Dana Corporation

Caterpillar Inc.

Eaton Corporation

David Owen Thompson

Omar Jose Adragna

Leo Wenstrup

Gary Turner

Joseph D Reynolds

Alan C Stine

A differential is disclosed for use with a drivetrain of a mobile machine. The differential may have an input gear, a first side gear, a second side gear, and a side pinion disposed axially between and intermeshed with the first and second side gears. The differential may also have a carrier nested inside of the input gear and connected to the input gear and the side pinion. The carrier may at least partially surround the first side gear and the second side gear.

Direct torque path differential having spiderless pinions

A side pinion is disclosed for use with a differential of a mobile machine. The side pinion may have a body with a flat bottom and a flat top located at an end opposite the flat bottom. The side pinion may also have a plurality of gear teeth formed adjacent the flat top, and an arcuate outer surface connecting the plurality of gear teeth to the flat bottom.

A differential is disclosed for use with a drivetrain of a mobile machine. The differential may have an input gear, a first side gear, a second side gear, and a side pinion disposed between and intermeshed with the first and second side gears. The differential may also have a carrier connected to the input gear and surrounding the first side gear, the second side gear, and the side pinion. The carrier may have a first orifice located in an annular wall at a base end of the side pinion, and a second orifice located in an axial wall. All lubrication passing through the first orifice may flow around an external surface of the side pinion.

A differential having pinion bearings supported on the input yoke is provided. The differential includes a housing having an opening through which a pinion shaft extends. The input yoke is disposed about a portion of the pinion shaft and one or both pinion bearing sets are then disposed about the input yoke. This configuration reduces pinion standout and allows for installation of a pre-assembled bearing pack (i.e., without spacers or shims), but does not reduce the length of the splines on the input yoke or bearing capacity.

Differential with pinion bearings supported on input yoke

A steer axle kingpin assembly is provided that eliminates the need for draw keys. The assembly includes A kingpin body that is received within a kingpin bore of a steer axle and extends along a longitudinal axis. The body includes an axially extending bore and a radially extending bore in communication with the axially extending bore. Ball bearings are disposed within the radially extending bore. A lock pin is inserted into the axially extending bore and urges the ball bearings outward into engagement with the kingpin bore of the steer axle.

Co-axial kingpin lock mechanism

A wheel differential having an improved differential lock assembly is provided. The differential includes a differential housing and a differential cage rotatably supported on the differential housing by a set of bearings. The differential also includes a clutch assembly having a first member fixed to the differential cage and a second member configured to receive an axle half shaft extending from the differential cage for rotation with the axle half shaft. Finally, the differential includes an improved differential lock assembly that selectively shifts the first and second clutch members into engagement to prevent relative rotation between the differential cage and axle half shaft. The lock assembly includes a shift chamber that is supported on an outer race member of the set of bearings. The shift chamber may be formed within a bearing cap that is coupled to the differential housing and disposed about at least a portion of the bearing set. The lock assembly further includes a piston disposed within the shift chamber and a pushrod coupled to the piston. A shift arm is also coupled to the pushrod and is configured to engage the second member of the clutch assembly. The piston may be urged in a first direction and a second direction, opposite the first direction, within the shift chamber by the application of biasing and/or fluid forces.

Wheel differential shift mechanism

A vehicle compound change gear transmission is provided that features an auxiliary drive gear (24) carried by a mainshaft (20) having enhanced freedom of radial movement by eliminating all radial contact between a bearing member that resiliently supports mainshaft (20) for rotation relative to a stationary housing of the transmission by utilizing prescribed spacer member combinations.

Growing community of inventors

Kalamazoo, MI, United States of America

David Owen Thompson