US3662623A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Turntable drive mechanism
Assignee: LORENCE Manufacturing CORP
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Filing: 1970-08-19
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Granted: 1972-05-16
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Expires: 1990-08-19
Abstract
Abstract A turntable drive mechanism for heavy construction equipment including a base and a turntable which is mounted for rotation with respect to the base. A motor is mounted on the turntable and drives an eccentric which rotates within an opening in a floating gear unit. The floating gear unit includes a lower small diameter gear and an upper large diameter gear, with the small gear being engaged with a gear ring connected to the base, while the large gear is engaged with a gear ring connected to the turntable. Each gear has a lesser number of teeth than the corresponding gear ring and rotation of the gear unit provides a speed reduction to the turntable. The gear ring associated with the turntable is journalled within and upstanding peripheral flange formed on the base. The space between the turntable and the base serves as an oil reservoir, and to provide more effective lubrication, a series of passages are formed in the floating gear unit adjacent the teeth of the smaller gear and are directed toward the input drive gear. Engagement of the teeth of the smaller gear with the gear ring acts to pump oil through the passages and direct the oil toward the drive gear. An improved swivel coupling connection is provided for connecting the power lines on the rotating turntable to the power lines on the non-rotating base.
Inventors
- 👤 Ervin W Lorence
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 04:50
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H1/00; F16H1/28; F16H1/32; B; B66; B66C; B66C23/00; B66C23/62; B66C23/84; B66C23/86; E; E02; E02F; E02F9/00; E02F9/08; E02F9/10; E02F9/12; E02F9/121; E02F9/123; F16H2001/2881
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
In an apparatus having a rotatable working member, turntable means to support the working member and disposed to rotate about an axis, an eccentric, drive means for rotating the eccentric, a floating gear unit having a central opening to rotatably receIve the eccentric and including a first gear and a second gear, a fixed base including a fixed first gear ring disposed in engagement with said first gear, said first gear ring having a greater number of teeth than the first gear, a second gear ring secured to the turntable means and engaged with the second gear, said second gear ring having a greater number of teeth than said second gear, upstanding flange means extending upwardly from the periphery of the base and spaced radially outward of the second gear ring, bearing means disposed between said flange means and said turntable means for journalling the turntable means for rotation with respect to the base, the space between said turntable means and said base comprising a reservoir for a lubricating medium, said floating gear unit being provided with at least one passage extending from a level beneath the level of the lubricating medium in said reservoir to a level above the level of the lubricating medium in the reservoir for distributing the medium to the upper portion of the reservoir during rotation of said gear unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
225 words
In an apparatus having a rotatable working member, turntable means to support the working member and disposed to rotate about an axis, an eccentric, drive means for rotating the eccentric, a floating gear unit having a central opening to rotatably receIve the eccentric and including a first gear and a second gear, a fixed base including a fixed first gear ring disposed in engagement with said first gear, said first gear ring having a greater number of teeth than the first gear, a second gear ring secured to the turntable means and engaged with the second gear, said second gear ring having a greater number of teeth than said second gear, upstanding flange means extending upwardly from the periphery of the base and spaced radially outward of the second gear ring, bearing means disposed between said flange means and said turntable means for journalling the turntable means for rotation with respect to the base, the space between said turntable means and said base comprising a reservoir for a lubricating medium, said floating gear unit being provided with at least one passage extending from a level beneath the level of the lubricating medium in said reservoir to a level above the level of the lubricating medium in the reservoir for distributing the medium to the upper portion of the reservoir during rotation of said gear unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said drive means comprises a hydraulic motor mounted on the turntable means, a drive shaft connected to the motor and extending downwardly through an opening in said turntable means, and gear means interconnecting the drive shaft with said eccentric to rotate said eccentric.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second gear has a larger diameter than the first gear and said first gear is located beneath said second gear, said passage extends from adjacent the teeth of the first gear to the upper surface of the floating gear unit, whereby engagement of the teeth of the first gear with the first gear ring acts to pump the lubricating medium upwardly through said passage to the upper portion of the reservoir.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said drive means includes a drive gear located in the upper portion of the reservoir and disposed in alignment with said passage, whereby lubricating medium being pumped upwardly through said passage will contact said drive gear to lubricate the same.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1, and including an annular thrust bearing ring mounted in a groove in said floating gear unit, and a wear plate associated with the base, said bearing ring disposed to rotate in contact with said wear plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said bearing ring has a generally rectangular cross section and is formed of polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
244 words
In an apparatus having a rotatable working element, turntable means to support the working element and disposed to rotate, a first sleeve having an eccentric surface, a fixed second sleeve located within the first sleeve with the first sleeve being mounted for rotation on said second sleeve, drive means mounted on the turntable means and operably connected to the first sleeve for rotating the eccentric, a gear unit having a central opening to rotatably receive the eccentric and including a first small diameter gear and a second large diameter gear, a fixed base including a fixed first gear ring disposed in engagement with the small diameter gear, said first gear ring having a greater number of teeth than the teeth of the small gear, a second gear ring secured to the turntable means and engaged with the larger diameter gear, said second gear ring having a greater number of teeth than said large diameter gear, rotation of said eccentric causing rotation of said gear unit to provide a two-stage speed reduction to said turntable means, and a coupling assembly removably secured within said second sleeve, said coupling assembly including a tubular member connected to said base and to said second sleeve and a rotatable member located within said tubular member and connected to said turntable means, said members having inter-connecting passages arranged to be in continuous communication as the turntable means and the rotatable member rotate relative to the base and the tubular member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
244 words
In an apparatus having a rotatable working element, turntable means to support the working element and disposed to rotate, a first sleeve having an eccentric surface, a fixed second sleeve located within the first sleeve with the first sleeve being mounted for rotation on said second sleeve, drive means mounted on the turntable means and operably connected to the first sleeve for rotating the eccentric, a gear unit having a central opening to rotatably receive the eccentric and including a first small diameter gear and a second large diameter gear, a fixed base including a fixed first gear ring disposed in engagement with the small diameter gear, said first gear ring having a greater number of teeth than the teeth of the small gear, a second gear ring secured to the turntable means and engaged with the larger diameter gear, said second gear ring having a greater number of teeth than said large diameter gear, rotation of said eccentric causing rotation of said gear unit to provide a two-stage speed reduction to said turntable means, and a coupling assembly removably secured within said second sleeve, said coupling assembly including a tubular member connected to said base and to said second sleeve and a rotatable member located within said tubular member and connected to said turntable means, said members having inter-connecting passages arranged to be in continuous communication as the turntable means and the rotatable member rotate relative to the base and the tubular member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The appaRatus of claim 7, wherein one end of said second sleeve is connected to said base and said apparatus includes an inwardly extending annular flange on said turntable means, said flange being rotatably disposed around the opposite end of said second sleeve to prevent deflection of said opposite end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said members are arranged to be removably inserted into opposite ends of said second sleeve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
197 words
In an apparatus having a rotatable working member, turntable means to support the working member and disposed to rotate about an axis, an eccentric, drive means for rotating the eccentric, a floating gear unit having a central opening to rotatably receive the eccentric and including a large diameter gear and a small diameter gear, said small diameter gear being located beneath the large diameter gear, a fixed base including a fixed first gear ring disposed in engagement with the small diameter gear, said first gear ring having a greater number of teeth than the teeth of the small gear, a second gear ring secured to the turntable means and engaged with the larger diameter gear, said second gear ring having a greater number of teeth than said large diameter gear, upstanding flange means extending upwardly from the periphery of the base and spaced radially outward of the second gear ring, bearing means disposed between said flange means and said turntable means for journalling the turntable means for rotation with respect to said base, and counterweight means connected to the eccentric and extending outwardly therefrom, said counterweight means located between said turntable means and said floating gear unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
197 words
In an apparatus having a rotatable working member, turntable means to support the working member and disposed to rotate about an axis, an eccentric, drive means for rotating the eccentric, a floating gear unit having a central opening to rotatably receive the eccentric and including a large diameter gear and a small diameter gear, said small diameter gear being located beneath the large diameter gear, a fixed base including a fixed first gear ring disposed in engagement with the small diameter gear, said first gear ring having a greater number of teeth than the teeth of the small gear, a second gear ring secured to the turntable means and engaged with the larger diameter gear, said second gear ring having a greater number of teeth than said large diameter gear, upstanding flange means extending upwardly from the periphery of the base and spaced radially outward of the second gear ring, bearing means disposed between said flange means and said turntable means for journalling the turntable means for rotation with respect to said base, and counterweight means connected to the eccentric and extending outwardly therefrom, said counterweight means located between said turntable means and said floating gear unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said counterweight means is located diametrically opposite the large diameter portion of said eccentric.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 10, and including spacing means located in the space between the turntable means and the floating gear unit for preventing contact between said gear unit and the counterweight means due to deflection under heavy load.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said spacing means comprises a series of circularly spaced bearing members located radially outward of said counterweight means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the bearing members are secured to the floating gear unit and under no-load conditions are spaced out of contact with the turntable means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-16 | 1975-11-15 | 1976-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-16 | 1979-11-15 | 1980-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-16 | 1983-11-15 | 1984-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |