Patent ID: 8814746
Filing Date: 2014-08-26
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
1. A planetary gear system organized about a main axis and comprising: a shaft located along the main axis with its axis coinciding with the main axis; a sun gear mounted on the shaft and having first and second helical teeth arranged at opposite angles; a ring gear located around the sun gear and having first and second helical teeth presented inwardly toward the first and second teeth, respectively, of the sun gear, with the first and second teeth of the ring gear also being arranged at opposite angles; first planet pinions having helical teeth engaged with the first helical teeth of the sun and ring gears, whereby the first pinions will exert axial forces on the sun gear; second planet pinions detached from the first pinions and having helical teeth engaged with the second helical teeth of the sun and ring gears, whereby the second pinions will exert axial forces on the sun gear in opposition to the axial forces exerted by the first pinions, each second pinion being generally aligned with a first pinion along an offset axis that is substantially parallel to the main axis; a carrier having a first end wall located opposite the first pinions and a second end wall located opposite the second pinions and also webs connecting the first and second walls; first flexpin assemblies connecting the first planet pinions to the first end wall of the carrier such that the first pinions do not displace axially with respect to the carrier; second flexpin assemblies connecting the second planet pinions to the second end wall of the carrier such that the second pinions do not displace axially with respect to the carrier; the sun gear being mounted such that it can shift axially relative to the first and second pinions to assume a neutral position in which the axial forces exerted by the first pinions equal the axial forces exerted by the second pinions.