Abstract: A flexible coupling having a generally cylindrical flexible element with a plurality of generally radial element teeth that are engaged by a plurality of generally radial hub teeth that penetrate generally radial element tooth faces on the element teeth, with the hub teeth arranged around generally radial hub faces of generally cylindrical shaft hubs and means for reducing axial loading of drive shafts attached to the hubs under load.

Abstract: In a flexible coupling generally comprising a driving and a driven hub, each having axially extending teeth, and a slotted cylindrical elastomeric element positioned around the hub teeth so as to transmit torque from a driving hub teeth to the driven hub teeth, the bottom of the slots of the elastomeric element are formed with compound curves so as to reduce stress on the elastomeric element and also provide a relief area for the outer periphery of the hub teeth to prevent engagement of the sharp edges of the hub teeth with the elastomeric element. This provides greater flexibility and improved life for the elastomeric element. Furthermore, the hub teeth are tapered in the axial direction so as to provide for axial insertion of the hub teeth into the elastomeric element and furthermore provide a curved surface on the teeth to reduce the biting effect of the leading edges of the hub teeth on the elastomeric element.

Abstract: A lubrication mechanism for directing lubrication to the teeth of the sun gear of a planetary gear set without requiring separate pumping mechanisms wherein the rotating planet carrier has a deflector and generally radially extending passageways so as to collect lubricant within the casing and direct it through the passageways to the outwardly facing sun gear teeth. The passageways are also used for providing visual inspection of the sun gear teeth to determine the amount of wear of the sun gear teeth.

Abstract: A holdback system is provided which allows additional rotation of a shaft following actuation of an associated holdback device. That additional rotation of a shaft permits other associated holdbacks to actuate. This additional rotation of a rotatable shaft, such as a shaft of a speed reducer, is accomplished by providing a helical gear of a speed reducer mechanism in gear mesh relation with a helical gear of a speed reducer and, in addition, allowing the driven helical gear of the holdback mechanism to move axially after the holdback mechanism is actuated. This axial movement permits the driving helical gear of the speed reducer to rotate by a preselected amount and allow the entire system to move a slight degree in the reverse direction. This reverse movement permits other later actuated holdbacks to actuate and share the overall load with the earliest actuating holdback.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for use with a shaft mountable gear reduction drive in which a driven shaft is coupled with reduction gears by a hollow intermediate output shaft. The output shaft is journaled within the gearbox and has a tapered axial passage for receiving one end of the generally cylindrical driven shaft. A tapered bushing is wedged into the axial passage to interlock the output shaft and the driven shaft for synchronous rotation. A retaining nut is threaded to the outboard end of the output shaft and is rotated relative thereto to advance the nut axially along the driven shaft and forcefully lock the tapered bushing in place. In order to facilitate the driving engagement of the bushing with the output shaft and driven shaft, a nut locking apparatus is provided for preventing rotation of the retaining nut when the output shaft is rotated by the gear drive, and thereby drawing the tapered bushing along the driven shaft.

Abstract: A marine reduction gearbox, or transmission, is provided with variably engageable clutches connected in torque transmitting relation between a prime mover and a propeller shaft. These variably engageable clutches permit the prime mover to be connected to the propeller shaft in partial torque transmitting association. One advantage of this type of apparatus is that the prime mover can be partially loaded during crash reversal procedures while the propeller shaft is still and inhibited from rotating by the action of a brake. This preloading of the prime mover while at idle speed increases the power output of the prime mover and prepares it for an eventual connection to a rotatable propeller shaft with the brake disengaged or partially disengaged. This procedure prevents the stalling of the prime mover, especially when the prime mover is a high break mean effective pressure engine.

Abstract: A flexible shaft coupling of a type which uses a serpentine metal grid to connect teeth on hubs attached to driving and driven shafts has the sides of the teeth made of a polymeric resin material such as a polyurethane or a reinforced nylon 6/6, lubricated with PTFE. The side faces of the teeth deflect and deform under torque load to accommodate to the grid.

Abstract: A safety guard for enclosing the flexible drive between an assemblage of a driving shaft and a driven shaft has a backplate with elongated openings. The driving and driven shafts extend through the elongated openings. A mounting track is attached to the rear of the backplate. A mounting nut is captured within the mounting track such that the nut can slide over the length of the track. A bolt fastens to the mounting nut to attack the backplate to the assemblage of the driving and driven shafts. In a preferred form, mounting strips having a slot are attached to the assemblage of the driving and driven shafts. The slots are preferably arranged in a direction that intersects the mounting track, and the bolt can be located along the slot. A cover can be releasably mounted against the backplate to form an enclosure. Closure strips are inserted into the portions of the elongated openings to further enclose the flexible drive.

Abstract: A flexible shaft coupling of the type which uses a serpentine metal grid to connect teeth on hubs attached to driving and driven shafts has the sides of the grid rung which contact the metal teeth provided with a layer of deformable material. The layer of deformable material will deform under torque load relative to the metal teeth and metal grid and absorb differences in tooth or rung spacing or parallelism to thereby insure a more even load distribution between the rungs and teeth. A preferred deformable material is a urethane having excellent tensile strength and hardness as well as good elongation, wear resistance and flexural modulus properties.

Abstract: A disengageable friction coupling is comprised of a hollow shaft having a tapered inner surface. An element defining an internal opening is mounted over the hollow shaft, the hollow shaft having a tapered inner surface in the region of said element. A plug is located inside the hollow shaft in the region of the element. The plug has a tapered outer surface which mates with the tapered inner surface of the hollow shaft. The tangent of the angle of taper is less than the coefficient of static friction between the mating surfaces of the plug and the shaft.

Abstract: A gear drive has an enclosed housing that acts as a lubricant reservoir. Hollow, finned heat exchanger tubes are mounted in the housing at a level where they are submerged beneath the surface of the pool of lubricant in the housing. The tubes extend outward of the housing and connections are made external of the housing between the tubes and a source of a cooling liquid, such as water, and a drain.

Abstract: An improved key and key joint are disclosed. The key has a generally solid central portion and a pair of end portions. Each end portion is coterminus with the central portion and has a pair of spaced-apart longitudinal prongs. The inside surface of each prong is substantially parallel to the inside surface of the other prong and both inside surfaces are substantially planar. The key is assembled in the key joint with the slots defined by the longitudinal prongs extending from top to bottom through the key in a radial direction. A key joint thus assembled reduces the stress concentration factor attributable to a key joint assembled with a standard key to provide for a gradual transition between the strain of a shaft and the strain of a hub in torsion.

Abstract: A centrifugally actuated wet plate clutch which is actuated by the centrifugal pressure of its cooling and lubricating fluid. An input housing defines a radial cavity which is partially filled with the fluid and contains sets of interleaved clutch plates respectively mounted to the housing and to an output shaft which is rotatable independent of the housing. A piston adapted to urge the clutch plates together is mounted in the cavity and has a net piston surface opposing the clutch plates. When the housing is accelerated in rotational speed, centrifugal pressure develops in the fluid and acts on the piston to gradually urge the clutch plates together, thereby engaging the clutch.

Abstract: An overload mechanism for an air inflatable gland clutch operates to open an air valve to release air from the gland when an overload condition is sensed. The air valve is opened by a piston rod actuator which is urged by a spring to engage a valve stem of the air valve. The piston operates in a cylinder on a rim on one face of the gland. The rod actuator is normally blocked from engaging the valve stem by the arm of a bell crank lever journaled on a shaft. The other arm of the bell crank lever engages a pin on a motion hinge secured to the shaft. A pin urges the motion hinge and bell crank lever into cooperative engagement to rotate together with the shaft. The shaft is rotated by a crank actuator which is mounted on a clutch shoe secured to the opposite face of the gland.

Abstract: A gear drive has an input shaft driven by a variable speed, reversible hydraulic motor. The input shaft mounts one of two one-way clutches. The second one-way clutch is mounted on a quill output shaft disposed about the input shaft and connected to the input shaft by reduction gearing. The two one-way clutches are joined together and to a stub shaft. Rotation of the motor in one direction will cause one of the clutches to engage to drive the stub shaft in one speed range while rotation of the motor in the opposite direction will cause the other clutch to engage to drive the stub shaft in a second speed range.

Abstract: A control system for a marine drive is shown which controls the inflation of ahead and astern clutches and an engine speed governor. Upon actuation of a throttle lever controlling a throttle valve, a selector valve is first actuated to operatively connect one or the other of the clutches to the control. Further movement of the throttle lever causes a relay valve to supply air at a pressure proportional to the throttle position to a main control valve which passes such air pressure to the selected clutch until a first control pressure is reached. Thereafter, air from the supply is supplied at a programmed rate to the selected clutch to continue inflation of the clutch until a second clutch pressure is reached whereupon a boost valve is actuated to connect full supply air pressure to the selected clutch.

Abstract: An improved control system is disclosed for air actuated ahead and astern clutches, an engine speed governor, and a propeller shaft brake of a marine propulsion system. The control is actuated by a throttle lever which is moved from a neutral position to select a direction of travel. The degree of movement of the throttle lever from neutral is representative of the desired speed in the selected direction. The improved control engages the brake when the throttle lever is moved from an ahead to an astern direction at medium or high forward speeds. When such a change is commanded, a pair of serially connected brake valves are piloted to connect the brake to a source of air under pressure. One of the brake valves is piloted by an accumulated speed pressure signal indicating an ahead speed greater than a predetermined minimum and the other valve is piloted by the throttle signal commanding astern direction.

Abstract: A marine drive is shown in which a reverse pinion, which is in continuous mesh with a bull gear, is provided with a detuner to prevent vibration while it idles. The detuner includes a ring gear detuner pinion disposed about the reverse pinion shaft. The detuner pinion has helical teeth as do the reverse pinion and bull gear. One end of the detuner pinion is slidably mounted on a ring which encircles the reverse pinion shaft adjacent the reverse pinion, and the other end of the detuner pinion is supported by a diaphragm assembly which prevents torsional and radial motion but permits axial movement of the detuner pinion. The diaphragm assembly is mounted on a sleeve which is secured to the pinion shaft and extends through, but out of contact with, the detuner pinion.

Abstract: A gear drive unit has a shaft mounted impeller which a series of blades or vanes inside the housing for the drive. The impeller vanes are positioned to be in the path of travel of oil flung off of a bull gear which rotates in an oil pan extending into an oil bath contained in the housing. The impeller is rotated by the impact of the oil against its vanes. In one embodiment, the rotating impeller drives a fan located outside the housing and the fan circulates air through a series of hollow tubes extending through the housing parallel to the impeller shaft. In another embodiment, the rotating impeller drives fans disposed outside of the housing at both ends of the impeller shaft.

Abstract: A flexible shaft coupling includes a pair of hubs connected to the shafts. Each hub has a series of peripherially spaced teeth with slots between the teeth. A grid joins the hubs and transmits torque therebetween. The grid is formed of a series of spaced, straight metal rungs held together at their ends by elastomer members.