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US 10,948,047 B1Granted
Modular drive apparatus
AssigneeLogan Clutch Corporation
InventorsCharles D. Schultz, Stefan Vinca
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular drive apparatus includes a gear box (16) with a rotatable internal transmission gear (60). The gear box includes a plurality of body openings (44). The openings may be selectively closed by the installation of cover plates (52, 54). With a cover plate removed, a drive coupler (32, 34, 58, 148) may be extended in the respective opening and mounted in operative connection with the gear box. In the mounted position of the drive coupler, an idler gear (72, 172) engages the ring gear of the gear box. Rotatable power devices such as pumps, motors and generators may be operatively rotatably engaged with the drive coupler.
Claims29
Apparatus comprising:
- a removable drive coupler, configured to operatively connect a gear box and at least one rotatable power device, wherein the at least one rotatable power device includes at least one of a motor, a generator, and a pump,
- a body,
- a rotatable ring gear within the body,
- a plurality of body openings angularly disposed on the body,
- wherein the ring gear is accessible through each of the plurality of body openings,
- wherein the body includes a mounting flange adjacent each of the body openings,
- wherein each mounting flange is configured to engage a removable cover plate, wherein the cover plate is configured to close the respective body opening,
- wherein the drive coupler includes
- a housing, wherein the housing includes
- a pair of releasably engageable housing pieces,
- a base portion that is releasably engageable with a mounting flange that is not currently engaged with a cover plate,
- a pair of idler support portions, wherein each idler support portion extends transverse to the base portion,
- wherein each housing piece includes a respective idler support portion,
- an idler shaft, wherein the idler shaft
- extends intermediate of the pair of idler support portions,
- is operatively engaged with each of the pair of idler support portions, and
- extends along an idler shaft axis,
- an idler gear, wherein the idler gear
- is rotatably mounted in operatively supported connection with the idler shaft and is rotatable about the idler shaft axis,
- extends intermediate of the idler support portions, and
- is configured to extend in an opening of the gear box and engage the ring gear when the base portion is operatively engaged with a respective mounting flange,
- a coupling gear, wherein the coupling gear is
- rotatably mounted in operatively supported connection with the housing, and
- in rotatable operative connection with the idler gear,
- a mounting face in operative connection with the housing,
- wherein the mounting face is configured to releasably engage external of the body, a rotatable power device, and
- wherein in the engaged position of the rotatable power device and the mounting face, the rotatable power device is in operative rotatable connection with the coupling gear.
24 more elements
Apparatus comprising:
- at least two removable drive couplers, each configured to operatively connect a gear box and at least one rotatable power device,
- wherein the gear box includes
- a body,
- at least one rotatable internal transmission gear within the body,
- a plurality of body openings angularly disposed on the body,
- wherein the at least one rotatable internal transmission gear is accessible through each of the plurality of body openings,
- wherein the body includes a mount adjacent each of the body openings,
- wherein each drive coupler includes
- a housing, wherein the housing includes
- a pair of releasably engageable housing pieces,
- a base portion that is releasably engageable with any mount that is not currently engaged with another drive coupler,
- a pair of idler support portions, wherein each idler support portion extends transverse to the base portion,
- wherein each housing piece includes a respective idler support portion,
- an idler shaft,
- wherein the idler shaft
- extends intermediate of the pair of idler support portions,
- is operatively engaged with each of the pair of idler support portions, and
- extends along an idler shaft axis,
- an idler gear, wherein the idler gear
- is rotatably mounted in operatively supported connection with the idler shaft and is rotatable about the idler shaft axis,
- extends intermediate of the idler support portions, and
- is configured to extend in an opening of the gear box and engage the at least one rotatable internal transmission gear when the base portion is operatively engaged with a respective mount,
- a coupling gear,
- wherein the coupling gear is rotatably mounted in operatively supported connection with the housing, wherein the coupling gear is in rotatable operative connection with the idler gear,
- a mounting face in operative connection with the housing,
- wherein the mounting face is configured to releasably engage external of the body, a respective rotatable power device, wherein in the engaged position of the rotatable power device and the mounting face, the rotatable power device is in operative rotatable connection with the coupling gear and the at least one internal transmission gear.
23 more elements
Apparatus comprising:
- a removable drive coupler configured to operatively connect a gear box and at least one rotatable power device, wherein the at least one rotatable power device includes at least one of a motor, a generator, and a pump,
- wherein the gear box includes
- a body,
- a rotatable ring gear within the body,
- a plurality of body openings angularly disposed on the body,
- wherein the ring gear is accessible through each of the plurality of body openings,
- wherein the body includes a respective mounting flange adjacent to each of the respective body openings,
- wherein each mounting flange is configured to engage a respective removable cover plate, wherein the cover plate is configured to close the respective body opening,
- wherein the drive coupler includes
- a housing,
- wherein the housing includes
- a base portion that is releasably engageable with a mounting flange that is not currently engaged with a cover plate,
- a pair of disposed idler support portions, wherein each idler support portion extends transverse of the base portion,
- an idler shaft,
- wherein the idler shaft
- extends along an idler shaft axis, and
- is operatively engaged with each of the idler support portions,
- an idler gear,
- wherein the idler gear
- is in operatively supported connection with the housing,
- is rotatable about the idler shaft axis,
- extends intermediate of the idler support portions, and
- is configured to extend in an opening of the gear box and engage the ring gear when the base portion is operatively engaged with a respective mounting flange,
- wherein each idler support portion is configured such that the idler shaft is operatively engageable with each idler support portion in different locations, whereby idler gears having different diameters may be included in the drive coupler,
- a coupling gear,
- wherein the coupling gear is rotatably mounted in operatively supported connection with the housing, wherein the coupling gear is in rotatable operative connection with the idler gear,
- a mounting face in operative connection with the housing,
- wherein the mounting face is configured to releasably engage external of the body, a rotatable power device, wherein in the engaged position of the rotatable power device and the mounting face, the rotatable power device is in operative connection with the coupling gear.
25 more elements
Apparatus comprising:
- at least two removable drive couplers, wherein each drive coupler is in operative connection with a gear box, wherein each drive coupler is configured to operatively connect to a respective at least one rotatable power device,
- wherein the gear box includes
- a body, wherein the body bounds a body interior area,
- one rotatable internal transmission gear, wherein the internal transmission gear is fully housed within the body interior area,
- more than two body openings, wherein each body opening is angularly disposed on the body from every other body opening,
- wherein each body opening extends through the body to the body interior area,
- wherein the internal transmission gear is accessible through each of the body openings,
- wherein the body includes adjacent to each respective body opening, a respective mounting surface, wherein the respective mounting surface extends in surrounding relation of the respective body opening,
- wherein each drive coupler includes
- a housing, wherein the housing includes
- a pair of releasably engageable housing pieces,
- a base portion that is releasably operatively engageable with any mounting surface that is not currently engaged with another drive coupler,
- a pair of idler support portions, wherein each idler support portion extends transverse to the base portion,
- wherein each housing piece includes a respective idler support portion,
- an idler shaft,
- wherein the idler shaft
- extends intermediate of the pair of idler support portions,
- is operatively engaged with each of the pair of idler support portions, and
- extends along an idler shaft axis,
- an idler gear, wherein the idler gear
- is rotatably mounted in operatively supported connection with the idler shaft and is rotatable about the idler shaft axis,
- extends intermediate of the idler support portions, and
- is configured to extend in a body opening of the gear box and engage the rotatable internal transmission gear within the body interior area when the base portion is operatively engaged with the respective mounting surface,
- a coupling gear,
- wherein the coupling gear is rotatably mounted in operatively supported connection with the housing, wherein the coupling gear is in rotatable operative connection with the idler gear,
- a mounting face,
- wherein the mounting face
- is in operative connection with the housing, and
- is configured to releasably engage external of the body, a respective rotatable power device,
- whereby in the engaged position of the rotatable power device and the mounting face, and with the base portion of the respective drive coupler in operative engagement with a respective mounting surface, the rotatable power device is in operative rotatable connection with the coupling gear and the internal transmission gear.
27 more elements
Apparatus comprising:
- a drive coupler, wherein the drive coupler is in releasable operative connection with a gear box, wherein the drive coupler is configured to operatively connect the gear box and at least one rotatable power device located outside the gear box, wherein the at least one rotatable power device includes at least one of a motor, a generator, and a pump,
- wherein the gear box includes
- a body,
- one rotatable ring gear that is housed fully within the body,
- wherein the body includes a plurality of body openings, wherein
- each body opening is angularly disposed from each of the other body openings on the body,
- wherein the ring gear is accessible through each of the plurality of body openings,
- wherein the body includes a plurality of external mounting flanges, wherein one respective external mounting flange extends adjacent to one respective body opening,
- wherein each mounting flange when not engaged with a respective drive coupler, is configured to engage a respective removable cover plate, wherein the cover plate is configured to close the respective body opening,
- wherein the drive coupler includes
- a housing, wherein the housing includes
- a pair of releasably engageable housing pieces,
- a base portion, wherein the base portion is releasably engageable with any respective mounting flange that is not currently engaged with another drive coupler or cover plate,
- a pair of idler support portions, wherein each idler support portion extends transverse to the base portion,
- wherein each housing piece includes a respective idler support portion,
- an idler shaft,
- wherein the idler shaft
- extends intermediate of the pair of idler support portions,
- is operatively engaged with each of the pair of idler support portions, and
- extends along an idler shaft axis,
- an idler gear, wherein the idler gear
- is rotatably mounted in operatively supported connection with the idler shaft and is rotatable about the idler shaft axis,
- extends intermediate of the idler support portions, and
- is configured to extend in a respective body opening of the gear box and engage the ring gear within the body when the base portion of the drive coupler is operatively engaged with the respective mounting flange,
- a coupling gear,
- wherein the coupling gear is rotatably mounted in operatively supported connection with the housing, wherein the coupling gear is in rotatable operative connection with the idler gear,
- a mounting face,
- wherein the mounting face is in operative connection with the housing,
- wherein the mounting face is configured to releasably engage external of the body, a respective rotatable power device,
- whereby in the engaged position of the respective rotatable power device and the mounting face, the rotatable power device is in operative rotatable connection with the ring gear.
27 more elements
Apparatus comprising:
- at least two removable drive couplers, wherein each drive coupler is in operative connection with a gear box, wherein each drive coupler is configured to operatively connect to a respective at least one rotatable power device,
- wherein the gear box includes
- a body, wherein the body bounds a body interior area,
- one rotatable internal transmission gear, wherein the internal transmission gear is fully housed within the body interior area,
- at least five body openings, wherein each body opening is angularly disposed on the body from every other body opening,
- wherein each body opening extends through the body to the body interior area,
- wherein the internal transmission gear is accessible through each of the body openings,
- wherein the body includes adjacent to each respective body opening, a respective mounting surface, wherein the respective mounting surface extends in surrounding relation of the respective body opening,
- wherein each drive coupler includes
- a housing,
- wherein the housing includes a base portion that is releasably operatively engageable with any mounting surface that is not currently engaged with another drive coupler or closed by a cover plate,
- an idler gear,
- wherein the idler gear is rotatably mounted in operatively supported connection with the housing and is configured to extend in a body opening of the gear box and engage the rotatable internal transmission gear within the body interior area when the base portion is operatively engaged with the respective mounting surface,
- a coupling gear,
- wherein the coupling gear is rotatably mounted in operatively supported connection with the housing, wherein the coupling gear is in rotatable operative connection with the idler gear,
- a mounting face,
- wherein the mounting face
- is in operative connection with the housing, and
- is configured to releasably engage external of the body, a respective rotatable power device,
- whereby in the engaged position of the rotatable power device and the mounting face, and with the base portion of the respective drive coupler in operative engagement with a respective mounting surface, the rotatable power device is in operative rotatable connection with the coupling gear and the internal transmission gear,
- and wherein at least one body opening is unoccupied by a respective drive coupler,
- wherein a respective unoccupied body opening is closed by engagement of the respective mounting surface of the unoccupied body opening with a respective cover plate.
19 more elements
Apparatus comprising:
- a removable drive coupler, configured to operatively connect a gear box and at least one rotatable power device, wherein the at least one rotatable power device includes at least one of a motor, a generator and a pump,
- wherein the gear box includes
- a body,
- a rotatable ring gear within the body,
- a plurality of body openings angularly disposed on the body,
- wherein the ring gear is directly engageably accessible through each one of the plurality of body openings,
- wherein the body includes a plurality of mounting flanges, wherein each respective mounting flange extends adjacent to a respective one of the body openings,
- at least one removable cover plate, wherein each cover plate is configured to close any respective one of the plurality of body openings, and
- wherein each mounting flange is configured to releasably engage one respective removable cover plate,
- wherein the drive coupler includes
- a housing, wherein the housing includes
- a pair of releasable housing pieces,
- a base portion that is releasably engageable with any mounting flange of the plurality of mounting flanges that is not currently engaged with a cover plate,
- a pair of idler support portions, wherein each idler support portion extends transverse to the base portion,
- wherein each housing piece includes a respective idler support portion,
- an idler shaft,
- wherein the idler shaft
- extends intermediate of the pair of idler support portions,
- is operatively engaged with each of the pair of idler support portions, and
- extends along an idler shaft axis,
- an idler gear, wherein the idler gear
- is rotatably mounted in operatively supported connection with the idler shaft and is rotatable about the idler shaft axis,
- extends intermediate of the idler support portions, and
- is configured to extend in an opening of the gear box and directly engage the ring gear when the base portion is operatively engaged with any respective mounting flange,
- a coupling gear,
- wherein the coupling gear is rotatably mounted in operatively supported connection with the housing, wherein the coupling gear is in rotatable operative connection with the idler gear,
- a mounting face in operative connection with the housing,
- wherein the mounting face is configured to releasably engage external of the body, a rotatable power device, wherein in the engaged position of the rotatable power device and the mounting face, the rotatable power device is in operative rotatable connection with the coupling gear.
25 more elements
Apparatus comprising:
- a drive coupler, wherein the drive coupler is in releasable operative connection with a gear box, wherein the drive coupler is configured to operatively connect the gear box and at least one rotatable power device located outside the gear box, wherein the at least one rotatable power device includes at least one of a motor, a generator, and a pump,
- wherein the gear box includes
- a body,
- one rotatable ring gear that is housed fully within the body,
- wherein the body includes a plurality of body openings, wherein each body opening is angularly disposed from each of the other body openings on the body,
- wherein the ring gear is accessible through each of the plurality of body openings,
- wherein the body includes a plurality of external mounting flanges, wherein one respective external mounting flange extends adjacent to one respective body opening,
- wherein each mounting flange when not engaged with a respective drive coupler, is configured to engage a respective removable cover plate, wherein the cover plate is configured to close the respective body opening,
- wherein the drive coupler includes
- a housing, wherein the housing includes
- a base portion, wherein the base portion is releasably engageable with any respective mounting flange that is not currently engaged with another drive coupler or cover plate,
- a pair of disposed idler support portions, wherein each idler support portion extends transverse to and outward away from the base portion,
- an idler gear, wherein the idler gear
- is rotatably mounted in operatively supported connection with each of the idler support portions, and
- is configured to extend in a respective body opening of the gearbox and engage the ring gear within the body when the base portion of the drive coupler is operatively engaged with the respective mounting flange,
- wherein each idler support portion is configured such that the idler gear is operatively engageable with each idler support portion in different locations, whereby idler gears having different diameters may be included in the drive coupler,
- a coupling gear, wherein the coupling gear is
- rotatably mounted in operatively supported connection with the housing, and
- in rotatable operative connection with the idler gear,
- a mounting face,
- wherein the mounting face is in operative connection with the housing,
- wherein the mounting face is configured to releasably engage external of the body, a respective rotatable power device,
- whereby in the engaged position of the respective rotatable power device and the mounting face, the rotatable power device is in operative rotatable connection with the ring gear.
20 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.