Caterpillar Inc.

Bennett W Avery

William K Engel

Laurence J Cobb

Michael W Kipling

Danny L Thurman

Franklin T Pulley

Gregory A Matson

Valerie R Wiest

A method for producing a fillet on a gear as a function of a plurality of design criteria points in disclosed. The present method includes the steps of fitting a polynomial curve to the design criteria points, and producing the fillet on the gear, the fillet having a curved shape corresponding to the fitted polynomial curve. As a further step for control of the fillet, the actual shape of the fillet produced can be inspected and compared to the fitted curve, using a coordinate measuring machine or other suitable device. According to a further aspect of the invention, the fillet is produced using a tool having a curved surface corresponding to the polynomial curve.

Method for producing and controlling a fillet on a gear

A planetary gear set is disclosed that includes self-aligning carrier shafts for the planetary gears that greatly reduces the wear to the carrier shaft caused by torque-induced loads on the planetary gear set. The carrier shaft includes a first cantilevered member extending from a carrier deck, which is connected, to a second cantilevered member that extends toward the carrier deck. A bearing member of the planetary gear is mounted to the second cantilevered member and the planetary gear is mounted to the bearing member. Under a torque-induced load on the planetary gear, the first cantilevered member is deflected in a first direction and the second cantilevered member is deflected in a second direction opposite the first direction, thus a carrier shaft designed in accordance with the present invention enables offsetting deflections under torque-induced loads leading to a reduction in the wear of the bearing member and the carrier shaft. The disclosed carrier shaft further permits a planetary gear system that utilizes a single carrier deck rather than dual carrier decks.

Self-aligning cantilever carrier

A balanced free-planet drive mechanism includes a reaction ring gear, an output ring gear, an input sun gear arranged along a central axis, and a plurality of floating planet elements individually having a first planet gear engaged with the sun gear, a second planet gear engaged with the output ring gear, and a third planet gear engaged with the reaction ring gear. A required first rolling ring gear resists radially inward movement of the planet elements adjacent the third planet gear, and an optional second rolling ring gear resists radially inward movement of the planet elements adjacent the first planet gears to maintain the planetary elements essentially parallel to the central axis. A plurality of ring segments are connected to the output ring gear and engage a groove in each of the planet elements to maintain the planet elements in a preselected axial position and to transmit relatively low thrust forces. The drive mechanism is easy to assemble in a ground-engaging wheel of a truck or the like, with the output ring gear being connected to rotate with the wheel. The incorporation of the drive mechanism in a wheel eliminates the usual planet carrier and planetary bearings associated with a conventional multi-stage planetary final drive, and is lighter in weight and less costly while fitting compactly within the same general space envelope.

Balanced free-planet drive mechanism

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Princeville, IL, United States of America

Bennett W Avery