US3739632A — Device for testing power transmission components

Claim 1

Independent Claim 122 words

A method for testing the performance of a plurality of power transmission components such as positive drive transmission belts and associated pulleys, interengaged gears, etc., under dynamic, static and slow rotational conditions using a drive shaft and two axially aligned driven shafts arranged substantially parallel to the drive shaft, comprising mounting the components to be tested on the respective opposite ends of the drive shaft and on the outer ends of the two axially aligned driven shafts for driving engagement between the respective ends of the drive shaft and the respective outer ends of the driven shafts, rotating thE two axially aligned driven shafts in respective opposite rotative directions to apply a torque to the transmission components, and rotating the drive shaft.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 122 words

A method for testing the performance of a plurality of power transmission components such as positive drive transmission belts and associated pulleys, interengaged gears, etc., under dynamic, static and slow rotational conditions using a drive shaft and two axially aligned driven shafts arranged substantially parallel to the drive shaft, comprising mounting the components to be tested on the respective opposite ends of the drive shaft and on the outer ends of the two axially aligned driven shafts for driving engagement between the respective ends of the drive shaft and the respective outer ends of the driven shafts, rotating thE two axially aligned driven shafts in respective opposite rotative directions to apply a torque to the transmission components, and rotating the drive shaft.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 39 words

A method for testing the performance of a plurality of power transmission components, according to claim 1, including applying a preload to the test components by moving the drive shaft in a direction away from the two driven shafts.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 26 words

A method for testing the performance of a plurality of power transmission components, according to claim 1, including measuring the torque directly on the drive shaft.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 129 words

A method of testing positive transmission belts and V-belts using a driving shaft with a belt drive pulley attached to each end and first and second driven shafts arranged parallel to the driving shaft and having outer ends with driven pulleys thereon aligned with the respective pulleys at the respective ends of the drive shaft, comprising arranging the belts to be tested over the corresponding drive pulleys and driven pulleys of the respective ends of the drive shaft and the respective driven shafts so that the drive shaft can drive the respective driven shafts at each end, rotating said first and second driven shafts relatively in respective opposite directions with respect to each other to apply a torque to the belts to be tested, and rotating the drive shaft.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 129 words

A method of testing positive transmission belts and V-belts using a driving shaft with a belt drive pulley attached to each end and first and second driven shafts arranged parallel to the driving shaft and having outer ends with driven pulleys thereon aligned with the respective pulleys at the respective ends of the drive shaft, comprising arranging the belts to be tested over the corresponding drive pulleys and driven pulleys of the respective ends of the drive shaft and the respective driven shafts so that the drive shaft can drive the respective driven shafts at each end, rotating said first and second driven shafts relatively in respective opposite directions with respect to each other to apply a torque to the belts to be tested, and rotating the drive shaft.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 34 words

A method of testing positive transmission belts and V-belts, according to claim 4, including applying a preload to the belts by moving said drive shaft and said driven shafts relatively in opposite separating directions.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 53 words

A method of testing positive transmission belts and V-belts, according to claim 5, including locking the drive shaft and the driven shafts in the preloaded positions and rotating a drive shaft to drive said first and second driven shafts while said driven shafts are maintained in a predetermined spaced relative opposite rotative positions.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 97 words

A method of testing positive transmission belts and V-belts, according to claim 4, using a rotary actuator positioned between said two driven shafts having a part affixed to one of said shafts which is rotatable in one direction and a part affixed to the other of said shafts which is rotatable in another direction in response to a fluid pressure applied thereto, comprising applying fluid pressure to the parts to provide a predetermined relative opposite directional rotational movement of said driven shafts relative to each other and maintaining the pressure to provide for a predetermined torque loading.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method of testing positive transmission belts and V-belts, according to claim 7, including varying the pressure acting on the two parts in order to vary the torque loading.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 146 words

An apparatus for testing transmission components such as belt drives and gear drives, comprising a rotatable drive shaft, means connected to said drive shaft for rotating said drive shaft, first and second driven shafts having inner ends arranged in spaced end-to-end relationship and outer ends, said drive shaft having respective outer ends aligned with respective outer ends of said first and second driven shafts with transmission component means extending between the respective outer ends of said drive shaft and the respective outer ends of said first and second driven shafts for rotating said driven shafts from said drive shaft, and rotation coupling means connected to the inner ends of said first and second driven shafts for rotating said first and second driven shafts together and in respective opposite directions of rotation by an amount to apply a predetermined torque to the transmission component means being tested.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 146 words

An apparatus for testing transmission components such as belt drives and gear drives, comprising a rotatable drive shaft, means connected to said drive shaft for rotating said drive shaft, first and second driven shafts having inner ends arranged in spaced end-to-end relationship and outer ends, said drive shaft having respective outer ends aligned with respective outer ends of said first and second driven shafts with transmission component means extending between the respective outer ends of said drive shaft and the respective outer ends of said first and second driven shafts for rotating said driven shafts from said drive shaft, and rotation coupling means connected to the inner ends of said first and second driven shafts for rotating said first and second driven shafts together and in respective opposite directions of rotation by an amount to apply a predetermined torque to the transmission component means being tested.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 106 words

An apparatus for testing transmission components such as belt drives and gear drives, according to claim 9, including means mounting said drive shaft in said first and second driven shafts so that said first and second driven shafts extend substantially parallel to said drive shaft and permitting relative movement of said drive shaft in respect to said first anD second driven shafts in directions toward and away from each other, and means connected between said drive shaft and said first and second driven shafts for shifting said drive shaft relative said first and second driven shafts in order to preload the transmission component means being tested.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 51 words

An apparatus for testing transmission components such as belt drives and gear drives, according to claim 9, wherein said drive shaft includes an intermediate coupling permitting parallel shifting movement of one end of said shaft relative to the other end whereby to accommodate transmission components of variable size such as V-belts.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 60 words

An apparatus for testing transmission components such as belt drives and gear drives, according to claim 9, wherein said rotation means comprises first and second relatively rotatable parts affixed to said first and second driven shafts respectively, said first and second parts being rotatively displaceable relatively in response to fluid pressure, and means for applying fluid pressure between said parts.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 71 words

An apparatus for testing transmission components such as belt drives and gear drives, according to claim 12, wherein one of said parts comprises a gear affixed to one of said shafts and the other of said parts comprises a housing surrounding said gear having a rack member which is displaceable to shift said housing with the associated shaft relative to said gear and which is in driving engagement with said gear.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 37 words

An apparatus for testing transmission components such as belt drives and gear drives, according to claim 12, wherein one of said rotative parts comprises a pump housing and the other of said parts comprises a pump rotor.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 84 words

An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said rotation coupling means comprises a coupling for coupling said first and second driven shafts together for rotation together including a first part on said first driven shaft and a second part on said second driven shaft and means connected to at least one of said first and second coupling parts for shifting said coupling parts relatively for varying the rotative position of said first and second driven shafts and the torque applied to said transmission components.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 36 words

An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said means connected to at least one of said coupling parts is operatively connected to said parts for movement thereof during rotation of said first and second driven shafts.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 228 words

An apparatus for testing drive belts, particularly positive drive transmission belts and V-belts, comprising a rotatable drive shaft having a belt drive pulley at each end, means connected to said drive shaft for rotating said drive shaft, first and second driven shafts having inner ends arranged in spaced end-to-end relationship and outer ends each with a driven pulley thereon, means mounting said drive shaft and said first and second driven shafts so that said first and second driven shafts extend substantially parallel to said drive shaft and permitting relative movement of said drive shaft in respect to said first and second driven shaft in directions toward and away from each other, said drive pulleys of said drive shaft and said driven pulleys of corresponding first and second drive shafts being located to accommodate a belt to be tested at the corresponding ends of said drive shaft and the first and second driven shafts, rotation coupling means connected to the inner ends of said first and second driven shafts for rotating said first and second driven shafts together and in respective opposite directions by an amount to apply a predetermined torque to the belts being tested, and means connected between said drive shaft and said first and second driven shafts for shifting said drive shaft relative to said first and second driven shafts to preload the belts being tested.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 228 words

An apparatus for testing drive belts, particularly positive drive transmission belts and V-belts, comprising a rotatable drive shaft having a belt drive pulley at each end, means connected to said drive shaft for rotating said drive shaft, first and second driven shafts having inner ends arranged in spaced end-to-end relationship and outer ends each with a driven pulley thereon, means mounting said drive shaft and said first and second driven shafts so that said first and second driven shafts extend substantially parallel to said drive shaft and permitting relative movement of said drive shaft in respect to said first and second driven shaft in directions toward and away from each other, said drive pulleys of said drive shaft and said driven pulleys of corresponding first and second drive shafts being located to accommodate a belt to be tested at the corresponding ends of said drive shaft and the first and second driven shafts, rotation coupling means connected to the inner ends of said first and second driven shafts for rotating said first and second driven shafts together and in respective opposite directions by an amount to apply a predetermined torque to the belts being tested, and means connected between said drive shaft and said first and second driven shafts for shifting said drive shaft relative to said first and second driven shafts to preload the belts being tested.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 45 words

An apparatus for testing drive belts, according to claim 17, wherein said mounting means includes a support frame mounting said first and second driven shafts and a baseplaTe movable along said support frame carrying said drive shaft and said means for rotating said drive shaft.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 24 words

An apparatus for testing drive belts, according to claim 18, including means for locking said baseplate in a fixed position on said support frame.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 42 words

An apparatus for testing drive belts, according to claim 17, wherein said means for moving said drive shaft relative to said first and second driven shafts comprises a fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder combination connected between said frame and said baseplate.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 51 words

An apparatus for testing drive belts, according to claim 20, including a load cell connected to said fluid piston and cylinder combination for indicating the preloading on the test belts when the baseplate is moved in a direction to move said drive shaft away from said first and second driven shafts.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 188 words

An apparatus for testing drive belts, particularly positive drive transmission belts and V-belts, comprising a support frame, a baseplate mounted for movement on said support frame, a drive shaft mounted on said baseplate and having a belt drive pulley at each end of said drive shaft, first and second driven shafts on said frame having inner ends arranged in spaced end-to-end relationship to each other and having outer ends each with a driven pulley thereon located in alignment with the respective pulleys at the corresponding ends of the drive shaft for receiving a belt to be tested over each drive pulley at each end of said drive shaft, rotation drive means connected to the inner ends of said first and second driven shaft for rotating them in respective opposite directions, motor means connected to said drive shaft for rotating said drive shaft carried on said baseplate, and means connected between said frame and said baseplate for shifting said baseplate along said frame to move said drive shaft away from said first and second driven shafts in order to apply a preloading to the belts connected between said shafts.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 188 words

An apparatus for testing drive belts, particularly positive drive transmission belts and V-belts, comprising a support frame, a baseplate mounted for movement on said support frame, a drive shaft mounted on said baseplate and having a belt drive pulley at each end of said drive shaft, first and second driven shafts on said frame having inner ends arranged in spaced end-to-end relationship to each other and having outer ends each with a driven pulley thereon located in alignment with the respective pulleys at the corresponding ends of the drive shaft for receiving a belt to be tested over each drive pulley at each end of said drive shaft, rotation drive means connected to the inner ends of said first and second driven shaft for rotating them in respective opposite directions, motor means connected to said drive shaft for rotating said drive shaft carried on said baseplate, and means connected between said frame and said baseplate for shifting said baseplate along said frame to move said drive shaft away from said first and second driven shafts in order to apply a preloading to the belts connected between said shafts.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 54 words

An apparatus for testing drive belts, according to claim 22, including a threaded screw member carried by said baseplate, a stationary guide carried on said frame through which said screw member extends and a lock nut means rotatable on said screw member for locking said screw member in position in respect to said guide.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 101 words

An apparatus for testing drive belts, according to claim 22, wherein said rotational drive means connected to the inner ends of said first and second driven shafts comprises a housing having a fluid pressure operated rack and being connected to one of said shafts, a gear connected to the other of said shafts and engaged by said rack, and fluid pressure means for actuating said rack for shifting said gear with its associated shaft in one direction and said rack with its associated shaft in an opposite direction relatively to each other to apply a torque to the belt being tested.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 119 words

An apparatus for testing drive belts, according to claim 22, including a second baseplate movable on said frame, a third driven shaft rotatably supported on said second baseplate and having a third pulley at each end thereof one of which is arranged in a position to receive a belt trained around said third pulley at one end of said third driven shaft and around one end of said drive shaft, the other opposite end having a third pulley which is adapted to be aligned for engagement with a belt to be tested which is trained around said third pulley at said opposite end and said driven pulley at the end of one of said first and second driven shafts.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 39 words

An apparatus for testing drive belts, according to claim 22, wherein said second driven shaft includes third and fourth driven shaft portions, and including second and third baseplates on said frame carrying said third and fourth driven shaft portions.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 100 words

An apparatus for testing drive belts, according to claim 22, including an additional frame portion located alongside said support frame, a second baseplate slidable on said additional frame portion, Said second baseplate and said baseplate supporting said drive shaft, said drive shaft having two separable portions interconnected by a drive coupling, the outer ends of said portions carrying a respective drive pulley, said coupling being such that said drive shafts may be oriented at spaced parallel positions in relation to each other when a belt engaged at the respective pulleys at the ends thereof comprises a V-belt having elastic characteristics.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 67 words

An apparatus for testing drive belts, according to claim 22, wherein said rotational drive means connected to said first and second driven shafts comprises a pump having a rotor connected to one of said shafts and a housing connected to the other and means for applying fluid pressure to said pump to displace said shafts in opposite rotational directions for torque loading the belts to be tested.

Claim 34

Independent Claim 254 words

A method for testing the performance of a plurality of power transmission components including positive drive transmission belts and associated pulleys, integrated gears, etc. and under dynamic, static and slow rotational conditions, and using a drive shaft and axially aligned, first and second driven shafts having inner ends rotatably coupled for rotation of said first and second driven shaft together and with the coupling parts connecting each of said first and second driven shafts being rotatable in respective opposite directions to vary the rotational positions of said first and second driven shafts and for positioning them in a relatively rotational position for rotation together and which first and second driven shafts are arranged substantially parallel to said drive shaft, comprising: a. Mounting said components on the ends of said drive shaft and the outer ends of said first and second driven shafts for driving engagement of said ends of said drive shaft with the respective outer ends of said first and second driven shafts, b. Separating said drive shaft from said first and second driven shafts to apply a predetermined preload to each of said components, c. Rotating said first and second driven shafts in opposite directions with respect to each other to apply predetermined but counterbalancing torque-load simultaneously to said drive shaft, said first and second driven shafts and said components, and d. Rotating said drive shaft to rotate said driven shafts while maintaining said preload and said counterbalancing torque-load on said drive shaft, said first and second driven shafts and said components.

Claim 35

Independent Claim 254 words

A method for testing the performance of a plurality of power transmission components including positive drive transmission belts and associated pulleys, integrated gears, etc. and under dynamic, static and slow rotational conditions, and using a drive shaft and axially aligned, first and second driven shafts having inner ends rotatably coupled for rotation of said first and second driven shaft together and with the coupling parts connecting each of said first and second driven shafts being rotatable in respective opposite directions to vary the rotational positions of said first and second driven shafts and for positioning them in a relatively rotational position for rotation together and which first and second driven shafts are arranged substantially parallel to said drive shaft, comprising: a. Mounting said components on the ends of said drive shaft and the outer ends of said first and second driven shafts for driving engagement of said ends of said drive shaft with the respective outer ends of said first and second driven shafts, b. Separating said drive shaft from said first and second driven shafts to apply a predetermined preload to each of said components, c. Rotating said first and second driven shafts in opposite directions with respect to each other to apply predetermined but counterbalancing torque-load simultaneously to said drive shaft, said first and second driven shafts and said components, and d. Rotating said drive shaft to rotate said driven shafts while maintaining said preload and said counterbalancing torque-load on said drive shaft, said first and second driven shafts and said components.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-06-18	1976-12-18	1977-06-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-06-18	1980-12-18	1981-06-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-06-18	1984-12-18	1985-06-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Device for testing power transmission components

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag