# US 5,702,320 A · Planet gear carrier arrangement with axial support > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,702,320 A - Document ID: US5702320A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/717,060 - Filed: 1996-09-20 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1995-09-20 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Zoltan Brassai; Bjoern Schneider; Vladimir Premiski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5702320A ## CPC - F16H 57/043: {within rotary parts, e.g. axial channels or radial openings in shafts} - F16H 57/0427: {on rotary parts, e.g. using baffles for collecting lubricant by centrifugal force} - F16H 57/0479: {Gears or bearings on planet carriers} - F16H 57/0482: {Gearings with gears having orbital motion} - F16H 57/082: {Planet carriers} - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract A planet gear carrier arrangement is provided for an automatic transmission having axial support. The planet carrier arrangement comprises a planet gear hub member, a plurality of planet gear pins carried by said hub member, a plurality of planet gears rotatably carried by said pins and an oil collecting ring carried by said hub member. The ring has formed at its inner circumference a truncated cone. The ring further has a thrust surface provided on a side of said ring axially opposite the hub member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A planet gear carrier arrangement for an automatic transmission, said carrier having axial support, comprising: a planet gear hub member; a plurality of planet gear pins carried by said hub member; a plurality of planet gears rotatably carried by said pins; an oil collecting ring carried by said hub member, said ring having formed at its inner circumference a truncated cone and said ring having a thrust surface provided on a side of said ring axially opposite said hub member, and wherein said thrust surface comprises a race of a thrust bearing axially adjacent said hub member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The planet gear carrier arrangement of claim 1 wherein said thrust bearing comprises a needle bearing. ### Claim 3 A planet gear carrier arrangement for an automatic transmission, said carrier having axial support, comprising: a planet gear hub member; a plurality of planet gear pins carried by said hub member; a plurality of planet gears rotatably carried by said pins; an oil collecting ring carried by said hub member, said ring having formed at its inner circumference a truncated cone and said ring having a thrust surface provided on a side of said ring axially opposite said hub member, said oil collecting ring comprises a polygonal shape at its outer circumference; and said planet gear carrier hub member further comprises a recess having a polygonal form corresponding to said oil collecting ring for securing said oil collecting ring on said hub member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The planet gear carrier arrangement of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of triangular projections in said recess which deform radially inwardly by caulking to hold said oil collecting ring securely on said gear carrier hub member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The planet gear carrier arrangement of claim 4 further comprising: said oil collecting ring having tabs formed on diametrically opposite sides thereof; and said hub member having recesses in registration with said tabs. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The planet gear carrier arrangement of claim 5 wherein said oil collecting ring comprises a ring having hexagonal outer circumference. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The planet gear carrier arrangement of claim 6 further comprising said hub member having a plurality of radial passages adjacent said ring, said passages providing a conduit for oil to travel to said planet gear pins. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The planet gear carrier arrangement of claim 7 further comprising said planet gear pins having an axial bore and a radial bore for communicating oil between said hub member and said planet gears. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The planet gear carrier arrangement of claim 8 wherein said ring further comprises a race of a thrust needle bearing axially adjacent said hub member. ### Claim 10 A planet gear carrier arrangement with axial support comprising: a planet gear carrier hub member; a plurality of hollow pins supported by said hub member; a plurality of planetary gears supported by said pins; and a thrust bearing axially supporting said hub member, said thrust bearing including a race secured to said hub member, said race comprising an oil collecting ring having formed at its inner circumference a truncated cone. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A planet gear carrier arrangement according to claim 10, further comprising: said oil collecting ring having a polygonal outer circumference; and said hub member having a polygonal recess in registration with the ring, wherein said ring is secured to said hub in corner regions of the polygonal recess by caulking. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A planet carrier arrangement as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: said oil collecting ring having a hexagonal shape with tabs formed on two diametrically opposite sides; said hub having recesses in registration with said tabs. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A planet gear carrier arrangement according to claim 12 wherein the planet gear carrier hub member comprises a plurality of radial passages providing oil communication with said planet gear pins. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A planet gear carrier arrangement according to claim 13 wherein the thrust washer comprises a needle bearing.