Patent ID: 6902508

Claim:
A helicopter mainshaft assembly for use with a plurality of planet gears, the mainshaft assembly comprising: a) a mainshaft including: 1) an elongated shaft having first and second opposed ends and a midsection located between the first and second ends, the shaft defining a shaft axis extending through the first and second ends; and 2) a first planetary plate unitarily formed with the shaft and extending radially outwardly from the midsection relative to the shaft axis, wherein the first planetary plate includes an outer portion and an inner portion interposed between the outer portion and the shaft, and wherein the outer portion is unitarily formed with the shaft; and b) a second planetary plate surrounding the shaft and axially spaced apart from the first planetary plate; c) wherein the mainshaft assembly is adapted to receive the plurality of planet gears between the first and second planetary plates such that the planet gears are rotatable relative to the first and second planetary plates and can impart rotational forces to the shaft through the first planetary plate.