US 8,887,592 B2 · Spherical involute gear coupling

Abstract

Disclosed herein are several embodiments of rotors (gears) which utilize spherical involute curves to determine the surfaces of the lobes (teeth). In some embodiments the contact surfaces are radial projections of spherical involute surfaces. In other embodiments the contact surfaces have a root and/or tip of a spherical involute curve, but are barreled or otherwise curved to reduce the point stress on each rotor. The rotors may also be configured where torque transfer is provided at a first set of lobes (teeth) and backlash removal is provided on teeth radially opposed to the first set of lobes (teeth). As the apparatus rotates, the position of torque transfer remains substantially the same, as does backlash prevention/removal, but the teeth providing these operations vary. The rotors may also be used for fluid flow.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A spherical involute gear coupling comprising:

a. a first gear having a first axis of rotation and a second gear having a second axis of rotation,
b. the first gear and the second gear each comprising a plurality of teeth,
i. the teeth having engagement surfaces configured to engage contact surfaces on teeth of the opposing gear, and wherein
ii. the engagement surfaces comprise spherical involute curves,
c. wherein a first set of teeth on the first gear, and a first set of teeth on the second gear contact on a first circumferential side of the first sets of teeth for torque transfer;
d. wherein a second set of teeth on the first gear, and a second set of teeth on the second gear contact a second circumferential side of the second sets of teeth upon reversal of the gear coupling for backlash prevention;
and
e. wherein the first sets of teeth are radially opposed to the second sets of teeth.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Spherical involute gear coupling

Life of this patent

Spherical involute gear coupling

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19