Plural Prime Movers Selectively Coupled To Common Output Patents (Class 74/661)
  • Patent number: 4274302
    Abstract: A gear reduction apparatus includes a housing having first and second input shafts rotatably mounted therein and first and second flywheels mounted on the first and second input shafts respectively. Each input shaft is adapted to be connected to a power source and includes a toothed gear portion in mesh with a toothed gear portion of an output power mechanism which is thereby rotated at a lower angular velocity than the input shafts. The output power means may include a planetary gear system for further speed reduction prior to connection to a driven member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1981
    Assignee: Power Engineering and Manufacturing, Ltd.
    Inventor: Saul Herscovici
  • Patent number: 4274522
    Abstract: A low speed adaptor for use in a sewing machine driven by a main motor, particularly to one which employs a main transmission belt and an auxiliary transmission belt to change the speed of the sewing machine from high to low. This main transmission belt passes over the belt pulley of the main motor, then over the transmission belt pulley of the adaptor, and then over the belt pulley of the sewing machine; while, the auxiliary transmission belt passes over the belt pulley of the auxiliary motor and over the belt pulley of the adaptor body. The adaptor comprises an electromagnetic clutch and brake device capable of selectively switching the drive of the sewing machine from the main motor operating at high speed to the auxiliary motor operating at low speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1981
    Inventor: Cheu H. Min
  • Patent number: 4270408
    Abstract: A drive system for a multiple gas turbine engine system includes power output shafts from first and second gas turbine engines, each power shaft connected to drive a load and each engine including a load sharing cross-over shaft for power transfer from one of the engines to the other engine;a right angle gear box assembly connects each of the power output shafts to the cross-over shaft and each of the right angle gear box assemblies includes first and second load sharing gear paths including tooth geometry in an input bevel gear configured to produce a thrust reversal so that for normal direction torque transfer the input bevel gear thrust is in a direction to load mesh points in both gear paths and for a reversal of torque direction from input to output gears the input gear thrust is reversed so that the input gear will be directed into a tighter mesh to take out normal backlash in the system so that reverse meshed torque paths will be maintained in each of the first and second gear paths to maintain a shari
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1981
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas A. Wagner
  • Patent number: 4267738
    Abstract: A turning device preferably for turbine-machines is disclosed having a turning-gear pinion arranged on a cam so that the axes of rotation of the cam, the turning-gear pinion and the shaft to be turned are aligned in a central line. To turn the shaft, the turning-gear pinion is caused to engage a toothed ring of the shaft by a hydraulic piston acting on the cam. The turning-gear piston is then held in the engaged position by a spring-loaded pressure cylinder which engages a catch of the cam. When a certain speed has been reached, or when the shaft is turning backward, the spring loaded pressure cylinder becomes disengaged from the catch and the turning-gear pinion swings out sideways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1981
    Assignee: BBC Brown, Boveri & Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Alfred Hausermann
  • Patent number: 4266444
    Abstract: High-low speed rotary drive mechanism for rotatably driving driven elements of a tool, for example a hydraulic chuck, while permitting axial movement of the driven elements relative thereto, said mechanism including a housing, a tubular spindle rotatably mounted by the housing top and bottom walls, drive lugs joined to the spindle inner peripheral wall for driving the driven elements, an axially lower main drive gear fixed to the spindle to drive the spindle, a reversible hydraulic motor mounted on the housing for driving the main drive gear at high speed, low torque, an upper gear mounted on the spindle between the lower gear and the top wall for rotation relative the spindle, an elongated rack having teeth intermeshing with the upper gear for driving the upper gear at high torque, low speed, and a poppet type ratchet assembly mounted by the upper gear to rotate therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1981
    Assignee: Longyear Company
    Inventors: Ronald B. Anderson, Walter W. Svendsen, Gary H. Beckley, Clifford Caneer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4245712
    Abstract: Device for transmitting motion to the wheels of a vehicle having drive axles by means of two motors generating the driving power, one motor driving a speed reducing mechanism associated with each drive wheel of the vehicle and the other motor also driving one of the reduction mechanisms, the motors and mechanisms constituting jointly a kinematic chain disposed at the outer periphery of the frame of the vehicle for transmitting the torque to the drive wheels thereof. A member for driving one of the wheels is adapted to transmit the driving power from one input member of the mechanism to an output member of the same mechanism, both input and output members being driven from a separate transmission member, a brake of the driving member being provided for decelerating said wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1981
    Assignee: Regie Nationale des Usines Renault
    Inventor: Georges Itey-Bernard
  • Patent number: 4221317
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding yarn during a single stitch of a needle such that the mean rotational frequency of a yarn feeding drum connected to a first and second driving member is changed during the single stitch of the needle so as to regulate and control the feeding of the yarn and provide a maximum and minimum yarn length in the resulting stitch or selectively provide a yarn length between the maximum or minimum length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1980
    Assignee: Hiraoka Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Minoru Fukada, Zen Sakaguchi, Kenichi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 4215592
    Abstract: A drive system characterized by a base supporting a pair of pillars arranged in spaced parallelism, a shaft extended between and supported by the pillars for rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof, a worm gear affixed to the shaft and supported thereby in coaxial relation therewith. A bearing housing of a sleeve-like configuration is concentrically related to the shaft and is supported thereby for free rotation with respect thereto. A first and a second normally quiescent drive train, alternatively activatable, is provided for imparting rotation into said bearing housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1980
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: John A. Calvert
  • Patent number: 4198880
    Abstract: A two-speed motor drive system for an acoustic rotor includes two simple, relatively inexpensive motors cooperatively arranged to drive the acoustic rotor at either a pulsato speed or a slower chorus speed, and also to provide automatic braking of the rotor from full pulsato speed to either slow chorus speed or to a fully stopped condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1980
    Inventor: Donald J. Leslie
  • Patent number: 4188837
    Abstract: The system permits selective combining of one of a plurality of prime movers with a plurality of propeller shafts by means of a transverse chain drive between the propeller shafts to enable efficient multi-screw ship operation with one engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1980
    Inventor: Wilfrid H. Bendall
  • Patent number: 4177693
    Abstract: A combining reduction and accessory gear box receiving power input from a multiple of gas turbine engines includes provisions for providing separate accessory drives for each engine used therewith, and an output drive that is driven by any number or all of the engines. Each gas turbine engine, as well as the gears associated therewith and its connection to the output drive, is totally independent of the other engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1979
    Assignee: Avco Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore Ivanko, Michael S. Saboe
  • Patent number: 4175451
    Abstract: A spring actuated differential mechanism for controlling the angular position of one or more vanes which is particularly suitable for use in a guidance system for a guided weapon. A pair of vanes are mounted on an axle and a bevel differential is mounted centrally between them. The pivots of one set of bevels is normal to and solid with the vane axle and meshing therewith is a second set of bevels coaxial with but free on the vane axle. Each bevel of the second set of bevels is connected to one of a pair of large pinion gears which are induced to turn in opposite directions by an associated coil spring. Each of these pinion meshes with a small pinion, rotation of which is governed by a low power solenoid controlled escapement. Momentary energization of one solenoid permits a desired rotation of the associated escapement and a correspondingly smaller rotation of the associated large pinion and bevel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1979
    Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of National Defence
    Inventor: Frederick D. Ward
  • Patent number: 4170905
    Abstract: A reversing gear connecting a gas turbine to a propulsion shaft includes a big-diameter first gear wheel rotatable with the propulsion shaft and two pinions meshing therewith. There are further two intermeshing gears, one aligned with each of the pinions. One of the pinions has a through bore, permitting the passage of the output shaft from the turbine, a two-way clutch between this first pinion and its aligned gear, to connect, at will, last mentioned gear to the output shaft, or said shaft to the first pinion, the other pinion and its aligned gear being permanently interconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1979
    Assignee: Collin Consult AB
    Inventor: Lars T. Collin
  • Patent number: 4160391
    Abstract: An auxiliary drive mechanism for use in association with a hydraulically actuated clutch has a gear wheel attached to the driven or output stage of the clutch, and a drive motor driving a pinion meshing with an intermediate gear. The intermediate gear protrudes into the casing which houses the clutch and can selectively engage the gear wheel. The auxiliary drive mechanism finds application where it is at times necessary to provide a drive at a speed lower than normal operating speed, for example to tension the chain of a scraper chain conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1979
    Assignee: Coal Industry (Patents) Limited
    Inventor: Harry Monks
  • Patent number: 4154425
    Abstract: A throttle valve has a control member which is angularly positioned by two stepper motors which drive the control member through differential gearing. The drives to the control member are arranged so that a single step displacement of the respective motors in the same direction drives the control member by different amounts in opposite directions, providing a high resolution drive. The control member may be driven at a high speed by reversing one of the motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1979
    Assignee: Lucas Aerospace Limited
    Inventor: Trevor S. Smith
  • Patent number: 4147067
    Abstract: A tube push bench is provided having an elongated guide bed, a toothed rack mounted in the guide bed for longitudinal displacement thereon, a mandrel rod at one end of said toothed rack driven thereby for longitudinal displacement with said rack for moving a tubular bloom, at least three drive pinions engaging said toothed rack in close packed succession and drive means driving said pinions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1979
    Assignee: Friedrich Kocks GmbH & Company
    Inventor: Karl-Hans Staat
  • Patent number: 4129005
    Abstract: This is a method, and an apparatus for performing said method, wherein the latent energy in expansible fluids is utilized in a multi stage series of expanders, or energy extractors, wherein succeeding expanders or energy extractors derive energy from fluid emanating from a preceding expander from which some energy was previously derived; and, wherein, important features are: the ability to maximize the torque output from the combined units as necessary for special load conditions by bypassing the primary fluid around one expander and into a succeeding expander with the bypassed expander being immmobilized; and differential coupling of the mechanical output of the expanders for utilization of maximum output and efficiency under varying conditions of capacity of the expanders due to changes in fluid and load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1978
    Inventor: Clarence K. Greene
  • Patent number: 4125178
    Abstract: An auxiliary drive is provided for a drive mechanism for a conveyor, the mechanism including a brake and clutch arrangement designed to facilitate the starting and stopping of the conveyor. The auxiliary drive is conveniently mounted on the mechanism and has a drive motor driving a gear through an intermediate pinion, a gear wheel fixed to the driven stage of the mechanism. The intermediate pinion is movable to engage both the gear wheel and gear to transmit drive from the motor to the driven stage but is actuable to discontinue such drive. The auxiliary drive is intended to provide a means whereby the driven stage may be run at a speed lower than its normal operating speed, a particular application being to conveyors of the scraper chain type which at times require tensioning or detensioning of the chain for maintenance purposes, but at speeds lower than can be achieved using the main drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1978
    Assignee: Coal Industry (Patents) Limited
    Inventor: Harry Monks
  • Patent number: 4114468
    Abstract: An electric generator is driven by one or more steam turbines through gear train means, embodying one relatively large gear which serves the purpose of a flywheel, serving to stabilize the speed and voltage and frequency output of the generator. The system adapts itself particularly to conversion of the steam power plants of reserve vessels to floating, electric power generating stations by disconnection of the propeller shaft from the main or bull drive gear and installation of the electric generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1978
    Assignee: Universal Power Corporation
    Inventor: Theodore Carpentier
  • Patent number: 4106603
    Abstract: A transmission system for transmitting drive from at least two internal combustion engines to a single shaft comprises a clutch associated with each engine, an intermediate shaft connected to the hub part of each clutch and, in use, connected to its associated engine through a flexible coupling, a hollow shaft connected co-axially to the housing of each clutch, the intermediate shaft extending along and through its associated hollow shaft so that each clutch is remote from its associated engine. Each hollow shaft passes through a common gear housing and carries a gear wheel, the gear wheels on the hollow shafts meshing with a gear train in the gear housing to drive the driven shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1978
    Assignee: Vulkan Kupplungs -und Getriebebau Bernhard Hackforth
    Inventor: Jurgen Walter
  • Patent number: 4100822
    Abstract: The drive system comprises an annular member carrying first engagement means which couple to second engagement means carried by drive motor means. The drive motor means are effective to rotate the annular member about an axis of rotation. Specific features of the invention include the use of hydraulic drive motor means operated through the use of a hydraulic system. The drive system also includes a pair of annular members which cooperate with respect to each other in combination with drive motor means disposed adjacent to each of the annular members. A plurality of drive motors may be used in some of the particular combinations and a single drive motor having a central pinion means and a satellite group of gears may also be used in conjunction with the drive motor means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1978
    Inventor: Allan Rosman
  • Patent number: 4007594
    Abstract: An auxiliary automotive drive system consisting of a steam engine coupled through a clutch to an auxiliary pinion gear of a differential assembly to the drive wheels of an automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1977
    Inventor: John W. Elsea, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4004470
    Abstract: This abstract describes the power compound portion of a bore hole drilling system, which is designed for drilling medium depths of wells, and is designed for portability so that each part of the system can be broken down into subassembly units which are of less than a selected total weight. Thus, the entire system can be transported by helicopters capable of carrying said selected weight. The power compound comprises a self-contained engine manifold to which can be coupled two engines through corresponding gear transmissions to two input shafts. The transmission system in the manifold comprises drive means for driving a pump from each engine through a clutch, at a selected lower speed. It also comprises drive means for coupling the two engine shafts to provide combined power outputs to a shaft which drives the draw works.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1977
    Assignee: Parker Drilling Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore B. Houck
  • Patent number: 3986412
    Abstract: A compact in-line dual motor arrangement provides a redundant drive system wherein the respective motors are coupled to planetary gear reducers, each preferably of the dual harmonic drive type. The construction is such that in one stage a first drive motor and one of its two circular splines are connected to a stationary housing, and the second output circular spline is integral with a first circular spline of the second stage. The second circular spline of the second stage transmission together with the second drive motor are connected to an output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1976
    Assignee: USM Corporation
    Inventor: Wilbur H. Farley
  • Patent number: 3981485
    Abstract: A portable drilling rig which may be disassembled into subcomponent packages small enough to be transported to the site by helicopter and quickly reassembled utilizes unique chain drive units, compound arrangement and drawworks assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1974
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1976
    Assignee: Dresser Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Harmon Eddy, Kenneth Harmon McGill
  • Patent number: 3977632
    Abstract: This invention relates to power transmission systems for helicopters having two or more engines, the transmission system comprising for each engine, drive shafting and gearing including a final drive gear for transmitting torque from each engine to a common output gear for connection to the rotor system, and an idler gear interconnecting the respective gearings to distribute available torque amongst the full complement of final drive gears. A particular embodiment is shown and described for a twin-engined helicopter in which an additional final drive gear is meshed with the output gear and driven from the idler gear so that, even in the event of an engine failure the available torque from the remaining engine is transmitted through all three final drive gears to the rotor system. In the particular embodiment the drive to the additional final drive gear is also arranged for connection to a tail rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1976
    Assignee: Westland Aircraft Limited
    Inventor: Kenneth Watson
  • Patent number: 3977302
    Abstract: An annular rotor element is rotatably mounted in a housing and has a center opening in which a shaft element is journalled with annular clearance. An arrangement is provided for coupling the elements in motion-transmitting relationship in automatic response to relative rotation in one direction, and for uncoupling the elements in automatic response to relative rotation of the elements in an opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1974
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1976
    Inventor: Karl Eickmann
  • Patent number: 3974716
    Abstract: The driven machine, for example a mining machine having a long drive chain driven by a plurality of sprocket wheels, has a plurality of input shafts, for example the shafts of the plurality of sprocket wheels. A plurality of asynchronous drive motors is provided, each for the driving of a respective one of the input shafts of the machine. A plurality of hydrostatic speed converters is provided, each connected in force-transmitting manner to a respective one of the asynchronous drive motors. The pressure and flow of all the hydrostatic speed converters are equalized, in order to equalize the speeds and loads of all of the asynchronous drive motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1974
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1976
    Assignee: Bergwerksverband GmbH
    Inventors: Egon Henkel, Heinrich Wildforster
  • Patent number: 3951008
    Abstract: A power transmitting mechanism for starting a load which is either of high inertia or of high starting torque and which is to be driven at a high speed through a high reduction ratio. The load has a main power source and also an axuiliary power source which initially turns over the load from a zero speed condition. After the load has been turned over by the auxiliary starting means and through a high reduction ratio, the main power source acts to slip the overrunning clutch and bring the load up to speed. The auxiliary power source has a hydraulic coupling retarder which acts to retard the auxiliary power source during its initial operation and thereby reduces its kinetic energy during its initial operation and decreases the large torque pulses which would otherwise occur in the mechanism during the start-up. The mechanism includes hydraulic control means for controlling the sequencing of the fluid fill of the hydraulic coupling retarder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1976
    Assignee: Twin Disc, Incorporated
    Inventors: Raymond C. Schneider, Robert W. Meyer, Gerald C. Borgelt
  • Patent number: 3941012
    Abstract: An electric motor and an in-line speed-responsive clutch are arranged so as to provide dual drive for selectively driving a refrigerant compressor by either an internal combustion engine or by the electric motor. The rotor of the electric motor is journalled for relative rotation on the output shaft of the engine, and the motor rotor can be driven through the clutch when the output speed of the engine output shaft exceeds a predetermined minimum. By having both power sources adapted to drive the compressor with the motor rotor journalled on the engine output shaft and by employing a single clutch, economy of parts, relative ease in assembly, and a more compact arrangement may be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1976
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Donald K. Mayer
  • Patent number: 3933059
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a deep bore hole drilling machine which is designed for portability so that each part of the system can be broken down into subassembly units which are of less than 4,000 pounds total weight. Thus, the entire drilling system can be transported by helicopters which are capable of carrying a total weight of 4,000 pounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1973
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1976
    Assignee: Parker Drilling Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore B. Houck