Slew drive with integrated reducer assembly
AssigneeKinematics, LLC
InventorsKenneth D. Miller, Adam P. Plesniak, Kyle Zech, Mark Henderson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A slew drive comprises a worm gear which is integrated with a reducer assembly. One end of the worm gear operates as a carrier which engages a plurality of planetary gears which are part of the reducer assembly. The carrier may be a separate component that is coupled with the worm gear. Alternatively, one end of the worm gear can be machined to operate as the carrier. The carrier engages a plurality of planetary gears via a plurality of holes.
Claims14
A slew drive, comprising:
- (a) a housing;
- (b) a worm wheel comprising worm-wheel teeth, wherein the worm wheel is rotatably secured within the housing and operative to rotate around a first axis;
- (c) a worm gear comprising a first distal end, a second distal end, and a central segment disposed between the first distal end and the second distal end, wherein the central segment comprises a worm-gear thread, wherein the worm gear is rotatably secured within the housing and operative to rotate around a second axis, wherein the first distal end comprises a plurality of holes whose axes are coaxial with the second axis;
- and
- (d) a reducer assembly comprising a plurality of reducer subassemblies, wherein one of the plurality of reducer subassemblies is in direct contact with the worm gear, via the plurality of holes.
A worm gear in combination with a slew drive, wherein the slew drive comprises a housing, a worm wheel, and a reducer assembly, wherein the worm wheel comprises worm-wheel teeth and wherein the reducer assembly comprises a plurality of reducer subassemblies, wherein the worm gear comprises:
- a first distal end, a second distal end, and a central segment disposed between the first distal end and the second distal end, wherein the central segment comprises a worm-gear thread, wherein the first distal end comprises a plurality of holes whose axes are coaxial with an axis along the worm gear, and wherein the worm gear operates to make direct contact with one of the plurality of reducer subassemblies, via the plurality of holes.
A method of driving a slew drive, wherein the slew drive comprises:
- (a) a housing;
- (b) a worm wheel comprising worm-wheel teeth, wherein the worm wheel is rotatably secured within the housing and operative to rotate around a first axis;
- (c) a worm gear comprising a first distal end, a second distal end, and a central segment disposed between the first distal end and the second distal end, wherein the central segment comprises a worm-gear thread, wherein the worm gear is rotatably secured within the housing and operative to rotate around a second axis, wherein the first distal end comprises a plurality of holes whose axes are coaxial with the second axis;
- and
- (d) a reducer assembly comprising a plurality of reducer subassemblies;
- the method comprising directly connecting one of the plurality of reducer subassemblies with the worm gear, via the plurality of holes.
A reducer assembly comprising a plurality of reducer subassemblies, wherein one of the plurality of reducer subassemblies is in direct contact with a gear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.