Gear Noise Reduction in Opposed-Piston Engines

摘要

A quiet-running, multi-layer gear assembly includes a compliant center member sandwiched between a pair of stiff outer members. The compliant center member has an outer peripheral surface with gear teeth. Each of the outer members has an outer peripheral surface with gear teeth disposed in a respective directed axial thrust pattern. The center and outer members are joined on a central hub with their outer peripheral surfaces aligned so as to form a gear assembly with low or no net axial thrust. In some aspects, the compliant center member and the hub include cooperating anti-turn constructions.

主权项

1. A gear assembly, comprising:
a center member of compliant material and including an outer peripheral surface with a plurality of teeth formed thereon; a pair of outer members of stiff material, each outer member including an outer peripheral surface with a plurality of teeth formed thereon and disposed in a respective directed axial thrust pattern; and, a hub; in which the outer members are secured together on the hub with the center member disposed therebetween.