Combined engagement-disengagement device for two speed reduction gears with coaxial shafts

Claim 2

A combined engagement-disengagement device for two speed reduction gears with coaxial shifts, said device comprising a fixed support interposed between said two speed reduction gears and housing a first hollow shaft which is coaxial to said shafts of said speed reduction gears and in which there is rotatably housed a second independent shaft coaxial to said shafts of said speed reduction gears, there being provided two pulleys rotatably mounted on said first hollow shaft, characterized in that said pulleys are rigid with toothed flanges which engage frontally in internally splined tubular elements within which sleeves slide coaxially but externally to said two shafts of said speed reduction gears, said sleeves being provided with means for their engagement with said shafts and with said tubular elements.

Claim 3

A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said means for the engagement of said sleeve with said two shafts and with said tubular element comprise toothings provided internally and externally.

Claim 4

A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said second independent shaft is interposed between said two shafts of said speed reduction gears and said sleeves.

Claim 5

A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that bearings are provided between said hollow shaft and said independent second shaft in proximity to the ends of said second shaft.

Claim 6

A device as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that said tubular elements are flanged tubular elements.

Claim 7

A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said sleeves and said flanges form a frontal coupling when mutually engaged.

Claim 8

Apparatus for transmitting power, said apparatus comprising: (a) a first speed reduction gear mounted on a first shaft, said first shaft having a first external spline; (b) a second speed reduction gear mounted on a second shaft, said second shaft having a second external spline and being coaxial to said first shaft; (c) a fixed support interposed between said first and second speed reduction gears; (d) a third shaft housed in said fixed support, said third shaft being hollow and coaxial to said first shaft; (e) a fourth shaft rotatably housed in said third shaft, said fourth shaft being coaxial to said first shaft, abutting said first shaft at a first end, having an external diameter at least approximately equal to the external diameter of said first shaft at its first end, having a third external spline at its first end, abutting said second shaft at a second end, having an external diameter at least approximately equal to the external diameter of said second shaft at its second end, and having a fourth external spline at its second end; (f) a first pulley rotatably mounted on said third shaft on the side of said fixed support adjacent to said first speed reduction gear; (g) a second pulley rotatably mounted on said third shaft on the side of said fixed support adjacent to said second speed reduction gear; (h) a first tubular element solid with said first pulley, said first tubular element having a first internal spline; (i) a second tubular element solid with said second pulley, said second tubular element having a second internal spline; (j) a first sleeve that slides in said first internal spline and on said first and third external splines; and (k) a second sleeve that slides in said second internal spline and on said second and fourth external splines.

Claim 9

Apparatus for transmitting power, said apparatus comprising: (a) a first speed reduction gear mounted on a first shaft, said first shaft having a first external spline; (b) a second speed reduction gear mounted on a second shaft, said second shaft having a second external spline and being coaxial to said first shaft; (c) a fixed support interposed between said first and second speed reduction gears; (d) a third shaft housed in said fixed support, said third shaft being hollow and coaxial to said first shaft; (e) a fourth shaft rotatably housed in said third shaft, said fourth shaft being coaxial to said first shaft, abutting said first shaft at a first end, having an external diameter at least approximately equal to the external diameter of said first shaft at its first end, having a third external spline at its first end, abutting said second shaft at a second end, having an external diameter at least approximately equal to the external diameter of said second shaft at its second end, and having a fourth external spline at its second end; (f) a first pulley rotatably mounted on said third shaft on the side of said fixed support adjacent to said first speed reduction gear; (g) a second pulley rotatably mounted on said third shaft on the side of said fixed support adjacent to said second speed reduction gear; (h) a first tubular element solid with said first pulley, said first tubular element having a first internal spline; (i) a second tubular element solid with said second pulley, said second tubular element having a second internal spline; (j) a first sleeve that slides in said first internal spline and on said first and third external splines; and (k) a second sleeve that slides in said second internal spline and on said second and fourth external splines.

Claim 10

Apparatus for transmitting power as recited in claim 7 wherein: (a) said first tubular element projects from said first pulley towards first speed reduction gear and (g) said second tubular elements projects from said second pulley towards second speed reduction.