Patent ID: 6626788
Filing Date: 2003-09-30
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
A gear drive system comprising:a housing having a cavity, a service port in communication with the cavity, and a pair of opposed, apertures in communication with the cavity, each of the apertures aligned along a longitudinal axis of the housing; a first output shaft positioned in one of the apertures and being at least substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the housing, the first output shaft having a first inboard end within the cavity; a second output shaft positioned in the other of the apertures and being at least substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the housing, the second output shaft having a second inboard end within the cavity; a first gear positioned on the inboard end of the first output shaft; a second gear positioned on the inboard end of the second output shaft, at least one of the first and second gears having a predefined range of travel in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the housing; a gear assembly within the cavity in operative engagement with the first and second gears, the gear assembly for transferring power to the first and second output shafts via the first and second gears; a spacer positioned proximate the service port and between the housing and one of the first and second gears, the spacer being configured to preclude movement of the at least one of the first and second gears in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the housing through at least substantially all the predefined range of travel; and a cover for covering at least a portion of the service port, the cover having a land, the land being proximate the spacer and retaining the spacer in position between the housing and the one of the first and second gears.