Patent ID: 6988420

Claim:
In combination with a locked gear train ( 12 ) having two helical gears ( 36 A, 36 B) carried on a first shaft ( 46 ) and two pinions ( 32 A, 32 B) carried on a second shaft ( 42 ), with a first pinion ( 32 A) meshed with a first gear ( 36 A) and a second pinion ( 32 B) meshed with a second pinion ( 36 B), an arrangement for testing a power transmission component comprising, a support arrangement ( 30 A, 30 B) by which the first and second gears ( 36 A, 36 B) and the first shaft ( 46 ) are free to move axially with respect to the first and second pinion gears ( 32 A, 32 B) and the second shaft ( 42 ) a thrust bearing ( 50 ) coupled to a first end of the first shaft ( 46 ), and a prime mover ( 52 ) coupled to a second end of the first shaft ( 46 ) which applies a positive torque to the second end of said first shaft, whereby a force (F) applied axially to the thrust bearing ( 50 ) causes axial displacement (A) of the first and second gears ( 36 A, 36 B) with respect to the first and second pinion gears ( 32 A, 32 B) while establishing a negative torque in the locked gear train ( 12 ) which opposes the positive torque to produce a power level in the locked gear train greater than that produced solely by the prime mover.