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:
Apr. 29, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 07, 1999
Joseph Onderko, Stow, OH (US);
Joseph Jocke, Grafton Township, OH (US);
Eric Labus, Brunswick, OH (US);
MTD Products Inc., Valley City, OH (US);
Abstract
A gear tooth has a main body and a lead-in portion for use in receiving the lead-in portion of a corresponding gear tooth on another gear. The main body may include first and second ends and first and second sides. The sides may form first and second protrusions with the first end. The lead-in portion may include first and second side walls extending from the first end of the main body and first and second sliding surfaces extending from the first and second side walls respectively. The first sliding surface lies on a first plane. The first side wall defines a first shelf on the first end of the main body. The first protrusion, the first shelf and the first side of the main body are all positioned between the first plane and an axial centerline of the main body. To form a gear, powdered metal is added to a gear mold. The powdered metal is then compacted within the gear mold. Next, a green gear is formed. The green gear has a plurality of teeth each having at least one tool shut off shelf. Each tool shut off shelf is adapted to not interfere with a similarly formed gear in sliding engagement. Finally, the green gear is sintering (heated) so that the powdered metal of the green part solidifies into a single mass. This method removes the otherwise required step of removing the tool shut off shelves on the gear teeth. According to another embodiment, the tool shut off shelves and side walls can be reduced in size to the point where they are substantially eliminated.