Deere & Company

Gary R Fichtinger

Jeffrey S Turner

Mark J Besler

Michael J Ackerman

Carolyn Lambka Drum

Christopher Michael Ruden

Jonathan A Dylhoff

James E Kasemeier

A method and associated apparatus for controlling fluid levels within an axle tube, the method comprising: (a) establishing a first predetermined level of a liquid lubricant within a transmission and an electric motor operatively coupled to the electric motor, the axle tube housing the electric motor and the transmission, where a cavity interposing a wall of the axle tube and the electric motor is occupied by the liquid lubricant reservoir at a second predetermined level; and, (b) lowering the first predetermined level of a liquid lubricant within the electric motor and the transmission by changing a gas pressure exerted upon the liquid lubricant, where changing the gas pressure exerted upon the liquid lubricant within the axle tube raises the second predetermined level of liquid lubricant within the cavity.

Air pressure regulated axle sump

A differential housing support assembly includes a pivot pin which projects from an end of the housing and is pivotally received in an annual ring of a support bracket which is bolted to a vehicle frame member. A cover plate is bolted to an end fact of the ring and includes a central portion which is directly engageable with an end of the pivot pin. Free play between the pivot pin and the cover plate is adjusted by controlling the number of annular shims placed between the annular ring and the cover plate.

Differential housing support

A winch control valve is provided for controlling the flow of fluid to and from a clutch and a brake of a winch transmission which are operable for establishing a hold condition in the winch when no fluid pressure is connected to the clutch and brake, a free spool condition wherein pressure fluid is connected to only the brake, and a wind-in condition wherein fluid pressure is connected to both the clutch and the brake. In addition, the valve spool is provided with lands which are dimensioned slightly smaller than service ports leading to the clutch and brake of the winch so that pressure fluid may selectively be routed to the service ports and at the same time, be metered to sump whereby a partial clutch engagement pressure may be effected in the clutch to thereby establish an inching condition and whereby partial pressure may be established in the brake passage for effecting a partial release thereof so as to establish a controlled release condition in the winch. Also provided is a pin-operated inlet check ball for connecting pressurized fluid to the control valve when needed. The pin is, in turn, operated through means of a cam on the winch control valve spool such that the check ball is unseated by rolling it off a fluid pressure outlet leading from a valve housing to which a source of fluid pressure is connected.

Winch control valve

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Hazel Green, WI, United States of America

Gary R Fichtinger