# US 2021/0276637 A1 · Screw profile mud-packing preventing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0276637 A1 - Document ID: US20210276637A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/811,990 - Filed: 2020-03-06 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-06 - Assignees: Caterpillar Inc. - Applicants: Caterpillar Inc. - Inventors: Gennaro Suanno - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210276637A1 ## CPC - B62D 55/0845: {Protection devices} - B62D 55/15: Mounting devices, e.g. bushings, axles, bearings, sealings {(with lubrication means B62D55/092)} - B62D 55/088: with means to exclude or remove foreign matter, e.g. sealing means, self-cleaning track links or sprockets, deflector plates or scrapers - B62D 55/14: Arrangement, location, or adaptation of rollers - F16C 13/006: {Guiding rollers, wheels or the like, formed by or on the outer element of a single bearing or bearing unit, e.g. two adjacent bearings, whose ratio of length to diameter is generally less than one} - F16C 33/74: of sliding-contact bearings - F16J 15/164: {the sealing action depending on movements; pressure difference, temperature or presence of leaking fluid} - F16J 15/3404: {and characterised by parts or details relating to lubrication, cooling or venting of the seal} - F16J 15/344: {the pressing force being applied by means of an elastic ring supporting the slip-ring} - F16C 2350/26: Excavators - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS ## Abstract A rotating assembly for a machine is disclosed herein. The rotating assembly includes an annular support structure and a shaft assembly. The annular support structure includes a bore therethrough and protrusion extending helically around a portion of the bore. The shaft assembly includes a shaft and a collar coupled to the shaft. The collar includes a plurality of grooves located at the outer surface of the collar. The collar is positioned within the bore of the annular support structure such that the plurality of grooves are adjacent to the protrusion. As the annular support structure rotates, the protrusion rotates and is configured to move debris and mud out of the rotating assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rotating assembly for a machine, the rotating assembly comprising: an annular rotating structure; an annular static structure positioned adjacent to the annular rotating structure, the annular rotating structure and the annular static structure forming a seal cavity; a seal assembly positioned within the seal cavity; and a helical profile located proximate to the seal assembly and extending around at least one of the annular rotating structure and the annular static structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rotating assembly of claim 1, wherein the helical profile is an annular protrusion extending from the annular rotating structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The rotating assembly of claim 2, wherein the annular static structure further includes: a static structure radial outer surface located adjacent to the annular protrusion of the annular rotating structure; and a plurality of grooves located at the static structure radial outer surface, the plurality of grooves spaced around the static structure radial outer surface, the plurality of grooves oriented substantially opposite to the annular protrusion of the annular rotating structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The rotating assembly of claim 2, wherein the annular protrusion helically extends along the annular rotating structure for at least two revolutions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The rotating assembly of claim 4, wherein at least two revolutions of the annular protrusion are axially spaced substantially equally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rotating assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The rotating assembly of claim 1, further comprises a shaft extending along the longitudinal axis of the rotating assembly and wherein the annular rotating structure is configured to rotate about the shaft. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The rotating assembly of claim 2, wherein the annular protrusion extends spirally around the annular rotating structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The rotating assembly of claim 1, wherein the seal assembly further includes a toric ring and a seal block positioned within the seal cavity. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The rotating assembly of claim 3, wherein the plurality of grooves of the annular static structure linearly extend in the longitudinal direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rotating assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The rotating assembly of claim 1, wherein the helical profile is a helically shaped channel. ### Claim 11 An annular support structure for a machine with a shaft assembly including a shaft and a collar coupled around the shaft, the annular support structure comprising: a hub; a bore extending therethrough, the bore sized radially larger than the shaft assembly; an engaging surface located radially opposite from the; a front radial surface extending from the bore to the engaging surface; a back radial surface opposite from the front radial surface, the back radial surface extending from the bore to the engaging surface; and a annular protrusion extending radially inward from the hub and helically around the hub, the protrusion extending from adjacent the front radial surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The annular support structure of claim 11, wherein the annular protrusion circumferentially extends along the hub for at least two revolutions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The annular support structure of claim 12, wherein at least two revolutions of the annular protrusion are axially spaced substantially equally with respect to a longitudinal axis of the annular support structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The annular support structure of claim 11, wherein the annular protrusion extends spirally around the hub. ### Claim 15 A collar for a machine having a shaft and an annular support structure concentric with the shaft, the annular support structure including a hub, a bore extending therethrough, and a protrusion extending radially inward from the hub, the collar shaped annularly, the collar comprising: a collar radial outer surface sized radially smaller than the annular support structure; a collar outer annulus portion adjacent to the collar radial surface; a plurality of grooves located at the collar radial outer surface, the plurality of grooves extending from the collar outer annulus portion and having an open front opposite the collar outer annulus portion, the plurality of grooves spaced around the collar radial outer surface, the plurality of grooves oriented substantially perpendicular to the radial direction of the collar; and a collar bore located opposite the collar radial surface and sized to mate with the shaft. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The collar of claim 15, wherein the collar extends around and is centered on a longitudinal axis, and wherein the plurality of grooves of the collar linearly extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The collar of claim 15, wherein the plurality of grooves are equally circumferentially spaced between adjacent grooves.