surface of the steel balls (SAS) and the descent speed of the piston (PS1) that presses against the surface of the steel balls (SAS) also change, so the deceleration is not constant. Figure 12(d) shows a configuration similar to the embodiment in Figure 5, where multiple speed reducers of the same type as those in Figure 12 share a rotation axis (Z) and rotate simultaneously in order to maintain a constant reduction speed. In each of the multiple speed reducers in Figure 12, the rotating body (C) and the rotation axis (Z) are relatively integrated, and as shown in Figure 12(d), a single rotation axis (Z) formed by connecting the rotation axes (Z) of each rotating body (C) is supported by a bearing (ZC) and rotates in conjunction with a moving body (UN) not shown.

[0263] In Figure 12(d), the three speed reducers (SL1, SL2, SL3) are identical to the speed reducer in Figure 12, but their initial phases differ by 30 degrees each. Speed ​​reducer (SL1) is in the state where deceleration has begun, speed reducer (SL2) is in the state where deceleration has finished, and speed reducer (SL3) is in the state where deceleration is in progress. The rotating axis (Z) simultaneously rotates three speed reducers: one that is slowly beginning to rotate (SL1), one that is rapidly beginning to rotate (SL2), and one that rotates neither slowly nor rapidly (SL3).

[0264] The speed reducer (SL2), which is trying to start rotating rapidly, is slowed down by the speed reducer (SL1), which is trying to start rotating slowly, and becomes a speed reducer (SL3) that rotates neither too slowly nor too quickly.

[0265] Next, Figure 12(b) describes the mechanism by which the piston (PS) passes through the transverse side surface (WS3). As shown in Figure 12(b), each vertical plate (PLL) is equipped with a piston (PS1) and a piston (PS2) connected by a connecting shaft (P). The piston (PS1) is pivotally supported on a support shaft (PP) provided on the side surface (WS2), and a torsion spring (not shown) is attached around the connecting shaft (P), biasing the space between the piston (PS1) and the piston (PS2) in a closing direction.

[0266] As shown in Figure 12(b1), the tip of the piston (PS2) slides along the side surface (WS2), closing the gap between the pistons (PS1) and (PS2), so that the piston (PS1) becomes perpendicular to the side surface (WS2). In the diagram, the arrows indicate the direction of motion. Figure 12(b1) is a diagram showing the state when the piston (PS1) descends and comes into contact with the base end of the transverse side surface (WS3) where the piston (PS1) is stationary.

[0267] The transverse side (WS3) is an arc centered on the tip of the piston (PS2) as shown in Figure 12(b1). As shown in Figure 12(b2), even when the tip of the piston (PS1) slides along the transverse side (WS3), the tip of the piston (PS2) remains stationary. If the transverse side (WS3) is below the arc, the tip of the piston (PS1) slides along the transverse side (WS3) as the piston (PS2) descends.

[0268] Figure 12(b2) is a diagram showing the state in which the tip of the piston (PS1) slides along the transverse side surface (WS3), causing the gap between piston (PS1) and piston (PS2) to widen. All the steel balls (SA) in the chamber (G1) rest on top of piston (PS2), and all the steel balls (SA) descend while being disturbed, without being lifted by piston (PS2). Meanwhile, the steel balls (SA) between piston (PS1) and the transverse side surface (WS3) are discharged all at once from the discharge port (HS).

[0269] As shown in Figure 12(b3), as the tip of the piston (PS1) approaches the tip of the transverse side surface (WS3), the gap between the piston (PS1) and the piston (PS2) widens, and the piston (PS1) and the transverse side surface (WS3) intersect. Figure 12(c) is a partial view of the tip of the piston (PS1) and the tip of the transverse side surface (WS3). The tip of the transverse side surface (WS3) is comb-shaped, and the opening (PS1G) provided at the tip of the piston (PS1) can accommodate the comb teeth (WS3G) of the tip of the transverse side surface (WS3).

[0270] The opening (PS1G) and the gaps between the comb teeth (WS3G) are smaller than the diameter of the steel ball, so the steel ball (SA) cannot pass through. The opening (PS1G) accommodates the comb teeth (WS3G), and as the piston (PS1) and the transverse side surface (WS3) intersect, the tip of the piston (PS1) approaches the end of the transverse side surface (WS3). As shown in Figure 12(b4), when the tip of the piston (PS1) passes the end of the transverse side (WS3) and moves away from the end, the gap between the piston (PS1) and the piston (PS2) closes.

[0271] As shown by the dashed line in Figure 12(b4), the side of the piston (PS2) moves along the tip of the transverse side (WS3). The space between piston (PS1) and piston (PS2) closes, and as shown in Figure 12(b1), piston (PS1) becomes perpendicular to the transverse side (WS3). The tip of the piston (PS2) moves along the side (WS2) throughout its movement, but when it separates from the tip of the transverse side (WS3), the steel ball (SAS) is discharged from the outlet (HS).

[0272] The piston (PS2) is designed to receive the steel balls (SA) as they are discharged from the outlet (HS), but it is necessary to prevent the steel balls (SA) from passing between the connecting shaft (P) and the side surface (WS1) and moving into the chamber (G) below the piston (PS1). The number of steel balls (SA) discharged from the outlet (HS) is small by the time the piston (PS1) becomes perpendicular to the transverse side surface (WS3), and it is desirable to provide a recess (PS2H) on the upper surface of the piston (PS2) to accommodate the discharged steel balls (SA).

[0273] In Figure 13, as in Figure 12, the rotating body (C) has four chambers (G) that house numerous steel balls (SA), and the four chambers (G1, G2, G3, G4) rotate continuously in the direction of arrow A in the figure around the axis of rotation (Z). The four partition plates (PLL) that separate the four chambers (G) are connected to the rotating base (WF), and each partition plate (PLL) is equally distributed on the circumference of a circle centered on the axis of rotation (Z), with the piston (PS1) being the front surface and (PS2) being the back surface.

[0274] Figure 13(a) is a cross-sectional view of the speed reducer, cut in a vertical plane, and is a side view. hh is the horizontal plane, and the steel balls (SA) inside the chamber (G1) are moving downwards from top to bottom in a roughly vertical direction. Figure 13(b) is a plan view of the flow path, and Figure 13(c) is a cross-sectional view of the flow path cut in the horizontal plane hh. Figure 13(d) is a side view of the flow path as seen from the direction of arrow cc in Figure 13(c).

[0275] As shown in Figure 13(b), the transverse side (WS3) consists of multiple elongated cylindrical rods (referred to as cylindrical rods (B)) arranged perpendicularly to the base surface (WF) at equal intervals, and the steel ball (SA) descends along the transverse side (WS3), passing between the cylindrical rods (B) from top to bottom without passing through them. Even if a steel ball (SA) remains stationary between two cylindrical rods (B), the steel ball (SA) will descend along the stationary steel ball (SA) or along the surface layer of steel balls piled on top of the stationary steel ball (SA).

[0276] As the solid of revolution (C) rotates, chamber (G1) revolves and crosses the transverse side (WS3) to become chamber (G4), and chamber (G2) swaps places with chamber (G1). The transverse side (WS3) is fixed to the fixed part (W) and is provided in the chamber (G1) from which the steel ball (SA) descends in a substantially vertical direction. There is only one transverse side (WS3) and it resists only the steel ball (SA) in the "chamber (G1) that alternates between being the chamber (G1)".

[0277] The cylindrical rod (B) on the transverse side (WS3) is inserted into the "chamber (G1) that alternates between being chamber (G1)" by passing through a through hole (not shown) provided on the top surface (WC). Chamber (G1) is the space sandwiched between pistons (PS1) and piston (PS2) with the transverse side (WS3) in the middle, and chambers (G2), (G3), and (G4) in the diagram, into which the cylindrical rod (B) is not inserted, are not chambers (G1). Chamber (G1) is formed when the cylindrical rod (B) is inserted. Each time the partition plate (PLL) passes across the transverse side (WS3), the chamber (G1) is switched.

[0278] The piston (PS1) is the surface that presses against the surface (SAS) of the steel balls on the partition plate (PLL), and the piston (PS2) is the surface that supports the steel balls (SA). Within the chamber (G1), there are no gaps (Gr) between the multiple steel balls (SA) housed in the upper chamber with the transverse side (WS3) in the middle, but there are gaps (Gr) in the chamber below the transverse side (WS3), and the steel balls (SA) housed in the upper chamber fall into the gaps (Gr) in the lower chamber.

[0279] In the upper chamber, there is no gap (Gr) between the steel ball surface (SAS) and the piston (PS1), and the piston (PS1) cannot descend unless the steel ball surface (SAS) descends. When the steel ball (SA) in the upper chamber falls into the lower chamber, the steel ball surface (SAS) descends, and the piston (PS1) also descends. It appears as if the piston (PS1) is pushing the steel ball (SA) into the lower chamber, but the steel ball (SA) descends by its own weight independently of the piston (PS1).

[0280] The bottom surface (WF) is a connecting plate (PL) that connects the piston (PS1) and the piston (PS2). Numerous steel balls (SA) inside the chamber (G1) surrounded by the connecting plate (PL) and the pistons (PS1) and (PS2) rising from both ends of it descend by their own weight, encounter resistance on the transverse side surface (WS3), and are discharged from the discharge port (HS), causing the piston (PS1) to decelerate. This is the same as in the above embodiment.

[0281] Numerous steel balls (SA) are subjected to resistance from the transverse side (WS3), rendering them almost immobile, but they still possess enough weight to fall into a gap below. The transverse side (WS3) does not resist the piston (PS1) through the numerous steel balls (SA), but rather resists the steel balls (SA), eliminating the force that would otherwise move them. Some steel balls (SAs) remain stationary on the transverse side (WS3), while others move along the transverse side (WS3). The steel balls (SAs) descend under their own power without any assistance from external forces.

[0282] Figures 13(b) to (d) illustrate the movement of the partition plate (PLL) across the transverse side (WS3), and the movement of the cylindrical rod (B) over the partition plate (PLL). The cylindrical rod (B1) is inside the chamber (G1) in the diagram and is in contact with the partition plate (PLL). The lower end of the cylindrical rod (B2) moves along the upper surface of the partition plate (PLL). The lower end of the cylindrical rod (B3) retracts outside the container (SL). The cylindrical rod (B4) is inside the chamber (G4) in the diagram and has not yet been lifted up. The lower ends of the cylindrical rods (B1) and (B4) do not reach the bottom surface (WF) and do not rub against the bottom surface (WF).

[0283] As shown in Figure 13(d), the cylindrical rod (B4) is biased by a compression spring (U) and is located inside the chamber (G1), while the cylindrical rod (B3) is lifted up by a guide roller (Br) attached to its upper end and retracted from the chamber (G1) by a guide plate (BK) shown by a dashed line. The guide plate (BK) is part of the rotating body (C) and rotates together with the vertical plate (PLL).

[0284] The guide board (BK) has an inclined surface at the front that lifts the guide roller (Br) and a flat surface at the rear that maintains the lower end of the cylindrical rod (B3) at a height that retracts from the chamber (G1). The guide roller (Br) is lifted along the inclined surface and then moves along the flat surface. The guide roller (Br) of the cylindrical rod (B2) moves along the flat surface and leaves the flat surface, and the cylindrical rod (B1), which has moved along the upper surface of the partition plate (PLL), descends along the rearmost rising surface of the partition plate (PLL). The lower end of the cylindrical rod (B1) does not reach the bottom surface (WF). The rearmost rising surface of the partition plate (PLL) is a piston (PS2) which supports the all-steel ball (SA) in the chamber (G1), but is not pressed down by the weight of the all-steel ball (SA).

[0285] The area beneath the piston (PS1) on the back side of the piston (PS2) of the partition plate (PLL) is the chamber (G4) shown in the diagram. There is a gap (Gr) inside the chamber (G4), and the partition plate (PLL) moves downward. There is no gap (Gr) between the multiple steel balls (SA) that rest on the piston (PS2), but as the piston (PS2) moves downward, the steel balls (SA) directly above the piston (PS2) move in a chaotic manner.

[0286] Multiple steel balls (SA) far from the piston (PS2) are packed so tightly they cannot move, and descend in an orderly, undisturbed formation. This is the so-called solid phase, as they descend as a solid, while the steel balls (SA) directly above the piston (PS2) move in a disordered manner, representing the so-called liquid phase. The cylindrical rod (B1) is inserted as easily as if it were being inserted into a liquid.

[0287] Furthermore, instead of inserting itself between the steel balls (SA), it inserts itself between the steel ball (SA) and the surface of the piston (PS2) that supports the steel ball (SA). As explained in Figure 12, it is difficult for the transverse side surface (WS3) that has been retracted outside the container (SL) to enter the container (SL), but in Figure 13, the entire transverse side surface (WS3) does not enter all at once, but rather the cylindrical rods (B) enter one by one, and it is possible for only one to enter.

[0288] In Figure 13(b), when the cylindrical rods (B) are inserted one by one into the chamber (G1) and the partition plate (PLL) passes over the cylindrical rods (B), the cylindrical rods (B) form a transverse surface (WS3) within the chamber (G1) sandwiched between the pistons (PS1) and (PS2). Immediately after the partition plate (PLL) passes under the full-circle rod (B), there is a gap both under the partition plate (PLL) and under the piston (PS1) inside the chamber (G1), allowing the rotating body (C) to rotate.

[0289] As the rotating body (C) rotates and the piston (PS1) presses against the surface of the steel balls (SAS), there are no gaps (Gr) between the multiple steel balls (SA) on the transverse side surface (WS3), and there are gaps (Gr) below the transverse side surface (WS3), allowing the rotating body (C) to rotate. From then on, the piston (PS2) supports the steel balls (SA) discharged from the discharge port (HS).

[0290] In Figure 13(a), the bottom surface (WF) and the top surface (WC) are concentric, and the top surface (WC) is fixed by attaching the transverse side surface (WS3). The rotating body (C) is a box-shaped container (SLL) with a U-shaped cross-section, having a bottom surface (WF) and two side surfaces (WS1, WS2), and it houses a plurality of steel balls (SA) and rotates along the top surface (WC). The plurality of steel balls (SA) inside the box-shaped container (SLL) rub against the top surface (WC), which has a larger friction area than the side surface (WS1) in Figures 11 and 12. Since the chamber (G3) lifts the steel balls (SA) in a substantially vertical direction, it is desirable that the flow path between the top surface (WC) and the bottom surface (WF) be a single-line path.

[0291] As the chamber (G1) rises, the number of steel balls (SA) that move away from the bottom surface (WF) and come into contact with the top surface (WC) increases, and the friction between the steel balls (SA) and the inner wall of the container (SL) increases. The higher the rise, the more the steel balls (SA) are pushed up, and this can only be achieved with a single-row path.

[0292] As the transverse side surface (WS3) moves higher than the horizontal plane, the bottom surface (WF) of the chamber (G1) shifts from a vertical plane to a horizontal plane, causing the steel balls (SA) to separate from the bottom surface (WF) and no longer float. The number of steel balls (SA) that separate from the bottom surface (WF) and contact the top surface (WC) decreases. The cross-sectional side of the steel ball (WS3), which is inserted into the container (SL) from outside the container (SL) while intersecting among the many steel balls (SA) on the bottom surface (WF), is more likely to penetrate into the container (SL) from the top surface (WC) than from the bottom surface (WF).

[0293] To accommodate a large number of steel balls (SA) in a single-row passage where the bottom surface (WF) of the chamber (G1) transitions from a vertical plane to a horizontal plane, the flow path width (GW) should be increased so that many steel balls (SA) are arranged in a single horizontal row. This reduces the pressure exerted by the piston (PS) on the surface (SAS) of the steel balls, preventing any steel balls (SA) from floating up from the bottom surface (WF).

[0294] The advantages of using a box-shaped container (SSL) are not limited to the fact that the steel balls (SA) inside the box-shaped container (SSL) do not move within the container (SSL) and therefore are lifted back to their initial height without frictional resistance. Some box-shaped containers (SSL1) descend with the steel ball (SA), while others (SSL3) push the steel ball (SA) upward. The former gains potential energy, while the latter loses it. These two cancel each other out, reducing the energy needed to push the steel ball (SA) upward. Less energy is consumed during deceleration.

[0295] Figure 13(e) is an unfolded view of the flow path of a speed reducer that uses elongated rods (BB) instead of the cylindrical rods (B) described above. The cross-sectional side (WS3) consists of multiple elongated rods (BB) arranged perpendicular to the top surface (WC) at equal intervals, as shown in Figure 13(b). Along this, the steel balls (SA) descend from top to bottom without passing between the rods (BB).

[0296] Similar to the case in Figure 13(b), even if the steel ball (SA) is stationary between the rods (BB) in Figure 13(e), the steel ball (SA) will descend along the stationary steel ball (SA). Unlike the cylindrical rod (B) described above, the rods (BB) are pivotally supported on a support shaft provided on the upper surface (WC) and are biased in the direction of the arrow in the figure by a torsion spring (not shown) to rest perpendicular to the upper surface (WC).

[0297] Figure 13(e) is a plan view showing the state when the partition plate (PLL) is far away from the transverse side surface (WS3) and begins to approach the transverse side surface (WS3), and Figure 13(f1) is a side view of the flow path showing the state at that time, which is the view indicated by arrow ff in Figure 13(e).

[0298] Until the piston (PS1) approaches the transverse side surface (WS3), the force exerted by the piston (PS1) on the surface of the steel ball (SAS) does not act on the transverse side surface (WS3). In Figure 13(f1), the rod (BB) is strongly biased by a torsion spring (not shown) and stands upright, resisting the downward movement of the steel ball (SA).

[0299] As shown in Figure 13(f2), as the piston (PS1) approaches the transverse side surface (WS3), the force exerted by the piston (PS1) on the surface of the steel ball (SAS) acts on the rod (BB), causing the rod (BB) to tip over, and the transverse side surface (WS3) no longer resists the descending steel ball (SA).

[0300] Until then, the piston (PS1) tilted the rod (BB) via the steel ball (SA), but as shown in Figure 13(f3), the piston (PS1) now tilts the rod (BB) directly. The rod (BB) moves along the tip of the partition plate (PLL), and Figure 13(f4) shows the state when the rod (BB) moves away from the tip of the partition plate (PLL) and tries to become perpendicular to the top surface (WC).

[0301] As shown in Figure 13(f4), each rod (BB) attempts to become perpendicular to the top surface (WC). All the steel balls (SA) in the chamber (G1) rest immobilely on the partition plate (PLL). One rod (BB) cannot rotate until it is perpendicular because it is holding down the steel balls (SA). The held-down steel balls (SA) are lined up and form a cross-sectional side, but there is a gap (Gr) below the partition plate (PLL), and the partition plate (PLL) moves downward. A gap is created between the bottom surface of all the steel balls (SA) in the chamber (G1), which are aligned immobilely, and the partition plate (PLL), and the held-down steel balls (SA) fall into the gap. One rod (BB) rotates until it becomes perpendicular.

[0302] The rotating body (C) in Figure 14, as shown in Figure 14(a), comprises four box-shaped containers (SSL1, SSL2, SSL3, SSL4) and houses multiple steel balls (SA), rotating in the direction of arrow A in the figure around the axis of rotation (Z). As shown in Figure 14(c), each box-shaped container (SSL), like the box-shaped containers in Figures 11 and 12, is a U-shaped container (SSL) with a bottom surface (WF), a top surface (WC), and one side surface (WS2), and moves along the side surface (WS1) which is fixed to the fixing part (W).

[0303] Figure 14(a) is a cross-sectional view of the reducer cut in the vertical plane, where hh represents the horizontal plane. Figures 14(b) to (e) are enlarged views of the flow channel cross-section; Figure 14(b) is a plan view of the flow channel, Figure 14(c) is a cross-sectional view of the flow channel, and Figure 14(d) is a side view of the flow channel. Figure 14(e) is an elevation view. The internal space of the four box-shaped containers (SSL1, SSL2, SSL3, SSL4) is divided into four sections by four partition plates (PLL), with each section being a container (SL) that is closed by a bottom surface (WF), a concentric top surface (WC), and two sides (WS1, WS2), and each section being designated as a chamber (G1, G2, G3, G4).

[0304] The four partition plates (PLLs) are connected to a rotating base (WF), and each partition plate (PLL) is equally spaced on a circumference centered on the axis of rotation (Z). Each partition plate (PLL) is equipped with a piston (PS1) that presses against a steel ball (SA) and a piston (PS2) that supports the steel ball (SA), back to back. The piston (PS1) in chamber (G1) presses against the surface (SAS) of the descending steel ball (SA), and the piston (PS1) in chamber (G3) pushes the steel ball (SA) upward.

[0305] The transverse side (WS3) is provided in the chamber (G1) through which the steel ball (SA) descends in a substantially vertical direction. The base end of the transverse side (WS3) is connected to the side (WS1) which is fixed to the fixing part (W). The space between the tip of the transverse side (WS3) and the side (WS2) of the U-shaped container (SSL) is the outlet (HS). There is only one transverse side (WS3) and one outlet (HS), and they are located only within the chamber (G1), providing resistance only to the steel balls (SA) within the chamber (G1).

[0306] The chamber (G1) in the diagram revolves and crosses the transverse side (WS3) to become the chamber (G4), and the chamber (G2) swaps places with the chamber (G1). The mechanism by which the partition plate (PLL) crosses the transverse side (WS3) will be described later. Figure 14(a1) shows the state when the partition plate (PLL) begins to cross the transverse side (WS3), and Figure 14(a2) shows the state when it has finished crossing.

[0307] Only chamber (G1) in the diagram functions as a speed reducer, and the others sequentially become chamber (G1). Speed ​​reduction begins when the crossing is completed, as shown in Figure 14(a2), and speed reduction always starts with all the steel balls housed in chamber (G1) resting on the crossing side (WS3). The steel ball (SA), having moved below the transverse surface (WS3), completes one revolution around the axis of rotation (Z) and returns to the transverse surface (WS3).

[0308] Figure 14(a1) shows the chamber (G1) as it revolves and crosses the transverse side (WS3) to become the chamber (G4). The steel balls in chamber (G1) between the partition plates (PLL) do not leave chamber (G1), but it is the same as when deceleration is complete and all the steel balls (SA) that were in the original chamber (G1) have moved into chamber (G4). At this time, there is a gap (Gr) in both chamber (G1) and chamber (G4), and the body rotates (C). Eventually, the gap (Gr) between the piston (PS1) of chamber (G1) and the surface (SAS) of the steel balls in chamber (G1) disappears, and the piston (PS1) presses against the surface (SAS) of the steel balls.

[0309] The bottom surface (WF) is a connecting plate (PL) that connects piston (PS1) and piston (PS2), and a number of steel balls (SA) are housed in a chamber (G1) surrounded by the connecting plate (PL) and the pistons (PS1) and piston (PS2) that rise from both ends of it. Numerous steel balls (SA) move within the chamber (G1), and the upper steel balls (SA) descend under their own weight, resisting the transverse side (WS3), and are gradually discharged from the outlet (HS).

[0310] As the steel balls (SA) above the transverse side surface (WS3) gradually move downward from the transverse side surface (WS3), the surface of the steel balls (SAS) above the transverse side surface (WS3) slowly descends, and the piston (PS1) pressing against the surface of the steel balls (SAS) slowly descends. The deceleration speed of the piston (PS1) is the deceleration speed of the rotating body (C), and follows the descending speed of the surface of the steel balls (SAS) in the chamber (G1). The reducer in the chamber (G1) is the same as the reducer in the above embodiment.

[0311] The speed reducer in Figure 14 exhibits the same effect as the speed reducers in Figures 12 and 13. The steel ball (SA) inside the chamber (G3) in the figure is lifted by friction only on its small side surface (WS1), and the rotating body (C) rotates with almost no frictional resistance, lifting the steel ball (SA).

[0312] Furthermore, each box-shaped container (SSL) contains multiple steel balls (SA) of equal proportions. Some pistons (PS2) are pushed down by the descending steel balls (SA) to rotate the rotating body (C), while others (PS1) are rotated by the rotating body (C) to push the steel balls (SA) upward. The total amount of potential energy lost by the descending steel balls (SA) is roughly balanced by the total amount of potential energy gained by the ascending steel balls (SA), and the rotating body (C) rotates with almost no energy loss.

[0313] Next, I will explain how the partition plate (PLL) passes through the transverse side (WS3). In Figure 12, the piston (PS) retracts, and in Figure 13, the transverse side (WS3) retracts. However, in Figure 14, neither the transverse side (WS3) nor the piston (PS) retracts, and the piston (PS2) passes through the transverse side (WS3).

[0314] The facet (WSS) shown in Figure 14(b) is triangular, and is a thin plate as shown in Figure 14(d). The base of the triangle is attached to the side (WS1) and is located within the chamber (G1) parallel to the bottom surface (WF) and does not move. The two hypotenuses of the triangle are surfaces that resist the descending steel ball (SA) and are the transverse side (WS3). The space between the vertices of the triangle and the side (WS2) is the outlet (HS). The steel ball (SA) does not pass through any part other than the outlet (HS).

[0315] As shown in Figure 14(c), the leading edge of the partition plate (PLL) is divided into a portion (PLL1) that passes over the facepiece (WSS) without contacting it and a portion (PLL2) that passes under the facepiece (WSS) without contacting it. The base end of the partition plate (PLL) is the portion that does not contact the facepiece (WSS) and does not need to be divided into two. The facepiece (WSS) can pass relatively through the space between the portion (PLL1) and the portion (PLL2).

[0316] Since the surface and the sphere touch at a point, and the trajectory of the sphere on the surface is a line, the thickness of the triangular facet (WSS) that intersects with a line can be as close to zero as possible, provided it is structurally permissible. If the flow path height (GH), which is the length between the bottom surface (WF) and the top surface (WC) of the container (SL) shown in Figure 14, is a single-row flow path less than twice the diameter of the steel ball, then only one transverse side surface (WS3) is needed, and it should be installed at half the height of the flow path height (GH).

[0317] As shown in Figure 14(f), if the flow path height (GH) is more than twice the diameter of the steel ball, multiple facets (WSS) are required, and the steel ball (SA) must not pass through the gaps between the facets (WSS) and the gaps between the facets (WSS) and the bottom surface (WF) or top surface (WC).

[0318] The facepiece (WSS) shown in Figure 14(f) consists of two elongated rods (BB), and in a container (SL) where the flow path height (GH) is more than twice but less than three times the diameter of the steel ball, the two rods (BB) are installed on surfaces parallel to the bottom surface (WF) at heights of one-third and two-thirds of the flow path height (GH), respectively, and the piston (PS, partition plate (PLL)) has two notches through which the two rods (BB) pass. The notch is a slit through which the steel ball (SA) cannot pass, and the width of the slit is smaller than the diameter of the steel ball.

[0319] In Figure 14(g), the rotating body (CE) rotates in the opposite direction to arrow A in the figure, winding wire Wi around it and acting as a winch to lift the iron weight (WT) to the top floor of a skyscraper. It also acts as a generator, rotating in the direction of arrow A in the figure and generating electricity from the descending weight (WT). Iron has a specific gravity seven times that of water, while lead has a specific gravity eleven times that of water. Iron and lead weights (WTs) can carry a large amount of potential energy in a small volume.

[0320] If you push the surface of the sand in an hourglass with a piston, no matter how heavy the piston is, the descent speed will not increase. When a generator is connected to the piston, the force of the piston does not act on the sand, so all of it becomes a force that rotates the generator, and the potential energy that the piston loses as it descends is not consumed by the speed reducer but is all converted into electrical energy. Once all the sand has been expelled, it is not possible to slow down any further.

[0321] When the rotating body (CE) is decelerated using the speed reducer shown in Figure 14, the weight (WT) that has been raised to the top floor will not fall all at once but will descend slowly. Furthermore, it can rotate continuously and decelerate over a long period of time to drive the generator and supply power. When decelerated using the speed reducer shown in Figure 12(d), the speed of the rotating body (CE) approaches a constant without pulsation.

[0322] In Figure 14, the rotating body (C) of the speed reducer rotates slowly when the piston (PS1) is far from the discharge port (HS) and begins to press against the surface surface (SAS) of the steel balls, and rotates faster as it approaches the discharge port (HS). As explained in Figure 12(d), when multiple speed reducers in Figure 14 shift the initial phase of the rotating body (C) and rotate together as a single unit, the velocity of the rotating body (C) approaches a constant without pulsation.

[0323] The reducer in Figure 14 has a simpler and clearer structure than the reducer in Figure 12, so it is preferable to replace the reducer in Figure 12, which is attached to the reduction device shown in Figure 12(d), with the reducer in Figure 14. The reduced device, which is attached to the reduction device shown in Figure 12(d), is modified to reduce the speed of the rotating body (CE). The common rotating shaft (Z) shown in Figure 12(d) is relatively integrated with each of the rotating bodies (C) of the multiple reduction gears shown in Figure 14 and is supported by bearings (ZC).

[0324] The rotating body (CE) is rotated by the weight (WT), and the gearbox in Figure 14 rotates as steel balls (SA) exit the outlet. Powered by its own weight, it rotates independently of the rotating body (CE). The rotating body (CE), which is trying to rotate faster, tries to accelerate the rotating body (C), which is rotating slower, and the rotating body (C) tries to decelerate the rotating body (CE), but the rotating body (C) moves on its own without being accelerated by the rotating body (CE).

[0325] The force of the heavy weight (WT) causes the piston (PS) to press against the surface of the steel ball (SAS) inside the chamber (G1) with great force. However, no matter how large the pressing force is, the steel ball (SA) inside the chamber (G1), which descends under its own weight, recoils while preventing the piston (PS) from descending, causing the rotating body (CE) to decelerate and the generator to rotate slowly for a long period of time.

[0326] The total weight of the steel balls (SA) housed in multiple rotating bodies (C) is very large, and it might seem that a great force would be required to rotate the multiple rotating bodies (C). However, if the steel balls (SA) are evenly distributed around the axis of rotation (Z) and there is no friction in the bearing (ZC), they will continue to rotate at a constant speed even without any rotational force. The force that rotates the multiple rotating bodies (C) is the force that rotates the piston (PS), but since the force that rotates the piston (PS) does not push the steel ball (SA) toward the outlet, all of the gravitational force of the weight (WT) acts on the generator via the piston (PS).

[0327] Furthermore, even if the steel ball (SA) experiences resistance on its transverse side (WS3), it descends under its own weight rather than being pushed by the piston (PS) and passes through the discharge port (HS), so the rotational force of the piston (PS) is not impaired. The piston (PS) is not decelerated by the steel ball surface (SAS), which retracts independently by a separate actuator (its own weight), and the reduction gear is not rotated by the force of the piston (PS). Therefore, the potential energy of the weight (WT) is not used for deceleration, but is entirely used for the generator.

[0328] By reducing the size of the discharge port (HS) and gradually discharging the steel balls (SA) from the discharge port (HS), an extremely powerful and extremely slow rotation can be obtained. By increasing the size of the discharge port (HS), a high-speed rotation can be obtained, even if it is not powerful. The rotational speed of the generator can be controlled by the size of the discharge port (HS). The extremely powerful and extremely slow rotation obtained in this way is adjusted by a gear mechanism to the predetermined rotational speed of the generator.

[0329] The energy that rotates a generator is supplied in a short time by an extremely powerful and extremely slow rotation, but the same amount of energy can be supplied over a long period of time even if the rotation is not powerful but is fast. The power supplied per unit time can be adjusted by the amount of steel balls (SA) discharged from the outlet (HS) per unit time. In any case, since deceleration does not involve frictional losses, the potential energy lost as the weight (WT) descends becomes energy that rotates the generator without any loss.

[0330] The power generation device shown in Figure 14(g) comprises a storage device that uses nighttime electricity to raise a lead weight to the top floor of a building and store the energy, a generator that lowers the weight when needed to convert the potential energy into electricity, and a reduction gear shown in Figure 12(d) attached to this power generation device. The weight is not dropped all at once, but is lowered slowly over a long period of time to provide electricity for an extended period of time when needed. Unlike conventional speed reducers that involve friction losses, this system converts the potential energy of the weight (WT) into electrical energy without friction losses, resulting in very small energy losses during the energy storage and power generation processes.

[0331] The power generation device using the reduction gear of the present invention is also an energy storage device that temporarily stores a large amount of surplus electricity, such as nighttime electricity, and the stored energy for power generation is not lost and can be stored until needed. In a low-rise building with a low top floor, for example, if you hoist up three weights (WT) and lower them one by one, you will store the same amount of potential energy as if you had lifted them to the top floor of a skyscraper three times its height.

[0332] Figure 14 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of a box-shaped container (SLL) moving along its transverse side (WS3). The speed reducer in Figure 14 is "a speed reducer in which a box-shaped container containing a plurality of steel balls (SA), comprising two pistons (PS1, PS2) and a connecting plate (PL) connecting them, moves along a container (WC) having a transverse side (WS3)," and is the speed reducer described in paragraph 0000 of the specification. Figure 15 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of a speed reducer in which the transverse side (WS3) moves along the box-shaped container (SLL). In the former, the transverse side (WS3) is fixed, and in the latter, the box-shaped container (SLL) is fixed.

[0333] The former appears to be a speed reducer in which a box-shaped container (SLL) moves along a fixed transverse side (WS3), but from the perspective of the box-shaped container (SLL) in which the piston (PS) moves, it is the box-shaped container (SLL) described in Figure 15 in which the transverse side (WS3) moves along a fixed box-shaped container (SLL). Therefore, the speed reducer in which the box-shaped container (SLL) moves along the transverse side (WS3) is the box-shaped container (SLL) described in Figure 15, and is the box-shaped container (SLL) described in Figure 15,

[0334] In Figure 15(a), the rotating body (C) rotates in the direction of arrow A in the figure around the axis of rotation (Z), and the rotation includes the bottom surface (WF) on the surface of the cylinder with the axis of rotation (Z) of the body (C) as the central axis, and four cross-sectional surfaces (1WS3, 2WS3, 3WS3, 4WS3) provided on the bottom surface (WF). The four cross-sectional surfaces (1WS3, 2WS3, 3WS3, 4WS3) are evenly distributed on the surface of the cylinder, with pistons (PS2) facing each other back to back.

[0335] Figure 15(a) is a cross-sectional view of the speed reducer when cut in a vertical plane. Figure 15(a1) shows the state when the transverse side (1WS3) is about to pass through the piston (PS2), and when the transverse side (4WS3) has passed through the piston (PS1). Figure 15(a2) shows the state when the transverse side (1WS3) has passed through the piston (PS2) and is between the pistons (PS1) and (PS2). Figure 15(a3) is a cross-sectional view of the flow path, taken from the a3-a3 arrow in Figure 15(a1).

[0336] The box-shaped container (SLL) consists of a top surface (WC), two sides (WS1, WS2), and two pistons (PS, PS2) rising from both ends of the top surface (WC), and houses multiple steel balls (SA) and is fixed to the fixing part (W). The bottom surface (WF) rotates around the rotation axis (Z) in the direction of arrow A in the diagram. Multiple cylindrical rods (B) are embedded and fixed to the base surface (WF), and the multiple cylindrical rods (B) stand upright and lined up perpendicular to the base surface (WF) to form a transverse side surface (WS3).

[0337] As shown in Figure (a3), in Figure 15, as in Figure 14, the two pistons (PS1) and piston (PS2) are provided with slits through which the cylindrical rods (B) pass. The size of the slits, and the size of the gaps in the cross-sectional side surface (WS3) where the cylindrical rods (B) are lined up, are such that the steel balls (SA) cannot pass through.

[0338] The following explanation will compare the speed reducer in Figure 15 with the speed reducer in Figure 14. As shown in Figure 15(a1), at the moment the transverse side (WS3) appears above the piston (PS2), all the steel balls (SA) in the chamber (G1) above the discharge port (HS) rest on the transverse side (WS3). The same is true in Figure 14, where all the steel balls (SA) rest on the transverse side (WS3).

[0339] In Figure 15, a gap (Gr) does not form below the transverse side (WS3) unless the transverse side (WS3) lifts all the steel balls (SA) in the upper chamber (G1). In Figure 14, the piston (PS2) descends while the transverse side (WS3) supports all the steel balls (SA) in the upper chamber (G1), creating a gap (Gr) between the transverse side (WS3) and the piston (PS2). In Figure 15, the amount by which all the steel balls (SA) in the upper chamber (G1) are lifted consumes the energy of the moving body (UN) that is linked to the speed reducer. In Figure 14, since all the steel balls (SA) in the upper chamber (G1) do not move up or down, no energy is consumed.

[0340] As shown in Figure 15(a1), the transverse side (WS3) is positioned between the pistons (PS1) and (PS2), dividing the space between the pistons (PS1) and (PS2) into an upper chamber (G1) and a lower chamber (G2) above the transverse side (WS3). The steel ball (SA) descends gradually from the discharge port (HS) into the lower chamber (G1) by its own weight, just as in Figure 14, but in Figure 15, the transverse side (WS3) rises while pushing the steel ball (SA) inside the chamber (G1) all the way up. In Figure 14, the steel ball (SA) inside the chamber (G1) is supported by the fixed part (W) via the transverse side (WS3).

[0341] As the transverse side (WS3) rises while pushing up the steel ball (SA) inside the chamber (G1), it is also rising while being pushed down by the steel ball (SA) inside the chamber (G1). This upward movement, while encountering resistance, consumes energy from the moving body (UN) that is linked to the speed reducer. If the moving body is a door (D), then when opening the door, a large force must be stored in the spring to compensate for the resistance it encounters, which is a factor in why the door feels heavy when opened. Therefore, it is desirable to make the chamber (G1) as close to horizontal as possible to reduce the height at which the steel ball (SA) is pushed up, and to reduce the resistance received by creating a single path between the top surface (WC) and the bottom surface (WF).

[0342] When the track is vertical, the height to which the steel ball (SA) is lifted is large, and a large amount of energy is consumed by the moving body (UN). As the track becomes less vertical, the height to which the steel ball (SA) is lifted decreases, and the energy consumed by the moving body (UN) decreases. When the track is vertical, the steel ball (SA) falls rapidly down the discharge port (HS). As the track becomes less vertical, the steel ball (SA) rolls slowly down the discharge port (HS). The latter decelerates much more significantly than the former.

[0343] Even with a single track of the same length, the piston (PS1) approaches the vertical plane passing through the axis of rotation (Z), becoming more horizontal, and the larger the circumference of the base (WF), the more horizontal it becomes. If the steel balls (SA) on the base (WF) roll downward under their own weight, positioning the piston (PS1) as close to the top of the largest possible circumference allows for the deceleration of the moving body (UN) without consuming a large amount of energy. The speed reducer in Figure 15 has the advantage of using a small number of steel balls, and in this way is effective as a speed reducer.

[0344] The gearbox of the present invention is a gearbox in which pistons (PS1) and pistons (PS2) face each other at a certain distance apart, with the cross section (WS3) in the middle. Therefore, as shown in Figure 15(a1), it is not the gearbox of the present invention until it enters the space between pistons (PS1) and pistons (PS2). The smallest flow path on the cross section (WS3) is called the outlet (HS). The space between pistons (PS1) and pistons (PS2) is divided into an upper chamber (G1) and a lower chamber above the outlet (HS).

[0345] As shown in Figure 15(a2), the speed reducer of the present invention is a speed reducer in which a large number of steel balls (SA) stored in the upper chamber (G1) gradually descend from the discharge port (HS) to the lower chamber (G1) by their own weight, and is characterized in that there is a gap (Gr) between the steel balls (SA) below the discharge port (HS) in which the steel balls (SA) above can insert themselves. When the gap (Gr) in which the steel balls (SA) can insert themselves is eliminated, the steel balls (SA) will no longer be discharged from the discharge port (HS), and the speed reducer will stop.

[0346] In the gear reducers shown in Figures 12, 13, and 14, the cross section (WS3) is fixed and the piston (PS1) is decelerated, while in the gear reducer shown in Figure 15, the pistons (PS1) and (PS2) are fixed and the cross section (WS3) is decelerated. In all cases, the speed at which the piston (PS1) approaches the cross section (WS3) is reduced. The gear reducers shown in Figures 12, 13, 14, and 15 all have the same deceleration mechanism as the other gear reducers of the present invention.

[0347] The gearbox in Figure 14 has a fixed transverse side (WS3) and the piston (PS) passes over the transverse side (WS3), while the gearbox in Figure 15 has a fixed piston (PS) and the transverse side (WS3) passes over the piston (PS). The gearbox in Figure 14, in which the piston (PS) passes over the transverse side (WS3) in appearance, is the same as the gearbox in Figure 15, where the transverse side (WS3) passes over the piston (PS) from the perspective of the piston (PS). A "gearbox in which the transverse side (WS3) relatively passes over the piston (PS)" is both the gearbox in Figure 14 and the gearbox in Figure 15.

[0348] Figure 15(b) is an explanatory diagram of the operation of a speed reducer equipped with four speed reducers identical to the one in Figure 15(a), where all four speed reducers operate simultaneously. The steel balls (SA) are not shown. The more speed reducers that operate simultaneously, the less the rotational speed of the rotating body (C) pulsates, and the more the rotating body (C) is reduced to a constant speed.

[0349] The bottom surfaces (WF) of four identical speed reducers in Figure 15(a) become one bottom surface (WWF) as shown in Figure 15(b). The bottom surface (WWF) shown in Figure 15(b) is formed by connecting the upper cut (b) and the lower cut (bb) to form a cylinder, and the surface of the cylinder becomes the bottom surface (WWF) of the rotating body (CCC) shown in Figure 15(b), which is not shown.

[0350] The blacked-out area in Figure 15(b) is a box-shaped container (SSL) formed by connecting four box-shaped containers (SLL1, SLL2, SLL3, SLL4) of the same type of speed reducer as in Figure 15(a) in a single row. The box-shaped container (SSL) is divided into four box-shaped containers (SLL1, SLL2, SLL3, SLL4) by five partition sides (WWF), and each box-shaped container (SLL1, SLL2, SLL3, SLL4) consists of a top surface (WC), two partition sides (WWF) suspended from the outer edge of the top surface (WC), and two pistons (PS1 and PS2). The base end of the transverse side (WS3) slides along one partition side (WWF1), and the space between the end of the transverse side (WS3) and the other side (WWS2) is an outlet (HS).

[0351] Next, we will describe the box-shaped container (SLL1) shown in Figure 15(a1), and with this, we will consider the other box-shaped containers (SLL1, SLL2, SLL3, SLL4) to have been similarly described. The view along the line a1-a1 in Figure 15(b) is a cross-sectional view of the flow path shown in Figure 15(a3). The box-shaped container (SLL1) shown in Figure 15(a1) is the same box-shaped container (SLL1) as shown in Figure 15(b), where the circles represent cylindrical rods (B), and the vertical dashed lines represent the trajectories of the cylindrical rods (B), which are called rows (R).

[0352] The four cross-sectional surfaces (1WS3, 2WS3, 3WS3, 4WS3) formed by the cylindrical rods (B) shown in Figure 15(b) are the four cross-sectional surfaces (WS3) of the speed reducer shown in Figure 15(a1). Including the gearbox in Figure 15(a1), there are a total of four gearboxes, each with four cross-sectional sides (WS3), resulting in 16 cross-sectional sides (WS3) on the bottom surface (WWF) shown in Figure 15(b). Each of the 16 cross-sectional sides (WS3) is located where the dashed line passing through the center (Z) intersects with the bottom surface (WF) in Figure 15(a1).

[0353] In Figure 15(b), the lines (not shown) perpendicular to the vertical dashed lines (R) are called rows (L). The cylindrical rods (B) at the base of each cross-sectional surface (WS3) are called base rods (B1), and the rows (L) passing through the base rods (B1) are called base rows (L1). As long as the base rows (L1) do not overlap, there are 16 base rows (L1) on the bottom surface (WWF), and the rotating body (C) decelerates 16 times for each revolution.

[0354] In Figure 15(a1), the 16 dashed lines passing through the center (Z) divide the circle centered at the center (Z) into equal parts, and in Figure 15(b), three base rows (L1) are equally spaced between base rows (L1) and the next base row (L1). The deceleration speed of the rotating body (C) becomes constant without pulsation. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0355] PS Piston SL container WS3 transverse side view SA steel ball HS discharge outlet Gr gap

Claims

1. The container (SL) is divided into an upper container (SL1) located above the outlet (HS) and a lower container (SL2) located below the outlet (HS), with a discharge port (HS) located in the middle of the container (SL) as the boundary. Pistons (PS1) and (PS2), connected by a connecting plate (PL), move along the inner wall of the upper container (SL1) and the inner wall of the lower container (SL2), respectively, and the container (SL) between pistons (PS1) and (PS2) contains a large number of powders and granules (S). The vicinity of the outlet (HS) of the upper container (SL1) is a root section (SLB) in which the cross-sectional area of ​​the upper container (SL1) decreases as it approaches the outlet (HS), the granular material (S) contained in the upper container (SL1) descends toward the lower container (SL2), the size of the outlet (HS) is such that the granular material (S) passes through the outlet (HS) without stopping along the way, the piston (PS1) descends while pressing the surface (SS) of the granular material (S) contained in the upper container (SL1), and the piston (PS2) descends while supporting all the granular material (S) contained in the lower container (SL2) from below, in a reduction gear. A gearbox characterized in that when the piston (PS1) stops, the piston (PS2) also stops, preventing the powder (S) from continuing to pass through the discharge port (HS).

2. The gearbox according to claim 1, wherein the numerous granular materials (S) mentioned above are all steel balls (SA) of the same size.

3. The reduction gear according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the above-mentioned route section (SLB) is a transverse side surface (WS3), and the reduction gear is provided with a retractable transverse side surface (WS3).

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