The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 24, 2012
Filed:
Feb. 20, 2009
Thomas A. Brosowske, Peoria, IL (US);
Aaron J. Weber, Morton, IL (US);
Scott A. Snoble, Pekin, IL (US);
Thomas L. Atwell, Peoria, IL (US);
Joseph R. Derk, Morton, IL (US);
Thomas A. Brosowske, Peoria, IL (US);
Aaron J. Weber, Morton, IL (US);
Scott A. Snoble, Pekin, IL (US);
Thomas L. Atwell, Peoria, IL (US);
Joseph R. Derk, Morton, IL (US);
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
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.