DISENGAGING GEAR UNIT

摘要

Reduction gear units are provided comprising a gearbox, a cam assembly, a bearing assembly, a first gear and a second gear. The first and second gears may engage one another and translate rotating movement from one axis to an axis perpendicular thereto. The second gear is disengagable from the first gear by action of the cam assembly, which is adapted to disengage the second gear from the first gear through eccentric rotation of the cam assembly. In one embodiment, a bearing assembly carried by the cam assembly is preloaded. The cam assembly is disposed so that the preloaded can be maintained during manufacture of the gearbox. In another embodiment, the gearbox case and cam assembly are disposed so as to minimize internal leakage from the case and enhance sealing of the gearbox.

主权项

1. A gearset comprising:
a gearbox; a cam assembly comprised of
a first cam body having an outer surface disposed around a first cam axis and an inner bore disposed around a second cam axis, wherein the first and second cam axii are axially offset from one another, wherein a portion of said inner bore is threaded so as to form a threaded inner bore;a second cam body having an outer surface disposed around the first cam axis and an inner bore disposed around the second cam axis, and a crossbar joining said first and second cam bodies;a bearing assembly disposed within said threaded inner bore of said cam assembly;a threaded fastener engaging said threaded bore and abutting said bearing assembly so as to secure said bearing assembly within said first cam body;a first gear within the gearbox mounted on a first shaft, said shaft defined along a first axis; a second gear within the gearbox and mounted on a second shaft, said second shaft defined along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis of the first shaft, said second shaft supported by said bearing assembly so that the second axis of the second gear and the second cam axis are co-axial, wherein said cam assembly is rotatably movable from a first position to a second position wherein said second gear engages said first gear when said cam assembly is in the first position and wherein said second gear and first gear are disengaged when said cam assembly is in the second position.