US 12,689,263 B2Granted

Systems and methods for gearbox and geardrive assemblies

AssigneeRegal Beloit America, Inc.

InventorShivakumar Chougule

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Abstract

A gearmotor assembly comprises a stepper motor, a reduction gearbox, and a torque limiter. The stepper motor is configured to receive input power to selectively rotate a motor shaft about a motor axis. The reduction gearbox includes a reduction gear assembly, a motor shaft coupling configured to operably couple the motor shaft and the reduction gear assembly, and a gearbox coupling operably coupled to the reduction gear assembly and having a gearbox coupling axis. The torque limiter is positioned to operably couple the stepper motor, the reduction gear assembly, and the gearbox coupling when a relative net torque between the stepper motor, the reduction gear assembly, and the gearbox coupling is below a maximum torque and to operably decouple the stepper motor, the reduction gear assembly, and the gearbox coupling when the relative net torque is at or above the maximum torque.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A gearbox assembly, comprising:

a gearbox including:
a worm housing;
and
a cover configured to engage with the worm housing to define a housing interior between the worm housing and the cover;
a worm shaft located at least partially within the housing interior;
a worm gear located within the housing interior and operably engaged with the worm shaft, the worm gear having a central bore, a first axial face, and a second axial face;
a gearbox shaft that extends along a gearbox shaft axis;
a torque limiter positioned between central bore of the worm gear and the gearbox shaft to inhibit relative rotation between the worm gear and the gearbox shaft when a relative torque between the worm gear and the gearbox shaft about the gearbox shaft axis is below a maximum torque and to permit relative rotation between the worm gear and the gearbox shaft when the relative torque between the worm gear and the gearbox shaft about the gearbox shaft axis is at or above the maximum torque;
a first bearing operably engaged with the gearbox shaft at a first axial position along the gearbox shaft axis;
a second bearing operably engaged with the gearbox shaft at a second axial position along the gearbox shaft axis;
a first spacer adjacent to the first axial face of the worm gear;
and
a second spacer adjacent to the second axial face of the worm gear;
wherein the gearbox shaft includes multiple axial segments and an axial rim face defined by the gearbox shaft between adjacent segments of the multiple axial segments;
wherein the first spacer is between the axial rim face and the first axial face of the worm gear;
wherein the second spacer is between the second bearing and the second axil face of the worm gear;
and
wherein the torque limiter, the first bearing, and the second bearing are engaged with a respective axial segment of the multiple axial segments.

15 more elements

A gearbox assembly, comprising:

a gearbox including:
a worm housing;
and
a cover configured to engage with the worm housing to define a housing interior between the worm housing and the cover;
a worm shaft located at least partially within the housing interior;
a worm gear located within the housing interior and operably engaged with the worm shaft, the worm gear having a central bore;
a gearbox shaft that extends along a gearbox shaft axis;
a torque limiter positioned between central bore of the worm gear and the gearbox shaft to inhibit relative rotation between the worm gear and the gearbox shaft when a relative torque between the worm gear and the gearbox shaft about the gearbox shaft axis is below a maximum torque and to permit relative rotation between the worm gear and the gearbox shaft when the relative torque between the worm gear and the gearbox shaft about the gearbox shaft axis is at or above the maximum torque;
a first bearing operably engaged with the gearbox shaft at a first axial position along the gearbox shaft axis;
and
a second bearing operably engaged with the gearbox shaft at a second axial position along the gearbox shaft axis;
wherein the gearbox shaft includes multiple axial segments;
wherein the torque limiter, the first bearing, and the second bearing are engaged with a respective axial segment of the multiple axial segments;
and
wherein the multiple axial segments of the gearbox shaft further comprising:
a first axial segment that defines a first diameter;
a second axial segment adjacent to the first axial segment that defines a second diameter;
a third axial segment adjacent to the second axial segment that defines a third diameter, the third diameter is greater than the first diameter;
a fourth axial segment adjacent to the third axial segment that defines a fourth diameter, the fourth diameter is approximately the same diameter as the first diameter;
a fifth axial segment adjacent to the fourth axial segment that defines a fifth diameter, the fifth diameter is approximately the same diameter as the third diameter;
and
a sixth axial segment adjacent to the fifth axial segment that defines a sixth diameter, the sixth diameter is approximately the same diameter as the first diameter.

19 more elements

A gearbox assembly, comprising:

a gearbox including:
a worm housing;
and
a cover configured to engage with the worm housing to define a housing interior between the worm housing and the cover;
a worm shaft located at least partially within the housing interior;
a worm gear located within the housing interior and operably engaged with the worm shaft, the worm gear having a central bore;
a gearbox shaft that extends along a gearbox shaft axis;
a torque limiter positioned between central bore of the worm gear and the gearbox shaft to inhibit relative rotation between the worm gear and the gearbox shaft when a relative torque between the worm gear and the gearbox shaft about the gearbox shaft axis is below a maximum torque and to permit relative rotation between the worm gear and the gearbox shaft when the relative torque between the worm gear and the gearbox shaft about the gearbox shaft axis is at or above the maximum torque;
a first bearing operably engaged with the gearbox shaft at a first axial position along the gearbox shaft axis;
and
a second bearing operably engaged with the gearbox shaft at a second axial position along the gearbox shaft axis;
wherein the gearbox shaft includes multiple axial segments;
wherein the torque limiter, the first bearing, and the second bearing are engaged with a respective axial segment of the multiple axial segments;
and
wherein the central bore of the worm gear defines multiple grooves in an inner surface of the central bore.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.