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Drive system for twin screw extruder

A twin screw extruder drive system includes a pair of parallel juxtaposed output shafts each of which is fixed to a sun gear of a planetary gear set. Each gear set includes a plurality of planet idler gears which are only rotatable about their axes and engage both the sun gear and a ring gear. Symmetrically disposed about the circumference of the ring gear are at least two drive pinions. The two gear sets have parallel axes and are axially offset from one another with the output shafts extending through a space between the planet gears of the other gear set. In one embodiment each drive pinion is driven by a separate electric motor and all motors are electronically and mechanically speed synchronized. A single electric motor is employed to drive all drive pinions in an alternate configuration.
Claims
Having thus described the invention, there is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent:

1. A drive system suitable for a twin screw extruder having a pair of adjacent parallelaxis extruder screws, the drive system including two adjacent parallel axis output shafts, each engageable with one of the extruder screws and separate gear train means for driving each output shaft, the gear train means having parallel axes which areadjacent one another, one gear train means being spaced axially behind the other gear train means, each gear train means including a planetary gear set, each planetary gear set comprising a ring gear, a plurality of drive pinions, means journalling thedrive pinions for rotation about fixed axes, the drive pinions being in driving engagement with the ring gear, the drive pinions being equidistantly spaced from one another along the periphery of the ring gear, each planetary gear set further including aplurality of planet gears and a sun gear, the planet gears being equidistantly spaced from one another along the periphery of the ring gear, means journalling each planet gear for rotation about a fixed axis, the sun gear axes of the two planetary gearsets being adjacent and parallel to one another and means interconnecting the sun gear of each gear set with one of the output shafts whereby relatively high driving torques are provided.

2. A drive system suitable for driving a twin screw extruder as constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein each ring gear includes internal teeth and external teeth, the drive pinions being in intermeshing tooth engagement with the externalteeth and the planet gears being in intermeshing tooth engagement with the internal teeth.

3. A drive system suitable for driving a twin screw extruder as constructed in accordance with claim 1 further including bearing-free means for supporting the ring gear for rotation about the axis of the sun gear, the bearing-free supportingmeans comprising the engagement between the ring gear and the planet gears.

4. A drive system suitable for driving a twin screw extruder as constructed in accordance with claim 3 wherein the supporting means further comprises the engagement between the ring gear and the drive pinions.

5. A drive system suitable for a twin screw extruder as constructed in accordance with claim 1 further including separate electric motor means in driving engagement with each drive pinion.

6. A drive system suitable for a twin screw extruder as constructed in accordance with claim 5 further including means for synchronizing the speeds of the electric motors, the synchronizing means comprising an electronic synchronization circuit.

7. A drive system suitable for a twin screw extruder constructed in accordance with claim 1 further including gear means for synchronizing the drive pinions of both planetary gear sets.

8. A drive system suitable for a twin screw extruder constructed in accordance with claim 7 wherein the synchronizing gear means comprises interengaged gears interconnecting a drive pinion of one planetary gear set with a drive pinion of theother planetary gear set.

9. A drive system suitable for a twin screw extruder constructed in accordance with claim 6 further including auxiliary gear means for synchronizing the drive pinions of both planetary gear sets.

10. A drive system suitable for a twin screw extruder constructed in accordance with claim 1 further including an electric motor and gear means drivingly interconnecting the electric motor with each of the drive pinions.

11. A drive system suitable for driving a twin screw extruder constructed in accordance with claim 1 including two drive pinions associated with each planetary gear set, the drive pinions being spaced from one another at diametrically opposedpositions relative to the ring gear.

12. A drive system suitable for a twin screw extruder constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means journalling the sun gear for rotation about a fixed axis includes a sun gear shaft, the sun gear being fixed to the sun gear shaft,the sun gear shaft of each planetary gear set extending through a space between the planet gears of the other planetary gear set.

13. A drive system suitable for a twin screw extruder constructed in accordance with claim 12 wherein each sun gear shaft comprises the output shaft.

14. A drive system constructed in accordance with claim 13 wherein the extruder screws exert axial thrust on the sun gear shafts, the drive system further including thrust bearing means associated with each sun gear shaft and thrust bearingsupport means, the thrust bearing means being interconnected with the trhrust bearing support means, the thrust bearing means being positioned intermediate the drive pinion.

15. A drive system constructed in accordance with claim 14 further including separate motor means in driving engagement with each drive pinion, the thrust bearing support means positioned between the separate motor means whereby a spaceconserving configuration is obtained.

16. A transmission drive system suitable for a twin screw extruderhaving a pair of adjacent parallel axes, the transmission drive system including two adjacent parallel axes putput shafts, each engageable with one of the extruder screws and apair of planetary gear trains, each gear train including a ring gear, a plurality of planet gears engaging the ring gear, means rotatively mounting each planet gear about a fixed axis, each planetary gear train further including a sun gear, each planetgear engaging a sun gear, each output shaft extending through the ring gears, each sun gear being mounted for rotation coaxially and non-rotatively with an output shaft, at least two drive pinions engaging the periphery of each ring gear, the drivepinions being equidistantly spaced from one another, separate motor means engaging each drive pinion and means for synchronizing the output speeds of the motor means.

17. A transmission drive system constructed in accordance with claim 16 wherein the motor means comprise an electric motor, the means for synchronizing comprising electrical means.

18. A transmission drive system constructed in accordance with claim 16 wherein the means for synchronizing comprises gear means.

19. A transmission drive system constructed in accordance with claim 18 wherein the gear means interconnects the drive pinion of one gear train with drive pinion of the other gear train.

20. A transmission drive system constructed in accordance with claim 16 further comprising bearing free means for rotationally carrying each ring gear, the means for rotationally carrying each ring gear comprising the engagement between eachring gear and its drive pinions and planet gears.

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A twin screw extruder drive system includes a pair of parallel juxtaposed output shafts each of which is fixed to a sun gear of a planetary gear set. Each gear set includes a plurality of planet idler gears which are only rotatable about their axes and engage both the sun gear and a ring gear. Symmetrically disposed about the circumference of the ring gear are at least two drive pinions.

I have a Homelite XL chainsaw and I need 2 know how to set the fuel screws?

I got the chainsaw from my dad it will start but will only stay started for a second and then cut off, so I need to know the proper adjustments for the fuel screws and idoling screw. PLEASE HELP I NEED MY CHAIN SAW!!!!!!!!!

Basic settings are to turn both screws until they are lightly seated and then open them 1 1/2 to 2 turns. Then adjust the idle for the best idle and the high speed for the best performance while cutting under a load. From your description, I would guess that the screw settings are not your problem unless someone has been adjusting them and they are way out. Sounds more carburetor needs cleaning.

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