Zero backlash right angle transmission system and method

Abstract

A zero backlash right angle transmission system includes an input shaft with an input gear, an output shaft, first and second drive gears mounted on respective drive shafts and meshing with the input gear, and first and second pairs of meshing gears, rotation axes of which are disposed at right angle to each other. One of the pair of meshing gears is mounted on the drive shaft and the other one is mounted on the output shaft. The system may also include first and second planetary gear assemblies. All of the gears form a closed loop gear train that drives the output shaft forward and backward without backlash. A method for zero backlash right angle transmission is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A zero backlash right angle transmission system comprising:
 (a) an input shaft ( 109 ,  309 ,  509 ,  709 ) with an input gear ( 106 ,  306 ,  506 ,  706 ) mounted thereon;   (b) an output shaft ( 101 ,  301 ,  501 ,  701 );   (c) first and second drive gears ( 107 ,  108 ;  307 ,  308 ;  507 ,  508 ;  707 ,  708 ) meshing with the input gear ( 106 ,  306 ,  506 ,  706 ), and mounted respectively on first and second drive shafts ( 122 ,  123 ;  322 ,  323 ;  522 ,  523 ;  722 ,  723 ) parallel to the input shaft ( 109 ,  309 ,  509 ,  709 );   (d) a first right angle transmission gear assembly ( 110 ,  310 ,  510 ,  710 ) comprising a first pair of meshing gears ( 102 ,  104 ;  302 ,  304 ;  502 ,  504 ;  702 ,  704 ), rotation axes of which are disposed at right angle to each other, one of the first pair of meshing gears ( 104 ,  304 ,  504 ,  704 ) being mounted on the first drive shaft ( 122 ,  322 ,  522 ,  722 ) and the other one of the first pair of meshing gears ( 102 ,  302 ,  502 ,  702 ) being mounted on the output shaft ( 101 ,  301 ,  501 ,  701 ); and   (e) a second right angle transmission gear assembly ( 111 ,  311 ,  511 ,  711 ) comprising a second pair of meshing gears ( 103 ,  105 ;  303   305 ;  503 ,  505 ;  703 ,  705 ), rotation axes of which are disposed at right angle to each other, one of the second pair of meshing gears ( 105 ,  305 ,  505 ,  705 ) being mounted on the second drive shaft ( 123 ,  323 ,  523 ,  723 ) and the other one of the second pair of meshing gears ( 103 ,  303 ,  503 ,  703 ) being mounted on the output shaft ( 101 ,  301 ,  501 ,  701 ) at a distance from and parallel to the other one of the first pair of meshing gears ( 102 ,  302 ,  502 ,  702 );   (f) wherein all of the gears form a closed loop gear train that drives the output shaft ( 101 ,  301 ,  501 ,  701 ) forward and backward without backlash.   
     
     
         2 . The zero backlash right angle transmission system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a first planetary gear assembly ( 314 ) mounted between the first drive gear ( 307 ) and the one of the first pair of meshing gears ( 304 ), and a second planetary gear assembly ( 315 ) mounted between the second drive gear ( 308 ) and the one of the second pair of meshing gears ( 305 ). 
     
     
         3 . The zero backlash right angle transmission system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first planetary gear assembly ( 314 ) comprises:
 a first sun gear ( 319 ) mounted on a first sun shaft ( 322 ) on which the first drive gear ( 307 ) is mounted;   a first ring gear ( 321 );   a first plurality of planet gears ( 320 ) mounted on a first plurality of planet shafts ( 340 ), and meshing with the first sun gear ( 319 ) and the first ring gear ( 321 ); and   a first carrier ( 350 ) carrying the first plurality of planet shafts ( 340 ) and mounted on a first carrier shaft ( 312 ) on which the one of the first pair of meshing gears ( 304 ) is mounted.   
     
     
         4 . The zero backlash right angle transmission system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the second planetary gear assembly ( 315 ) comprises:
 a second sun gear ( 316 ) mounted on a second sun shaft ( 323 ) on which the second drive gear ( 308 ) is mounted;   a second ring gear ( 318 );   a second plurality of planet gears ( 317 ) mounted on a second plurality of planet shafts ( 342 ), and meshing with the second sun gear ( 316 ) and the second ring gear ( 318 ); and   a second carrier ( 352 ) carrying the second plurality of planet shafts ( 342 ) and mounted on a second carrier shaft ( 313 ) on which the one of the second pair of meshing gears ( 305 ) is mounted.   
     
     
         5 . The zero backlash right angle transmission system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the input gear, the first drive gear and the second drive gear ( 106 ,  107 ,  108 ;  306 ,  307 ,  308 ;  506 ,  507 ,  508 ;  706 ,  707 ,  708 ) are selected from the group consisting of spur gears, single helical gears, and double helical gears. 
     
     
         6 . The zero backlash right angle transmission system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second pairs of meshing gears ( 102 ,  104 ,  103 ,  105 ;  302 ,  304 ,  303 ,  305 ;  502 ,  504 ,  503 ,  505 ;  702 ,  704 ,  703 ,  705 ) are selected from the group consisting of Bevel gears, Miter gears, crown gears, hypoid gears, and spiral helical gears. 
     
     
         7 . A zero backlash right angle transmission method comprising:
 (a) providing an input shaft ( 109 ,  309 ,  509 ,  709 ) with an input gear ( 106 ,  306 ,  506 ,  706 ) mounted thereon;   (b) providing an output shaft ( 101 ,  301 ,  501 ,  701 ) disposed at right angle with respect to the input shaft ( 109 ,  309 ,  509 ,  709 );   (c) providing a first gear train ( 102 ,  104 ,  107 ;  302 ,  304 ,  307 ;  502 ,  504 ,  507 ;  702 ,  704 ,  707 ) mounted between the input gear ( 106 ,  306 ,  506 ,  706 ) and the output shaft ( 101 ,  301 ,  501 ,  701 ) for rotation in one direction;   (d) providing a second gear train ( 103 ,  105 ,  108 ;  303 ,  305 ,  308 ;  503 ,  505 ,  508 ;  703 ,  705 ,  708 ) mounted between the input gear ( 106 ,  306 ,  506 ,  706 ) and the output shaft ( 101 ,  301 ,  501 ,  701 ) for rotation in an opposite direction, the first and second gear trains being disposed in parallel relationship and formed into a closed loop gear train;   (e) preloading the first gear train with torque in the one direction; and   (f) preloading the second gear train with torque in the opposite direction, thereby eliminating backlash of the first and second gear trains when the input shaft ( 109 ,  309 ,  509 ,  709 ) is rotated in either direction;   (g) wherein the step of providing a first gear train comprises providing a first drive gear ( 107 ,  307 ,  507 ,  707 ) meshing with the input gear ( 106 ,  306 ,  506 ,  706 ), and mounted on a first drive shaft ( 122 ,  322 ,  522 ,  722 ) parallel to the input shaft ( 109 ,  309 ,  509 ,  709 ); providing a first right angle transmission gear assembly ( 110 ,  310 ,  510 ,  710 ) comprising a first pair of meshing gears ( 102 ,  104 ;  302 ,  304 ;  502 ,  504 ;  702 ,  704 ), rotation axes of which are disposed at right angle to each other, one of the first pair of meshing gears ( 104 ,  304 ,  504 ,  704 ) being mounted on the first drive shaft ( 122 ,  322 ,  522 ,  722 ) and the other one of the first pair of meshing gears ( 102 ,  302 ,  502 ,  702 ) being mounted on the output shaft ( 101 ,  301 ,  501 ,  701 ); and   (h) wherein the step of providing a second gear train comprises providing a second drive gear ( 108 ,  308 ,  508 ,  708 ) meshing with the input gear ( 106 ,  306 ,  506 ,  706 ), and mounted on a second drive shaft ( 123 ,  323 ,  523 ,  723 ) parallel to the input shaft ( 109 ,  309 ,  509 ,  709 ); providing a second right angle transmission gear assembly ( 111 ,  311 ,  511 ,  711 ) comprising a second pair of meshing gears ( 103 ,  105 ;  303   305 ;  503 ,  505 ;  703 ,  705 ), rotation axes of which are disposed at right angle to each other, one of the second pair of meshing gears ( 105 ,  305 ,  505 ,  705 ) being mounted on the second drive shaft ( 123 ,  323 ,  523 ,  723 ) and the other one of the second pair of meshing gears ( 103 ,  303 ,  503 ,  703 ) being mounted on the output shaft ( 101 ,  301 ,  501 ,  701 ) at a distance from and parallel to the other one of the first pair of meshing gears ( 102 ,  302 ,  502 ,  702 ).   
     
     
         8 . The zero backlash right angle transmission method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the step of providing a first gear train further comprises providing a first planetary gear assembly ( 314 ) mounted between the first drive gear ( 307 ) and the one of the first pair of meshing gears ( 304 ); and the step of providing a second gear train further comprises providing a second planetary gear assembly ( 315 ) mounted between the second drive gear ( 308 ) and the one of the second pair of meshing gears ( 305 ). 
     
     
         9 . The zero backlash right angle transmission method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the input gear, the first drive gear and the second drive gear ( 106 ,  107 ,  108 ;  306 ,  307 ,  308 ;  506 ,  507 ,  508 ;  706 ,  707 ,  708 ) are selected from the group consisting of spur gears, single helical gears, and double helical gears. 
     
     
         10 . The zero backlash right angle transmission method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the first and second pairs of meshing gears ( 102 ,  104 ,  103 ,  105 ;  302 ,  304 ,  303 ,  305 ;  502 ,  504 ,  503 ,  505 ;  702 ,  704 ,  703 ,  705 ) are selected from the group consisting of Bevel gears, Miter gears, crown gears, hypoid gears, and spiral helical gears.