Thrust bearing assembly for automatic transmission rear planetary
OwnerJames D. Briscoeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention generally relates to the improved performance of the rear planetary gear in an automobile transmission. In particular, the invention relates to a new and improved thrust bearing assembly capable of sustaining performance of the rear planetary under more severe stress, and prolonging its life over much longer periods of time, than the OEM bearing. More particularly, the invention relates to a novel bearing assembly designed to replace the OEM bearings in the General Motors [GM] 4L60, 4L60E, and 700R4 transmissions which have a long history of rear planetary failures.
Claims14
In an OEM automotive automatic transmission including a rear planetary with a bearing seat enlarged from its original OEM size, a highly-durable rear planetary bearing assembly comprising:
- a front race with flat surfaces on both sides;
- a bearing cage containing enlarged cylindrical needle bearings;
- and
- a back race with a flat rear surface and cupped side walls, such that the bottom of said side walls fits snugly into said enlarged rear bearing seat;
- wherein said bearing cage and said front race are slip fit into said back race, and, upon being slip fit into said back race, the front race is held captive by the back race yet remains unattached, such that the front race can still spin freely without oscillation during operation of said transmission, so as to substantially increase the dynamic load rating for impulse loads and the long-term durability for normal loads.
In an automotive automatic transmission, a highly-durable rear planetary comprising:
- a bearing seat enlarged from the nominal OEM size,
- a front race with flat surfaces on both sides;
- a bearing cage containing enlarged cylindrical needle bearings;
- and
- a back race with a flat rear surface and cupped side walls, such that the bottom of said side walls fits snugly into said enlarged rear bearing seat;
- wherein said bearing cage and said front race are slip fit into said back race, and, upon being slip fit into said back race, the front race is held captive by the back race yet remains unattached, such that the front race can still spin freely without oscillation during operation of said transmission, so as to substantially increase the dynamic load rating for impulse loads and the long-term durability for normal loads over the corresponding OEM ratings.
A method of assembly for a highly-durable automatic transmission rear planetary, having a set of external frame posts to maintain a fixed gap for its planetary gears, and an OEM bearing seat of nominal OEM size to cradle a thrust bearing consisting of a front race, a bearing cage, and a back race, comprising:
- enlarging the thrust bearing seat from said nominal OEM size;
- cutting open a segment in one post larger than each race or cage;
- inserting the thrust bearing through the cut post;
- seating the thrust bearing into said enlarged bearing seat;
- welding the cut segment back into the cut post,
- such that the surrounding frame does not warp or shrink from said fixed gap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.