US3698265A

US3698265A - Power transmitting drive apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3698265A
Application number: US107439A
Authority: US
Inventors: John E Williams
Original assignee: North American Rockwell Corp
Current assignee: Boeing North American Inc
Priority date: 1971-01-18
Filing date: 1971-01-18
Publication date: 1972-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 1989-10-17
Also published as: CA936712A

Abstract

A power transmitting drive apparatus for distributing power from a single power source to a plurality of power consuming mechanisms such as fluid pumps. The apparatus includes a housing and a positively located power input means rotatably mounted in the housing. A plurality of positively located power output means are rotatably mounted in the housing but spaced from the input means. At least two intermediate drive means, each of which is driven by the input means and drives a plurality of output means, are rotatably supported in the housing by stationary support means of sufficiently great dimensions that the location of the intermediate drive means can be varied, thereby allowing different sizes of intermediate drive means to be utilized and various power consuming mechanisms to have different drive ratios.

Description

United States Patent Williams POWER TRANSMITTING DRIVE APPARATUS John E. Williams, Oshkosh, Wis.

North American Rockwell Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Filed: Jan. 18, 1971 Appl. No.: 107,439

Inventor:

Assignee:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Schultz ..74/665 GD X Emrick ..74/665 GA Quinn ..418/199 X Schou ..74/665 GA X Oct. 1 7, 1972 Primary Examiner-Leonard H. Gerin AttorneyJohn R. Bronaugh, Floyd S. Levison, E. Dennis OConnor and Richard A. Speer ABSTRACT A power transmitting drive apparatus for distributing power from a single power source to a plurality of power consuming mechanisms such as fluid pumps.

The apparatus includes a housing and a positively located power input means rotatably mounted in the housing. A plurality of positively located power output means are rotatably mounted in the housing but spaced from the input means. At least two intermediate drive means, each of which is driven by the input means and drives a plurality of output means, are rotatably supported in the housing by stationary support means of sufiiciently great dimensions that the location of the intermediate drive means can be varied, thereby allowing different sizes of intermediate drive means to be utilized and various power consuming mechanisms to have different drive ratios.

8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTE D UB7 17 I97? 3. 6 98,265

SHEET 1 OF 2 EN TOR PATENIEBum 171912 3.698.265

saw 2 or 2 I INVENTOR.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is well known in the fluid pumping art to utilize a single source of power or motor to drive a plurality of individual pumps. Among the many readily appreciable advantages attendant such an expedient are reduced power take off apparatus requirements, pump'space compactness and simplification of construction and maintenance. A common multiple pump drive arrangement is the so-called four pump drive wherein a single power source is utilized to drive four separate pumps. A typical four pump drive is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 2,432,825,issued Dec. 16, 1947.

As is common knowledge, commercially available fluid pumps are somewhat standardized with respect to pumping capacity. Since fluid pump applications encompass an infinity of fluid flow and pressure requirements, it often is desirable to drive similar pumps at various speeds and power levels. Multiple pump drive arrangements, however, conventionally have provided only for a uniform driving of the pumps connected to the single power input. In a four pump drive, for example, if different drive ratios were desired for the two sets of pumps, it was necessary to custom design the drive apparatus for the particular drive ratios desired. A slight change in the required drive ratios would necessitate a substantial redesign of the apparatus.

It is an object of this invention to provide a multiple drive arrangement whereby power is distributed from a single source to a plurality of power consuming mechanisms such as fluid pumps and where different desired mechanism drive ratios may be obtained by a simple and small variance in the manufacturing process and the substitution of a key part. This invention thus provides a multiple drive apparatus of flexible basic design that utilizes essentially standardized parts to obtain various drive ratios.

In particular, this invention provides a four pump drive in which the two pairs of driven pumps may have different and various desired drive ratios but where the drive apparatus housing, input gear and output gears remain unchanged. In addition, this four pump drive is of simple design and is easy to construct and reliable in operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A power transmitting drive apparatus for distributing power from a single power source to a plurality of power consuming mechanisms such as fluid pumps and constructed in accordance with this invention includes a housing structure defining a chamber. Rotatable power input means positively is located within the housing structure and operatively is connected to a source of power. At least two intermediate power transmitting means are rotatably driven by the power input means. These intermediate power transmitting means are supported within the housing chamber by stationary support means that comprise a part of the housing structure. Each of the intermediate means drives a plurality of rotatable power output means that are positively located and supported by the housing structure within the chamber and are operatively connected to the power consuming mechanisms. Each of the support means has a sufficient dimension along a line extending between the center of rotation of the input means and the center of rotation of each of the intermediate means that each of said intermediate means can be mounted with its center of rotation at various locations along this line. This allows the inclusion of various sizes of intermediate means giving various final drive ratios for the power consuming mechanisms driven by each of the intermediate means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation view, with part broken away and some hidden lines shown in phantom, of a power transmitting drive apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 denotes generally the power transmitting drive apparatus of this invention illustrated in the form of a four pump drive. This apparatus includes a housing comprising a generally flat housing segment 12 and a mating housing part 14 that is generally C-shaped in cross section. The interface between

housing parts

12 and 14 is sealed with a gasket 16 and the housing parts are secured together by peripheral fasteners 18 and inter nal fasteners 20, the latter fasteners extending through part 12 and into a raised projection 22 (FIG. 2) extending internally from housing part 14. Together, these housing parts define an internal chamber 24.

A power input shaft 26 has one end thereof remote from apparatus 10 connected to a source of power such as an electric or internal combustion motor. (not illustrated). Conventionally, the connection between such a power input shaft and the source of power is through a clutch member. Shaft 26 has a journal portion 28 that is rotatably supported by a bearing 30 mounted in an aperture extending through housing part 14. As viewed in FIG. 2, movement of bearing 30 towards the right is prevented by snap ring 32, and movement of bearing 30 towards the left is prevented by its abutment against a dust cover 34 (part shown) that is secured to housing part 14 by fastener 36. The dust cover 34 may be used to protect shaft 26 and its associated clutch from dirt or contact by other foreign substances. Shaft 36 extends through a central opening in dust cover 34 in which opening is located a seal 38.

The end of shaft 26 located within chamber 24 has splines 42 formed thereon. Splines 42 mate with internal splines 44 of a power input gear 46, centrally located with respect to the composite housing. As best may be seen in FIG. 1, input gear 46 meshes with and drives each of two idler gears 48 located on opposite sides of gear 46.

The mounting of the idler gears 48 best may be appreciated with reference to FIG. 2 wherein only one of these idler gears is illustrated. Housing part 12 has a thickened portion forming a raised boss 50 that registers across chamber 24 with a raised boss 52 formed on housing part 14. Bosses 50 and 52 have

openings

54 and 56 respectively that extend through the walls of

housing parts

12 and 14.

Bearings

58 and 60 are mounted in

boss openings

54 and 56 respectively and these openings are sealed by snap plugs 62 and 64. Bosses 50 and 52 thus function as journal boxes for the idler gears. Additional details of the mounting of idler gears 48 will be set forth below.

Each of the idler gears 48 drives a pair of power output gears 66 as best may be seen in FIG. 1. The output gears 66 to the left of the center line of the apparatus are driven by one idler gear, while the output gears 66 to the right of center are driven by the other idler gear. As may be seen in FIG. 2, the output gears 66 (one shown) are mounted similarly to the mounting of idler gears 48.

Housing parts

12 and 14 have formed thereon

bosses

68 and 70 respectively. An opening 69 in boss 68 extends through housing portion 12 while an opening 71 in boss 70 does not extend through housing part 14 and thus forms only a recess therein. Bearings 72 and 74 are supported in

bosses

68 and 70 respectively and rotatably support output gears 66.

As may be seen from the output gear 66 illustrated in FIG. 2, this gear is formed with a central passageway 76 extending therethrough in which internal splines (not numbered) are formed. Passage 76 receives in driving relation a splined shaft 78 that constitutes the power input shaft of a pump 80 having a flange 82 extending therefrom that is secured to housing part 12 by fasteners 84 that extend into pretapped holes 86. It is to be understood that although only one pump 80 is illustrated, in actuality there are four of such pumps, each pump corresponding to one of the four power output gears 66.

As best may be seen from FIG. 1, the thickened portions of housing member 12 constituting bosses 50 generally are elliptical in shape with the major axis of the elliptical shape coinciding with a line through the center of rotation 88 of drive gear 46 and the centers of rotation 90 of idler gears 48. The thickened portions of the housing part forming bosses 52 are at least coextensive with the thickened portion of housing part 12 forming bosses 50.

As illustrated, centers of rotation 90 also are the centers of the circular openings 54 formed in bosses 50. It also is true that centers of rotation 90 are the centers of round openings 56 formed in bosses 52. Because of the elliptical shape described above, it readily may be appreciated that the location of centers of rotation-opening centers 90 may be varied along the line extending through centers 90 and center of rotation 88. For pur poses of clarity the outer limits of the possible locations of centers 90 are identified by reference numeral 92 and the inner limits of the possible locations of centers 90 are identified by the reference numeral 94.

Since the design of drive apparatus 12 allows for a variance in the location of centers 90 and the center 88 is fixed, as are the centers of rotation 96 of output gears 66, it readily may be appreciated that by varying the location of centers 90, the size of idler gears 48 may be varied. Of course, varying the sizes of the idler gears varies the final drive ratios of output gears 66 and pumps 80.

The flexibility in pump drive ratios yielded by apparatus 10 may be appreciated by considering an application of apparatus 10 wherein the left hand drive gears 66 as viewed in FIG. 1 are required to have a different drive ratio than the right hand drive gears. During the manufacture of apparatus 10, the center 90 to the left of center 88 would be at a first distance from center 88 while the right hand center 90 would be at a different distance from center 88.

Boss openings

54 and 56 would be drilled accordingly and the idler gears 48 assembled would have different sizes depending on the position of the centers 90. Naturally, an infinite number of combinations of final drive ratios for each pair of output gears can be provided.

It thus may be appreciated that this invention provides a multiple drive arrangement for distributing power from a single source to a plurality of power consuming mechanisms such as fluid pumps and where different desired mechanism drive ratios may be provided by the simple expedient of varying the location of the boss openings and varying the sizes of idler gears assembled. These variances may be accomplished utilizing standard parts designed to accommodate such changes.

In particular, the multiple drive arrangement of this invention is useful as a four pump drive in which one pair of driven pumps may have a drive ratio different from the other pair of pumps but where the drive apparatus housing (prior to final machining), input gear and output gears are identical regardless of final drive ratios.

lclaim:

l. A power transmitting drive apparatus for transmitting power from a single power source to a plurality of power consuming mechanisms, said apparatus comprising: housing structure, rotatable power input means positively positioned within said housing structure and operatively connected to a source of power, at least two intermediate power transmitting means rotatably driven by said power input means and supported within said housing structure by stationary support means that comprise a part of said housing structure, each of said intermediate means driving a plurality of power output means positively positioned and supported within said housing structure and operatively connected to said power consuming mechanisms, the improvement comprising each of said support means having a sufficient dimension along a line extending between the center of rotation of said input means and the center of rotation of each of said intermediate means that the latter can be mounted with its center of rotation at various locations along said line.

2. The drive apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing structure includes a housing main body and said support means includes a journal box for each of said intermediate means.

3. The drive apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of said journal boxes integrally is formed with said main body and is substantially elliptical in cross section and has a long axis lying along said line and a short axis extending normal to said line.

4. A four pump drive apparatus for transmitting power from a single power source to each of a plurality of fluid pumps, said apparatus comprising: a housing main body, a drive gear centrally located and rotatably supported within said housing and being operatively connected to a source of power, a pair of idler gears driven by said drive gear and supported within said housing on opposite sides of said drive gear with the centers of rotation of said idler gears lying along a line passing through the center of rotation of said drive gear, said idler gears being supported by bearings mounted in openings formed in bearing support webs extending from said housing main body, four power output gears operatively connected to and driving four pumps, said output gears each being rotatably supported in one quadrant of said housing with a pair of said output gears being driven by each of said idler gears, said webs having a sufficient dimension along said line such that the locations of said openings can vary and each of said idler gears can be mounted with its center of rotation positioned at various locations along said line, whereby different sized idler gears can be utilized to drive each pair of output gears.

5. A four pump drive apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said webs substantially are elliptical in shape and have a major axis lying along said line.

6. A four pump drive apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said openings are circular and each of said webs has a dimension along said major axis such that the position of the center of each of said openings can vary along said axis.

7. A housing for drive apparatus for transmitting power from a power source to a plurality of power consuming mechanisms, said housing having a main body defining a chamber, a centrally located main body wall portion defining a first opening and comprising a journal bearing support for an input shaft operatively connected to said power source and mounting a positively located drive gear on one end thereof within said chamber, first boss means in each of four housing quadrants extending from said main body wall into said chamber for supporting bearings for each of four positively located output gears that :is spaced from said input gear and is operatively connected to a power consuming mechanism, a pair of second boss means extending from said main body wall on opposite sides of said wall portion for supporting bearings for a pair of variably located idler gears, each of said idler gears being driven by said drive gear and driving a pair of said output gears, said second boss means each defining at least one circular second opening, the centers of said second openings lying on a line passing through the center of said first opening, said second boss means each having a sufficient dimension along said line such that the locations of the centers of said second openings can vary and different sized idler gears can be mounted by each of said second boss means.

8. A housing according to claim 7, wherein each of said second boss means is substantially elliptical in shape and has a major axis lying along said line.

Claims

1. A power transmitting drive apparatus for transmitting power from a single power source to a plurality of power consuming mechanisms, said apparatus comprising: housing structure, rotatable power input means positively positioned within said housing structure and operatively connected to a source of power, at least two intermediate power transmitting means rotatably driven by said power input means and supported within said housing structure by stationary support means that comprise a part of said housing structure, each of said intermediate means driving a plurality of power output means positively positioned and supported within said housing structure and operatively connected to said power consuming mechanisms, the improvement comprising each of said support means having a sufficient dimension along a line extending between the center of rotation of said input means and the center of rotation of each of said intermediate means that the latter can be mounted with its center of rotation at various locations along said line.

7. A housing for drive apparatus for transmitting power from a power source to a plurality of power consuming mechanisms, said housing having a main body defining a chamber, a centrally located main body wall portion defining a first opening and comprising a journal bearing support for an input shaft operatively connected to said power source and mounting a positively located drive gear on one end thereof within said chamber, first boSs means in each of four housing quadrants extending from said main body wall into said chamber for supporting bearings for each of four positively located output gears that is spaced from said input gear and is operatively connected to a power consuming mechanism, a pair of second boss means extending from said main body wall on opposite sides of said wall portion for supporting bearings for a pair of variably located idler gears, each of said idler gears being driven by said drive gear and driving a pair of said output gears, said second boss means each defining at least one circular second opening, the centers of said second openings lying on a line passing through the center of said first opening, said second boss means each having a sufficient dimension along said line such that the locations of the centers of said second openings can vary and different sized idler gears can be mounted by each of said second boss means.