Modular flexplate
AssigneeAccel Performance Group LLC
InventorRoss Alan McCombs
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments include a modular flex plate assembly with a plurality of modular segments connectable with at least another modular segment by joining a first end of one modular segment to a second end of another modular segment to form a ring gear. The ring gear can be mounted to a substrate and mounted or fastened to a component of an engine or a transmission system. A plurality of securing devices can cooperatively engage the ring gear to a substrate, such that the gear teeth of the ring gear align with the perimeter edge of the substrate.
Claims19
A modular flexplate assembly, comprising:
- a disc-shaped substrate having
- a center,
- a first perimeter edge,
- a first surface, and
- a second surface opposite to the first surface substantially uniformly parallel to the first surface;
- a plurality of modular segments, each modular segment having
- an outer edge having an arcuate shape,
- an inner edge opposite to the outer edge, the inner edge having an arcuate shape,
- a first end, and
- a second end, and
- a plurality of segment teeth disposed on the outer edge of the modular segment,
- each modular segment connectable with at least another modular segment by joining the first end of one modular segment to the second end of another modular segment to form a ring gear, the circumference of the dedendum circle of said ring gear being substantially the same as the circumference of the first perimeter edge of the disc-shaped substrate;
- and
- a plurality of unthreaded cylindrical securing devices adapted to cooperatively engage the ring gear to the first surface of the substrate such that the gear teeth of the ring gear align with the perimeter edge of the substrate.
A modular flex plate assembly, comprising:
- a plurality of modular segments, each modular segment having
- an outer edge having an arcuate shape,
- an inner edge opposite to the outer edge, the inner edge having an arcuate shape,
- a first end,
- a second end,
- a first and second surface each adjoining the outer edge and the inner edge, and
- a plurality of segment teeth disposed on the outer edge of the modular segment,
- each modular segment connectable with at least another modular segment by joining the first end of one modular segment to the second end of another modular segment to form a ring gear;
- and
- a plurality of securing devices adapted to cooperatively engage the ring gear to a substrate, such that the gear teeth of the ring gear align with a perimeter edge of the substrate.
A method of assembling a modular flexplate assembly, comprising:
- providing a modular flexplate assembly, comprising
- a disc-shaped substrate having
- a center,
- a perimeter edge,
- a first surface, and
- a second surface opposite to the first surface,
- a plurality of modular segments, each modular segment having
- an outer edge having an arcuate shape,
- an inner edge opposite to the outer edge, the inner edge having an arcuate shape,
- a first end,
- a second end, and
- a plurality of segment teeth disposed on the outer edge of the modular segment, and
- a plurality of securing devices;
- connecting each modular segment with at least one adjacent modular segment by joining the first end of one modular segment to the second end of the adjacent modular segment to form a ring gear;
- attaching each ring gear with the substrate such that the gear teeth of the ring gear align with the perimeter edge of the substrate;
- and
- cooperatively engaging the first surface of substrate with the ring gear using the plurality of cylindrical securing devices.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.