LOAD SHARING GEAR FOR HIGH TORQUE, SPLIT-PATH TRANSMISSIONS

摘要

A gear adapted to provide load sharing in a torque split transmission module wherein at least one spring element is disposed in combination with a torque driving shaft at one end thereof and in combination with a ring of torque transmitting gear teeth at the other end thereof. The spring element is radially stiff to center the ring of gear teeth about the shaft and is torsionally soft to permit relative rotational displacement between the gear teeth and the shaft. The spring element is substantially disc shaped and includes a plurality of recurved radial spokes. More specifically, the spokes project radially outboard from a first mounting ring, define a 180 degree bend proximal to the gear teeth, and extend inwardly toward a second mounting ring. A pair of spring elements may be used wherein the first mounting ring of each spring element connects to shaft flange and the second mounting ring mounts to an inboard end of a radial flange of the gear teeth. Furthermore, each of the pair of spring elements is disposed on either side of the radial flange to balance the spring force about a medial plane defined by the ring of gear teeth. A manufacturing method for fabricating the spring element is also disclosed.