Direct torque path differential having spiderless pinions

• US 9,797,503 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2015
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Adragna, Omar Jose, Thompson, David Owen
• Primary Examiner(s): Burgess, Ramya
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LILLIAN T
• Application Number:
  US14/710,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20160334005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2048/087 characterised by the pinion gears, e.g. their type or arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2702/06 Combinations of transmissions with parallel force splitting paths having same output
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/08 comprising bevel gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/40 characterised by features of the rotating cases
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0424 Lubricant guiding means in the wall of or integrated with the casing, e.g. grooves, channels, holes means for guiding lubricant into an axial channel of a shaft F16H57/0426
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0457 Splash lubrication characterised by the problem reducing losses, e.g. splash losses F16H57/0409
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0483 Axle or inter-axle differentials

Abstract

A differential is disclosed for use with a drivetrain of a mobile machine. The differential may have an input gear, a first side gear, a second side gear, and a side pinion disposed between and intermeshed with the first and second side gears. The differential may also have a carrier connected to the input gear and surrounding the first side gear, the second side gear, and the side pinion. The carrier may have a first orifice located in an annular wall at a base end of the side pinion, and a second orifice located in an axial wall. All lubrication passing through the first orifice may flow around an external surface of the side pinion.

Claims

1. A differential, comprising:

an input gear;

a first side gear;

a second side gear;

a side pinion disposed between and intermeshed with the first and second side gears; and

a carrier connected to the input gear and surrounding the first side gear, the second side gear, and the side pinion, the carrier having a cup formed in an annular wall and a first orifice located in a flat bottom of the cup, the cup generally conforms to an external surface of the side pinion, and a second orifice located in an axial wall, of the carrier, at a base end of the first side gear,

wherein the first orifice and the second orifice are configured to direct the flow of lubrication during different operational speeds of the differential, and all lubrication passing through the first orifice flows around the external surface of the side pinion.

2. The differential of claim 1, wherein:

the carrier is generally cylindrical, having a closed end and an open end through which the first side gear, second side gear, and side pinion are accessible; and

the second orifice is located in the closed end.

3. The differential of claim 2, further including a cap configured to close off the open end, wherein:

the second orifice is one of a plurality of second orifices; and

the plurality of second orifices are located only in the closed end of the carrier.

4. The differential of claim 1, wherein:

the side pinion is one of a plurality of side pinions;

the second orifice is one of a plurality of second orifices; and

each of the plurality of second orifices are positioned to be associated with a different one of the plurality of side pinions.

5. The differential of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of second orifices is positioned at an entrant location where teeth of the different one of the plurality of side pinions begin to mesh with teeth of the first or second side gears.

6. The differential of claim 1, wherein:

the side pinion is one of a plurality of side pinions;

the second orifice is one of a plurality of second orifices; and

two of the plurality of second orifices are associated with each of the plurality of side pinions, and each of the plurality of second orifices is positioned at an entrant location where teeth of each of the plurality of side pinions begin to mesh with teeth of the first or second side gears.

7. The differential of claim 1, wherein the first orifice is aligned with an axis of the side pinion.

8. The differential of claim 1, wherein the carrier is filled about halfway with lubrication, and the first and second orifices are dunked into the lubrication during each revolution of the carrier.

9. The differential of claim 8, wherein:

during rotation of the carrier within a first speed range, the lubrication flows from the first orifice to the second orifice; and

during rotation of the carrier within a second speed range, the lubrication flows from the second orifice to the first orifice.

10. The differential of claim 9, wherein:

the first speed range is an upper two-thirds of a total operational range of the differential; and

the second speed range is a lower one-third of the total operational range of the differential.

11. The differential of claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of the first orifice is about one-half of an outer diameter of the side pinion at a base end adjacent the first orifice.

12. The differential of claim 1, wherein a lubricant film around the external surface of the side pinion is about 0.0254 15 mm/0.001 in constant thickness about an outer diameter of the side pinion at a base end adjacent the first orifice during operation of the differential.

13. The differential of claim 1, wherein:

the carrier is operatively connected to the side pinion;

the side pinion rotates with the carrier about an axis of the carrier; and

the side pinion also rotates about a separate axis that is generally orthogonal to the axis of the carrier and that passes through the axis of the carrier.

14. The differential of claim 13, wherein the carrier forms an integral cup at an inner annular surface that receives the side pinion.

15. A differential, comprising:

an input gear;

a first side gear;

a second side gear;

a side pinion disposed between and intermeshed with the first and second side gears; and

a carrier fixedly connected to the input gear and surrounding the first side gear, the second side gear, and the side pinion, the carrier having a cup formed in an annular wall and a first orifice located in a flat bottom of the cup, the cup generally conforms to an external surface of the side pinion, and a second orifice located in an axial wall at a base end of the first side gear,

wherein lubrication flows from the first orifice to the second orifice during rotation of the carrier within a first speed range, and from the second orifice to the first orifice during rotation of the carrier within a second speed range.

16. The differential of claim 15, wherein:

the carrier is generally cylindrical, having a closed end and an open end through which the first side gear, second side gear, and side pinion are accessible;

the differential includes a cap configured to close off the open end;

the first orifice is one of a plurality of first orifices located in the annular wall;

the second orifice is one of a plurality of second orifices located in the axial wall at the closed end;

the side pinion is one of a plurality of side pinions; and

each of the plurality of second orifices is positioned at an entrant location where teeth of a corresponding one of the plurality of side pinions begin to mesh with teeth of the first or second side gears.

17. The differential of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of first orifices is aligned with an axis of a corresponding one of the plurality of side pinions.

18. The differential of claim 16, wherein the carrier is filled about halfway with lubrication, and the plurality of first and second orifices are dunked into the lubrication during each revolution of the carrier.

19. The differential of claim 18, wherein:

the first speed range is an upper two-thirds of a total operational range of the differential; and

the second speed range is a lower one-third of the total operational range of the differential.

20. A drivetrain for a mobile machine having first and second traction devices located at opposing sides, the drivetrain comprising:

a power source;

a transmission driven by the power source;

a main pinion operatively connected to an output of the transmission;

a first half-shaft connected to the first traction device;

a second half-shaft connected to the second traction device; and

a differential driven by the main pinion to rotate the first and second half-shafts with substantially equal torque, the differential including;

an input gear;

a first side gear;

a second side gear;

a plurality of side pinions disposed between and intermeshed with the first and second side gears; and

a carrier fixedly connected to the input gear and surrounding the first side gear, the second side gear, and the plurality of side pinions, the carrier being operatively connected to the plurality of side pinions, the carrier having a plurality of cups formed in an annular wall and a plurality of first orifices located in the annular wall and a flat bottom of the plurality of cups, the plurality of cups generally conform to an external surface of the plurality of side pinions, and a plurality of second orifices located in an axial wall at a base end of the first side gear,

wherein;

each of the plurality of first orifices is aligned with an axis of a corresponding one of the plurality of side pinions;

at least one of the plurality of second orifices is positioned at a tooth entrant location of each of the plurality of side pinions;

all lubrication passing through each of the plurality of first orifices flows around an external surface of the corresponding one of the plurality of side pinions; and

the lubrication flows from the plurality of first orifices to the plurality of second orifices during a first speed range of the carrier, and from the plurality of second orifices to

the plurality of first orifices during a second speed range of the carrier.