Gear wheels roll formed from powder metal blanks
AssigneeFormflo Limited
InventorChristopher John Cole
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Abstract
A method is disclosed for the manufacture of gear wheels having two axially adjacent gears (4,6) thereon. A blank is prepared with the two gears crudely formed thereon by compressing and sintering a shaped mass of substantially metal powder. The blank is then mounted for rotation about a first axis, and the gears are roll-formed on the blank by rotating the blank in meshing engagement with respective dies (10,12) mounted for rotation about second and third axes substantially parallel to the first axis.
Claims12
A method of manufacturing a wheel having two different and distinct axially adjacent gears formed thereon, which method comprises:
- a) preparing a blank with the gears crudely formed thereon by compressing and sintering a shaped mass of substantially metal power;
- b) mounting the blank for rotation about a first axis, and
- c) roll forming the gears on the blank by rotating the blank in meshing engagement with respective dies mounted for rotation about second and third axes substantially parallel to the first axis.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein second and third axes are on opposite sides of the first axis.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein each die is advanced into loose mesh with its respective gear form prior to commencement of the roll forming process.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein one of the gears is a helical gear and the other a spur gear.
A gear wheel having two axially adjacent gears formed thereon wherein the wheel is a unitary body consisting of a compressed and sintered mass of substantially metal powder, with both gears roll formed thereon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.