Patent US5373735A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5373735A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gear testing method and apparatus for inspecting the contact area between mating gears
Assignee: GEI Systems Inc
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Filing: 1993-07-30
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Granted: 1994-12-20
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Expires: 2013-07-30
Abstract
Abstract A gear tester method and apparatus for inspecting a contact area between a gear member, such as a spiral bevel or hypnoid gear, relative to a second gear, such as a pinion. The gear tester includes a spray system for coating a portion of the gear member with a gear marking compound, such that when the pinion contacts the gear member the gear marking compound provides an indication or footprint of tooth contact made between the gear member and the pinion. A strobing device illuminates the gear member for inspecting the footprint while the gears are still rotating. In a preferred embodiment, a sensing device senses images of the footprint and a display device displays the sensed images whereby the gear mesh is non-invasively inspected.
Inventors
- 👤 Yevsey Gutman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:32
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M13/00; G01M13/02; G01M13/021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A gear inspection apparatus for inspecting a contact area formed between corresponding teeth of two rotating and meshing gears, the apparatus comprising: a frame means for rotatably mounting a first gear and a second gear to the frame wherein one of the gears drives the other gear; spray means for coating a portion of the second gear with a gear marking compound such that when the first gear meshes with the second gear the gear marking compound provides an indication of the contact area; and strobe means for illuminating a portion of the second gear for inspecting the indication of the contact area while the first and second gears are rotating.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A gear inspection apparatus for inspecting a contact area formed between corresponding teeth of two rotating and meshing gears, the apparatus comprising: a frame means for rotatably mounting a first gear and a second gear to the frame wherein one of the gears drives the other gear; spray means for coating a portion of the second gear with a gear marking compound such that when the first gear meshes with the second gear the gear marking compound provides an indication of the contact area; and strobe means for illuminating a portion of the second gear for inspecting the indication of the contact area while the first and second gears are rotating.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising sensing means for sensing the indication of the contact area and providing an output signal representing the contact area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising display means connected to the sensing means for receiving the output signal and displaying a representation of the contact area while the first and second gears are rotating.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an image processor connected to the sensing means for receiving the output signal, the image processor analyzing parameters of the contact area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the parameters include a length, width, center and skewness of the contact area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the strobe means illuminates at least two different teeth of the second gear, each of the teeth having an indication of the contact area thereon; and wherein the image processor receives the corresponding output signals for each indication of the contact area and determines an average contact area.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising means for adjusting the position of the first gear relative to the second gear to change a parameter of the contact area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising control means for generating a spray signal to control activation of the spray means such that the spray means is activated when a new position of the first gear relative to the second gear has been obtained and while the gears are rotating.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising control means for generating a strobe signal to control the synchronization of the strobe means to the rotation of the second gear.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the strobe signal is determined as a function of the total number of teeth on the second gear.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the strobe signal is further determined as a function of the number of teeth to skip between successive strobes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the control means includes means for adjusting illumination of a selected tooth on the second gear.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 9 and an encoder mounted to a rotating shaft of the second gear, the encoder providing an output signal to the control means representing a parameter of the rotating second gear.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the output signal represents a speed of rotation of the second gear.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the output signal represents a rotational position of the second gear.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for inspecting a contact area formed between corresponding teeth of a first gear and teeth of a second gear, the method comprising the steps of: meshing the teeth of the first gear with the teeth of the second gear at a desired mounting position; spraying a gear marking compound on a portion of the teeth of at least one of the gears; rotating the first gear and the second gear such that the gear marking compound is formed on the second gear indicating the contact area between the teeth of the first and second gears; and illuminating a portion of the second gear with a strobe device such that the contact area is visible while the first gear and second gear are rotating.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for inspecting a contact area formed between corresponding teeth of a first gear and teeth of a second gear, the method comprising the steps of: meshing the teeth of the first gear with the teeth of the second gear at a desired mounting position; spraying a gear marking compound on a portion of the teeth of at least one of the gears; rotating the first gear and the second gear such that the gear marking compound is formed on the second gear indicating the contact area between the teeth of the first and second gears; and illuminating a portion of the second gear with a strobe device such that the contact area is visible while the first gear and second gear are rotating.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 16, and further including the step of changing the mounting position of the first gear relative to the second gear while the gears are rotating to change a parameter affecting the contact area.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the illuminating step includes synchronizing the strobing device with the second gear.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of displaying the gear marking compound indicating the contact area on a screen for analysis thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of sensing the gear marking compound indicating the contact area and generating an electronic signal representative of the contact area.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 20 further comprises the steps and further comprises the steps of providing the electrical signal representative of the contact area to an image processor and analyzing parameters of the contact area using the image processor.
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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) | 1997-12-19 | 1998-06-20 | 1998-12-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-12-19 | 2002-06-20 | 2002-12-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-12-19 | 2006-06-20 | 2006-12-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |