Caterpillar Inc.

Dwight V Stone

Larry W Lorimor

Benny Ballheimer

Thomas L Atwell

Thomas Alan Brosowske

Nelson A Jones

Jose M Salazar-Vior

Scott A Snoble

Charles E Whalen

Aaron J Weber

Joseph R Derk

Roger D Krikke

Douglas A Long

Cristian V Striletchi

Ronald E Tomevi

A compliant gear assembly includes a gear ring positioned about a hub and configured to translate responsive to a torque on the gear assembly, and biased toward co-axial alignment with the hub via at least one actuator. A method of managing loads on an idler gear in the gear train is still further provided including translating the gear ring responsive to the torque on the idler gear. A work machine includes an engine having a housing and a geartrain mounted thereon, the geartrain including a crank gear, a cam gear and a compliant idler gear assembly.

Compliant gear assembly and work machine using same

An engine assembly having an engine block with at least one cylinder disposed therein, a fuel injector for periodically injecting fuel into the cylinder, a vertically disposed pushrod, a rocker arm disposed for periodic movement and having a first end disposed adjacent the fuel injector and a second end disposed adjacent the pushrod, a camshaft having a cam, and a leaf spring cam follower operatively coupled between the cam and the pushrod. The cam follower has a first portion which supports a cam roller and a second portion which makes contact with the pushrod. The first and second portions of the cam follower, which are spring-biased with respect to each other, may comprise, respectively, a rigid curved member and a flexible, substantially planar member.

Engine assembly with leaf spring cam follower

An oil dam coupling for connecting an output shaft of a transmission arrangement to an input shaft of a pump assembly. The oil dam coupling includes a first member splined to the output shaft and a second member splined to the input shaft. The first member has an end plate which forms a cavity and retains oil within the cavity. The second member engages the first member within the cavity. The oil interacting between the first member and the second member within the cavity will reduce torsional wrap of the output shaft and reduce noise.

Oil dam coupling

A fuel injection system is disclosed comprising a high pressure actuating fluid pump, a first plurality of hydraulically-actuated unit injectors, and a first high pressure actuating fluid manifold arranged in fluid communication with each of the first plurality of unit injectors. The system further comprises a second plurality of hydraulically-actuated unit injectors, a second high pressure actuating fluid manifold arranged in fluid communication with each of the second plurality of unit injectors, and a device for controlling Helmholtz resonation of pressure waves between the manifolds and/or between the pump and either manifold. Hydraulically-actuated unit injector fuel systems, having multiple manifolds for supplying high pressure actuating fluid to the unit injectors, can establish a Helmholtz resonance effect between the manifolds. The present invention controls the creation of Helmholtz resonance between the manifolds and also between the pump and either manifold.

Hydraulically-actuated fuel injection system having Helmholtz resonance

The existing couplings used for transmission of torque uses a combination of mechanical springs or a combination of dampening devices such as cylindrical openings having pistons spring-biased therein. The cylindrical openings also have viscous fluid introduced therein and dampen the torque applied thereto. A coupling apparatus is provided for resiliently transmitting torque including a pin assembly positioned in mechanical connection between an annular plate member and a gear member, dampening backlash motion including a pin assembly and a mechanism for biasing a piston into contact with one of the gear member or annular plate member, and lubricating the interface between the components having relative oscillation therebetween. An interface between the moving parts, the annular plate and the gear, is providing and a lubrication system is provided to lubricate the interface.

Resilient coupling apparatus

A lubricating spline joint for providing a viscous damping function includes a first member defining an internal spline, a second member defining an external spline engaged therewith, a seal ring between the members at one end of the splines, and a radially inwardly facing chamber at the other end which is exposed to lubrication fluid. The improvement features an internal barrier for assuring a fixed internal radius R and thus a preselected centrifugal pressure head of the fluid mass in the chamber and about the splines, and a plurality of venting passages located radially outwardly of the radius R for continually exhausting fluid from the splines as a result of centrifugal force so that fresh and/or less aerated fluid is circulated through the splines.

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East Peoria, IL, United States of America

Dwight V Stone