GB2416816A

GB2416816A - Gearbox with gears meshed with gears fixed on an engine crankshaft

Info

Publication number: GB2416816A
Application number: GB0417093A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Herbert Brook
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-07-30
Filing date: 2004-07-30
Publication date: 2006-02-08
Also published as: GB0417093D0

Abstract

A variable ratio power transfer gearbox unit comprises a single shaft with freewheeling gear wheels (c) fixed to the shaft by locking mechanisms having a splined clutch plate (f) which engages with splines on the shaft and is pressed against a distance piece (d) that is either bolted to or cast with the wheel (c). A pressure ring and bearing (g) are forced against the clutch plate (f) by a hollow expanding pressure cylinder (h) which may be hydraulic, air, vacuum pressure or electrically operated. The freewheeling gear wheels (c) mesh with gears (a) that are fixed on a crankshaft of an engine having an engine block to which a housing of the gearbox is attached via bolts or studs. Alternatively the gearbox housing is cast with the engine block as one unit. The gearbox housing is attached to the engine block so that the gearbox unit is adjacent to and parallel with the crankshaft.

Description

Single Shaft Gearbox This invention simplifies the transmission of an

internal combustion engines power output to its driving load.

Gearboxes are added to the end of an engines crankshaft so that different output speeds can be attained, depending upon the load applied. The current design takes up valuable space, engine power to drive them and in automatic configuration are expensive to make.

To overcome these problems this invention repositions the gearbox and replaces the power sapping internal construction of manual and automatic gearboxes with a single shaft gearbox having fixed gear wheels, freewheeling gear wheels and locking mechanisms.

The size, weight and complex mechanical arrangements are reduced and can be repaired by a competent mechanic Referring to the accompanying drawings can see an example of this invention: - figure 1 shows the normal gearbox attached to one end of an engine, and - figure 2 shows the new layout of engine and gearbox alongside and parallel to each other - figure 3 shows the new arrangement of the engine's crankshaft with various fixed size gear wheels (a) - figure 4 shows the freewheeling gearwheels and their locking mechanisms encased in a cover or shroud (p) to stop oil ingress and contamination.

- figure 5 shows the exploded view of the components of the single shaft gearbox - figure 6 shows a representative view of bare single output shaft used in this invention.

A detailed explanation of the workings of this invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: (all parts are labelled a to z) - figure 5 shows an exploded view of the free-wheel gear (c) and components distance piece (d) is either bolted to or cast with the freewheeling gear (c) and incorporates an oil seal (e). The distance piece (d) has a machined face so that the clutch plate (f) can be pressed against it. The internal splines of the clutch plate (f) locate on the splines of the output shaft (b) figure 6. The clutch plate (f) is pressed against the distance piece (d) by the pressure ring and bearing (g) which in turn is forced against the clutch plate (f) by the hollow expanding pressure cylinder (h). The pressure ring and bearing (g) is located into the hollow expanding pressure cylinder (h) by a carrier. The pressure ring (g) incorporates an oil seal (i) so as to keep out oil and any other contaminates. Over the distance piece (d), clutch plate (f) and pressure ring (g) is a cover or shroud (p) figure 4 to stop the ingress of oil and other contaminates.

- figure 7 shows the single output shaft and its components (r) to be fasten to the engine mounts (q) by machined caps (n) and split white metal bearings (m) and have thrust bearings (o) facing the freewheel gear (c). The machined cap (n) also locates the hollow expanding pressure cylinder (h) and so holding the pressure ring and bearing (g) by means of the carrier.

- figure 8 shows an idler gear wheel and shaft (s) if one is needed between a fixed gear wheel and the freewheeling gear on the single shaft arrangement to provide a reverse motion if needed.(locking mechanism not shown for clarity).

By supplying pressure to the hollow expanding pressure cylinder (h) the freewheel gear is locked to the clutch plate (f) by the pressure ring and bearing (g) and so power is transmitted from the fixed gear wheel (a) (figure 3) to the output shaft (b) and then on to the load the engine is moving.

The hollow expanding pressure cylinder can be operated by; hydraulic fluid, engines own or an independent supply, electrical motor and /or air pressure or vacuum or a combination of any of these.

Claims

Claims 1. A single shaft gearbox that is fixed to an engines block having

fixed gear wheel on the crankshaft, freewheeling gear wheel and locking mechanism.
2. A single shaft gearbox according to claim 1, that is parallel to an engines crankshaft.
3. A single shaft gearbox according to claim 1, that has multiple, fixed gear wheels on the crankshaft, freewheeling gear wheels and locking mechanisms.
4. A single shaft gearbox according to claim 3 that is actuated by hydraulic fluid.
5. A single shaft gearbox according to claim 3 that is actuated by an electrical operation.
6. A single shaft gearbox according to claim 3 that is actuated by compressed air pressure.
7. A single shaft gearbox according to claim 3 that is actuated by a vacuum pressure.
8. A single shaft gearbox according to claim 3, that is actuated by a combination of any of claim 5, claim 6, and claim 7.