Abstract: A transmission has only a single, minimal orbiter in which an input gear and an output gear, each being connected to separate input and output shafts, are interconnected through an orbiting cluster gear that meshes with only the input and output gears. The cluster gear is carried by a web that is itself rotated by a hydraulic control motor through a first clutch. When rotation of the web is prevented, rotation of the input gear produces rotation of the output gear at a predetermined reduction of the input drive, this gear reduction being continuously diminished proportional to the speed of rotation of the web in a first direction. When the vehicle reaches highway speeds, the control motor is disconnected and a second clutch is activated to connect a predetermined overdrive that is located between the engine drive and the transmission rather than being conventionally positioned between the transmission and the final output shaft.

Abstract: A steer-drive for vehicles primarily operated in fluids (e.g., boats and planes) interposes respective left and right orbital gear drives into the vehicle drivetrain between the engine/transmission or/speed-reducer and the vehicle's respective port and starboard propulsion elements. The orbital drive units comprise only an input gear and an output gear interconnected by at least one orbiting cluster gear that is supported in a rotating housing and also meshes only with the input and output gears. The orbital units are designed so that (a) when rotation of the housing is prevented, driving torque is transferred at speed ratios selected to be as close to 1:1 as is practical, and (b) when steering torque causes rotation of the housing, the steering torque is added or subtracted from the driving torque.

Abstract: A steer-drive interposes respective left and right orbital gear drives into the vehicle drivetrain between the engine/transmission and the respective propulsion axles associated with each side of the vehicle. The orbital drive units comprise only an input gear and an output gear interconnected by at least one orbiting cluster gear that is supported in a rotating housing and also meshes only with the input and output gears. The orbital units are designed so that (a) when rotation of the housing is prevented, driving torque is transferred at speed ratios selected to be as close to 1:1 as is practical, and (b) when steering torque causes rotation of the housing, the steering torque is added or subtracted from the driving torque. Steering torque is applied simultaneously in equal and opposite directions to the orbital units, causing the drive on one side of the vehicle to speed up and the drive on the other side of the vehicle to slow down at the same rate.

Abstract: In a conventional rubber track of the type supported and driven by wheels mounted on a vehicle, the terrain-contacting lugs are modified specially for use on high speed multi-terrain vehicles to increase energy efficiency of track operation. The thickness of each terrain-contacting lug is only tapered outboard of the central portion of the basic carcass/belt that is in direct contact with the rubber-tired supporting wheels so that, when traversing flat and hard terrain (e.g., when on pavement), these tapered portions are substantially out of contact with the terrain, thereby reducing the frictional drag of the lugs. However, as the terrain softens, the contact between these same tapered portions and the terrain increases to provide additional traction when traversing uneven, wet, or snow-covered surfaces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the bulk temperature of a workpiece in a quenching apparatus. The temperature is calculated by monitoring the change in size of the bore in the workpiece.

Abstract: A differential gear assembly of the type including worm or helical-type gears mounted on crossed non-intersecting axes is provided wherein a pair of drive axles (12, 14) are received in bores (10) formed in the sides of a differential housing (4), and wherein axially aligned worm or side gears (18, 30) are coupled to each axle end for meshing engagement with torque transfer gears within said housing. One of the side gears (30) is provided with an outwardly directed flange (36) which overlaps an inwardly directed flange (42) associated with the housing to maintain the end faces of the side gears (18, 30) out of contact with each other to preclude axial thrust forces developed in one side gear (30) from passing to the other (18) and to eliminate frictional forces at the interface of the side gears, thereby reducing differences in bias ratios associated with opposite directions of differentiation without significantly reducing the overall bias ratio of the assembly.

Abstract: A method and machine for forming longitudinally curved tooth surfaces in bevel and hypoid gears. A dish-shaped grinding wheel 26 is rotated about its axis 76 and oscillated about a cradle axis 66 in a timed relationship with a relative reciprocation of a work gear 20 along cradle axis 66. The timed relationship is defined by a power series equation to permit a simultaneous form grinding of adjacent tooth sides of one member of a work gear pair to be appropriately mismatched with simultaneously generated adjacent tooth sides of the mating member of the gear pair. A dish-shaped grinding wheel 176 having inner and outer stock removing surfaces 178, 180 for working opposite sides of gear teeth is also used in accordance with special timed motions of the present invention to improve contact characteristics between mating gear teeth.

Abstract: A tensioner having screw threads tightened by rotation of a hob drive (15) is used for applying clamping pressure to a hob (10) in a working position in a hobbing machine. The tensioner extends through the hob between the end supports (11 and 12) of the hobbing machine and has threads arranged so that a wrench system can hold part of the tensioner against rotation while the hob drive tightens the threads to a predetermined clamping torque. The tensioner can be a single draw rod (20) extending from driving end support (11), through hob (10), and into threaded engagement with idler end support (12); and the tensioner can include a hob mounting arbor (45) having threaded ends into which a pair of opposed tensioner rods (20 and 46) are threaded.

Abstract: A combination gear subassembly (50, 60, 90, or 130) for mounting pairs of combination gears (38, 70, 100, or 120) in a differential assembly having cross axis compound planetary gearing. The combination gear subassemblies are made up of a pair of combination gears together with a pair of journal plates (52, 62, or 92) each having a pair of bearing surfaces (54, 64, or 98) for receiving journals (46, 72, 102, or 122) which project from opposite ends of the combination gears. The combination gear subassemblies are mounted in guide slots (32, 66, or 116) formed in pedestals (28, 84 or 112) which connect end portions (12) of housing (10).

Abstract: A face milling type gear cutting assembly including contiguous cutting tools positioned in a common slot with means for preserving clearance for chip removal between these tools. The cutting assembly also includes a tool clamping arrangement featuring a novel clamping block which is releasably attached to a screw element in situ.

Abstract: An improved cutting tool intended primarily for gear cutting operations and a method of manufacturing this new tool. The tool is of a type formed from a length of bar stock and may be resharpened while preserving metallurgical or other treatments on front cutting faces of the tool. The improved tool also includes a base mounting portion and a cutting end. A first cutting face is formed in part of the length of the tool and a second cutting face is formed throughout substantially the full length of the tool in a way that preserves important mounting surfaces in the base portion of the tool.

Abstract: A face milling type gear cutting assembly including contiguous cutting tools positioned in a common slot with means for preserving clearance for chip removal between these tools. The cutting assembly also includes a tool clamping arrangement featuring a novel clamping block which is releasably attached to a screw element in situ.

Abstract: A cutter head assembly and method of assembly design for use with a continuously indexing gear cutting machine is described as including slots formed through the face of said assembly of particular orientation for receiving cutting tools characterized by their front faces requiring no resharpening. The assembly is adaptive to cut a range of job requirements while preserving the front face portion of the cutting tools.

Abstract: A spacing member 40 is of a special design for use with a differential assembly having drive gears 26 and 26, in the form of worm gears, which are operatively connected to each other through sets of transfer gears 34 and 36, having worm wheel portions 37 for meshing with respective drive gears 26 and 28. The spacing member 40 is made up of a number of pieces for ease of installation and removal and is provided with a mounting element 42 which functions to secure the spacing element in a preferred position between the innermost ends of axle segments 12 and 14. The mounting element 42 is provided with a bore 43 for receiving a journal pin 44 associated with an intermediate gear 38 position between a pair of transfer gears 34 and 36.

Abstract: A differential gearing assembly including a differential case 10 that mounts axle drive gears 22 rotatably engaged with axles 20 and transfer gearing 50 for cross coupling the axle drive gears. The axle ends are secured to the differential assembly by lock rings 32 received by lock ring grooves formed on the axle ends. A thrust spacer maintains the predetermined spaced apart position of the axle ends and in one embodiment 26 comprises elements 26a 26b which when joined together by a fastener 28 capture the lock rings in their installed positions on the axle ends. The transfer gearing includes transfer gears 50 rotatably coupled to each other by intermediate gearing 54. In an alternate embodiment, a thrust spacer 70 is bisected along a line defined by stepped confronting surfaces 74a, 74b, 74c to define interfitting halves 72a, 72b. Each half is configured and sized to facilitate removal through an opening defined between the intermediate gears.

Abstract: A differential gear assembly that includes a differential case 12 and a pair of axle ends 18a, 20a extending into, and rotatably coupled to, side gears 22, 24 located within the case. The axles are retained by locking rings 42 that are received by locking grooves 40 formed at the extreme ends of the axle ends and maintained in position by recesses 29 formed in the side gears. The axles are maintained in operative positions by a spacing arrangement that includes an axial thrust element 62 captured in one side gear recess and an element 64 that includes both a side gear thrust portion 66 and an axle thrust portion 68 which is received and captured by the recess in the other side gear. The operative position of at least one side gear 24 is maintained by a removable spacer that comprises a bifurcated collar held together by fasteners 84.

Abstract: A differential assembly (10) having worm gears (26, 28) as drive gears together with transfer gears (30, 32) operatively connected to the drive gears is provided with spherical mounting surfaces (40) and a washer element (42) for accommodating angular displacement of axle segments (12) and (14) relative to the differential assembly. In addition, a spacing member (50) is provided with a convex spherical surface (52) for accommodating angular movement of the axle segments.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assisting individuals to achieve the mental and physical relaxation which often characterizes successful meditation. Minute saccadic eye movements are monitored, and the individual is made conscious of any such movement by a sensible signal, such as an audible tone. By reducing undesired saccadic movements, the individual attains the desired state of psycho-physical relaxation. The preferred apparatus, carried by eyeglasses-type support, utilizes reflections of non-visible radiant energy to monitor eye movement.

Abstract: A rotary grinding tool having two concentric grinding elements projecting in a common direction from one face of the tool is assembled from basic components which can be easily disassembled to permit accurate profile correction and surface renewal of its active grinding surfaces. In addition, the disassembled components can be used as separate grinding tools.

Abstract: In a machine of the type in which cutting tools are arranged on successive links of an endless chain, each tool being in offset rotation to the preceding tool, at right angles to the direction of travel, means are provided for periodically shifting the workhead and work spindle parallel with the plane in which the tools travel when cutting. The means for shifting are operatively independent of the means for driving the chain and the work spindle in generation, and are operated when the tools and workpieces are disengaged, and normally after a predetermined number of stacks of workpieces has been cut, in order to equalize wear on the blades carried by the chain.