# US 10,502,283 B2 · Gearbox with internal diaphragm

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- Number: US 10,502,283 B2
- Document ID: US10502283B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/601,774
- Filed: 2017-05-22
- Published: 2017-11-23
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2016-05-23
- Assignees: Universal Motion Components Co., Inc.
- Applicants: Universal Motion Components Co., Inc.
- Inventors: William F. Smith; Raymond Lee Call, II
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502283B2

## CPC

- F16H 1/16: comprising worm and worm-wheel
- A01G 25/09: Watering arrangements making use of movable installations on wheels or the like
- A01G 25/092: {movable around a pivot centre}
- F15B 1/265: {with pressurised main reservoir}
- F16H 57/027: characterised by means for venting gearboxes, e.g. air breathers
- F16H 57/039: Gearboxes for accommodating worm gears
- F16H 57/0498: {Worm gearings}
- F16H 55/22: for transmissions with crossing shafts, especially worms, worm-gears
- F16H 2057/012: {of gearings}
- F16H 2057/02056: {for utility vehicles, e.g. tractors or agricultural machines}
- F16H: GEARING
- A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12)
- F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

Some embodiments of a gearbox for an irrigation system can comprise a housing, a worm gear within the housing, a bull gear within the housing and configured to be engaged with the worm gear, a diaphragm, and a vent. The diaphragm can define a chamber configured for expansion and contraction and configured to be positioned inside the housing to relieve pressure build-up within the housing. The vent can be configured to allow air to flow between the atmosphere and the chamber.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of configuring a gearbox for an irrigation system for operation, the method comprising:
providing a gearbox comprising:
a housing including a housing body and a housing cover;
an output shaft;
a worm gear within the housing;
a bull gear within the housing and configured to be engaged with the worm gear and drive the output shaft;
a vent configured to maintain pressure within a first chamber at substantially atmospheric pressure;
securing a diaphragm to the housing cover with a retention member, the diaphragm positioned within the housing defining the first chamber fluidically sealed from a second chamber, wherein the first chamber is disposed within the housing cover, wherein the bull gear and the worm gear are positioned within the second chamber, wherein the retention member defines a plurality of expansion zones of the diaphragm, wherein the retention member is configured to limit movement of the diaphragm;
filling, through an input port, the entirety of the second chamber of the gearbox with a lubricant such that the lubricant displaces the air within the second chamber; and
sealing the input port so that air is prevented from entering the second chamber during operation of the gearbox.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm comprises two or more portions.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein an outer edge of the diaphragm is secured between the housing cover and the housing body, and the retention member secures an inner edge of the diaphragm to the housing cover.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm comprises an undulating section.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the undulating section is configured for expansion and contraction.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein a sealable outlet port connects to the first chamber.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the outlet port is configured to drain fluids from the first chamber.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the worm gear and the bull gear are disposed within the second chamber that is separate from the first chamber.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the diaphragm is configured to fluidically separate a lubricant disposed within the second chamber from the first chamber.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is positioned circumferentially about at least a portion of the output shaft.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the diaphragm extends circumferentially around the entire output shaft.