Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

John B Dunsil

John M Hawkins

Douglas A Wagner

A load sharing right angle bevel gear drive comprises a housing having a power bevel gear that meshes with two bevel gears that are mounted in the housing for rotation about a second axis that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the power bevel gear. The power bever gear is mounted in a sleeve that automatically translates to equalize the power transmitted from the power bevel gear to the two bevel gears. The power bevel gear is axially retained in the sleeve by spaced rolling bearings and the sleeve translates on slides that retain the sleeve axially to counteract the axial components of the forces that automatically translate the sleeve. In one embodiment, One bevel gear is a power output gear and the other bevel gear is an idler gear that also drives the power output gear through a fourth bevel gear. In another embodiment both bevel gears are power output gears. The sleeves of both embodiments preferably translate on slide pins via recirculating bearing balls to reduce friction. Both embodiments may employ hydraulic damping for the slide pins.

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Osgood, IN, United States of America

John B Dunsil