Linear reciprocative pseudogears

Basically intermeshing racks with angled teeth.
Not referring to the attack angle but to the angle relative to the tacks normal vector.

But unlike racks they are used like gears to …
– get transmission leverage rations (gear-up / gear-down)
– get the functionality of a mechanical differential
… thus "reciprocative (pseudo)gears".

(wiki-TODO: Add visual examples of use as gearing transmission and as differential.)

Usage as gears but all linear

Linear reciprocative transmission gearing

(wiki-TODO: Add a visual illustration. And OpenSCAD code?)

Reciprocative (pseudo)gear differentials

Output here is arithmetic mean of the two inputs. This can be combined with a change of direction too.

Note that the "planet plate" (in analogy to planets in planetary gears) has necessarily degrees of motion in two directions.
This can optionally be combined with a change of direction by 90° or any other angle.

Alternate uses (not as gears)

multi part elongation by mutual interlocking

Making them coaxially intermesh (partial form closure) can be used to extend their length.
Slide-apart normal to their main axis is prevented by vdW force.
Or additionally due to placement into a guiding channel.

As tensioning element

They can be used as core chain in a ReChain frame system.

Related

• Potential early crystolecular building blocks