Gear assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016138697-A1
Application number	US-201414547239-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 19, 2014
Priority date	Nov 19, 2014
Publication date	May 19, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A gear assembly is provided. The gear assembly includes a first gear. The first gear defines at least one slot provided on a surface thereof. The gear assembly also includes a second gear. The second gear includes at least one tab extending axially from a surface of the second gear. The at least one tab is configured to engage at least partially within the at least one slot of the first gear. The gear assembly further includes a resilient material provided within the at least one slot and in contact with the at least one tab of the second gear. The resilient material is configured to provide a restoring force to bias the at least one tab toward an end of the at least one slot for controlling backlash during meshing of the gear assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A gear assembly comprising:
a first gear configured to rotate about an axis, the first gear defining at least one slot provided on a surface thereof; a second gear provided coaxially with respect to the first gear, the second gear provided to mate with the first gear, the second gear including at least one tab extending axially from a surface of the second gear, the at least one tab configured to engage at least partially within the at least one slot of the first gear, wherein the at least one tab is sized smaller than a size of the at least one slot; and a resilient material provided within the at least one slot and in contact with the at least one tab of the second gear, the resilient material configured to provide a restoring force to bias the at least one tab toward an end of the at least one slot for controlling backlash during meshing of the gear assembly.

2 . The gear assembly of claim 1 , wherein the resilient material is a wire mesh.

3 . The gear assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one slot has an arcuate shape.

4 . The gear assembly of claim 3 , wherein a shape of the resilient material is at least partially arcuate to correspond with the shape of the at least one slot.

5 . The gear assembly of claim 1 , wherein a length of the resilient material is greater than at least half of a length of the at least one slot.

6 . The gear assembly of claim 1 , wherein the restoring force provided by the resilient material is based on at least one of a density, a volume, and a thickness of the resilient material.

7 . The gear assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one slot provided on the first gear further includes a first slot, a second slot, and a third slot, and wherein the at least one tab on the second gear further includes a first tab, a second tab, and a third tab, such that the first tab, the second tab and the third tab engage with the first slot, the second slot, and the third slot respectively, and wherein the resilient material includes a first resilient material, a second resilient material, and a third resilient material to contact with the first tab, the second tab and the third tab respectively.

8 . The gear assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the first gear is rigidly affixed to a shaft; and the second gear is rotatably mounted on a hub of the first gear.

9 . The gear assembly of claim 1 further comprising a bushing provided between the first gear and the second gear.

10 . A gear train comprising:
a driving gear; and a gear assembly provided in mesh with the driving gear, the gear assembly comprising:
a first gear configured to rotate about an axis, the first gear defining at least one slot provided on a surface thereof;
a second gear provided coaxially with respect to the first gear, the second gear provided to mate with the first gear, the second gear including at least one tab extending axially from a surface of the second gear, the at least one tab configured to engage at least partially within the at least one slot of the first gear, wherein the at least one tab is sized smaller than a size of the at least one slot; and
a resilient material provided within the at least one slot and in contact with the at least one tab of the second gear, the resilient material configured to provide a restoring force to bias the at least one tab toward an end of the at least one slot for controlling backlash during meshing of the gear assembly with the driving gear.

11 . The gear train of claim 10 , wherein the resilient material is a wire mesh.

12 . The gear train of claim 10 , wherein the at least one slot has an arcuate shape.

13 . The gear train of claim 12 , wherein a shape of the resilient material is at least partially arcuate to correspond with the shape of the at least one slot.

14 . The gear train of claim 10 , wherein a length of the resilient material is greater than at least half of a length of the at least one slot.

15 . The gear train of claim 10 , wherein the restoring force provided by the resilient material is based on at least one of a density, a volume, and a thickness of the resilient material.

16 . The gear train of claim 10 , wherein the at least one slot provided on the first gear further includes a first slot, a second slot, and a third slot, and wherein the at least one tab on the second gear further includes a first tab, a second tab, and a third tab, such that the first tab, the second tab and the third tab engage with the first slot, the second slot, and the third slot respectively, and wherein the resilient material includes a first resilient material, a second resilient material, and a third resilient material to contact with the first tab, the second tab and the third tab respectively.

17 . The gear train of claim 10 further comprising a shaft such that the first gear is rigidly affixed to the shaft, and wherein the second gear is rotatably mounted on a hub of the first gear.

18 . The gear train of claim 10 further comprising a bushing provided between the first gear and the second gear.

19 . An engine system comprising:
an engine; and a gear train associated with the engine, the gear train comprising:
a driving gear; and
a gear assembly provided in mesh with the driving gear, the gear assembly comprising:
a first gear configured to rotate about an axis, the first gear defining at least one slot provided on a surface thereof;
a second gear provided coaxially with respect to the first gear, the second gear provided to mate with the first gear, the second gear including at least one tab extending axially from a surface of the second gear, the at least one tab configured to engage at least partially within the at least one slot of the first gear, wherein the at least one tab is sized smaller than a size of the at least one slot; and
a resilient material provided within the at least one slot and in contact with the at least one tab of the second gear, the resilient material configured to provide a restoring force to bias the at least one tab toward an end of the at least one slot for controlling backlash during meshing of the gear assembly with the driving gear.

20 . The engine system of claim 19 , wherein the at least one slot provided on the first gear further includes a first slot, a second slot, and a third slot, and wherein the at least one tab on the second gear further includes a first tab, a second tab, and a third tab, such that the first tab, the second tab and the third tab engage with the first slot, the second slot, and the third slot respectively, and wherein the resilient material includes a first resilient material, a second resilient material, and a third resilient material to contact with the first tab, the second tab and the third tab respectively.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Kancherla Gopi K C
• Copeland Gary W

Classifications

• F16H57/0006

  Vibration-damping or noise reducing means specially adapted for gearings (devices for varying tension of belts, ropes or chains with damping means F16H7/0829; toothed members with construction providing vibration damping F16H55/14; reducing vibrations or noise of the gearbox casing F16H57/028; suppression of vibrations or noise of gear selectors F16H59/0208; control of hydrostatic fluid gearing preventing or reducing vibrations or noise F16H61/4183) · CPC title

• F16H55/18 Primary

  Special devices for taking up backlash {(for gears having orbital motion F16H1/2863)} · CPC title