Abstract: A worm drive has a worm and a worm wheel. Meshing assemblies are formed about the worm wheel each comprising a ball and a cup receiving a portion of the ball. Each cup is orientated at an acute angle toward the worm drive relative to a periphery of the wheel. The worm presents a concavely tapering side profile complementing a peripheral portion of the worm wheel. Consequently portions of the balls mesh with the worm and are free to rotate and so reduce shear forces between the worm and the worm wheel in use.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 8, 2016
Date of Patent:
March 24, 2020
Assignee:
Nord-Lock Australia Pty Ltd
Inventors:
Peter Elliot Armstong, Andrew Duncan McPhee