Patent ID: 6058793
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: F16H,H02K,Y10T

Abstract:
A speed reducer comprising:a gearbox housing having a base and an and an outer wall extending up from and enclosing the base to form a lubricant sump, the base having a hole and an inner wall surrounding the hole and extending upwardly into the lubricant sump to provide a dry well;a substantially vertically oriented input drive shaft rotatably mounted within the gearbox housing and extending below an upper surface of lubricant in the lubricant sump and adapted to be rotatably driven by a motor;a substantially vertically oriented output shaft connected to be rotatably driven by the input shaft, the output shaft being positioned to extend through the dry well and outwardly from an underside of the base;an upper output shaft bearing mounted in the gearbox housing and supporting an upper portion of the output shaft; anda lower output shaft bearing mounted in the base beneath the dry well and supporting a lower portion of said output shaft;the base including a recess below and concentric with the dry well, the lower output bearing being mounted within the recess; andthe lower output bearing being larger in diameter than the upper output shaft bearing;whereby thrust and bending loads applied to the output shaft are transmitted through the lower bearing to the base.