Posted by Stepan on September 23, 2008 at 16:17:53:
Somebody told me a story about a 100 year old settlement between Gleason and Packard. Packard was trying to protect its patent rights on spiral bevel gears against infringement of Gleason. Just before the final Court verdict Packard agreed on the Gleason’s proposed settlement. Ironically, the judge decided in favor of Packard. When I look at the patent US 665054 files in 1900, I can clearly see what we call today a SPIRAL BEVEL GEAR. In fact, Gleason used to call it a spiral bevel gear when files its own patent US1325784 on manufacturing of such of gear using a rotating cutter head in 1913. The original spiral bevel patent has a reference on another patent US294,844 dated March 11, 1884, which does not relate to Gleason as well.