President/Sole member, Innovative Drive solutions llc

Rick Miller has 40 years of experience in the gear industry including 37 years with Oerlikon Fairfield Mfg. Co. (now Dana Corp.), the last 16 years as chief engineer. 

Sought-after by clients in the U.S. and around the globe for his mechanical engineering design expertise, Rick’s deep knowledge of gear and gearbox design and analysis, creativity, and out-of-the-box problem solving abilities is second to none.

Areas of expertise include gear noise reduction, gear manufacturing sourcing, program management, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) certification, and gear, gearbox design and analysis.

Rick Miller authors technical articles such as Gear Solutions Magazine’s Tooth Tips, writes a blog, and guest lectures at technical conferences and engineering schools around the globe. He is also available to be an expert witness.

"Being a mechanical design engineer provides an outlet for expressing my creativity and problem-solving skills. In working with both technical and non-technical clients, I delight my customers by solving their most difficult problems and by creating something that never existed and watching it get manufactured and assembled." — Rick Miller

patents by Rick

Dual Rack Output Pinion Drive
U.S. Patent No. 9,531,237 issued on 12/27/16.

This invention is intended to be used for the lifting and lowering of the legs of off-shore oil rig platforms. 

Torque Sharing Drive and Torque Sharing Process
U.S. Patent No. 9,145,956 issued 9/29/15.

This invention is intended to be used for the lifting and lowering of oil rig platforms.

Gear Reducer
U.S. Patent No. 4549449 issued 10/29/85.

This invention is a two-speed hydraulically shifted planetary speed reducer.

Tesla Motors
Arcimoto
Bendix Commercial Vehicles
Crown Equipment
Supreme Integrated Technologies Inc.
Omni Powertrain Technology
Indian Motorcycles
John Deere
Caterpillar
Victory Marine LLC
General Electric
Cummins Engine
Texas A&M Team Harmony
Joy | Komatsu
Hitachi | Sany
Terex | JLG | Genie
GustoMSC
The Raymond Corp.
Agco Corp.
Oshkosh Truck
Bombardier
KitchenAid
Arvin Global Solutions
Doosan Moxy
Aisin Holdings
Maddy & Associates

Partial list

Wind energy speed reducer planetary drives 10KW to 1.5MW.

Complete product line of oil well pumping unit speed reducers.

Passenger elevator drive, double reduction helical; low noise.

Large airport runway snow blower planetary auger and ribbon drive.

Series of forklift truck main drive transmissions with helical and spiral bevel gearing.

Large off-highway haul truck planetary main drive system wheel drive; 1900 HP, 300 ton, 10 million inch output torque.

Underground mining and equipment; cutter head drives, main propel drive.

Medium and heavy duty articulated haul truck transfer case; two speed with multiple helical and beveled gearing; two differentials and pressure lubrication system.

High-speed (50,000 RPM) gas turbine drive for electric power generation, with double reduction helical gears.

Multiple stage high ratio planetary and output rack and pinion jacking systems for large off-shore oil exploration work boats / lift boats.

Main drive system for commuter train; cutter drive for tunnel boring machine.

Snow groomer planetary main drives; skid steer main drive and track drive; aircraft pull tractor main drives.

Hay bailer main drive gearbox; vibratory pile driver gearbox.

Cooling tower gear drives; cement mixer drum drive.

Water pump drives; feed mixer drives; winch drives; track drives; differentials.