Quick change gear apparatus
First Claim
1. In a machine assembly containing a gear on a cantilevered gear shaft, said shaft having a radial extremity and including a shoulder spaced from said extremity, said gear defining an inner diameter and means therein for ensuring direct and positive rotation of said gear with said shaft, said gear being positioned on said shaft in abutting relationship with said shoulder, and apparatus on said shaft for retaining said gear axially on said shaft;
- an improvement in said apparatus comprising means for making a quick gear change, said means including a spacer comprising an inner diameter and positioned thereon about said shaft, said spacer adapted to abut said gear while the gear is disposed on the shaft against said shoulder, a C-washer positioned adjacent said extremity of the shaft and disposed in abutting relationship with said spacer, said C-washer comprising a slot extending radially outwardly from its center, said C-washer being disposed for radial installation adjacent said spacer via said slot, said shaft containing a threaded aperture in said extremity, a threaded fastener extending coaxially with said shaft in engagement with said threaded aperture, said threaded fastener including a threaded shaft portion and a separate head portion having an outer diameter larger than the width of said slot, but wherein said head portion outer diameter is smaller than the inner diameters of said spacer and said gear, whereby said spacer and gear can be axially removed from said shaft after (1) loosening said threaded fastener, and (2) radially removing said C-washer, and wherein said means for insuring direct and positive rotation of said gear with said shaft comprises internal splines on said gear and external splines on said shaft for mating with said splines on said gear, and wherein said C-washer contains a counterbore in one side thereof which abuts said spacer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A quick change gear apparatus provides a system which shortens time of spindle machine gear changes to approximately ten percent of that previously required for gear change operations. In a preferred form, the apparatus includes a cylindrical spacer juxtaposed against a face of a gear which is secured between the spacer and a shoulder on a gear shaft. A split washer is also employed to permit the quick change operation by virtue of the loosening of a cap screw secured in a free end of the gear shaft. The cap screw contains a head which retains the split washer and assures that the split washer is urged axially against the spacer and gear members on the shaft. A partial turn of the cap screw will enable radial removal of the split washer, to thereby permit subsequent axial removals of the spacer and gear.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. In a machine assembly containing a gear on a cantilevered gear shaft, said shaft having a radial extremity and including a shoulder spaced from said extremity, said gear defining an inner diameter and means therein for ensuring direct and positive rotation of said gear with said shaft, said gear being positioned on said shaft in abutting relationship with said shoulder, and apparatus on said shaft for retaining said gear axially on said shaft;
- an improvement in said apparatus comprising means for making a quick gear change, said means including a spacer comprising an inner diameter and positioned thereon about said shaft, said spacer adapted to abut said gear while the gear is disposed on the shaft against said shoulder, a C-washer positioned adjacent said extremity of the shaft and disposed in abutting relationship with said spacer, said C-washer comprising a slot extending radially outwardly from its center, said C-washer being disposed for radial installation adjacent said spacer via said slot, said shaft containing a threaded aperture in said extremity, a threaded fastener extending coaxially with said shaft in engagement with said threaded aperture, said threaded fastener including a threaded shaft portion and a separate head portion having an outer diameter larger than the width of said slot, but wherein said head portion outer diameter is smaller than the inner diameters of said spacer and said gear, whereby said spacer and gear can be axially removed from said shaft after (1) loosening said threaded fastener, and (2) radially removing said C-washer, and wherein said means for insuring direct and positive rotation of said gear with said shaft comprises internal splines on said gear and external splines on said shaft for mating with said splines on said gear, and wherein said C-washer contains a counterbore in one side thereof which abuts said spacer.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
Specification