US 4,226,136 AGranted

Gear drive assembly

AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.

InventorsTroy L. Porter, Rudolph J. Belansky

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Abstract

A compact drive assembly has a skew axis input gear set and a parallel axis output gear set. The input gear set includes a pinion having at least one helical thread thereon which drivingly engages a face gear. The face gear of the input gear set and the spur gear of the output gear set are integrally molded of a suitable plastic material forming a cluster gear. The output gear of the output gear set has a tooth configuration which is compatible with that of the spur gear which drives it. The gear assembly is particularly adapted for use in a power operated automobile window actuator and has the following advantages over existing actuators: (a) 50% reduction in size and weight, (b) capable of performing much higher input/output reductions despite decreased size, (c) needs no brake since the assembly is self-locking, (d) can be used with a smaller high speed motor which is less expensive.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A compact gear drive assembly for use in a window actuator or the like comprising two gear sets, a skew axis input gear set and a parallel axis output gear set;

said input gear set including a drive pinion and a face gear;
said output gear set including a spur gear and an output gear;
the face gear of the input gear set and the spur gear of the output gear set being coaxial and forming a cluster gear;
said face gear having a base plane out of which gear teeth project;
the spur gear having radially projecting teeth which extend longitudinally out of the base plane of said face gear a predetermined distance thereby overlapping the teeth of said face gear;
the drive pinion having a diameter which is less than said predetermined distance;
the output gear having radially projecting teeth which are designed to mesh with and be driven by the teeth of said spur gear, said output gear having a thickness which is also less than said predetermined distance such that the gear drive assembly has a generally flat, compact configuration.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.