Patent ID: 6189397
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
A multi-speed transmission comprising:a drive shaft having an axis;a first pair of helical cut drive gears mounted on said drive shaft for rotation by said drive shaft and restrained from separating from one another in the axial direction of said drive shaft more than a preselected spaced apart distance;a first idler shaft disposed parallel to said drive shaft, thereby having an axis parallel to the axis of said drive shaft;a first pair of helical cut driven gears mounted on said first idler shaft for rotating said first idler shaft when said first pair of helical cut driven gears mounted on said first idler shaft selectively engage and mate said first pair of helical cut drive gears mounted on said drive shaft;said first pair of helical cut driven gears mounted on said first idler shaft being further mounted on said first idler shaft for axial movement on said first idler shaft;a second idler shaft disposed parallel to said drive shaft, thereby having an axis parallel to the axis of said drive shaft and parallel to the axis of said first idler shaft;a first pair of helical cut driven gears mounted on said second idler shaft for rotating said second idler shaft when said first pair of helical cut driven gears mounted on said second idler shaft selectively engage and mate said first pair of helical cut drive gears mounted on said drive shaft;said first pair of helical cut driven gears mounted on said second idler shaft being further mounted on said second idler shaft for axial movement on said second idler shaft;said helical cut on said first pair of drive gears being opposite to said helical cut on said first pair of driven gears mounted on said first idler shaft and being oriented to cause said first pair of driven gears mounted on said first idler shaft to move toward one another in the axial direction of said first idler shaft when said first pair of drive gears are selectively engaged and mated by said first pair of driven gears mounted on said first idler shaft for rotation thereof;said helical cut on said first pair of drive gears being opposite to said helical cut on said first pair of driven gears mounted on said second idler shaft and being oriented to cause said first pair of driven gears mounted on said second idler shaft to move toward one another in the axial direction of said second idler shaft when said first pair of drive gears are selectively engaged and mated by said first pair of driven gears mounted on said second idler shaft for rotation thereof.