US3690194A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Work drive mechanism
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1971-05-14
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Granted: 1972-09-12
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Expires: 1991-05-14
Abstract
Abstract In a preferred form, this disclosure relates to a worm drive mechanism which includes an electric motor which is carried by a housing and has a rotatable drive shaft with an end portion supported in a cantilever fashion and carrying a worm intermediate its ends. The worm drive mechanism also includes a worm wheel which is in meshed engagement with the worm and is fixedly supported upon a rotatably mounted output shaft. The worm drive mechanism further includes a stabilizer wedge which substantially prevents deflection of the drive shaft away from the worm wheel by engaging the cantilever supported end portion of the drive shaft with a tapered surface. The stabilizer wedge is slidably supported for movement toward and from the drive shaft to allow the tapered surface to engage the end portion at a location diametrically opposite its engagement with the worm wheel, and a spring means biases the stabilizer wedge toward the drive shaft to maintain the tapered surface in engagement with the drive shaft.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph W Edwards
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 17:57
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H57/00; F16H57/02; F16H57/039; B; B60; B60S; B60S1/00; B60S1/02; B60S1/04; B60S1/06; B60S1/16; F16H1/00; F16H1/02; F16H1/04; F16H1/12; F16H1/16; F16H57/032; H; H02; H02K; H02K7/00; H02K7/08; H02K7/081; H02K7/10; H02K7/116; H02K7/1163; H02K7/1166; F16H2057/02034; F16H2057/02039; F16H2057/02082; F16H57/021; F16H2057/0213; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19623; Y10T74/19642; Y10T74/19698; Y10T74/19828; Y10T74/19842
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A drive mechanism comprising: housing means; an electric motor carried by said housing means and including a rotatable drive shaft; said drive shaft having an end portion supported in a cantilever fashion and a worm intermediate its ends; a worm wheel in meshed engagement with said worm and fixedly supported on an output shaft rotatably supported by said housing means; a stabilizer wedge having a tapered surface engaging the drive shaft portion adjacent its free end to substantially prevent deflection of said drive shaft portion away from said worm wheel; means on said housing for slidably supporting said stabilizer wedge for movement toward and from said drive shaft to allow said tapered surface to engage said drive shaft portion at a location diametrically opposite the engagement of said worm wheel with said drive shaft; and spring means biasing said stabilizer wedge into engagement with said drive shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
A drive mechanism comprising: housing means; an electric motor carried by said housing means and including a rotatable drive shaft; said drive shaft having an end portion supported in a cantilever fashion and a worm intermediate its ends; a worm wheel in meshed engagement with said worm and fixedly supported on an output shaft rotatably supported by said housing means; a stabilizer wedge having a tapered surface engaging the drive shaft portion adjacent its free end to substantially prevent deflection of said drive shaft portion away from said worm wheel; means on said housing for slidably supporting said stabilizer wedge for movement toward and from said drive shaft to allow said tapered surface to engage said drive shaft portion at a location diametrically opposite the engagement of said worm wheel with said drive shaft; and spring means biasing said stabilizer wedge into engagement with said drive shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
175 words
A worm drive mechanism comprising; housing means; an electric motor carried by said housing means and having a rotatable drive shaft; said drive shaft having an end portion supported in cantilever fashion and having a worm intermediate its ends; a worm wheel in meshed engagement with said worm and fixedly supported on an output shaft rotatably supported by said housing means; a stabilizer wedge having a tapered surface engaging the drive shaft portion adjacent its free end to substantially prevent deflection of said drive shaft away from said worm wheel, said stabilizer wedge being slidably supported by a wall of said housing means; a pair of parallel ribs integral with said housing means for guiding said stabilizer wedge for movement toward and from said drive shaft to allow said tapered surface to transversely engage said drive shaft portion at a location diametrically opposite the engagement of said worm wheel with said drive shaft; anD a spring biasing said stabilizer wedge toward said drive shaft to maintain said tapered surface in engagement with said drive shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
175 words
A worm drive mechanism comprising; housing means; an electric motor carried by said housing means and having a rotatable drive shaft; said drive shaft having an end portion supported in cantilever fashion and having a worm intermediate its ends; a worm wheel in meshed engagement with said worm and fixedly supported on an output shaft rotatably supported by said housing means; a stabilizer wedge having a tapered surface engaging the drive shaft portion adjacent its free end to substantially prevent deflection of said drive shaft away from said worm wheel, said stabilizer wedge being slidably supported by a wall of said housing means; a pair of parallel ribs integral with said housing means for guiding said stabilizer wedge for movement toward and from said drive shaft to allow said tapered surface to transversely engage said drive shaft portion at a location diametrically opposite the engagement of said worm wheel with said drive shaft; anD a spring biasing said stabilizer wedge toward said drive shaft to maintain said tapered surface in engagement with said drive shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
273 words
A worm drive mechanism for a vehicle windshield wiper unit, comprising: a housing; an electric motor carried by said housing and having a drive shaft connected to the armature of said electric motor for rotation therewith, said drive shaft having an end portion supported in cantilever fashion; said drive shaft adjacent one end on one side of said armature being rotatably supported by a first bearing and adjacent its midpoint on the other side of said armature being rotatably supported by a second bearing, said end portion of stabilizer wedge for movement toward and from said drive shaft shaft having a worm intermediate its ends, a worm wheel in meshed engagement with said worm and fixedly supported on an output shaft rotatably supported by said housing for driving a windshield wiper linkage means; a stabilizer wedge of material having a low coefficient of friction and having a tapered surface engaging said end portion of said drive shaft to substantially prevent deflection of said drive shaft away from said worm wheel, said stabilizer wedge being slidably supported by a wall of said housing means; a pair of parallel ribs integral with said housing means for guiding said drive shaft and for positioning said stabilizer wedge with said tapered surface extending perpendicularly to the axis of said drive shaft to allow said tapered surface to engage said drive shaft portion at a location diametrically opposite the engagement of said worm wheel with said drive shaft; and a spring abutting another portion of said housing means and biasing said stabilizer wedge toward said drive shaft to maintain said tapered surface in engagement with said drive shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
273 words
A worm drive mechanism for a vehicle windshield wiper unit, comprising: a housing; an electric motor carried by said housing and having a drive shaft connected to the armature of said electric motor for rotation therewith, said drive shaft having an end portion supported in cantilever fashion; said drive shaft adjacent one end on one side of said armature being rotatably supported by a first bearing and adjacent its midpoint on the other side of said armature being rotatably supported by a second bearing, said end portion of stabilizer wedge for movement toward and from said drive shaft shaft having a worm intermediate its ends, a worm wheel in meshed engagement with said worm and fixedly supported on an output shaft rotatably supported by said housing for driving a windshield wiper linkage means; a stabilizer wedge of material having a low coefficient of friction and having a tapered surface engaging said end portion of said drive shaft to substantially prevent deflection of said drive shaft away from said worm wheel, said stabilizer wedge being slidably supported by a wall of said housing means; a pair of parallel ribs integral with said housing means for guiding said drive shaft and for positioning said stabilizer wedge with said tapered surface extending perpendicularly to the axis of said drive shaft to allow said tapered surface to engage said drive shaft portion at a location diametrically opposite the engagement of said worm wheel with said drive shaft; and a spring abutting another portion of said housing means and biasing said stabilizer wedge toward said drive shaft to maintain said tapered surface in engagement with said drive shaft.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2582690A
Cited
US2877658A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-12 | 1976-03-13 | 1976-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-12 | 1980-03-13 | 1980-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-12 | 1984-03-13 | 1984-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |