US3750489A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Composite drive assembly
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
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Filing: 1972-06-07
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Granted: 1973-08-07
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Expires: 1992-06-07
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a cluster gear assembled from a pair of separate gear members. The gears are non-rotatably connected by means of a splined connection and retainer means that is operative to eliminate axial movement between the gears. The retaining means includes opposing radial shoulders on each side of one of the gear members, with one shoulder forming a camming surface and an expandable ring engaging the camming surface and one shoulder on the other gear to keep the gear members in a fixed axial position with respect to one another.
Inventors
- 👤 S Caldwell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:30
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H57/00; F16H57/0018; F16H57/0025; F16D; F16D1/00; F16D1/10; F16D1/108; F16D1/116; F16B; F16B2200/00; F16B2200/40; F16B2200/406; F16D2001/103; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S403/00; Y10S403/07; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/1987
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A composite gear assembly comprising: a plurality of gears detachably secured together; one of said gears having a splined extensiOn co-axial with the teeth thereof; another of said gears having cooperating splines formed therein; each of said gears including an annular shoulder opposing a like shoulder on the other of said members; one of said shoulders sloping outward toward the other of said shoulders; and, an expandable retaining ring engaging said shoulder to retain said members in an axial pre-determined position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A composite gear assembly comprising: a plurality of gears detachably secured together; one of said gears having a splined extensiOn co-axial with the teeth thereof; another of said gears having cooperating splines formed therein; each of said gears including an annular shoulder opposing a like shoulder on the other of said members; one of said shoulders sloping outward toward the other of said shoulders; and, an expandable retaining ring engaging said shoulder to retain said members in an axial pre-determined position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The composite gear assembly of claim 1 wherein said gears have different diameters.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The composite gear assembly of claim 1 comprising another annular shoulder on each of said gears in abutting engagement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said splines are an extension of the teeth of said one of said gears at a smaller diameter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the shoulder on one of said gears defines a wall of an annular groove; and, said retaining ring is retained in said groove by said sloping shoulder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
95 words
A coupling assembly for a pair of drive members; a first member having a bore formed therein; a second member receivable in said bore and including a shoulder abutting a shoulder on said first member; a groove formed in one of said members; the other of said members having an annular axially sloping face extending partially across said groove; and, an annular spring member disposed in said groove and biased into engagement with said sloping face to maintain said first and said second members in a substantially fixed axial position with respect to one another.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
95 words
A coupling assembly for a pair of drive members; a first member having a bore formed therein; a second member receivable in said bore and including a shoulder abutting a shoulder on said first member; a groove formed in one of said members; the other of said members having an annular axially sloping face extending partially across said groove; and, an annular spring member disposed in said groove and biased into engagement with said sloping face to maintain said first and said second members in a substantially fixed axial position with respect to one another.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein said members are non-rotatably fixed with respect to one another.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 7 comprising cooperating splines formed on said members to fix said members with respect to one another.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
The invention of claim 7 wherein said members are gears.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention of claim 8 wherein said splines are an extension at a reduced diameter of the teeth of one of said members.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of making a composite gear comprising the steps of: making a plurality of individual gears adapted to be detachably secured together; providing one of said gears with a splined extension co-axial with the teeth thereof; providing another of said gears with cooperating splines formed therein; providing each of said gears with an annular shoulder opposing a like shoulder on the other of said members; one of said shoulders sloping outward toward the other of said shoulders; assembling said gears with said splines in cooperative engagement; and, providing an expandable retaining ring engaging said shoulder to retain said members in an axial predetermined position.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of making a composite gear comprising the steps of: making a plurality of individual gears adapted to be detachably secured together; providing one of said gears with a splined extension co-axial with the teeth thereof; providing another of said gears with cooperating splines formed therein; providing each of said gears with an annular shoulder opposing a like shoulder on the other of said members; one of said shoulders sloping outward toward the other of said shoulders; assembling said gears with said splines in cooperative engagement; and, providing an expandable retaining ring engaging said shoulder to retain said members in an axial predetermined position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of making composite gear of claim 11 comprising the steps of separately heat treating each of said gears to have a different pre-determined hardness prior to the step of assembling said gear.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the step of providing said splined extension of one of said gears comprises the step of extending the teeth of said one of said gears at a reduced diameter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-06 | 1977-02-05 | 1977-08-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-06 | 1981-02-05 | 1981-08-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-06 | 1985-02-05 | 1985-08-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |