Split gear assembly with one-way roller clutch for controlling backlash in opposed-piston engines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9772030-B2
Application number	US-201414450747-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 4, 2014
Priority date	Aug 4, 2014
Publication date	Sep 26, 2017
Grant date	Sep 26, 2017

Abstract

Backlash is controlled in an opposed-piston engine that includes two crankshafts disposed in a parallel, spaced-apart relationship and a gear train coupling the first and second crankshafts, the gear train including a driving gear coupled to the first crankshaft and a split gear assembly engaged with the driving gear to transfer rotation from the driving gear to the split gear assembly. The split gear assembly includes first and second gears, a spring mechanism that acts to angularly offset the first gear relative to the second gear in a first direction, and a one-way clutch mechanism that prevents relative angular movement of the first gear relative to the second gear in a second direction opposite the first direction.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A split gear assembly, comprising:
a first gear and a second gear assembled in a close abutting relationship;
a spring mechanism acting between the first and second gears to rotate the first gear relative to the second gear in a first direction; and
a one-way clutch mechanism acting between the first and second gears to prevent rotation of the first gear relative to the second gear in a second direction opposite the first direction;
in which the spring mechanism includes a plurality of compressed first springs disposed in a circular array of respective first spaces between the first gear and the second gear, each compressed first spring having a first end fixed relative to the first gear and a second end fixed relative to the second gear; and
in which the one-way clutch mechanism includes a plurality of clutch units disposed in a circular array of respective second spaces between the first gear and the second gear, each clutch unit including a spring-biased roller that is pressed into engagement with a wedge-shaped portion of a space in response to force applied to the first gear in the second direction.

2. The split gear assembly of claim 1 , in which each spring-biased roller includes a compressed second spring and a cylindrical roller, the compressed second spring having a first end fixed relative to the first gear and a second end contacting the cylindrical roller, and the cylindrical roller is disposed in the wedge-shaped space between a ramped wall portion of the first gear and a flange surface of the second gear.

3. A split gear assembly, comprising:
a first gear and a second gear assembled in a close abutting relationship;
a spring mechanism acting between the first and second gears to rotate the first gear relative to the second gear in a first direction;
a one-way clutch mechanism acting between the first and second gears to prevent rotation of the first gear relative to the second gear in a second direction opposite the first direction; and
a circumferential array of shaped spaces between the first gear and the second gear, in which the spring mechanism includes a plurality of compressed springs disposed in a circular sequence of respective first shaped spaces, and the clutch mechanism includes a plurality of clutch units disposed in a circular sequence of second shaped spaces that are interspersed with the first shaped spaces;
in which each clutch unit includes a spring-biased roller that is pressed into engagement with a wedge-shaped portion of a second space in response to force applied to the first gear in the second direction.

4. A gear train assembly coupling two crankshafts of an opposed-piston engine that are disposed in a parallel, spaced-apart relationship, comprising:
a driving gear coupled to a first crankshaft; and,
a split gear assembly engaged with the driving gear to transfer rotation from the driving gear to the split gear assembly, in which the split gear assembly includes:
a first gear and a second gear assembled in a close abutting relationship;
a spring mechanism that acts to rotate the first gear relative to the second gear in a first direction; and
a one-way clutch mechanism that prevents rotation of the first gear relative to the second gear in a second direction opposite the first direction,
in which the spring mechanism includes a plurality of compressed first springs disposed in a circular array of respective first spaces between the first gear and the second gear, each compressed first spring having a first end fixed relative to the first gear and a second end fixed relative to the second gear; and,
in which the one-way clutch mechanism includes a plurality of clutch units disposed in a circular array of respective second spaces between the first gear and the second gear, each clutch unit including a spring-biased roller that is pressed into engagement with a wedge-shaped portion of a space in response to force applied to the first gear in the second direction.

5. The gear train assembly of claim 4 , in which each spring-biased roller includes a compressed second spring and a cylindrical roller, the compressed second spring having a first end fixed relative to the first gear and a second end contacting the cylindrical roller, and the cylindrical roller is disposed in the wedge-shaped space between a ramped wall portion of the first gear and a flange surface of the second gear.

6. A gear train assembly coupling two crankshafts of an opposed-piston engine that are disposed in a parallel, spaced-apart relationship, comprising:
a driving gear coupled to a first crankshaft; and
a split gear assembly engaged with the driving gear to transfer rotation from the driving gear to the split gear assembly, in which the split gear assembly includes:
a first gear and a second gear assembled in a close abutting relationship;
a spring mechanism that acts to rotate the first gear relative to the second gear in a first direction;
a one-way clutch mechanism that prevents rotation of the first gear relative to the second gear in a second direction opposite the first direction; and
circumferential array of shaped spaces between the first gear and the second gear, in which the spring mechanism includes a plurality of compressed springs disposed in a circular sequence of respective first shaped spaces, and the clutch mechanism includes a plurality of clutch units disposed in a circular sequence of second shaped spaces that are interspersed with the first shaped spaces,
in which each clutch unit includes a spring-biased roller that is pressed into engagement with a wedge-shaped portion of a space in response to force applied to the first gear in the second direction.

7. The gear train assembly of claim 6 , in which each spring-biased roller is disposed in the wedge-shaped space between a ramped wall portion of the first gear and a flange surface of the second gear.

8. A gear train assembly coupling two crankshafts of an opposed-piston engine that are disposed in a parallel, spaced-apart relationship, comprising:
a driving gear coupled to a first crankshaft; and,
a split gear assembly engaged with the driving gear to transfer rotation from the driving gear to the split gear assembly, in which the split gear assembly includes:
a first gear and a second gear assembled in a close abutting relationship;

a spring mechanism that acts to rotate the first gear relative to the second gear in a first direction; and
a one-way clutch mechanism that prevents rotation of the first gear relative to the second gear in a second direction opposite the first direction;

in which the spring mechanism includes a plurality of compressed first springs disposed in a circular array of respective first spaces between the first gear and the second gear, each compressed first spring having a first end fixed relative to the first gear and a second end fixed relative to the second gear; and
in which the driving gear is a first driving gear and the split gear assembly is a first idler gear, further including a second driving gear coupled to a second crankshaft, and a second idler gear engaged with the second driving gear to transfer rotation from the driving gear to the second idler gear.

9. The gear train assembly of claim 8 , wherein the second idler gear includes:
a third gear and a fourth gear assembled in a close abutting relationship;
a spring mechanism that acts to rotate the third gear relative to the fourth gear in a third direction; and
a one-way clutch mechanism that prevents rotation of the third gear relative to the fourth gear in a fourth direction opposite the third direction.

Assignees

• Achates Power Inc

Inventors

• Palfai Balazs V

Classifications

• F16H57/12 Primary

  Arrangements for adjusting or for taking-up backlash not provided for elsewhere · CPC title

• F02B75/28

  Engines with two or more pistons reciprocating within same cylinder or within essentially coaxial cylinders (arranged oppositely relative to main shaft F02B75/24) · CPC title

• F16H2057/127

  using springs · CPC title

• F16H55/18

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