C. Walton Musser's Development of
Harmonic Drive Gearing
C. Walton Musser studied and
researched non-rigid body mechanics using controlled deflection as an operating
medium. Thus, the basic principle of the Harmonic Drive was first announced in
1957. Patent Number 2,906,143 which covers a " ... motion transmitting
mechanism," listed the applicant as C. W. Musser. This makes Walton Musser the
inventor of Harmonic Drive wherein he developed a new family of drive systems
achieve high mechanical leverage by generating a traveling deflection
wave in a flexing spline element.
