PINION ASSEMBLY PRELOADING SYSTEM

• US 20130042453A1
• Filed: 08/19/2011
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Szpara, Peter Alexander, Reed, Timothy John, Smith, Troy, Sunstein, Julie Anne, Uhrick, Wayne
• Granted Patent: US 9,091,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/407.08
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/182 in tandem arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/548 in O-arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2229/00 Setting preload
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2361/61 Toothed gear systems, e.g. support of pinion shafts in general F16H57/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 25/06 Ball or roller bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2057/02043 for vehicle transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2057/0221 Axial adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49776 Pressure, force, or weight determining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53061 Responsive to work or work-related machine element

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to pinion assembly preloading systems. Disclosed are systems including a press actuator configured to apply an axial force against a pinion assembly; a force sensor configured to measure a reaction force at the pinion assembly; and a controller configured to control the press actuator according to a change in the reaction force.

Claims

1. A pinion assembly preloading system, comprising:

a press actuator configured to apply an axial force against a pinion assembly;

a force sensor configured to measure a reaction force at the pinion assembly; and

a controller configured to control the press actuator according to a change in the reaction force.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to assess a spacer preload and a bearing-race preload;

and

wherein the controller is configured to cease actuation of the press actuator according to an equation for the change in reaction force, the change in reaction force equal to the sum of the spacer preload minus the bearing-race preload minus a constant, multiplied times a multiplier.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the constant is between 100 lbs and 350 lbs.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the multiplier is between 0.03 and 0.08.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the press actuator is fitted with an end tooling comprising a nut socket linked to a drive motor, the nut socket configured to tighten a nut journaled to one end of the pinion assembly.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the end tooling includes a spline socket configured to secure onto the end of the pinion assembly and prevent a shaft of the pinion assembly from rotating during loading.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a position sensor configured to measure a displacement in the pinion assembly during loading.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a user display configured to indicate the reaction force and the displacement of the pinion assembly.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the force sensor is a transducer.

7. The system of FIG. 6, further comprising:

a first servo motor configured to rotate the nut socket and a second servo motor configured to rotate the spline socket.

11. A pinion assembly preloading system, comprising:

a press actuator configured to apply an axial force against a pinion assembly;

a force sensor configured to measure a reaction force at the pinion assembly;

a position sensor configured to measure a displacement during in pinion assembly during loading; and

a controller configured to plot the reaction force versus displacement and control the press actuator according to a slope of the plot.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to cease actuation of the press actuator when the slope of the plot exceeds a predetermined threshold.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the predetermined threshold is 270,000 lb/in.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to cease actuation of the press actuator after a predetermined number of changes in the slope of the plot.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the predetermined number of changes in the slope of the plot is three.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a user display configured to indicate the reaction force and displacement during system operation.

17. A method of preloading a pinion assembly, comprising:

applying an axial force to a pinion assembly;

assessing a reaction force at the pinion assembly;

assessing a bearing assembly displacement; and

ceasing application of the axial force based on a change in the reaction force.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

measuring a bearing-race preload;

measuring a spacer preload; and

ceasing application of the axial force according to an equation for the change in reaction force, the change in reaction force equal to the sum of the spacer preload minus the bearing-race preload minus a constant, multiplied times a multiplier.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

assessing a slope of a reaction force versus displacement plot.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

ceasing the application of the axial force when the slope of the reaction force versus displacement plot exceeds a predetermined threshold.