Power transfer

Abstract

The power transfer of the present invention employs a driver having a medial section which includes a plurality of continuous, helical grooves and a plurality of axially aligned transfer material return flow paths. The medial section terminates at each end in a generally cylindrical head, each of which is provided with grooves which communicate with the medial section grooves. The head grooves conduct the power transfer material to the axial paths for axial flow through the driver. The power transfer material flows through the helical grooves, through the head openings, .[.if so embodied or if used,.]. through the head cooperating grooves and the axially aligned paths to travel a complete, circuitous route about and through the driver. A cooperating driven pinion of single or generally double enveloping worm gear configuration positions immediately adjacent the driver and is provided with a plurality of helical grooves of pitch, size and design to overlie the helical grooves of the driver to form closed paths through which the interposed transfer material travels as the driver is rotated. The multiple interposed transfer material contacts between the driver and the driven pinion results in an angular power transfer at greatly reduced friction and power requirements.

I claim: 
     
       1. A power transfer unit of the type including a housing, a drive gear shaft rotatable within the housing and a pinion gear shaft rotatable within the housing comprising A. a drive gear associated with the drive gear shaft, 1. said drive gear being provided with a plurality of continuous power transfer material flow paths,   2. said drive gear terminating laterally in a pair of spaced heads,   3. at least some of the flow paths of the drive gear extending longitudinally the entire length of the drive gear and terminating at each head of the drive gear;     B. a rotatively mounted pinion gear disposed adjacent to said drive gear, 1. said pinion gear including a plurality of grooves in its outer surface, portions of the flow paths in the drive gear being adapted to overlie portions of the grooves of the pinion gear in a power transfer area; and     C. power transfer material in moving engagement with the overlying portions of the flow paths of the drive gear and the grooves of the pinion gear in the power transfer area for transferring rotative power between said drive gear and pinion gear.   
     
     
       2. The power transfer unit according to claim 1 wherein the flow paths comprise cooperating grooves formed in at least one of the heads. 
     
     
       3. The power transfer of claim 1 wherein the flow paths include cooperating grooves in both heads. 
     
     
       4. The power transfer unit according to claim 1 wherein the heads are provided with means to form portions of the flow paths. 
     
     
       5. The power transfer unit according to claim 4 wherein at least one head is flat. 
     
     
       6. The power transfer unit according to claim 5 wherein the means comprise openings through the heads. 
     
     
       7. The power transfer unit according to claim 6 wherein at least some of the openings are curved. 
     
     
       8. The power transfer unit of claim 5 wherein the means comprises cooperating grooves formed in the heads. 
     
     
       9. The power transfer unit according to claim 8 wherein the cooperating grooves are formed in the outer peripheries of the heads.  .[.10. The power transfer unit according to claim 4 wherein at least one head is convex in configuration..]. .[.11. The power transfer unit according to claim 10 wherein portions of the flow paths are formed in the head..]. 
     
     
            The power transfer unit according to claim 5 and an end cap overlying the drive gear head.  .[.13. The power transfer unit according to claim 10 
     
     
        and an end cap overlying the drive gear head..]. 14. The power transfer unit according to claim 12 wherein the end cap is provided with cooperating grooves.  .[.15. The power transfer unit according to claim 13 
     
     
        wherein the end cap is provided with cooperating grooves..]. 16. The power transfer unit according to claim 14 wherein the end cap cooperating grooves overlie the cooperating grooves formed in the head to define power transfer material receiving passages.  .[.17. The power transfer unit according to claim 15 wherein the end cap cooperating grooves overlie the cooperating grooves formed in the head to define power transfer material 
     
     
        receiving passages..]. 18. The power transfer unit according to claim 16 wherein the power transfer material receiving passages form portions of the said flow paths.  .[.19. The power transfer unit according to claim 17 wherein the power transfer material receiving passages form portions of the said flow paths..]. .[.20. The power transfer unit according to claim 10 and an end plate overlying the head..]. .[.21. The power transfer unit according to claim 20 wherein the end plate is provided with a concave recess..]. .[.22. The power transfer unit according to claim 21 wherein the convex head is positioned within the concave recess to retain the 
     
     
        power transfer material therebetween..]. 23. The power transfer unit according to claim 5 wherein the drive gear is formed to an hour glass configuration in its medial portion.  .[.24. The power transfer unit according to claim 1 wherein the drive gear is formed to a generally cylindrical configuration..]. .[.25. The power transfer unit according to claim 10 wherein the drive gear is formed to a generally cylindrical 
     
     
        configuration..]. 26. The power transfer unit according to claim 1 wherein 
     
     
        at least one of the pinion gear shaft and the drive shaft is hollow. 27. The power transfer unit according to claim 26 wherein the pinion gear 
     
     
        shaft includes a hollow portion. 28. The power transfer unit according to 
     
     
        claim 26 and a work shaft extending through the hollow shaft. 29. The power transfer unit according to claim 1 and an automotive type transmission shaft connected to the drive gear shaft, the transmission 
     
     
        shaft rotating the drive gear shaft. 30. The power transfer unit according to claim 1 and an automotive type differential case affixed to the pinion 
     
     
        gear shaft. 31. The power transfer unit according to claim 29 and an automotive type differential case affixed to the pinion gear shaft whereby rotative motion applied by the transmission shaft is employed by the power 
     
     
        transfer unit to rotate the automotive differential case. 32. The power transfer unit according to claim 30 wherein the differential case includes 
     
     
        at least one differential gear. 33. The power transfer unit according to claim 32 which includes a wheel type axle connected to the differential 
     
     
        gear. 34. The power transfer unit according to claim 33 wherein at least a 
     
     
        portion of the pinion gear shaft is hollow. 35. The power transfer unit according to claim 34 wherein the axle extends through the hollow portion 
     
     
        of the pinion gear shaft. 36. In a drive gear suitable for rotation on a shaft, the combination of A. a body having a peripheral surface and a longitudinal axis;   B. said body terminating at its longitudinal ends in spaced heads; and   C. a plurality of continuous flow paths formed in the said body whereby power transfer material can transverse about the body in a plurality of continuous paths, 1. at least a plurality of flow paths comprising helically generated grooves formed in the peripheral surface,     
     
     
       2. the flow paths comprising cooperating grooves formed in the heads. 37. The drive gear according to claim 36 wherein the flow paths comprise 
     
     
        internal paths through the interior of the body. 38. The drive gear according to claim 37 wherein the internal paths are axially aligned. .[.39. The drive gear according to claim 36 wherein the heads are convex 
     
     
        in configuration..]. 40. The drive gear according to claim 36 wherein the heads are flat.  .[.41. The drive gear according to claim 36 wherein the 
     
     
        body is generally cylindrical in configuration..]. 42. The drive gear according to claim 40 wherein the heads are provided with a plurality of 
     
     
        openings. 43. The drive gear according to claim 42 wherein at least some of said openings communicate with a helical groove and with a cooperating groove.