Abstract:
A conical gear drive comprising an input element that interacts with a truncated conical gear via which an output element can be driven. A number of different output elements or variably selectable output elements should be able to be connected to the truncated conical gear drive.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a bevel gear transmission having an input drive element which interacts with a core bevel gear transmission by means of which an output drive element can be driven. 
     Bevel gear transmissions, also referred to as angular gearings, are known and available on the market in a wide variety of forms and designs. They serve essentially to redirect torque. There are therefore different basic types of bevel gear transmissions, designed for example with (hypoid transmission) or without (bevel gear transmissions) an axial offset. Said transmissions differ substantially in terms of their input drive subassemblies and are therefore designed differently. 
     Conventional bevel gear transmissions are also known which can be produced in different sizes and can be produced in an expensive and complex fashion with different subassemblies as separate series in each case. 
     A disadvantage of the previous bevel gear transmissions is that separate housings, separate units and separate production lines are generally necessary to produce a bevel gear transmission with different input drives. 
     EP 0 517 387 A2 discloses a tool adapter which redirects an input drive torque through an angle to provide an output drive torque. A conventional angular gearing is used here. 
     EP 1 326 032 A1 discloses a type series of differently-dimensioned electric motors, each of which has a transmission flange-mounted onto the output drive side. The transmission is embodied as a separate component. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,037 B1 describes a modular transmission system in which different electric motors can be connected to or flange-mounted onto the transmission. 
     DE 102 34 749 A1 discloses a bevel gear transmission in which an input drive bevel gear 8 engages in and interacts with an input drive shaft mounted on a housing. 
     FR-2 547 007 A presents a conventional common differential transmission as is also used in the field of vehicle technology. 
     The present invention is therefore based on the object of producing a universal bevel gear transmission which can be easily produced in a modular manner for different output drive variants and input drive variants. This is intended in particular to make it possible for customer-specific requests to be realized and implemented very quickly, so that a customer-specific transmission can be delivered very quickly. It is also intended to provide a bevel gear transmission which is cost-effective to produce. It is also intended to make it possible to produce a plurality of different angular gearings with one and the same core bevel gear transmission, with regard to input drive variants, with regard to output drive variants and different installation sizes, with substantially the same components. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing object is achieved by the present invention by providing a bevel gear transmission having an input drive element which interacts with a core bevel gear transmission by means of which an output drive element can be driven, characterized in that a plurality of different output drive elements or variably selectable output drive variants can be connected to the core bevel gear transmission. 
     In the case of the present invention, it has proven to be particularly advantageous for the bevel gear transmission to be formed substantially from one common, universal core bevel gear transmission in which one bevel gear is inserted and which, opposite the bevel gear, forms a universal interface I. 
     An input drive element can be plugged in perpendicularly with respect to the bevel gear or the universal interface I, which input drive element likewise forms a universal interface II for flange-mounting different selectable input drives. 
     This means that, by using two universal interfaces, any desired different bevel gear transmissions with different input drive and output drive variants can be produced for all bevel gear transmissions with variably selectable input drive elements and variably selectable output drive elements. Here, different output drive variants can be used for different kinematic properties, different output drives, for example with regard to an output drive shaft or output drive flanges. If appropriate, further output drive stages designed as single-stage or multi-stage drive output stages with different kinematic properties can be attached by means of corresponding universal interfaces and suitable interfaces. Said drive output stages can be embodied as step-down or step-up transmissions with different output drives, formed by output drive shafts or output drive flanges. 
     The same is true in the input drive region, with it being possible for different input drives, formed as planetary pre-stages or motor add-on subassemblies, to be attached at the input drive side to the common input drive element by means of the universal interface II. This makes it possible for a bevel gear transmission with the desired kinematic properties to be produced cost-effectively in a customer-specific fashion with a reduced number of components, which can also include other modules of conventional transmissions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further advantages, features and details of the invention can be gathered from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments and on the basis of the drawing, in which: 
         FIGS. 1   a  through  1   d  are schematically illustrated partially cross-sectional illustration of a bevel gear transmission, in particular angular gearing, according to the invention in modular form; 
         FIGS. 2   a  through  2   c  are longitudinal cross-sectional illustration through a region of the input drive element with two different attachable input drives; 
         FIGS. 3   a - 1  through  3   a - 5  are schematically illustrated longitudinal cross-sectional illustration through the bevel gear transmission, in particular in the region of a universal interface I with different output drive elements which can be attached thereto; 
         FIGS. 3   b - 1  through  3   b - 4  are schematically illustrated partially longitudinally cross-sectional illustration with further output drive variants, with it being possible for different output drive stages to be selectively connected by means of an interface. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In  FIGS. 1   a  through  1   d , a bevel gear transmission, embodied as an angular gearing, has a core bevel gear transmission  1  which has a housing  2 . In the housing  2 , a bevel gear  4 , if appropriate embodied as an internal bevel gear, is inserted in an opening  5  by means of a bearing  3 . 
     A universal interface I is formed in the housing  2  opposite the opening  5 , which universal interface I serves to hold and center arbitrarily selectable output drive elements  6 , as indicated merely schematically in  FIGS. 1   a  through  1   d . It is also possible if appropriate for an interface  7  to be connected instead of an output drive element  6  to the universal interface I of the core bevel gear transmission  1 , to which interface  7  any desired number of different output drive stages  8  can be attached. 
     The output drive stages  8  can be embodied as step-down transmissions or step-up transmissions. It is also possible within the scope of the present invention for the different output drive stages to be connected to an output drive shaft by means of an output drive flange  25  (see  FIGS. 3   b - 1  through  3   b - 4 ). Here, it is possible by forming a universal interface III, see  FIGS. 3   b - 1  through  3   b - 4 , for different drive output stages to be connected to the interface  7  and therefore to the core bevel gear transmission  1 . 
     Different covering elements  9  can be universally connected to the housing  2  in the region of the opening  5 , in particular in the region of the bevel gear  4 , so that the opening is completely closed off if the closed embodiment of the covering element  9  is used, or if appropriate, a plug-in opening is formed in the region of the bevel gear  4  if a covering element provided with an opening  10  is used. 
     It is also important in the case of the present invention that a receiving opening  11  is provided approximately perpendicular to the opening  5  or to the universal interface I, into which receiving opening  11  an input drive element  12  can be plugged. For this purpose, the input drive element  12  has a housing  14  which forms a flange  13  which can be connected to the housing  2  of the core bevel gear transmission  1 , in particular to the receiving opening  11 . Here, the input drive element  12  is then precisely centered with the receiving opening  11  by means of the flange  13 . If appropriate, the core bevel gear transmission  1  and the input drive element  12  are fixedly welded to one another. 
     A bevel gear shaft  15  of at least partially hollow design is mounted in bearings (not illustrated in any more detail or numbered here) within the housing  14  of the input drive element  12 . Here, the bevel gear shaft  15  is formed by a bevel pinion and a bevel pinion shaft. 
     A universal interface II is formed opposite the bevel gear  4 . It is possible, as merely indicated in  FIGS. 1   a  through  1   d , for different input drives  16  to be selectively plugged into the universal interface II as desired. Here, the input drives  16 , as illustrated in the exemplary embodiment in  FIGS. 2   a  through  2   c , can be embodied as a motor add-on subassembly  17  or a planetary pre-stage  18 . The motor add-on subassembly  17  as an input drive  16  has a preferably rigid shaft coupling  19  which has attached to it a shaft flange  20  for holding any desired motor, electric motor or the like. 
     The planetary pre-stage  18  can be embodied as a single-stage or multi-stage planetary pre-stage  18 , with the latter likewise having a shaft flange  20  for holding an electric motor or the like. 
     This makes it possible to produce different bevel gear transmissions R when different input drives, embodied as single-stage or multi-stage planetary pre-stages  18  or motor add-on subassemblies  17  are integrated and plugged in by means of a common input drive element  12 . The bevel gear shaft  15  or its bevel pinion shaft then engage, so as to be driven, into corresponding output drive shafts  21  of the motor add-on subassembly  17  or of the planetary pre-stage  18  when the latter are connected to the input drive element  12 . Here, the motor add-on subassembly  17  can be embodied as a pure shaft coupling or a shaft with an axial coupling. 
     In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention as per  FIGS. 3   a - 1  through  3   a - 5 , the bevel gear transmission R is shown in modular form, with it being possible for any desired different output drive elements  6  to be connected to the universal interface II. 
     Here, the first two output drive elements  6  are if appropriate also dimensioned differently with different flanges or shafts for different output drive variants. Corresponding hollow shafts can also form the output drive element  6 . 
     In the present invention, it is significant that customer-specific desired output drive variants can be connected as output drive elements  6  by means of the universal interface II to the core bevel gear transmission  1 , with it being possible for the shafts  22 , if appropriate also embodied as hollow shafts, of said output drive elements  6  to be connected to the bevel gear  4  of the core bevel gear transmission  1  and for corresponding flanges  23  to be connected to the housing  2  of the bevel gear transmission  1 , in particular in the region of the universal interface I. 
     In the exemplary embodiment as per  FIGS. 3   b - 1  through  3   b - 4 , it is also possible in the above described manner for the interface  7  to be universally and selectively attached to the universal interface I instead of an output drive element  6 , which interface  7  likewise has, in the above described manner, a shaft  22  and a flange  23 . 
     It is possible for output drive stages as step-up or step-down output drive stages  8  to be flange-mounted onto the interface  7  by means of a universal interface III, with the respective output drive stages  8  being of different design with regard to their kinematic properties, output drive shafts or output drive flanges. Said output drive stages  8  are also designed so as to be selectable in a customer-specific manner and can be connected to the core bevel gear transmission  1  by means of a common interface  7  of universal design. The output drive stage  8  is provided with an output drive shaft  24  or an output drive flange  25 , with it being possible for corresponding step-up or step-down stages to be integrated therein.