Gear reduction assembly

Abstract

In a first embodiment of the invention, a gear ratio multiplier has directly cooperating gears which serve to rotatably connect an output shaft to an output shaft through an intermediate shaft. The input and output shafts have parallel axes of rotation and extend, respectively, from seals in opposite sides of a housing. The inner ends of the input and output shafts are spaced from one another and are each provided with a pinion gear. The intermediate shaft is rotatably carried between the pinion gears and has an axis of rotation positioned at right angles to the axes of rotation of the input and output shafts. A pair of differently sized ring gears having different numbers of teeth are affixed on the intermediate shaft. The pinion gear on the input shaft engages the relatively smaller ring gear on the intermediate shaft whereas the pinion gear on the output shaft engages the relatively larger ring gear on the intermediate shaft. In this first illustrated embodiment, the gear ratio multiplier is utilized in the power train of a motor vehicle and is positioned between the transmission and propeller shaft to modify the gear ratio between the engine and one or more drive axles. Other embodiments of the invention utilize other gear assembly arrangements such as, but not limited to, sun and planetary gear arrangements and ring gear arrangements. While a motor vehicle is shown, this use of a gear ratio multiplier is applicable to other devices or machines such as, but not limited to, water vehicles, helicopters, construction machinery or any other engine driven device.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A power train for engine driven devices, comprising: 
 an internal combustion engine; a transmission operatively joined to said internal combustion engine;    a gear ratio multiplier assembly having an input shaft geared to an output shaft so that one rotation of said input shaft will result in more than one rotation of said output shaft, and said input shaft being joined to said transmission so as to be rotated thereby;    a propeller shaft having a first end, joined to said output shaft for rotation therewith, and a second end;    a differential operatively joined to said second end of said propeller shaft; and,    a pair of drive axles adapted for rotation by said differential and extending therefrom.    
     
     
         2 . The power train according to  claim 1  wherein said gear multiplier assembly further comprises: 
 a first pinion gear positioned on said input shaft;  
 a second pinion gear positioned on said output shaft;  
 the axes of rotation of said input shaft and said output shaft being parallel;  
 an intermediate shaft positioned between said first pinion gear and said second pinion gear, the longitudinal axis of said intermediate shaft being positioned at right angles to the respective axes of rotation of said input and output shafts;  
 a first ring gear positioned on said intermediate shaft for rotation therewith and cooperatively engaged with said first pinion gear;  
 a second ring gear positioned on said intermediate shaft for rotation therewith adjacent said first ring gear and cooperatively engaged with said second pinion gear;  
 said first pinion gear having a selected number of teeth as said second pinion gear; and  
 said first ring gear having a lesser number of teeth than said second ring gear when the first pinion gear and second pinion gear have the same number of teeth.  
 
     
     
         3 . The power train according to  claim 2  wherein said first and second pinion gears and said first and second ring gears are spiral bevel gears.  
     
     
         4 . In combination with a power train for a vehicle wherein a propeller shaft transmits rotational energy from a transmission of an internal combustion engine to a differential, the improvement which comprises a gear ratio multiplier assembly operatively connected between said transmission and said propeller shaft, said gear ratio multiplier assembly having an input shaft geared to an output shaft so that one rotation of said input shaft will result in more than one rotation of said output shaft, said input shaft being joined to said transmission so as to be rotated thereby, and said propeller shaft being joined to said output shaft so as to be rotated thereby.  
     
     
         5 . A method for multiplying the gear ratio of a vehicle power train, which comprises the steps of: 
 providing an internal combustion engine;    providing a transmission and joining said transmission to said internal combustion engine;    providing a gear ratio multiplier assembly having an input shaft geared to an output shaft so that one rotation of said input shaft will result in more than one rotation of said output shaft;    joining said input shaft to said transmission so as to be rotated thereby;    providing a propeller shaft having a first end and a second end;    joining said first end of propeller shaft to said output shaft for rotation therewith;    providing a differential and joining said differential to said second end of said propeller shaft; and    providing a pair of drive axles and joining said pair of drive axles to said differential for rotation thereby.    
     
     
         6 . A power train for an engine driven device, comprising: 
 an engine having an engine output shaft,    a gear ratio multiplier connected to the engine output shaft, 
 the gear ratio multiplier having an input shaft connected to a first gear assembly which is a speed reducing, torque increasing, gear assembly having an output of a lower speed and a higher torque than that of the engine output shaft,  
 the ratio multiplier further having a second gear assembly connected to the output of the first gear assembly, the second gear assembly, a higher speed output than the first gear assembly; and  
   a connector for connecting the output of the second gear assembly to the engine driven device.    
     
     
         7 . The power train of  claim 6 , wherein the engine is connected to the gear ratio multiplier through a transmission.  
     
     
         8 . The power train of  claim 7 , wherein the engine driven device is a vehicle having driven wheels and wherein the connector is a differential connected between the driven wheels and the gear ratio multiplier.  
     
     
         9 . A gear ratio multiplier comprising: 
 an input shaft adapted for connection to a source of rotation and torque;    a first gear assembly connected to the input shaft, the first gear assembly being a speed reducing torque increasing gear assembly having an output of a lower speed and higher torque than that of the input shaft;    a second gear assembly connected to the output of the first gear assembly, the second gear assembly being a speed increasing assembly and having an output of a higher speed than the output of the first gear assembly; and    an output shaft driven by the second gear assembly, the output shaft being adapted for connection to a device driven by the source of rotation and torque.    
     
     
         10 . The gear ratio multiplier of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second gear assemblies comprise planetary gears.  
     
     
         11 . The gear ratio multiplier of  claim 10 , wherein the gear assemblies comprise first and second level gear assemblies.  
     
     
         12 . The gear ratio multiplier of  claim 10 , wherein the gear assemblies comprise hypoid gear assemblies.  
     
     
         13 . The gear ratio multiplier of  claim 10 , wherein the gear assemblies comprise ring gears driving and being driven by pinions.