Abstract: In combination with a conventional vehicle accessory drive pulley directly mounted and driven by a crankshaft 10 an epicyclic gear speed reducer set (F) is assembled as a unit A which comprises input and reaction sun gears (B,C). A combination planet carrier and drive casing (D) carries a plurality of compound planets (40,42), and an idler gear (43). Drive casing (D) of the assembly includes an integral pulley (34). Locking the reaction sun gear (C) to the carrier drive casing (D) produces a direct drive between the crankshaft and accessory. Braking the reaction sun gear to the engine frame (58), will switch the pulley assembly from direct drive to a reduction drive. This is accomplished automatically at a predetermined vehicle speed.

Abstract: A multiple speed gear reducer embodying the present invention includes a power input shaft and a power output shaft, a plurality of load sharing gear trains interconnecting said input and output shafts, and two or more reaction gears of different sizes coaxially arranged on the input shaft and operatively connected to the gear train or trains for producing relative rotation between said gear train or trains and the input shaft. A clutch for each of said reaction gears selectively restrains the gears to obtain a predetermined gear reduction ratio between the input and the output shafts. The reaction gears are mounted on separate, coaxially arranged sleeves around the input shaft and are controlled through clutches on the sleeves to obtain a selected gear ratio.

Abstract: A motorized conveyor pulley in which a rim and two end discs form a closed compartment and an electric motor and speed reducer are disposed in axial alignment with one another in the compartment. The motor is supported by a nonrotatable shaft extending through one end disc, and the speed reducer is connected to the motor by an input shaft and has an output shaft which is rigidly connected to the other end disc for rotating the pulley in response to the operation of the motor. A bearing is provided on said first shaft for permitting free rotation of the pulley with respect to the motor and the shaft, which are preferably prevented from rotating by a torque arm connected to the shaft. The air in the compartment is recirculated through the motor and along the inside surface of the pulley rim to cool the motor.

Abstract: A multiple power path concentric speed reducer in which a center shaft having a pinion thereon and an axle having an externally toothed gear thereon are disposed coaxially with respect to one another, and a plurality of gear trains operatively connect the pinion with the gear to provide multiple power path between the pinion and gear. The power or load is distributed equally between the several gear trains, and the center shaft may be the power input member, a housing the power output member and the axle the reaction member; or the center shaft may be the power input member, the axle the power output member, and the housing the reaction member. The concentric speed reducer is particularly adapted for use in vehicle wheel drives, especially in off-the-highway heavy duty equipment, wherein the speed reducer for each wheel is driven by a separate motor, such as a DC motor, mounted in or on the axle of the respective wheel.

Abstract: A dry fluid drive having a housing with a center axis about which the housing rotates, and a cavity therein concentric with the housing, a dry fluid in the cavity, and a rotor with two spaced sections disposed in the cavity with the hub of the rotor in alignment with the center axis of the housing. A reaction vane of generally annular configuration is connected to the housing at the periphery of the cavity and extends inwardly from the periphery between the rotor sections. The reaction vane is provided with openings such as spaces, notches or holes to facilitate uniform distribution of the dry fluid in the cavity as the housing accelerates to full operating rotational speed. The vane may be of either a straight or undulated configuration, and in the latter configuration, the grooves and ribs increase in magnitude from the outer periphery toward the center.