Low mass planetary carrier and clutch housing
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsBoris Burgman, David M. Zini, Derrick R. Black
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A low mass, two piece planetary gear carrier having an integrated clutch housing comprises a first carrier flange and clutch housing and a second carrier flange which are secured together by a plurality of threaded fasteners extending through hollow dowels. A plurality of planet gears receive needle bearing assemblies which are, in turn, supported on pins or stub shafts. The stub shafts are retained in the carrier by transverse retaining pins received in the second carrier flange and extending into the shafts. Unitized washers are disposed between both faces of the planet gears and the flanges. The method of assembly is also a feature of the present invention.
Claims17
A planetary gear carrier and clutch housing comprising, in combination,
- a first planet carrier and clutch housing having a first plurality of openings for receiving stub shafts and a second plurality of counterbored openings for receiving hollow dowels,
- a second planet carrier having a first plurality of openings for receiving stub shafts aligned with said first plurality of openings in said first planet carrier and clutch housing and a second plurality of counterbored openings aligned with said second plurality of counterbored openings in said first planet carrier and clutch housing,
- a plurality of stub shafts extending between said first pluralities of openings, said stub shafts supporting a needle bearing assembly and a planet gear,
- a hollow dowel disposed in each of a pair of said second pluralities of counterbored openings and threaded fasteners extending through said hollow dowels and between said first planet carrier and clutch housing and said second planet carrier,
- a sun gear engaging each of said planet gears, and
- a ring gear engaging each of said planet gears.
A planetary gear carrier and clutch housing comprising, in combination,
- a first planet carrier and clutch housing having a first plurality of openings for receiving stub shafts, a second plurality of counterbored openings for receiving hollow dowels and an outer flange having female splines,
- a second planet carrier having a first plurality of openings for receiving stub shafts aligned with said first plurality of openings in said first planet carrier and clutch housing and a second plurality of counterbored openings aligned with said second plurality of counterbored openings in said first planet carrier and clutch housing,
- a plurality of stub shafts extending between said first pluralities of openings, said stub shafts supporting a needle bearing assembly and a planet gear,
- a hollow dowel disposed in a pair of said second plurality of counterbored openings and threaded fasteners extending through said hollow dowels and between said first planet carrier and clutch housing and said second planet carrier,
- a sun gear engaging each of said planet gears,
- a ring gear engaging each of said planet gears and defining a plurality of male splines, and
- a friction clutch pack having a first plurality of clutch discs engaged by said female splines and a second plurality of clutch discs interleaved with said first plurality of clutch discs and engaged by said male splines.
A planetary gear carrier and clutch housing comprising, in combination,
- a first planet carrier and clutch housing having a first plurality of openings for receiving stub shafts, a pair of counterbored openings for receiving hollow dowels and an outer flange,
- a second planet carrier having a first plurality of openings aligned with said first plurality of openings in said first planet carrier and clutch housing and a second plurality of counterbored openings aligned with said second plurality of counterbored openings in said first planet carrier and clutch housing,
- a plurality of stub shafts extending between said first pluralities of openings, said stub shafts supporting a needle bearing assembly and a planet gear,
- hollow dowels disposed in said second pluralities of counterbored openings and threaded fasteners extending through said hollow dowels and between said first planet carrier and clutch housing and said second planet carrier,
- a sun gear engaging each of said planet gears,
- a ring gear engaging each of said planet gears, and
- a friction clutch pack operably disposed between said ring gear and said outer flange.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.