摘要 |
A method and apparatus for eliminating end thrust and consequently the need for thrust bearings in a helical drive arrangement is disclosed. According to this invention, a helical gear and a spur gear having the same pitch diameter and center of rotation are securely attached to each other and mounted to a shaft. This helical-gear spur-gear combination is meshed with a second similar helical-gear spur-gear combination supported on a parallel shaft. During operation the axial forces normally created by a helical gear drive are contained as the teeth of the two spur gears contact each other. Thus the need for end thrust bearings is eliminated.
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