UNIVERSAL BOELGEGENERATOR

A strain wave generating mechanism for a harmonic drive type transmission wherein a wave generating plug receives a bearing assembly 30 which transmits a wave to a flexspline for throughput. The wave generating plug may have an external or an internal surface of elliptoidal or trichoidal configuration. The bearing assembly comprises a resilient outer race 34, a resilient inner race 32 and rolling elements 36 therebetween. The race in contact with the wave generating surface 24 of the plug is itself of varying radial thickness over its circumference, either in elliptoidal or trichoidal configuration to correspond with the peripheral surface of the wave generating plug. The bearing assembly is pressable onto the wave generating plug and the varying thickness race of the bearing is arcuately arrangeable with respect to the wave generating plug to produce the desired wave amplitude characteristic. The bearing assembly may be removed from the wave generating plug and repressed to reorient the major axes therebetween to vary the combined wave amplitude of the plug and resilient bearing assembly.