Pinion assembly preloading system
First Claim
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1. A pinion assembly preloading system, comprising:
- a press actuator configured to apply an axial force against a pinion assembly while preventing the pinion and pinion nut from rotating;
a force sensor configured to measure an axial reaction force at the pinion assembly; and
a controller configured to control the press actuator according to a change in the axial reaction force.
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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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A pinion assembly preloading system, comprising:
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a press actuator configured to apply an axial force against a pinion assembly while preventing the pinion and pinion nut from rotating; a force sensor configured to measure an axial reaction force at the pinion assembly; and a controller configured to control the press actuator according to a change in the axial reaction force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10)
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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.
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11. A pinion assembly preloading system, comprising:
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a press actuator configured to apply an axial force against a pinion assembly while preventing the pinion and pinion nut from rotating; a force sensor configured to measure an axial reaction force at the pinion assembly; a position sensor configured to measure an axial displacement during application of the axial force; and a controller configured to plot the axial reaction force versus displacement and control the press actuator according to a slope of the plot. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A pinion assembly preloading system, comprising:
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a press actuator configured to apply an axial force against a pinion assembly, 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, and 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; 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. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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18. The system of
FIG. 17 , further comprising:- a first servo motor configured to rotate the nut socket and a second servo motor configured to rotate the spline socket.
Specification