Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Randall Rey Bendtsen

Alan Dale Gustafson

Mark D Fabry

Jens M Erp

Michael W Boston

Cary J Lyons

A brake apparatus includes a brake disk secured to a shaft and a reaction plate secured to a housing. The brake apparatus further includes a fluid actuated piston which urges the brake disk against the reaction plate to slow rotation of the shaft and an adjustment member positioned by the piston. The brake apparatus yet further includes a spring interposed between the adjustment member and the piston. The piston positions the adjustment member relative to the brake disk when fluid is applied to said piston. The spring urges the piston away from the adjustment member and brake disk when fluid pressure is removed from the piston.

Self-adjusting braking apparatus

A method of manufacturing involves providing a sub-unit including a shaft and a bevel gear associated with the shaft, and also providing a first support member and a second support member. A first bearing is positioned between the sub-unit and first support member. A second bearing is positioned between the second support member and the sub-unit. The first support member is connected to the second support member. Preload on the first and second bearings is adjusted. At least the sub-unit, the first support member, the second support member, the first bearing, and the second bearing constitute an assembly capable of being installed in a housing.

Bevel gear bearing support arrangement manufacturing method

A final drive assembly for transmitting torque from a drive source to an output device is provided. The final drive assembly includes a non-rotatable housing, a rotatable shaft defining an outer surface, a gear assembly, at least one bearing assembly, and a bushing. The gear assembly is configured to be couple to the drive source. The gear assembly is coupled to the housing and coupled to the shaft through a rotatable member. The rotatable member is configured to transmit torque from the drive source to the shaft and to provide relative radial movement between the shaft and the rotatable member. The bearing assembly is coupled to the housing and configured to rotatably support the rotatable member. The bushing is radially disposed between the rotatable member and the outer surface of the shaft. The bushing, which is configured to transmit substantially all of an external load exerted on the shaft to the rotatable member, is fixedly coupled to one of the rotatable member or the shaft.

Drive assembly with mounting for rotating axle

A differential apparatus for transmitting a driving force from a pinion gear supported on an input shaft to a pair of axle output shafts includes a differential case, a ring gear, and a spider gear assembly. The differential case is made from a single piece and includes a longitudinally extending central bore that defines a longitudinal axis. The differential case includes a plurality of longitudinal slots extending along an inner surface of the central bore. A ring gear is supported by the differential casing and is rotatable about the longitudinal axis by the pinion gear connected to the input shaft. The ring gear is preferably welded to the differential casing. The differential apparatus also includes a spider member that has a central body portion with a plurality of legs extending radially outwardly from the body portion. A spider gear is supported on each of the legs. The differential case can be used with either a standard differential or a limited slip differential. In the standard differential, the spider legs are received and retained within the longitudinal slots without the use of fasteners. In the limited slip differential, an actuator housing assembly includes tabs that are received in the longitudinal slots and the spider legs react against the actuator housing assembly. In both configurations, the spider gears drive side gears that are mounted to each of the axle shafts, which drive the vehicle's wheels.

Vehicle differential

Winch apparatus

An ejector assembly for a material handling vehicle of a type having a bowl or container formed by a relatively fixed container portion and a movable container portion, the movable container element being retractable into a nested position within the fixed container portion for receiving material therein, the movable container portion being movable through the fixed portion to initially remove material therefrom, an ejector assembly including an extendable and retractable jack having a folding link pivotably connected thereto, the jack and folding link being pivotably interconnected between the fixed and movable portions for extension toward a parallel alignment and into engagement with an ejector in order to condition the jack for subsequently operating the ejector to complete removal of material from the bowl.

Growing community of inventors

Peoria, IL, United States of America

Randall Rey Bendtsen