Gear backlash elimination and adjustable gear backlash mechanism

• US 6,997,076 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2003
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust), Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Menjak, Damir, Menjak, Ratko
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyce, William C
• Application Number:
  US10/364,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20040154422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 744/09, 744/40, 744/92
• US Class Current: 74/409
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/105 Non-rotatable hubs, e.g. the central part of the steering wheel not rotating
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/008 Changing the transfer ratio between the steering wheel and the steering gear by variable supply of energy, e.g. by using a superposition gear
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/104 having retaining means rotating with the coupling and acting only by friction
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 55/18 Special devices for taking up backlash for gears having orbital motion F16H1/2863
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0006 Vibration-damping or noise reducing means specially adapted for gearings devices for varying tension of belts, ropes or chains with damping means F16H7/0829; toothed members with construction providing vibration damping F16H55/14; reducing vibrations or noise of the gearbox casing F16H57/028; suppression of vibrations or noise of gear selectors F16H59/0208; control of hydrostatic fluid gearing preventing or reducing vibrations or noise F16H61/4183
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19623 Backlash take-up
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19898 Backlash take-up

Abstract

The gear mechanism for minimizing backlash may include a convoluted spring positioned between an external spline of a gear or shaft and an internal spline of a gear. The gear mechanism may include a cam and cam follower arrangement upon two adjacent gears positioned on the same shaft. Two stacked gears may include a U-shaped backlash eliminating element passing through both gears. The gear mechanism may include rollers which may be conically shaped.

Claims

1. A gear transmission for minimizing backlash, the gear transmission comprising:

a first shaft;

a first roller slidably positioned on the first shaft;

a first gear positioned on the first shaft;

a second shaft;

a second roller positioned on the second shaft and adjacent the first roller; and

, a second gear positioned on the second shaft and adjacent the first gear;

wherein the first roller and the second roller abut when teeth of the first gear mesh with teeth of the second gear.

2. The gear transmission of claim 1 wherein the first roller includes an outer layer of an elastic material.

3. The gear transmission of claim 1 further comprising a tolerance ring installed between the second shaft and the second roller.

4. The gear transmission of claim 1 wherein the first roller and the second roller are truncated conically shaped rollers, wherein an outer conical face of the first roller rolls along an outer conical face of the second roller.

5. The gear transmission of claim 4 further comprising an adjustable spring on the first shaft, the adjustable spring adjusting an amount of force applied by the first roller onto the second roller.

6. The gear transmission of claim 5 further comprising a nut for adjusting and securing the spring in a selected position.

7. The gear transmission of claim 4 further comprising an adjustable spring on the second shaft adjacent the second roller, the adjustable spring adjusting an amount of force applied by the second roller onto the first roller, and further comprising a nut for adjusting and securing the spring in a selected position.

8. The gear transmission of claim 7 wherein the second roller includes a recess for receiving the spring.

9. The gear transmission of claim 4 wherein a conical angle of the first roller is substantially the same as a conical angle of the second roller.

10. The gear transmission of claim 1 further comprising a third shaft, a third roller positioned on the third shaft, a third gear positioned on the third shaft, a fourth roller positioned on the first shaft, and a fourth gear positioned on the fourth shaft, wherein roller faces of the third roller and the fourth roller abut when teeth of the third gear and the fourth gear mesh.

11. The gear transmission of claim 10 wherein the first roller, second roller, third roller, and fourth roller are truncated conically shaped.

12. The gear transmission of claim 1 wherein the first shaft has a cup shaped end, the first gear and the first roller positioned on the first shaft within the cup shaped end, the second gear positioned within the first gear and the second roller positioned within the first roller.

13. The gear transmission of claim 12 wherein the first roller and the second roller include truncated conically shaped roller faces which abut when teeth of the first gear and second gear mesh.

14. The gear transmission of claim 13 further comprising a spring positioned between the second roller and the second gear.

15. The gear transmission of claim 1 wherein a smaller diameter of the first roller is adjacent to a larger diameter of the second roller.

16. The gear transmission of claim 1 wherein the first shaft is parallel to the second shaft.

17. The gear transmission of claim 1 wherein a bearing is positioned on an exterior side of the first roller.

18. The gear transmission of claim 1 wherein a bearing is positioned on an exterior side of the second roller.

19. The gear transmission of claim 1 further comprising a bearing positioned between the first gear and the first roller.

20. The gear transmission of claim 1 further comprising a bearing positioned between the second gear and the second roller.

21. A gear transmission for minimizing backlash, the gear transmission comprising:

a first shaft;

a first roller positioned on the first shaft;

a first gear positioned on the first shaft;

a spring positioned between the first gear and the first roller;

a second shaft;

a second roller positioned on the second shaft and adjacent the first roller; and

,

a second gear positioned on the second shaft and adjacent the first gear;

wherein the first roller and the second roller abut when teeth of the first gear mesh with teeth of the second gear.

22. The gear transmission of claim 21 wherein the first roller is capable of axial movement during operation.

23. The gear transmission of claim 21 wherein the spring is a disc spring.