Press fit bearing shoulder on gear shafts
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorsRussell L. Mueller, Charles H. Speller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are described for shoulders that can be implemented on shafts in gear systems, such as a drive train. The shoulders, in combination with other components like bearings, or nuts, can help restrict movement of the shaft within the drive train. Use of the shoulders in various embodiments can avoid the need for grind reliefs in corners. Grind reliefs can help in prior art systems where machining or grinding is used at surfaces where raceways of bearings border shoulders that are integrated with the shaft. Grind reliefs create tight spaces where edge breaks are difficult to create. Press-fit shoulders, such as described herein, allow machining and edge break creation on the shaft prior to installation of the shoulder.
Claims18
A gear system, comprising:
- a shaft comprising a gear, the shaft comprising, on each side of the gear;
- a first region with a first radius;
- a second region with a second radius larger than the first radius, the second region coupled to the first region by a first slope;
- a third region with a third radius larger than the second radius, the third region coupled to the second region by a second slope;
- wherein the third region is closest to the gear;
- a shoulder coupled to each second region, each shoulder pressed onto the shaft and configured to have an interference fit with the second region, and further configured to be stopped by the second slope;
- and
- a bearing coupled about the shaft at each first region;
- wherein each shoulder is configured to restrain movement of the shaft within a drive train.
A method of building a gear system, comprising:
- providing a shaft comprising a gear, the shaft extending from each side of the gear, the shaft and the gear being monolithic with one another, wherein the shaft comprises, on each side of the gear;
- (a) a first region with a first radius;
- (b) a second region with a second radius larger than the first radius, the second region coupled to the first region by a first slope;
- and
- (c) a third region with a third radius larger than the second radius, the third region coupled to the second region by a second slope, wherein the third region is closest to the gear;
- and
- pressing one or more shoulders onto the shaft, the one or more shoulders configured to have an interference fit with the shaft.
A method of operating a gear system, comprising:
- driving, with a power source, a shaft within the gear system, the shaft comprising a gear and having one or more shoulders pressed onto it, wherein the shaft extends beyond each side of the gear, wherein the shaft comprises, on each side of the gear;
- (a) a first region with a first radius;
- (b) a second region with a second radius larger than the first radius, the second region coupled to the first region by a first slope;
- and
- (c) a third region with a third radius larger than the second radius, the third region coupled to the second region by a second slope, wherein the third region is closest to the gear;
- and
- transferring power from the gear to another component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.