The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 08, 2002
Filed:
Feb. 02, 2000
John Graham, Clinton Township, MI (US);
Robert B. Raible, Ortonville, MI (US);
Ex-Cello Machine Tools, Inc., Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Abstract
A gear drive apparatus includes a first shaft and a second shaft concentric to the first shaft. First and second planetary gear systems are provided for driving the first and second shafts in synchronized rotation with respect to one another with a primary drive input and for selectively driving the first and second shafts in unsynchronized rotation with respect to one another in response to a secondary drive input. Each of the first and second planetary gear systems include a ring gear, a sun gear positioned within the ring gear, and a plurality of planetary gears positioned within the ring gear and between the ring gear and the sun gear. Each ring gear can include inwardly directed gear teeth portions identical to one another. Each plurality of planetary gears can be identical to one another, and each sun gear can be identical to one another. A control mechanism can be provided in communication with the primary and secondary drive inputs for coordinating the primary and secondary drive inputs to selectively produce synchronized and unsynchronized rotation of the first and second shafts with respect to one another. A third planetary gear system can be provided for driving the first shaft longitudinally in response to unsynchronized rotation of the first shaft with respect to a nut connected to a third sun gear operably engaged by the third planetary gear system. A third drive selectively produces synchronized and unsynchronized rotation of the nut with respect to the first shaft.