Caterpillar Inc.

Thomas Alan Brosowske

Thomas L Atwell

Aaron J Weber

Scott A Snoble

Joseph R Derk

Michael G Cronin

Daniel Peter Sergison

Michael D Anderson

Paul Frederick Olsen

Grant Steven Peterson

Nelson A Jones

Dwight V Stone

William Lyle Schell

Michael J Smith

Jose M Salazar-Vior

Megan Alissa Brinkmeyer

Geoffrey M Turk

Zachary Robinson

Robert C Heitzman

Samuel M Bishop

Raymond B Derer

Cristian V Striletchi

A mechanism for limiting vibration amplitudes in a pumping system includes a plurality of pendulum absorbers coupled with a carrier and each having a pivoting range. The pendulum absorbers each further include a first and a second contact surface that contacts an outer peripheral surface of the carrier at limit stop positions, and each having a shape that is conforming with a shape of the outer peripheral surface. The pumping system may be used for pumping liquid nitrogen.

Pumping system, vibration limiting device, and method

A disconnect clutch and method of controlling the connection of a parasitic load to an engine disposed on a machine is disclosed. The disconnect clutch may comprise a flywheel assembly, a friction plate and a coupling. The flywheel assembly may include a flywheel having a cavity, a chamber, a piston moveable between a contracted position and an expanded position, a pressure plate, a lever, and a coupling operably connected to the friction plate. The flywheel may include an end plate. The chamber may be defined by the flywheel and the piston. The lever may apply an activation force to the pressure plate when the piston is in the expanded position. The friction plate may be attached to and rotatable with the flywheel assembly when the piston is in the expanded position and generally stationary when the piston is in the contracted position.

Disconnect clutch

A damped torsional coupling is utilized to couple a drive shaft to a work shaft while permitting some relative rotation due to torsional vibrations. The coupling includes a second coupler oriented to rotate with respect to a first coupler about an axis through a continuum of negative to positive torque orientations. The first coupler defines a fluted perimeter surface with a number of flutes, distributed with radial symmetry about the axis. The second coupler a number of pistons reciprocally received in respective barrels to define a variable volume chamber fluidly connected to a damping passage. A spring biases the pistons and barrels to extend toward a position in contact with one of the flutes. The contact end may be an edge of a roller that rolls on the fluted perimeter surface in one of the flutes responsive to torques transmitted between the couplers.

Radial piston damped torsional coupling and machine using same

A compliant gear assembly for a gear train of an internal combustion engine includes a hub subassembly having a first hub component and a second hub component. The first hub component defines a first axis, and the compliant gear assembly includes a gear ring rotatable relative to the hub subassembly and defining a gear ring axis of rotation. The second hub component is movable relative to the first hub component in a direction normal to the first axis between a first stop position at which the gear ring axis of rotation is co-linear with the first axis and a second stop position at which the gear ring axis of rotation is parallel to but not co-linear with the first axis. A compliance mechanism is coupled between the first hub component and the second hub component and biases the second hub component toward the first stop position. Translating the second hub component relative to the first hub component in a direction normal to the first axis attenuates torque spikes induced for example via fuel injector actuation and/or cylinder firing in an engine gear train employing the compliant gear assembly.

Compliant gear assembly, engine and gear train operating method

A damper assembly including an input member, an output member, and a transfer assembly is disclosed. The input member is configured to receive a torsional input. The output member is configured to provide a torsional output. The transfer assembly is coupled between the input member and the output member and includes a ring, a first guide, a second guide, a first spring, and a second spring. The ring defines a first linear slide path that has a first end and a second end, and a second linear slide path that has a third end and a fourth end. The first guide is slideable within the first linear slide path and coupled to the input member. The second guide is slideable within the second linear slide path and coupled to the input member. The first spring is positioned between the first guide and the second end of the first linear slide path. The second spring is positioned between the second guide and the fourth end of the second linear slide path. Movement of the input member relative to the output member causes the first guide to slide along the first linear slide path and the second guide to slide along the second linear slide path.

Torsional damper for a fluid pump

A compliant gear assembly includes a gear ring positioned about a hub and configured to translate responsive to a torque on the gear assembly, and biased toward co-axial alignment with the hub via at least one actuator. A method of managing loads on an idler gear in the gear train is still further provided including translating the gear ring responsive to the torque on the idler gear. A work machine includes an engine having a housing and a geartrain mounted thereon, the geartrain including a crank gear, a cam gear and a compliant idler gear assembly.

Compliant gear assembly and work machine using same

A torsional coupling includes a body having a circumference and defining a center axis. The body is rotatable about the center axis. The coupling also includes a ring including an inner diameter disposed about the circumference. The ring includes a ring contact surface having a first radius and the ring is configured to rotate about the center axis. A coupling element is associated with the body and is configured to apply a centrifugal force radially outwardly from the circumference of the body when the body rotates. The coupling element includes a coupling element contact surface having a second radius which is different than the first radius of the ring contact surface. The coupling element contact surface is in contact with the ring contact surface and is configured to apply a force against the ring contact surface to rotate the ring relative to the body and increase the effective stiffness of the torsional coupling as the rotational speed of the body increases.

Torsional coupling

A camshaft in an internal combustion engine encounters various torques during operation which produce torsional vibrations leading to excessive noise and reduced gear life. An active inertia absorbing system includes a camshaft gear integrally formed with a carrier. The carrier has a plurality of bores having a predetermined diameter. A plurality of weights are positioned within the bores and have a predetermined diameter less than the predetermined diameter of the bores so that the weights are free to move within the bores. The mass of the carrier and the weights establish an inertia which acts in opposition to the torques applied to the camshaft for absorbing the torsional vibrations of a camshaft.

Growing community of inventors

Peoria, IL, United States of America

Thomas Alan Brosowske