US4478103A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Worm gear mechanism
Assignee: Nokia Bell Labs
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Filing: 1981-05-22
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Granted: 1984-10-23
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Expires: 2001-05-22
Abstract
Abstract A worm (10) and worm gear (12) mechanism in which the gear (12), in addition to its gear teeth (20), also has a helical thread (22) formed thereon. The helical thread (11) of the worm (10) conventionally meshes with the gear teeth (20) of the worm gear (12), rotation of the worm (10) causing a corresponding rotation of the gear (12). The gear (12) is fitted in a threaded hole (21) so that, as it is rotated by the worm (10), it is also caused to move along its longitudinal axis within the hole (21).
Inventors
- 👤 James M. Benjamin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 10:19
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H25/00; F16H25/18; F16H25/20; F16H1/00; F16H1/02; F16H1/04; F16H1/12; F16H1/16; F16H2025/2062; F16H2025/209; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18568; Y10T74/18792; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19642; Y10T74/19698; Y10T74/19702; Y10T74/19721; Y10T74/19819; Y10T74/19828; Y10T74/19949; Y10T74/19953
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A worm and worm gear mechanism comprising a worm element fixedly mounted along and rotatable about its longitudinal axis, said worm element having a helical thread formed thereon, a gear element having gear teeth meshing with said helical thread and also having a helical thread formed thereon, said gear element having its axis at an angle with said axis of said worm element, and fixed engagement means for engaging said helical thread of said gear element whereby movement along its axis is caused when said gear element is rotated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A worm and worm gear mechanism comprising a worm element fixedly mounted along and rotatable about its longitudinal axis, said worm element having a helical thread formed thereon, a gear element having gear teeth meshing with said helical thread and also having a helical thread formed thereon, said gear element having its axis at an angle with said axis of said worm element, and fixed engagement means for engaging said helical thread of said gear element whereby movement along its axis is caused when said gear element is rotated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A worm and worm gear mechanism as claimed in claim 1 in which said angle is substantially 90 degrees.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
101 words
A worm and worm gear mechanism comprising a worm element fixedly mounted along and rotatable about its longitudinal axis, said worm element having a helical thread formed thereon, a gear element having gear teeth meshing with said helical thread and also having a helical thread formed thereon, said gear element having its axis at an angle with said axis of said worm element, and engagement means comprising a member having a cylindrical hole having a helical thread formed therein for engaging said helical thread of said gear element whereby movement along its axis is caused when said gear element is rotated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
101 words
A worm and worm gear mechanism comprising a worm element fixedly mounted along and rotatable about its longitudinal axis, said worm element having a helical thread formed thereon, a gear element having gear teeth meshing with said helical thread and also having a helical thread formed thereon, said gear element having its axis at an angle with said axis of said worm element, and engagement means comprising a member having a cylindrical hole having a helical thread formed therein for engaging said helical thread of said gear element whereby movement along its axis is caused when said gear element is rotated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
105 words
A worm and worm gear mechanism comprising a mounting member having a first hole and a second hole opening on said first hole and lying substantially transverse thereto, a worm element fixedly mounted along and rotatable about its longitudinal axis fitted in said first hole, said worm element having a helical thread formed thereon, a gear element fitted in said second hole having gear teeth extending into said first hole meshing with said helical thread of said worm element, said gear element also having a helical thread formed thereon, and engagement means in said second hole for engaging said helical thread of said gear element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
105 words
A worm and worm gear mechanism comprising a mounting member having a first hole and a second hole opening on said first hole and lying substantially transverse thereto, a worm element fixedly mounted along and rotatable about its longitudinal axis fitted in said first hole, said worm element having a helical thread formed thereon, a gear element fitted in said second hole having gear teeth extending into said first hole meshing with said helical thread of said worm element, said gear element also having a helical thread formed thereon, and engagement means in said second hole for engaging said helical thread of said gear element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
114 words
A worm and worm gear mechanism comprising a mounting member having a first hole and a second hole opening on said first hole and lying substantially transverse thereto, a worm element fixedly mounted along and rotatable about its longitudinal axis fitted in said first hole, said worm element having a helical thread formed thereon, a gear element fitted in said second hole having gear teeth extending into said first hole meshing with said helical thread of said worm element, said gear element also having a helical thread formed thereon, and engagement means in said second hole comprising a helical thread formed in said second hole for engaging said helical thread of said gear element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
114 words
A worm and worm gear mechanism comprising a mounting member having a first hole and a second hole opening on said first hole and lying substantially transverse thereto, a worm element fixedly mounted along and rotatable about its longitudinal axis fitted in said first hole, said worm element having a helical thread formed thereon, a gear element fitted in said second hole having gear teeth extending into said first hole meshing with said helical thread of said worm element, said gear element also having a helical thread formed thereon, and engagement means in said second hole comprising a helical thread formed in said second hole for engaging said helical thread of said gear element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
A worm gear mechanism comprising a first and a second worm element having substantially transverse axes, each of said elements having a helical thread formed thereon, said second element also having gear teeth formed thereon meshing with said helical thread of said first element, and fixed engagement means comprising a helical member meshing about said helical thread of said second element for engaging said helical thread of said second element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
A worm gear mechanism comprising a first and a second worm element having substantially transverse axes, each of said elements having a helical thread formed thereon, said second element also having gear teeth formed thereon meshing with said helical thread of said first element, and fixed engagement means comprising a helical member meshing about said helical thread of said second element for engaging said helical thread of said second element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A worm gear mechanism as claimed in claim 5 also comprising mounting means having a cylindrical hole, said helical member comprising a helical thread formed in the inner surface of said hole.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
A drive mechanism comprising a member having a threaded hole, a first threaded worm element in said hole movable along its axis as said first element is rotated, and means for rotating said first element comprising gear teeth grooves formed on said first element parallel to its axis and superimposed on the threads of said first worm element and a second threaded worm element meshing with said gear teeth grooves, said second element having an axis at an angle with the axis of said first element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
86 words
A drive mechanism comprising a member having a threaded hole, a first threaded worm element in said hole movable along its axis as said first element is rotated, and means for rotating said first element comprising gear teeth grooves formed on said first element parallel to its axis and superimposed on the threads of said first worm element and a second threaded worm element meshing with said gear teeth grooves, said second element having an axis at an angle with the axis of said first element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
92 words
A worm and worm gear mechanism comprising a worm element fixedly mounted along and rotatable about its longitudinal axis, said worm element having a helical thread formed thereon, a gear element having gear teeth meshing with said helical thread and also having a helical thread superimposed on said gear teeth, said gear element having its axis at an angle with said axis of said worm element, and fixed engagement means for engaging said helical thread of said gear element whereby movement along its axis is caused when said gear element is rotated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
92 words
A worm and worm gear mechanism comprising a worm element fixedly mounted along and rotatable about its longitudinal axis, said worm element having a helical thread formed thereon, a gear element having gear teeth meshing with said helical thread and also having a helical thread superimposed on said gear teeth, said gear element having its axis at an angle with said axis of said worm element, and fixed engagement means for engaging said helical thread of said gear element whereby movement along its axis is caused when said gear element is rotated.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A worm and worm gear mechanism as claimed in claim 9 in which said angle is substantially 90 degrees.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
A worm and worm gear mechanism as claimed in claim 9 in which said engagement means comprises a member having a cylindrical hole having a helical thread formed therein for engaging said helical thread of said gear element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
108 words
A worm and worm gear mechanism comprising a mounting member having a first hole and a second hole opening on said first hole and lying substantially transverse thereto, a worm element fixedly mounted along and rotatable about its longitudinal axis fitted in said first hole, said worm element having a helical thread formed thereon, a gear element fitted in said second hole having gear teeth extending into said first hole meshing with said helical thread of said worm element, said gear element also having a helical thread superimposed on said gear teeth, and engagement means in said second hole for engaging said helical thread of said gear element.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
108 words
A worm and worm gear mechanism comprising a mounting member having a first hole and a second hole opening on said first hole and lying substantially transverse thereto, a worm element fixedly mounted along and rotatable about its longitudinal axis fitted in said first hole, said worm element having a helical thread formed thereon, a gear element fitted in said second hole having gear teeth extending into said first hole meshing with said helical thread of said worm element, said gear element also having a helical thread superimposed on said gear teeth, and engagement means in said second hole for engaging said helical thread of said gear element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
A worm and worm gear mechanism as claimed in claim 12 in which said engagement means comprises a helical thread formed in said second hole for engaging said helical thread of said gear element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
77 words
A worm gear mechanism comprising a first and a second worm element having substantially transverse axes, said first element having a helical thread formed thereon, said second element having gear teeth formed thereon meshing with said helical thread of said first element and a helical thread superimposed on said gear teeth, and fixed engagement means comprising a helical member meshing about said helical thread of said second element for engaging said helical thread of said second element.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
77 words
A worm gear mechanism comprising a first and a second worm element having substantially transverse axes, said first element having a helical thread formed thereon, said second element having gear teeth formed thereon meshing with said helical thread of said first element and a helical thread superimposed on said gear teeth, and fixed engagement means comprising a helical member meshing about said helical thread of said second element for engaging said helical thread of said second element.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
A worm gear mechanism as claimed in claim 14 also comprising mounting means having a cylindrical hole, said helical member comprising a helical thread formed in the inner surface of said hole.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-10-23 | 1988-04-23 | 1988-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-23 | 1992-04-23 | 1992-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-23 | 1996-04-23 | 1996-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |