Bearing retainer assembly for a hydrostatic transmission
AssigneeHydro-Gear Limited Partnership
InventorsB. Keith Harshman, Ryan D. Gagnon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thrust bearing assembly is provided for the pistons of a hydrostatic drive motor. The thrust bearing assembly includes first and second retainer components removably interconnected to form a retainer assembly, a thrust bearing captured between and encompassed by the first and second retainer components, and locking tangs extending outward from the first and second retainer components. Corresponding catches are formed on the internal surface of the housing to engage the locking tangs when the thrust bearing assembly is installed in the housing.
Claims19
A drive apparatus, comprising:
- a housing having an internal surface forming a sump;
- a motor disposed in the sump and comprising a motor cylinder block disposed on a motor running surface, an output shaft driven by the motor cylinder block, and a plurality of motor pistons;
- a thrust bearing assembly in contact with the plurality of motor pistons, the thrust bearing assembly comprising:
- a first retainer and a second retainer removably interconnected to form a retainer assembly;
- a thrust bearing disposed between the first retainer and the second retainer, the thrust bearing comprising a bearing surface to oppose the plurality of motor pistons;
- and
- a first locking tang extending outwardly from the first retainer and a second locking tang extending outwardly from the second retainer;
- and
- a pair of catches formed on the internal surface of the housing, each of the pair of catches engaging one of the first locking tang or the second locking tang when the thrust bearing assembly is installed in the housing.
A drive apparatus, comprising:
- a housing forming a sump;
- a motor disposed in the sump and comprising a plurality of motor pistons located in a cylinder block;
- and
- a thrust bearing assembly in contact with the plurality of motor pistons, the thrust bearing assembly comprising:
- a plurality of retainer components interconnected to form a retainer assembly, the plurality of retainer components comprising a first retainer having a first body that is generally semi-circular in shape, and a second retainer having a second body that is generally semi-circular in shape;
- and
- a thrust bearing disposed between the plurality of retainer components, the thrust bearing comprising a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a bearing surface disposed on the first side for opposing the plurality of motor pistons, the bearing surface of the thrust bearing being rotatable with respect to the retainer assembly;
- wherein the retainer assembly engages the thrust bearing adjacent the first side of the thrust bearing, and engages the thrust bearing adjacent the second side of the thrust bearing.
A drive apparatus, comprising:
- a housing forming a sump;
- a motor disposed in the sump and comprising a plurality of motor pistons located in a cylinder block;
- and
- a thrust bearing assembly in contact with the plurality of motor pistons, the thrust bearing assembly comprising a plurality of retainer components interconnected to form a retainer assembly, and a thrust bearing disposed between the plurality of retainer components and having a bearing surface for opposing the plurality of motor pistons;
- wherein the retainer assembly has a first retainer side adjacent the bearing surface of the thrust bearing, and a second retainer side opposite the first retainer side, the first retainer side having a first circumference and the second retainer side having a second circumference that is less than the first circumference, whereby the retainer assembly is tapered and cup shaped.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.