Deere + Company

Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Robert J White

Michael L Rhodes

Michael Dean Kollath

Edwin Roy Kreis

Andy Blaine Appleton

Peter Alan Kosmicki

Timothy Joel Kilworth

Richard K Shier

Joe Lyle Schutte

Brent R Behrman

Raymond D Thompson

Edward H Kiefer

Cynthia Ann Stuvel

Jeffrey David Dawson

Scott Lisle Cook

Craig A Diem

Bradley Thomas Cote

John J Larkin

Jared F Leonard

Gary Dean Johnson

Work machines, drive assemblies for work machines, and methods of measuring torque of a driven component of a work machine are disclosed herein. A work machine includes a frame structure, a rotational power source supported by the frame structure, and a driven component supported by the frame structure that is coupled to the rotational power source to receive rotational power therefrom in use of the work machine. The driven component extends between a first end and a second end arranged opposite the first end. Additionally, the work machine includes a first encoder system coupled to the first end of the driven component, a second encoder system coupled to the second end of the driven component, and a control system supported by the frame structure that includes a controller communicatively coupled to the first encoder system and the second encoder system.

Work machines incorporating encoder systems, drive assemblies therefor, and methods of measuring torque using encoder systems

The system and method determines the torque applied to a rotating shaft by a load. A first sensor detects rotation of a first wheel and a second sensor detects rotation of a second wheel. A third sensor is proximate to the first sensor. A processor determines: 1) a magnitude of a phase angle (&#x3c6;) based on the first and second sensors and having an unknown sign; 2) a magnitude of a phase angle (&#x3c6;) based on the second and third sensors and having an unknown sign; and 3) a magnitude of a phase angle (&#x3c6;) based on the first and third sensors and having a known sign. The processor determines a sign of the phase angle (&#x3c6;) based on the values of the phase angles (&#x3c6;) and (&#x3c6;) and determines a torque value from the load applied to the shaft at least in part based on the magnitude and sign of the phase angle (&#x3c6;).

Torque determination system and method

A method for designing a gear train having first and second enmeshed gears includes performing a first analysis with the first and second gears in a first configuration. The first analysis includes determining a first transmission error (TE) characteristic of the first configuration, and providing a first geometric representation of the first TE characteristic. The method also includes performing a second analysis with the first and second gears in a second configuration. The second analysis includes determining a second TE characteristic of the second configuration and providing a second geometric representation of the second TE characteristic. Moreover, the method includes providing a comparison of the first and second TE characteristics by providing a comparison of the first and second geometric representations.

Gear phasing for noise control

A system and method determines torque applied to a rotating shaft by a load. Two sensors determine the rotation of the shaft at two spaced-apart axial positions. Controller(s) analyze two pulse trains associated with signals received from the sensors corresponding to rotation of the shaft at the respective axial positions under the load. The controller(s) determine a delta phase value for each pulse of one pulse train with respect to a corresponding pulse of another pulse train, and aggregate each delta phase value for a prescribed period of pulses to determine an aggregate delta phase value. The controller(s) determine a load phase value as a ratio of the aggregate delta phase value to the prescribed period, a total delta phase value as a difference between the load phase value and a reference phase value, and a torque value from the load based on the total delta phase value and physical parameters of the shaft.

Aggregated pulse phase difference torque determination system and method

A torque measurement device associated with a power driven ground engaging device having a power supplying device and a load. The torque measurement device includes a rotatable shaft, a first detectable feature, a second detectable feature, a plurality of sensors and an electrical controller. The rotatable shaft has a longitudinal axis, a first end and a second end. The first end is connected to the power supplying device and the second end is connected to the load. The first and second detectable features are respectively associated with a first longitudinal position and a second longitudinal position on the shaft. The plurality of sensors include a first sensor and a second sensor. The first sensor is proximate to the first detectable feature and the second sensor is proximate to the second detectable feature. The first sensor produces a first signal and the second sensor produces a second signal as the rotatable shaft rotates about the longitudinal axis. The electrical controller samples the first signal and the second signal at a sampling rate. The first signal has a first frequency and the sampling rate is less than twice the first frequency. The electrical controller computes a torque measurement representative of the torque on the rotatable shaft utilizing the first signal and the second signal.

Torque measurement method and apparatus

A draft force sensor is provided for a coupling member coupled between a towing vehicle and a towed earth engaging implement, such as a scraper. The draft force sensor includes first and second bores extending through the coupling member. Each bore has a horizontal axis which extends perpendicular to a main fore-and-aft axis of the coupling member. The second bore is positioned above the first bore and spaced apart from the first bore. Each of the bores is surrounded by an outer cylindrical wall. Four electrical strain gauges are spaced apart and placed on the wall of each of the bores. A center line bisects an axis line which extends between the axes of the first and second bores. The axis of each bore is spaced apart from the center line by a distance which is less than a diameter of the bores. The strain gauges are connected electrically in a circuit which generates a draft force signal in response to draft forces applied to the coupling member.

Towed implement draft force sensor

The adjustment mechanism of the present invention is mounted to a frame and comprises an alignment cam that is pivotally mounted to the frame by a tension link pivot pin. The alignment cam is provided with an actuating arm that is coupled to a longitudinally extendible adjusting member. The longitudinally extendible adjusting member comprising a screw jack. A tension link is pivotally mounted to the tension link pivot pin. Camming surfaces on the alignment cam are skewed with respect to the transverse axis defined by the tension link pivot pin so that rotation of the alignment cam twists the tension link and thereby the idler wheel predominately about a vertical axis. Albeit to a lesser degree, rotation of the alignment cam also twists the tension link and idler about a longitudinally extending horizontal axis. Therefore by extending or retracting the screw jack, the toe-in/toe-out orientation of the idler wheel can be adjusted.

Toe-in/toe-out adjustment mechanism

A pump impeller assembly comprises a pump journal, an impeller fixed to one end of the pump journal, and a pulley fixed to the other end of the pump journal. The pump impeller assembly further comprises a pump bearing including an outer race surrounding the pump journal with the pump journal being adapted to rotate with respect to the outer race. The pump impeller assembly includes a support plate fixed to the outer race and lying in a radial plane with respect to the pump journal. The support plate has a plurality of locking tabs adjoining its peripheral edge. The locking tabs are circumferentially spaced apart from one another with respect to the pump journal. The locking tabs are adapted to interlock with locking lugs formed on the inner surface of a pump housing wherein the locking lugs are adjacent to a pulley opening in the pump housing through which the pulley extends and are circumferentially spaced apart from one another with respect to the pulley opening. The locking tabs are adapted so that the interlocking enables secure attachment of the support plate to the pump housing.

Pump impeller assembly

The invention is directed to a flat rear window for a tractor having a middle panel that is slidably coupled to the frame so it can be opened by sliding it downwardly so that it overlaps a bottom stationary panel. The middle panel is provided with guide pins that engage slots formed in guide tracks mounted to the cab. Latches are used to hold the middle panel in its closed position.

Growing community of inventors

Waterloo, IA, United States of America

Robert J White