George Stuart Frahm

US Patent:

20040253912, Dec 16, 2004

Filed:

Jun 15, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/868612

Inventors:

Ratko Menjak - Frankenmuth MI, US
Michael Augustine - Mayville MI, US
David King - Freeland MI, US
Neil Beyersdorf - Saginaw MI, US
Michael Pyrett - Davison MI, US
Thomas Bucholz - Sanford MI, US
Charles Calvin - Midland MI, US
James Kelly - Saginaw MI, US
George Frahm - Reese MI, US

International Classification:

B24B001/00

US Classification:

451/047000, 476/067000

Abstract:

A gear arrangement includes a first section having a first plurality of teeth and at least a portion of the first section is made of a compliant material. There is also a second section having a second plurality of teeth. The second section is made of a stiff material. The first section is arranged axially adjacent to the second section and each of the first plurality of teeth has a tooth flank that changes axially across the tooth flank. A method for manufacturing a gear arrangement includes fabricating a first gear, which includes a first plurality of teeth, and a bearing from a compliant material. The method also includes mounting a second gear, which includes a second plurality of teeth, to the bearing, aligning the first plurality of teeth with the second plurality of teeth, and coupling the first gear with the second gear.