Mechanical differential gear assembly
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsDouglas W. Bell, David R. Hinton, Marcus D. Bunnow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mechanical differential assembly having an increased bearing load zone capacity. The mechanical gear assembly maintains a proper load capacity of rollers of the bearings which support a differential gear assembly. The mechanical differential assembly thus maintains alignment of the inner and outer races of the bearings regardless of an axial force placed on the bearings, any loads placed on the differential gear assembly or the like during driving condition. The mechanical differential assembly includes a differential gear assembly supported on a first end by a cylindrical bearing and supported on the second end by a pair of tapered bearings.
Claims19
A differential assembly, comprising:
- a differential gear assembly having a first end and a second end;
- a cylindrical bearing supporting the first end of the differential gear assembly;
- a pair of tapered bearings supporting the second end of the differential gear assembly retained in an adapter bearing cage;
- and
- bearing caps for retaining the cylindrical bearing and the adapter bearing cage to the carrier assembly.
A differential assembly comprising:
- a differential gear assembly having a first end and a second end;
- a ring gear mounted to the differential gear assembly;
- a carrier assembly;
- a cylindrical bearing supporting the differential gear assembly at the first end;
- a first bearing cap for retaining the cylindrical bearing about the first end of the differential gear assembly;
- an inner tapered bearing supporting the differential gear assembly at the second end;
- an outer tapered bearing positioned outward of the inner tapered bearing, the outer tapered bearing further supporting the second end of the differential gear assembly;
- an adapter bearing cage for retaining the inner and outer tapered bearings on the second end of the differential gear assembly;
- and
- a second bearing cap for retaining the adapter bearing cage about the second end of the differential gear assembly, the second bearing cap being mounted to the carrier assembly.
A method of maintaining a load zone capacity in a differential assembly during driving conditions, comprising:
- providing an output torque from an output shaft of a transmission to a differential gear assembly of the differential assembly, the differential gear assembly being supported by a cylindrical bearing and a pair of tapered bearings;
- generating a thrust load on the differential gear assembly from the output torque of the transmission output shaft;
- and
- reducing axial forces on the cylindrical bearing caused by the thrust load by imparting the thrust load on the pair of tapered bearings thereby maintaining a shared load zone among rollers of the cylindrical bearing.
A machine having a rear axle coupled to a differential assembly, comprising:
- a rear axle housing having a bore;
- a mounting plate mounted in the bore;
- a bevel pinion gear supported on the carrier assembly within the rear axle housing;
- a ring gear meshing with the bevel pinion gear;
- a ring gear mounted on the differential gear assembly, the differential gear assembly having a first end and a second end;
- a cylindrical bearing supporting the first end of the differential gear assembly;
- a pair of tapered roller bearings supporting the second end of the differential gear assembly;
- a first bearing cap for retaining the cylindrical bearing about the first end of the differential gear assembly;
- an adapter bearing cage for retaining the inner and outer tapered bearings;
- and
- a second bearing cap for retaining the adapter bearing cage on a carrier assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.