Caterpillar Inc.

Timothy F Nusz

Keith A Kabrick

Christopher P Braet

Daniel J Reed

Rick A Laylock

John Zeirke

Rick T Lasko

James Elmer Winzeler

Thomas J Yaniak

Daniel Joseph Whiting

Chetan Vilas Dahiwal

Scott A Johnston

Michael Alan Pershing

Swetha Suresh

Brandon D Mann

Gary C Yerby

Akilan Appavu

Vanyo N Kirov

Trent Thum

Kent A Kupferschmid

Benjamin J Bargfrede

Todd M Blindt

Timothy S Stoakes

Brian C Boguski

Roller cone drill bits and methods of increasing the wear resistance of a roller cone drill bit are disclosed. The roller cone drill bit includes a plurality of rolling elements within a bearing assembly of a cone. Each rolling element of the plurality of rolling elements may have a surface hardness of HRC 59-63, a hardened depth that is 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm deep, and may be derived from a low carbon bearing steel material. The hardened depth is measured from the surface of each rolling element and the low carbon bearing steel material has, by weight percent, from 0.12% to 0.25% carbon.

Bearing materials for tricone bit rolling elements

A final drive assembly for a machine includes an input shaft drivably coupled to a prime mover. The input shaft is coupled to and drives a first stage gear assembly. The first stage gear assembly further drives a second stage gear assembly. The first and second stage gear assemblies drive a ring gear which is coupled to a wheel of the machine. The first and second stage gear assemblies are disposed between a first bearing assembly and a second bearing assembly. A spring member preloads the first bearing assembly to limit an axial movement of the first and second stage gear assemblies.

Drive assembly for machine

A gear train assembly includes a first reduction planetary gear set having a rotating carrier and a second reduction planetary gear set having a non-rotating carrier. A plurality of vanes are attached to the carrier to direct oil from an oil bath towards the non-rotating carrier as the rotating carrier rotates.

Apparatus and method for lubricating a gear

A gear train assembly includes a planetary gear set partially submerged in an oil bath and having a plurality of planetary gears mounted on a rotatable carrier. A plurality of sheaths having a hydrodynamic profile are mounted on the carrier to reduce the churning and turbulence created by the planetary gears as they enter the oil bath.

Sheath assembly for a planetary gear

A control system diverts cooling and/or lubricating fluid from a selected one of a plurality of fluid actuated clutches in a transmission in response to the transmission being in a selected gear ratio. A diverter valve is placed between a source of cooling and/or lubricating fluid and the selected one of the fluid actuated clutches and operative to divert fluid therefrom in response to the transmission being placed in the selected gear ratio. A sensor arrangement is operative to sense the transmission gear ratio and deliver a signal to condition the diverter valve.

Control system for diverting oil from a clutch

A planetary transmission is disclosed including a front section having a first, a second, and a third planetary gear set each having a sun gear, a planet carrier and a ring gear. An input shaft is connected to at least two of the sun gears and the carrier of the third planetary gear set serves as the output. The front section of the transmission is operatively connected to a rear section for multi-speed use particularly adaptable to trucks or other machines.

Planetary transmission with direct drive through the front triple

Growing community of inventors

Wyoming, IL, United States of America

Timothy F Nusz