Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Michael F Hopkins

Rodger L Moring

Alvin D Mayerchin

Universal coupling spider bearing and yoke

PCT No. PCT/US79/01010 Sec. 371 Date Nov. 13, 1979 Sec. 102(e) Date Nov. 13, 1979 PCT Filed Nov. 13, 1979 PCT Pub. No. WO81/01450 PCT Pub. Date May 28, 1981 A differential gear assembly (10) wherein the tooth face loading is utilized to maintain the driven idler gear (17) in a preselected disposition without the need for a thrust washer. The positioning of the idler gear is controlled by the use of a single tapered roller bearing assembly (18) which serves as a thrust absorbing structure. The driver gear is maintained against the roller (28) of the roller bearing by the toothed loading during operation of the differential gear assembly and by a spring (30) at all other times. One race (25) of the single tapered roller bearing assembly (18) may be formed integrally with the bevel gear and, more specifically, may be defined by a surface portion of the bevel gear. The pressure angle, pitch angle and bearing K factor are preselected so that the bearing induced thrust load, due to the radial load developed thereon by the bevel gear, is less than the thrust generated between the meshing gear teeth.

Differential gear positioning means

A stabilizer for stabilizing a drive carried on a frame. The stabilizer includes a stiffener element which is connected between a portion of the frame and the drive. The stiffener element is connected by means of an eccentric connector which is adjustably secured to provide an effective length of the stabilizer for positively securing the drive to the frame portion. A pair of such eccentrics may be provided at opposite ends of the stiffener element for further adjustability of the stabilizer.

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Aurora, IL, United States of America

Michael F Hopkins