Speed reducer and housing therefor

A gear speed reducer comprising a gear train, a plurality of power transmission shafts associated with said gear train;

• a housing body having walls defining a chamber containing said gear train and shafts, said walls having openings therein through which the shafts extend, said housing body also having two further openings communicating with said chamber other than any of the shaft openings, said further openings being defined respectively by opposing ends of said walls and in parallel planes normal to said walls, said further openings having respective areas substantially equal to the cross sectional area of said chamber taken in a plane normal to said walls, each of said opposing ends of the walls providing a sealable interface for said body about one of said further openings;
• a first end member for mounting said reducer, said first end member having a mounting plate and an interfacial portion complementing both of the sealable body interfaces and being removably attached to said body on one of the interfaces, forming an oiltight seal thereat and closing the end of the body associated therewith;
• and a second end member having an interfacial portion complementing both of the sealable body interfaces and being removably attached to said body on the other of the interfaces, forming an oiltight seal thereat and closing the end of the body associated therewith, whereby assembly of the gear train within the chamber is facilitated and the size of said housing body can be minimized for a given distance between said shafts independently of the mounting dimensions and thermal rating of the gear speed reducer.