Quick-change drive unit

Claim 2

A quick-change drive unit comprising: a housing having at least one open side and open forward and rearward ends and further including a first cavity adjacent said forward end, a second cavity adjacent said rearward end and a contiguous, transversely-extending middle wall portion inbetween said first and second cavities, said wall having upper and lower substantially parallel passages extending therethrough and communicating said first and second cavities with one another; a front cover plate removable sealingly secured to said forward end, a rear cover plate removable sealingly secured to said rearward end, and a side plate removably sealingly secured to said open side; an input shaft extending through said front cover, said first cavity, said lower passage and into said second cavity, and secured in said housing in a rotatable manner; a selectively detachable first gear affixed to that portion of said input shaft within said second cavity; a drive pinion shaft extending from said second cavity through said upper passage and into said first cavity, said drive pinion shaft secured in said housing in a rotatable manner; a selectively detachable second gear affixed to that portion of said drive pinion shaft within said second cavity, said second gear in meshing, driving engagement with said first gear, removal of said rear cover plate providing easy access to said detachable gears for substitution with an alternate pair of detachable gears whereby the drive ratio of said unit is varied in a predetermined manner; a drive gear in said first cavity in meshing, driving engagement with the pinion gear head of said drive pinion shaft; output means connected to said drive gear for transmitting rotation of said drive gear to an output member; a first bearing in said front cover plate, a second bearing in said lower passage adjacent said second cavity and a third bearing in said rear cover plate, said first, second, and third bearings axially aligned with one another and journalling said input shaft; a fourth bearing in said gear cover plate, a fifth bearing in said upper passage adjacent said second cavity and a sixth bearing in said upper passage adjacent said first cavity and spaced from said fifth bearing, said fourth, fifth, and sixth bearings axially aligned with one another and journalling said drive piNion; and lubricating means for lubricating the components of said unit, said lubricating means including; said second bearing having a seal thereabout preventing said lower passage from providing fluid communication between said first cavity and said second cavity; said housing having a fill opening at a side of said housing located at a point axially aligned with and communicating with a least a portion of said lower passage for filling said first cavity with lubricant; a generally restricted levelling hole in said middle wall providing communication between said lower passage and said second cavity, said levelling hole generally aligned with said fill opening; and a first and second drain plug located in the bottom walls of said first and second cavities respectively whereby each of said cavities may be separately drained of lubricant without drainage of the other cavity.

Claim 3

The quick-change drive unit of claim 1 wherein said upper and lower passages are generally circular in cross section; and said housing further having an upper wall surface, a cast slot in said upper wall surface communicating with the top portion of said upper passage, said slot extending from said first cavity to said second cavity and having a tapering opening greater at said first cavity than said second cavity.

Claim 4

The quick-change drive axle of claim 2 wherein said first cavity blends with said middle wall portion in a generally curvilinear configuration to assure lubricant flow in said slot.

Claim 5

The quick-change drive unit of claim 1 wherein the axis of said input shaft is below the axis of drive gear, the axis of said drive pinion shaft and pinion gear head is above the axis of said drive gear and said housing includes a deflection retention member for contact with a surface of said drive gear upon predetermined deflection of said drive gear to prevent greater than said predetermined deflection of said drive gear.

Claim 6

A quick-change drive axle for use in a dragster or the like comprising: a housing having a open forward end, an open rearward end, an opening in one of its sides, a first cavity adjacent said forward end, a second cavity adjacent said rearward end, and a transversely-extending middle wall portion separating said first cavity from said second cavity, said wall portion having a first generally cylindrical bottom passage extending therethrough to provide communication between said first and second cavities and a second generally cylindrical top passage extending therethrough, said top passage generally parallel to said bottom passage and providing communication between said first and second cavities; a front cover plate for securement to said forward end, a rear cover plate for securement to said rearward end and a side cover plate for securement to said side opening; an input shaft extending through said first cavity, said first passageway and into said second cavity; a first sealed bearing within said front cover plate, a second sealed bearing within said first passage adjacent said second cavity and a third bearing within said rear cover plate, said first, second, and third bearings axially aligned with one another and journalling said input shaft within said housing, said input shaft having a flanged shoulder within said second cavity abutting said second bearing and a bearing pilot end received within said third bearing, said third bearing received within a steel bearing liner pressed into said rear cover plate; a drive pinion shaft extending from said second cavity through said second passage and into said first cavity; a fourth bearing within said rear cover plate, a fifth bearing in said second passage adjacent said second cavity and a sixth bearing in said second passage adjacent said first cavity and spaced from said fifth bearing, said fourth, fifth and sixth bearings axially aligned with one another and journalling said drive pinion shaft within said housing, said drive pinion having a jam nut in saId second cavity abutting said fifth bearing and a bearing pilot end received within said fourth bearing, said fourth bearing received within a steel bearing liner pressed within said rear cover plate; a first spur gear detachably mounted on said input shaft in said second cavity and a second spur gear in meshing, driving engagement with said first gear, mounted on said drive pinion shaft in said second cavity; a drive gear within said first cavity in meshing, driving engagement with a pinion gear head on said drive pinion shaft; output means connected to said drive gear and extending at least through said side opening for rotating an output member; and means in said middle wall portion for providing lubricant flow from said first cavity to said second cavity, said means including a seal in said second bearing preventing fluid communication between said first and second cavities through said bottom passage, a fill opening in the side of said housing axially aligned and communicating with at least a portion of said bottom passage, a levelling hole within said middle wall portion providing fluid communication between said bottom passage and said second cavity, said levelling hole generally aligned with said fill opening; said housing further having an upper wall surface, cast slot in said upper wall surface communicating with the top of said first passage and extending from said first cavity to said second cavity, said slot having a tapering opening greater at said first cavity than said second cavity; and said first cavity blending with said middle wall in a generally curvilinear configuration to provide lubricant flow to said slot.

Claim 7

A quick-change drive axle for use in a dragster or the like comprising: a housing having a open forward end, an open rearward end, an opening in one of its sides, a first cavity adjacent said forward end, a second cavity adjacent said rearward end, and a transversely-extending middle wall portion separating said first cavity from said second cavity, said wall portion having a first generally cylindrical bottom passage extending therethrough to provide communication between said first and second cavities and a second generally cylindrical top passage extending therethrough, said top passage generally parallel to said bottom passage and providing communication between said first and second cavities; a front cover plate for securement to said forward end, a rear cover plate for securement to said rearward end and a side cover plate for securement to said side opening; an input shaft extending through said first cavity, said first passageway and into said second cavity; a first sealed bearing within said front cover plate, a second sealed bearing within said first passage adjacent said second cavity and a third bearing within said rear cover plate, said first, second, and third bearings axially aligned with one another and journalling said input shaft within said housing, said input shaft having a flanged shoulder within said second cavity abutting said second bearing and a bearing pilot end received within said third bearing, said third bearing received within a steel bearing liner pressed into said rear cover plate; a drive pinion shaft extending from said second cavity through said second passage and into said first cavity; a fourth bearing within said rear cover plate, a fifth bearing in said second passage adjacent said second cavity and a sixth bearing in said second passage adjacent said first cavity and spaced from said fifth bearing, said fourth, fifth and sixth bearings axially aligned with one another and journalling said drive pinion shaft within said housing, said drive pinion having a jam nut in saId second cavity abutting said fifth bearing and a bearing pilot end received within said fourth bearing, said fourth bearing received within a steel bearing liner pressed within said rear cover plate; a first spur gear detachably mounted on said input shaft in said second cavity and a second spur gear in meshing, driving engagement with said first gear, mounted on said drive pinion shaft in said second cavity; a drive gear within said first cavity in meshing, driving engagement with a pinion gear head on said drive pinion shaft; output means connected to said drive gear and extending at least through said side opening for rotating an output member; and means in said middle wall portion for providing lubricant flow from said first cavity to said second cavity, said means including a seal in said second bearing preventing fluid communication between said first and second cavities through said bottom passage, a fill opening in the side of said housing axially aligned and communicating with at least a portion of said bottom passage, a levelling hole within said middle wall portion providing fluid communication between said bottom passage and said second cavity, said levelling hole generally aligned with said fill opening; said housing further having an upper wall surface, cast slot in said upper wall surface communicating with the top of said first passage and extending from said first cavity to said second cavity, said slot having a tapering opening greater at said first cavity than said second cavity; and said first cavity blending with said middle wall in a generally curvilinear configuration to provide lubricant flow to said slot.

Claim 8

The quick-change drive axle of claim 5 wherein said housing is magnesium.

Claim 9

The quick-change drive axle of claim 5 wherein the axis of said input shaft is below the axis of said drive gear, the axis of said pinion gear is above the axis of said drive gear, said drive and pinion gears are hypoid gears and said housing is provided with an abutment member for abutment with a surface of said dirve gear upon a predetermined deflection of said drive gear.

Claim 10

The quick-change drive axle of claim 5 wherein said first and second chambers have separate drain plugs in the bottom walls thereof.