Multi-stage speed reducer with resilient shaft supports

Claim 1

Multi-stage speed reducing gear, including a first speed reducing stage having input pinion and large diameter output gear, the spEed reducing gear further including first and second, serially operating planetary gears each having a central gear and planet gears journalled in a carrier, the carrier of the second planetary gear having a hollow shaft, the central gear of the second planetary gears having a shaft end journalled in the hollow shaft, the improvement comprising: resilient means for yieldingly journalling the shaft end in the hollow shaft for limited transverse displacement therein, and centering the shaft end in the hollow shaft upon no-load conditions; the carrier of the first planetary gear being rigidly secured to and supported by the central gear of the second planetary gear, on one side of the central gear of the first planetary gear, for driving the latter central gear as the latter central gear is being resiliently supported by said resilient means in said hollow shaft; the carrier of the first planetary gear as secured to the central gear of the second planetary gear, being supported by the latter central gear so as to permit pendulum movement of the portion of the carrier of the first planetary gear as extending on the other side of the central gear of the first planetary gear; shaft means carrying the central gear of the first planetary gear for connecting the central gear of the first planetary gear to the large diameter output gear permitting limited angular displacement of the end of the shaft means relative to the large gear, the central gear of the first planetary gear meshing with the planet gears thereof and being journalled therewith and being free from additional bearing support; and a housing for the speed-reducing gear, bearings for the pinion and for the large diameter output gear of the first reducing stage, and spur gears of the first and second planetary gears being secured to said housing.