Abstract: A two-stage speed reducer including a planocentric gear arrangement which has a rotatable output ring gear and a planet gear mounted within the ring gear for orbital movement. The teeth on the ring gear and the planet gear are tapered to permit axial adjustment of the planet gear with respect to the ring gear and thereby eliminate backlash between the two. Adjustment means is provided to permit axial adjustment of the planet gear with respect to the ring gear. After a period of use of the speed reducer, the planet gear may be readjusted axially relative to the ring gear to compensate for backlash created between the teeth of the planet gear and ring gear due to wear.

Abstract: A gear speed reducer having an input shaft formed with a worm which meshs with a worm gear mounted on an output shaft disposed a fixed distance from and at right angles with respect to the input shaft. The worm is provided with an involute thread that progressively becomes thinner from one end to the other end of the worm. An adjustable cartridge rotatably mounts one end of the shaft and the cartridge is adjustably mounted to permit axial adjustment of the shaft to bring a new section of the thread of the worm into engagement with the worm gear to eliminate backlash therebetween. The adjustment is quickly and easily performed without having to remove the reducer from service.

Abstract: Bi-direction spring clutch apparatus for a reducing worm gear drive is disclosed. The bi-directional spring clutch apparatus includes a worm gear drive comprised of a worm and an output shaft rotatably mounted in a housing. A worm gear is rotatably mounted coaxially about the output shaft so that its teeth mesh with the threads of the worm. The worm gear includes two coaxial extensions which are also rotatably mounted coaxially about the output shaft but which are rotatably fixed relative to the worm gear. Located adjacent to each of the coaxial extensions of the worm gear are two torque transfer bushings. These are of the same outside diameter as the coaxial extensions, but are rotatably fixed relative to the output shaft. Stretched over each of the torque transfer bushing/coaxial extension pairs is a wound spring, each of the same hand of winding, and each having sufficient revolutions to result in self-locking of the torque transfer bushing/coaxial extension pairs.

Abstract: A two stage speed reducer having a primary reduction stage the output gear of which is fixed to an eccentric which causes an output planetary gear to orbit within a fixed ring gear. The eccentric forms the inner and outer races for coplanar bearings for the planetary gear and the output gear, respectively.

Abstract: A planetary speed reducer having a movable output ring gear; a stationary or fixed ring gear; the ring gears having different numbers of rigid involute teeth, different pitch diameters, equal internal diameters and equal base pitches; a sun gear; and at least one planetary gear mounted for engagement with the sun gear and with each of the ring gears.