Gear assembly having noise-reduction structure and power take-off unit therewith

Abstract

A meshing gear assembly includes a toothed disk that is supported on a first gear so as to be frictionally engaged therewith, but rotationally and radially movable relative thereto. The circumferential width of each tooth formed on the toothed disk is preferably larger than the circumferential width of each tooth formed on the first gear, and the outer diameter of the toothed disk can be larger than the outer diameter of the first gear. The first gear and the toothed disk mesh with a second gear such that as the second gear rotates, the toothed disk and the first gear also rotate. However, the toothed disk and the first gear rotate at different speeds because the difference in the number of teeth formed thereon. Because the teeth formed on the toothed disk have a larger circumferential thickness and a larger outer diameter than the teeth formed on the first gear, a tight meshing engagement with the second gear is provided. This tight meshing engagement, in combination with the frictional engagement of the toothed disk with the first gear, takes up backlash between the first gear and the second gear.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.