Patent GB-704344-A (GB)
Title: Self-contained power drive unit for endless belts, winch cables or the like
IPC: B66D1/12
Filed: 1951-02-05
Abstract: 704,344. Conveyers; winding and paying-out apparatus. CHRISTIAN, J. D. Feb. 5, 1951, No.2827/51. Classes 78 (1) and 78 (5) [Also in Groups XXIV and XXXV] A power drive unit for endless conveyers, driving belts, winch cables &c. consists of a prime mover, the casing of which has a first extension thereon, a speed change unit, the casing of which has a second extension thereon, each of which extensions is fixed in a support, and a drum mounted by its end walls on the respective extensions by bearings coaxial with the prime mover drive shaft, said speed change unit comprising a first gear on the prime mover drive shaft, a second gear coaxial therewith and drivingly connected to the drum, and third and fourth gears rigidly connected together and meshing respectively with the first gear and the second gear to drive the second gear from the first gear. In one form, Fig. 2, end casing 53 of motor 1 has an integral extension 4 secured in a fixed mounting 28, and a two-part gear box casing 56, 57 has fixed between the two parts an extension 7 secured in a second fixed mounting 28. A driving drum 3 is supported by its two end walls 22, 23 on the extensions 4, 7 by means of ball bearings 5, 8. The drum also has a middle wall 24 having an integral bearing member 14 for supporting the inner ends of the motor and gearbox, the former being supported by its drive shaft 6 running in a bearing 17 while the latter is supported by a bearing 18. The motor drive shaft 6 is extended through a bearing 20 in the extension 4, the remote end being adapted for coupling to an external drive in case the motor 1 fails. A shaft 9 is supported in a bearing 16 within member 14 and is coupled by a dog clutch 21 to the inner end of shaft 6. A pinion 10 on shaft 9 drives a gear 11 on a layshaft (behind shaft 9 as shown) and the layshaft has a further pinion (not shown) which drives a gear 13 fixed to member 14 and so drives the drum. A fan 26 on shaft 6 blows air through openings 25 in the walls 22, 23, 24, of the drum to cool the motor. Each wall 22, 23, 24 consists of a disc detachable from an annular flange on the drum for allowing removal of components. The gear box is lubricated by an inclined tube 31 which screws into an opening 38 in the bottom of the box to block the opening, lubricant passing into the box through a hole 32 in the tube. By unscrewing the tube 31, the lubricant is allowed to drain through opening 38 into a drain pipe passed through one of the holes 25 and screwed into the opening. The upper end of tube 31 has a cap fitted with a dipstick 35. In another form, Fig. 6, the motor casing 131 has at one end a wall 137 for the bearing 136 for the drive shaft 134, and beyond wall 137 is a deflector baffle 192 provided with an extension 117 fixed to a support 119. Between wall -137 and baffle 192 is a fan 191 mounted on the shaft 134 to blow air over the motor and gearbox. The gear box 109 is fixed by its wall 139 to casing 131 the other bearing 138 for the shaft 134 being mounted in wall 139. An extension 118 integral with wall 139 is fixed in a second support 119. A pinion 151 on shaft 134 drives a gear 152 on a layshaft 153, gear 152 projecting through a hole in the extension 118. A pinion 157 on layshaft 153 drives gear 158 which is mounted on bearing 162 on extension 118 and is provided with a boss 161 to which is bolted a coupling plate 172, mounted on bearing 116 on extension 118 and supporting end wall 112 of the drum 107. A pin 171 detachably secured to plate 172 transmits the drive through a flexible sleeve 173 to end wall 112 of the drum. The other end wall 111 of the drum is mounted on a bearing 114 on extension 117. The shell 123 of the drum is engaged within flanges 122 on the end walls 111, 112 and is held in place by through bolts 121 alternating around the periphery with grub screws 194. Lubricant is supplied to the gearbox through a hole 181 in the drum by a filler cap 183. Oil is drained through another hole 181 by a connection 188 provided with a sight tube 187.