Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Steven R Baker

Benny Ballheimer

Michael J Smith

Jerry A Damerell

Raymond V Ashmun

Adjustment capabilities are useful in gearing mechanisms so that backlash settings between gears may be changed to accommodate for normal operation, wear, or maintenance disturbances. The subject backlash adjustment mechanism allows for adjustment of center distances between an adjustable idler gear (23) and a camshaft gear (24), while providing a geometric alignment (47,82) relationship to maintain a substantially fixed center distance between the adjustable idler gear (23) and another mating gear (22). The subject backlash adjustment mechanism (26) has the adjustable idler gear (23) rotatably mounted on an idler gear mounting (31,58) having a slotted hole (33,62), with the idler gear mounting (31,58) being releasably connected to a cylinder block (11). When adjustment is required, the idler gear mounting (31,58) can be pivoted around a pivot (28,70) to the extent permitted by the slotted hole (33,62), thereby changing the position of the adjustable idler gear (23) relative to the position of the camshaft gear (24). The pivot (28,70) is fixedly connected to the cylinder block (11) between the centerlines (49,51) of the idler gear (23) and the mating gear (22) and being positioned substantially on a line (B) intersecting the centerlines (49,51) of the idler gear (23) and the mating gear (22).

Backlash adjustment mechanism

An engine mounting base (8) has a first hollow frame portion (34) containing fluid at generally atmospheric pressure, and a second hollow frame portion (36) containing fluid at a preselected pressure above atmospheric pressure. Preferably, the mounting base (8) includes a plurality of elongate tubes (46,48,50,52,56,60,62,64,76) having closed ends and connected together at various elevations to provide a plurality of chambers (54,58,66,77) useful for fluid distribution and collection purposes.

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Magnolia, IL, United States of America

Steven R Baker