Importance

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Abstract

A modified gear operates in one direction only. The modified gear can be driven in either direction by a standard gear, but will drive another gear in only one direction. Every other tooth of the modified gear is partly cut away to form a step. The remaining sides are cut away to delay engagement with a driven gear. The sides of the teeth preferably have the shape of an involute curve, and each tooth is preferably cut along a line segment beginning at the midpoint of the top land of the tooth, and continuing along a path generally parallel to one side of the tooth. The step is located at a predetermined radial distance from the top land, this distance being a certain fraction of the total depth of the tooth. The modified gear can be used to drive, or be driven by, a conventional unmodified gear. It can also drive, or be driven by, another gear which has been modified in the manner described above.

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First Claim