Caterpillar Inc.

David Randal Hinton

Douglas W Bell

Keith A Kabrick

Thomas J Suelflow

David W Bruce

Eric A Morr

David E Martin

Conrad G Grembowicz

Marcus Bunnow

Charles N Goloff

Julie A Gannon

Frederick C O'Neill

Samuel L Kershaw

Michael A Lopez

Jon R Greiner

Jin Suzuki

James T Passarelli

A life indicator for a component of a machine is disclosed. The life indicator includes at least one sensor operably associated with the machine and configured to sense a property associated with the machine. The sensor is configured to output the sensed property as a data signal. The life indicator also includes a memory element having a first data structure that determines a damage factor for the component of the machine based at least in part on the data signal received from the at least one sensor. A processor executes the first data structure to determine the damage factor.

Component life indicator

A wheel and final drive assembly for a work machine, such as a mining truck, having a driven rotatable wheel having inboard and outboard rims mounted thereto. The final drive assembly including a first and a second reduction gear assembly. A ring gear adapter having an inboard end, an outboard end, and an inner surface, a plurality of teeth disposed about the inner surface and interacting with a plurality of planetary gears of the first and second gear reduction assemblies and the inboard end of the ring gear adapter removably coupled to the outboard flange of the wheel.

Wheel and final drive assembly for a ground driven work machine

A wheel and final drive assembly for a work machine, such as a mining truck, having a driven rotatable wheel having inboard and outboard rims mounted thereto. The final drive assembly including a first and a second reduction gear assembly. A carrier output adapter having an inboard end, an outboard end, a cover attached to the outboard end and a mounting surface. The carrier adapter being attached at the inboard mounting surface to a outboard rim mounting ring and at the cover to a carrier assembly of the second reduction gear assembly.

A brake assembly for braking a wheel having a brake anchor, a brake anchor first annular portion, a brake anchor second annular portion, and a plurality of brake anchor splines on the brake anchor first annular portion.

Off highway truck brake assembly and wheel spindle having a spline joint

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.

Mechanical differential gear assembly

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for maintaining equal air pressure in a pair of tires on a work machine. The invention provides a valve body with a pair of piston chambers. A piston is reciprocatably positioned within each piston chamber, the pistons are biased toward a first closed end of the piston chambers. The closed end of each piston chamber is connected by a passageway to one of the tires. Each piston chamber is additionally fluidly connected to the other piston chamber. When the air pressure in each tire is above a predetermined amount the pistons are moved away from the closed end of the piston chamber and airflow is permitted between the piston chambers thereby balancing the tire pressures. If the pressure in either tire is below the predetermined minimum, the piston in that respective piston chamber moves toward the first end to block, airflow between the piston chambers.

Dual tire pressure balance system

An apparatus for controlling temperature of fluid in a rear axle assembly includes a rear axle housing having an internal component chamber. The internal component chamber has a rear axle sump located therein. The apparatus also includes a temperature control operational pressure source coupled to the internal component chamber. The apparatus further includes a diverter valve coupled to the temperature control operational pressure source. The apparatus includes a heating fluid return line interposed between the diverter valve and the rear axle sump, and includes a cooling fluid return line interposed between the diverter valve and the rear axle housing. The temperature control operational pressure source is selectively operable between (i) a first rate mode in which it advances fluid from the internal component chamber at a first flow rate, and (ii) a second rate mode in which it advances fluid from the internal component chamber at a second flow rate. The diverter valve is selectively operable between (i) a heating position in which fluid advanced by the temperature control operational pressure source is diverted to the rear axle sump via the heating fluid return line, and (ii) a cooling position in which fluid advanced by the temperature control operational pressure source is diverted to the rear axle housing via the cooling fluid return line. A method of controlling temperature of fluid in a rear axle housing is also presented.

Apparatus and method for controlling temperature of fluid in a differential assembly

A wheel assembly for a work machine, such as a mining dump truck, comprises a rotatable wheel having inboard and outboard rims mounted thereto. The outboard rim is mounted to a segmented rim-mounting flange which is secured to the inboard side of a flange projecting from the wheel. A final drive adapter is secured to the outboard end of the wheel opposite the segmented rim mounted flange. The segmented mounting flange permits the use of a larger final drive ring gear than in known wheel assemblies. Moreover, because the mounting flange is segmented, it can be fastened to the wheel inboard of the gear reduction housing, which permits the final drive assembly to be serviced without removal of the outboard rim from the wheel. Related methods are also disclosed.

Method of assembling a wheel assembly for a ground-driven work machine

A wheel assembly for a work machine, such as a mining dump truck, having a rotatable wheel having inboard and outboard rims mounted thereto. The outboard rim is mounted to a segmented rim-mounting flange which is secured to the inboard side of a flange projecting from the wheel. A final drive adapter is secured to the outboard end of the wheel opposite the segmented rim mounted flange. The segmented mounting flange permits the use of a larger final drive ring gear than in known wheel assemblies. Moreover, because the mounting flange is segmented, it can be fastened to the wheel inboard of the gear reduction housing, which permits the final drive assembly to be serviced without removal of the outboard rim from the wheel.

Wheel assembly for a ground-driven work machine and method for

A traction assembly of a work machine having (i) a differential housing having an axle passageway extending therethrough and (ii) an axle positioned within the axle passageway is disclosed. The traction assembly includes a gear mechanically coupled to the axle. The gear includes (i) an outer peripheral surface having a plurality of sensor teeth defined therein, (ii) a first shoulder extending in a first lateral direction, and (iii) a second shoulder extending in a second direction. The traction assembly also includes a bearing assembly attached to the differential housing, wherein (i) the bearing assembly includes a first bearing member and a second bearing member, (ii) the gear is interposed between the first bearing member and the second bearing member, (iii) the first shoulder of the gear contacts a first journal surface of the first bearing member, and (iv) the second shoulder of the gear contacts a second journal surface of the second bearing member. The traction assembly further includes a sensor for detecting rotation of the gear relative to the differential housing and generating a sensor signal in response thereto.

Traction assembly for a work machine

An apparatus for controlling temperature of fluid in a differential assembly. The apparatus includes a differential housing having a number of sidewalls which collectively define an internal component chamber, wherein (i) the internal component chamber has a differential sump located therein, and (ii) the differential sump has a sump input port defined therein. The apparatus also includes a first operational pressure source which advances fluid from the internal component chamber of the differential housing. The apparatus further includes a diverter valve which receives fluid advanced by the first operational pressure source from the internal component chamber. The diverter valve has a cold fluid output port and a hot fluid output port. A heating fluid return line is interposed between the cold fluid output port of the diverter valve and the sump input port of the differential sump. A cooling fluid return line is interposed between the hot fluid output port of the diverter valve and the housing input port of the differential housing. The diverter valve is selectively operable between (i) a heating position in which fluid advanced by the first operational fluid source is diverted to the differential sump of the differential housing via the heating fluid return line and (ii) a cooling position in which fluid advanced by the first operational fluid source is diverted to contact the number of sidewalls of the differential housing via the cooling fluid return line. A method of controlling temperature of fluid in a differential housing is also presented.

Apparatus and method for controlling temperature of fluid in a

A differential assembly which includes a differential housing is disclosed. The differential housing defines an internal component chamber, a fluid housing inlet, and a fluid housing outlet. The differential assembly also includes a spider structure positioned within the internal component chamber. The spider structure has (i) a spider hub and (ii) a spider shaft which extends from the spider hub. The differential assembly further includes a pinion gear positioned within the internal component chamber and around the spider shaft. The differential assembly also includes a bearing assembly positioned within the internal component chamber. The bearing assembly is interposed between the pinion gear and the spider shaft, wherein (i) the spider structure has a fluid spider channel having a fluid spider inlet and a fluid spider outlet, (ii) the fluid housing inlet is in fluid communication with the fluid spider inlet, and (iii) the fluid spider outlet is in fluid communication with the fluid housing outlet. The differential assembly also includes a fluid pump which advances a flow of oil through the fluid housing inlet, the fluid spider inlet, the fluid spider outlet, and the fluid housing outlet.

Arrangement for lubricating a differential assembly of a work machine

In the operation of modern day construction machinery, especially those of relatively large size, it is a common occurrence for the bearings in the axle assemblies to wear during the normal course of operation of the machine. As the wear occurs, minute particles become suspended in the fluid circulated within the axle assembly. As the particulate matter increases the wear is also accelerated and failure of one or more components in the axle assembly will frequently occur. The present invention provides an axle assembly with a filter and a cooler and flow control valve to remove the particulate matter and reduce the heat from the fluid circulated within the axle assembly.

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Mt. Zion, IL, United States of America

David Randal Hinton