DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference is now made to the accompanying figures depicting aspects of the present invention, in which:
FIG. 1 is a partial cross section of an upper tower shaft gear and the prior shield design;
FIG. 2 is a partially cut away section view of the shield arrangement of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art arrangement globally denoted by numeral 10 where a section of an upper tower shaft 12 having a tower shaft gear 14 is disposed generally within the angle drive gear box, globally denote by numeral 16. Disposed within the gear box is an oil shield 18, which shield is bolted at 20 within the angle gear box 16. The prior art shield design includes a formed section of metal where the configuration of the shield is such that it is in spaced relation to the orbit of the gear 14 and subscribes to a shape which is complimentary to the gear 14. A lip 22 is provided for at the terminal end of the shield 18, which end is the opposite end to point at which the shield is mounted at 20 within the angle gear box. This configuration is useful to prevent unwanted dispersion of oil by tangential dispersion during rotation of gear 14. The result is that the tangential oil contacts the guard and is redirected via the lip 22 into the gear box 16.
As discussed herein previously, this arrangement is tantamount to a deflector or guard and does not provide for any real containment of unwanted dispersion which leads to deposit and/or loss of oil which subsequently can lead to mechanical failure, overheating, etc.
With respect to FIG. 2 shown is the shield arrangement of the present invention. In the figure, the arrangement includes a plurality of discreet individual shield members which substantially encapsulate the gear 14. The shield members include a top shield 22 which shield is substantially planar in configuration and includes a peripherally oriented groove 24 there around. The shield 22 is adapted for cooperative engagement with a second shield 26 which shield includes an annular groove 28. Groove 28 is configured to locate and receive groove 24 of shield member 22. The shield 26 further includes a body which substantially corresponds to a U-shaped body having a wall member 30 and a downwardly depending wall 32 for facilitating drainage of oil and containment of tangential dispersion. As is illustrated in FIG. 2, the second shield by virtue of its U shaped configuration effectively contains gear 14 and this augmented by top shield 22.
A third shield 34 is provided. This is referred to as a nut shield and the nut shield is positioned about the tower shaft 12. The nut shield substantially corresponds to a U-shaped profile and is adapted to cooperatively engage shield 26. As illustrated, all of the shields 22, 26 and 34 are coaxially arranged about the upper tower shaft and gear and are maintained in a vertically spaced relationship in order to prevent flow of oil therein, while, at the same time, preventing losses by windage and unwanted dispersion of the oil within the compartment of the engine. The nut shield assists in returning oil to the accessory gear box (not shown).
The above description is meant to be exemplary only, and one skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made to the embodiments described without department from the scope of the invention disclosed. Still other modifications which fall within the scope of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in light of a review of this disclosure, and such modifications are intended to fall within the appended claims.
Patent Application
20080073152
