# US 4,391,157 A · Bevel gear and pinion drive with biased thrust bearing

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- Number: US 4,391,157 A
- Document ID: US4391157A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/198,076
- Filed: 1980-10-17
- Granted: 1983-07-05
- Earliest claimed: 1980-10-17
- Assignees: Deere & Company
- Inventors: Roger L. Jacklin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4391157A

## CPC

- F16C 19/56: in which the rolling bodies of one bearing differ in diameter from those of another
- B60K 17/22: characterised by arrangement, location, or type of main drive shafting, e.g. cardan shaft
- F16C 25/08: self-adjusting
- F16C 27/08: primarily for axial load, e.g. for vertically-arranged shafts
- F16C 35/077: between housing and outer race ring
- F16C 19/364: {with tapered rollers, i.e. rollers having essentially the shape of a truncated cone}
- F16C 19/548: {in O-arrangement}
- F16C 2361/61: Toothed gear systems, e.g. support of pinion shafts
- Y10T 74/19595: Automatic control
- Y10T 74/19628: Pressure distributing
- Y10T 74/19693: Motor vehicle drive
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A spiral bevel pinion and its meshing bevel gear are carried in a typical housing. The problem solved is accommodation of the axial thrust imparted to the pinion shaft during functioning of the drive train, the solution being in the form of biasing means backing up the thrust bearing ahead of the pinion and enabling the use of lighter-weight, less expensive bearings. A further feature is the use of a further bearing in the form of a needle bearing having radial needles between the inner race ring of the main thrust bearing and the biasing means.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Drive mechanism including a fore-and-aft shaft having a spiral bevel pinion fixed at its rear end, a spiral bevel gear meshing with the pinion, a combination radial-thrust bearing including an inner race ring fitting the shaft so as to receive forward thrust forces imparted thereto by the meshing pinion and gear, an outer race ring and rolling elements between the rings, and fixed support structure carrying the bearing, characterized in that the support structure has a stepped annular groove therein concentrically surrounding the shaft ahead of the bearing and including a first radial shoulder facing toward and axially abutting the outer race ring and a second radical shoulder of lesser diameter than the first shoulder and spaced ahead of and facing the inner race ring and biasing means is disposed in the groove and is interposed between the second shoulder and the inner race ring in opposition to the aforesaid thrust forces.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The drive mechanism of claim 1, further characterized in that further bearing means is interposed between said spring and the inner race raing.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The drive mechanism of claim 2, further characterized in that further bearing means includes a plurality of radial needle bearings.