Bearing mount for armature shaft subassembly having a pinion cutter runout

Claim 1

IN AN ARMATURE SHAFT SUBASSEMBLY FOR AN ELECTRIC MOTOR-DRIVEN DEVICE OF THE TYPE WHICH COMPRISES A SHAFT, A PINION FORMED ON THE END OF THE SHAFT, THE PINION BEING FORMED IN SUCH MANNER AS TO PRODUCE A PINION CUTTER RUNOUT ON THE SHAFT REARWARDLY OF THE PINION, AND A GEAR IN MESHING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PINION, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES: (A) THE SHAFT HAVING A PORTION REARWARDLY OF THE PINION WHICH IS REDUCED SLIGHTLY IN DIAMETER, THEREBY FORMING A SHOULDER ON THE SHAFT SUBSTANTIALLY BETWEEN THE PINION AND THE PINION CUTTER RUN-OUT; (B) A SLEEVE ABUTTING AGAINST SAID SHOULDER AND DISPOSED ON THE SHAFT REARWARDLY OF THE SHOULDER; AND (C) A BEARING MOUNTED OVER SAID SLEEVE, WHEREBY SAID SLEEVE SUPPORTS SAID BEARING OVER THE PINION CUTTER RUN-OUT, AND WHEREBY THE GEAR MAY BE MOUNTED IN CLOSER AXIAL PROXIMITY TO SAID BEARING, THEREBY MINIMIZING THE STRUCTURAL LOADS ON THE PINION PORTION OF THE SHAFT WHICH IS CANTILEVERED FORWARDLY OF SAID BEARING.