Planetary wheel drive single wall lugged output carrier

• US 10,066,735 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2017
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fairfield Manufacturing Company, Inc. (Dana, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fairfield Manufacturing Company, Inc. (Dana, Inc.)
• Inventors: Martin, Scott, Li, Yichen, Richards, Matthew, Dozier, Randolph
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, Jacob S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hannon, Timothy
• Application Number:
  US15/451,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20180252308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/046 with planetary gearing having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0092 the motor axle being coaxial to the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/62 Conveyors, floor conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2361/61 Toothed gear systems, e.g. support of pinion shafts
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/02 in the case of sliding-contact bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/063 Fixing them on the shaft with interposition of an element F16C35/07
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 1/46 Systems consisting of a plurality of gear trains each with orbital gears, i.e. systems having three or more central gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2057/085 Bearings for orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2057/127 using springs
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/082 Planet carriers
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/12 Arrangements for adjusting or for taking-up backlash not provided for elsewhere

Abstract

A planetary wheel drive uses a single wall output planet carrier includes an internal spline fixed against rotation through an interconnection with an external spline of the stationary spindle. A locking lug of the single wall output planet carrier extends into a notch of a bearing nut. The locking lug prevents the bearing nut from unthreading itself from the stationary spindle. An output planet thrust plate is bolted to an output planet pin.

Claims

1. A planetary wheel drive, comprising:

a stationary spindle and a rotatable output housing;

an input stage and an output stage;

said input stage drives said output stage;

said output stage includes a single wall output planet carrier fixed against rotation;

said single wall output planet carrier includes an interior spline;

said stationary spindle includes an exterior spline;

said interior spline of said single wall output planet carrier slidingly mates with said exterior spline of said stationary spindle securing said single wall output planet carrier against rotation but permitting axial movement between said output planet carrier and said stationary spindle;

said single wall output planet carrier includes a locking lug;

said stationary spindle includes exterior threads extending circumferentially therearound;

a bearing nut having internal threads;

said internal threads of said bearing nut mates with said exterior threads extending circumferentially around said stationary spindle securing said internal threads of said bearing nut thus securing said bearing nut to said spindle;

said bearing nut includes a notch therein; and

,

said notch of said bearing receives said locking lug of said single wall output planet carrier preventing rotation of said single wall output planet carrier with respect to said bearing nut and preventing said bearing nut from disengaging said stationary spindle wherein said locking lug retains said bearing nut in place preventing said bearing nut from backing off said stationary spindle.

2. The planetary wheel drive as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

said output stage includes an output planet pin;

said single wall output planet carrier includes a hole therein to receive said output planet pin therein;

said hole of said output planet carrier interrupts said internal spline of said output planet carrier creating a discontinuity of said internal spline;

said output planet pin includes a flanged head; and

,

said output planet pin is pressed into said hole in said single wall output planet carrier.

3. The planetary wheel drive as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

an output planet thrust plate;

said output planet thrust plate includes a bore therethrough;

said output planet thrust plate includes a counterbore concentric with said bore;

a bore through said output planet pin;

said bore through said output planet pin is threaded;

a bolt;

said bolt includes threads thereon;

said bolt threadedly interconnects said bolt with said threaded bore of said output planet pin interconnecting said output planet thrust plate to said output planet pin securing said output planet pin to said single wall output planet carrier adding single wall output planet carrier strength and stiffness to said single wall output planet carrier; and

,

said output planet thrust plate interengages said input stage limiting axial movement of said single wall output planet carrier with respect to said stationary spindle and preventing axial retraction of said locking lug of said single wall output planet carrier from said notch of said bearing nut.

4. The planetary wheel drive as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a relief in proximity to said flange of said output planet pin; and

,

said output planet pin pressed into said hole of said output planet carrier.

5. The planetary wheel drive as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a plurality of notches in said bearing nut enabling rotational adjustment of said single wall output planet carrier with respect to said bearing nut.

6. The planetary wheel drive as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a support for an output planet gear residing between said output planet gear and said output planet pin;

said support enables said planet gear to rotate about said output planet pin; and

,

said output planet thrust plate is a thrust surface for said support of said output planet gear.

7. A planetary wheel drive, comprising:

a stationary spindle and a rotatable housing;

an input stage and an output stage;

said output stage comprises;

a single wall output planet carrier, said single wall output planet carrier is generally cylindrically shaped and includes a partially closed single wall at one end thereof and a cylinder wall extending from said partially closed single wall;

said partially closed single wall includes a through hole therein;

a planet pin press fit in said through hole;

said cylinder wall extending from said partially closed single wall includes an internal spline proximate said partially closed single wall; and

,

said cylinder wall extending from said partially closed single wall includes a locking lug extending therefrom;

a bearing nut includes internal threads;

said bearing nut further includes a notch therein;

said stationary spindle is generally cylindrically shaped and has an exterior, said exterior includes external threads thereon;

said internal threads of said bearing nut mate with said external threads of said stationary spindle;

said stationary spindle includes an external spline which mates with said internal spline of said single wall output planet carrier preventing rotation of said single wall output planet carrier; and

,

said locking lug extending from said cylinder wall of said single wall interengages with said notch of bearing nut preventing rotation of said bearing nut with respect to said stationary spindle thus preventing unthreading of said bearing nut.

8. The planetary wheel drive as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

a washer;

said washer includes a tab;

said washer abuts said bearing nut;

said tab of said washer is aligned with said notch of said bearing nut; and

,

said tab orients said washer with respect to said bearing nut.

9. A planetary wheel drive, comprising:

a stationary spindle;

an input stage and an output stage;

said output stage comprises;

a single walled output planet carrier,

said single walled output planet carrier includes an internal spline,

said single walled output planet carrier includes a through planet hole, said through planet hole interrupts said internal spline,

an output planet pin,

said output planet pin pressed in said through planet hole, and,

an output planet gear;

a lugged bearing nut locking device;

a thrust plate;

a bolt; and

,

said bolt affixes said thrust plate to said output planet pin.