Machine element or mechanism – Gearing – Directly cooperating gears
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-27
2001-11-20
Bucci, David A. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Gearing
Directly cooperating gears
C180S009620, C074S42100R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318200
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a triple reduction final drive assembly for a work vehicle which is both compact and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Work vehicles are typically powered by an internal combustion engine that drives a transmission. The rotating output of the transmission is directed to the drive wheels or sprockets by a final drive assembly. Typically the final drive assembly includes a gear reduction which reduces the speed applied to the drive wheels or sprockets and increases torque, thereby lowering stress and simplifying the transmission. Three major types of final drives that offer gear reduction are pinion final drives, planetary final drives and chain final drives.
In a pinion final drive, a pinion gear operatively engages the transmission output shaft and drives a larger spur gear, thereby reducing the output speed of the spur gear and increasing torque. Additional pinions and spur gears can be added to increase the gear reduction function, but this requires increased space and cost.
Planetary final drives are more compact than pinion final drives resulting in a greater gear reduction in a smaller package. However planetary final drives are more costly to manufacture.
Chain final drives result in the most clearance over pinion and planetary final drives, but have a tendency to loosen due to wear and stretching.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a compact and relatively inexpensive triple reduction final drive assembly for a work vehicle.
It is a feature of the invention that a first cluster gear and the output shaft of the output spur gear have coaxial drive axes.
It is another feature of the invention that the present triple reduction final drive is formed of pinion gears and spur gears that require only three gear rotating shafts.
The present triple reduction final drive assembly for a work vehicle comprises a first input spur gear, a first cluster gear, a second cluster gear and an output spur gear that are located in a housing. The output spur gear is provided with an output shaft which is rotatively mounted on bearings in the housing. The first cluster gear rotates on annular bearings that encircle a portion of the output shaft. The first cluster gear and output spur gear define coaxial drive axes. The second cluster gear is also rotatively mounted on bearings located in the housing. The second cluster gear defines a drive axis that is parallel to and spaced apart from the drive axes of the first cluster gear and the output spur gear. The first cluster gear is provided with a first toothed surface and a second toothed surface. The first toothed surface of the first cluster gear engages the input spur gear thereby defining the first gear reduction. The second cluster gear is also provided with a first toothed surface and a second toothed surface. The first toothed surface of the second cluster gear engages the second toothed surface of the first cluster gear thereby defining the second gear reduction. The second toothed surface of the second cluster gear engages the output spur gear thereby defining the third gear reduction.
The housing is also provided with a spring applied hydraulically released parking brake that engages an input sleeve that is coupled to the output shaft of the transmission and the input spur gear. The input sleeve is provided with exterior splines for engaging the spring applied hydraulically released brake and internal splines for engaging the output shaft of the transmission and the input spur gear.
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Deere & Company Brochure entitled “Fundamentals of Service- Power Trains”, ISBN 0-86691-009-3, FOS-40, cover and pp. 8-1 thr 8-8, printed in the U.S.A.
Coleman David LeRoy
Kaukaskie Donald Charles
Bucci David A.
Deere & Company
Hansen Colby
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