APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING A GEAR

• US 3,742,568 A
• Filed: 05/25/1971
• Issued: 07/03/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edwin C. Hahlbeck
• Original Assignee: Edwin C. Hahlbeck
• Inventors: Hahlbeck, Edwin C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eager, Thomas H.
• Application Number:
  US05/146,715
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 29/2R,2P,2J,2A
• US Class Current: 29/720
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/10 Aligning parts to be fitted together
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 55/26 Racks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53087 with signal, scale, illuminator, or optical viewer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5383 having fluid operator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53978 including means to relatively position plural work parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53983 Work-supported apparatus

Abstract

A portable apparatus for locating gear rack segments for mounting in a traction system for a shipboard gantry crane which rides on the T-rail for the gantry crane. The apparatus has a roller which bears against a datum rail parallel to the T-rail for laterally locating a drive pinion on the gantry crane. A clamping jaw and pitch block assembly on the apparatus holds a rack segment so that its mesh with the drive pinion defines a predetermined operating pitch plane while the rack segment is welded to a supporting structure.

Claims

1. An apparatus for positioning a gear element for mounting, the combination comprising:

a chassis having a vertical guide and support means to locate it in a vertical plane and to support it, a lateral guide and support means to locate it in a horizontal plane and support it laterally, a level indicator to indicate its attitude, aNd means for adjusting its attitude; and

a gear fixture having a frame supported by said chassis and a pitch block and jaw assembly for gripping a gear element and engaging teeth of said gear element to position said gear element with respect to a predetermined operating pitch surface.

2. An apparatus for positioning a gear element as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said lateral guide and support means includes means to engage a lateral reference and pressure means to continuously urge said means into engagement with said lateral reference when said apparatus is in use.

3. An apparatus for positioning a gear element as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said vertical guide and support means includes wheels to roll on a track and to support said chassis; and

said lateral guide and support means includes a guide roller to engage a datum rail and a pressure roller movably mounted to be urged continuously against a pressure rail so as to hold said guide roller in engagement with said datum rail.

4. An apparatus for positioning a gear as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a powered hoist means is mounted in said chassis to hoist said gear element to said pitch block and jaw assembly.

5. An apparatus for positioning a gear element for mounting, the combination comprising:

a chassis having support and guide means for engaging external reference surfaces to support and locate said chassis in a predetermined location with respect to a desired location for mounting a gear element;

a gear fixture including a fixture frame supported by said chassis, a spindle adjustably mounted in said fixture frame and having a mounting face on one end, a pitch block and jaw assembly releasably fastened to said mounting face and having a pitch block shaped to mesh with teeth of said gear element; and

movable jaws to releasably grip a body of said gear element to hold said gear element in meshing relationship with said pitch block.

6. An apparatus for positioning a gear element as set forth in claim 5 wherein:

said spindle is hollow and a spindle shaft is rotatably mounted inside said spindle with a threaded end projecting from said mounting face of said spindle; and

said pitch block and jaw assembly includes an actuator bar with a link adapted to be threadedly engaged by said threaded end of said spindle shaft and to be moved thereby to actuate said movable jaws.

7. An apparatus for positioning a gear element as set forth in claim 5 wherein:

said spindle is mounted for axially reciprocating movement and means are provided for axially moving said spindle such that said spindle can be automatically axially moved to at least one precisely located position.

8. An apparatus for positioning a gear element as set forth in claim 5 wherein:

a power hoist means is supported by said chassis for hoisting said gear element to said pitch block and jaw assembly and movable gear holding means are mounted on said fixture frame to hold said gear element adjacent said pitch block and jaw assembly.

9. An apparatus for positioning a gear element as set forth in claim 8 wherein:

said support and guide means include wheels for moving said chassis to different gear element mounting locations and to carry said gear elements to said mounting locations.