Slew drive gearbox with torque tube

Abstract

A slew drive includes a housing, a worm shaft having a worm thread carried within the housing for rotational movement, and a torque tube having an outer diameter and a central socket. The torque tube is carried by the housing for rotational movement perpendicularly to the worm shaft and worm thread. A ring gear section having teeth, is carried by the torque tube so that the teeth extend beyond the outer diameter of the torque tube and engage the worm threads. Rotation of the worm shaft rotates the worm threads engaging the teeth of the ring gear section, thereby rotating the ring gear section which rotates the torque tube relative the housing.

Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same, the invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A slew drive comprising:
 a housing;   a worm shaft having a worm thread carried within the housing;   a torque tube having an outer diameter, the torque tube carried by the housing; and   a ring gear section having teeth, the ring gear section carried by the torque tube with the teeth extending beyond the outer diameter thereof and engaging the worm thread.