US3698056A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gage head
Assignee: Cross Co
•
Filing: 1971-05-17
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Granted: 1972-10-17
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Expires: 1991-05-17
Abstract
Abstract A gage head mechanism for selecting bearing shims during assembly of a differential drive for insertion behind the differential bearings at opposite sides of the differential case so as to assure a proper and acceptable amount of backlash between the ring gear and the drive pinion. The gage head mechanism is adapted to provide a proper and acceptable backlash between the drive pinion and the ring gear under conditions in which the differential case is supported in the differential carrier with the side bearings loosely resting on and shiftable relative to the side bearing seats. The mechanism includes spaced gage heads including reciprocable clamps which are movable in opposite directions against the side bearings to shift the side bearings and the differential case within the differential carrier and simultaneously preload the bearings to a predetermined force, and thus load the ring gear and drive pinion. Upon seating of the spaced gage heads, a rotary drive is positioned in engagement with the differential drive and operates to rotate the differential case while the bearings are preloaded by the clamps. The gage head includes a transducer assembly which measures the axial spacing between the bearing seat and the bearings under the preload conditions, and thus the runout of the ring gear during rotation of the differential case by the rotary drive means. An electrical system may be provided for deriving a signal from the transducer for measuring the space between the bearings and their respective seats. This measurement is used to select and cause the placement of suitably sized shims when the case is positioned in the mean runout position, and the illustrated system includes a brake assembly for stopping the rotation of the gage head automatically in the mean runout position. The purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the Patent Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers, or practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
Inventors
- 👤 Guy Donald Pierce
- 👤 Rudi K Runft
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:18
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23P; B23P19/00; B23P19/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
In a machine for assembling a differential drive of the type provided with a differential case fixedly supporting a ring gear and having aligned hub portions disposed in bearings mounted on seats provided in an outer differential carrier which also supports a rotatable drive pinion in mesh with the ring gear, mechanism for preloading the bearings and providing an output signal having a characteristic which varies in accordance with the variation of the spacing between the bearings and seats under the preload conditions, assembly of the drive occurring under conditions in which the case is supported in the carrier with the bearings loosely resting on and shiftable relative to said seats, said mechanism comprising gage head means having reciprocable clamp means movable in a first direction against the bearings to shift the bearings and the differential case bodily in the carrier, and operable simultaneously to preload the bearings with predetermined force; rotary drive means operable to rotate the ring gear and said case while the bearings are preloaded by said clamp means, and means coactive with said gage head means for providing an output signal having a condition which varies as a function of the variation in spacing between the bearings and bearing seats during rotation of the ring gear by said drive means and under said preload conditions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
In a machine for assembling a differential drive of the type provided with a differential case fixedly supporting a ring gear and having aligned hub portions disposed in bearings mounted on seats provided in an outer differential carrier which also supports a rotatable drive pinion in mesh with the ring gear, mechanism for preloading the bearings and providing an output signal having a characteristic which varies in accordance with the variation of the spacing between the bearings and seats under the preload conditions, assembly of the drive occurring under conditions in which the case is supported in the carrier with the bearings loosely resting on and shiftable relative to said seats, said mechanism comprising gage head means having reciprocable clamp means movable in a first direction against the bearings to shift the bearings and the differential case bodily in the carrier, and operable simultaneously to preload the bearings with predetermined force; rotary drive means operable to rotate the ring gear and said case while the bearings are preloaded by said clamp means, and means coactive with said gage head means for providing an output signal having a condition which varies as a function of the variation in spacing between the bearings and bearing seats during rotation of the ring gear by said drive means and under said preload conditions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said signal condition varies as a function of the runout of the ring gear and drive pinion assembly under said bearing preload conditions, said function including the mean runout of said ring gear and pinion assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said gage head means includes spaced gage heads having said clamp means movable in opposite directions against said bearings.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said coactive means includes a transducer assembly having a sensing finger, said transducer assembly being mounted closely adjacent said bearings during rotation of said case.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said reciprocable clamp means includes finger means rotatably and axially movable relative to said gage head means for locking said gage head means to said differential carrier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The combination of claim 5, wherein said finger means engages a surface on the differential carrier, said clamping means including a cam assembly for initially positioning said finger means beyond the surface and out of alignment with the surface, and subsequently rotating said finger means into alignment with the surface and into engagement therewith.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 6, wherein said clamp means further includes a rod mounting said finger means at one end thereof and said cam assembly at the other end, and means for resiliently biasing said finger means into engagement with the surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination of claim 6, wherein said finger means is rotated and positioned into engagement with the surface while said rotary drive means is stationary.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
90 words
The combination of claim 6, wherein said gage head means further includes a plunger assembly adapted to be inserted into the carrier and a slide assembly slidably mounted for axial movement relative to said plunger assembly, said cam assembly including a first movable cam member, a cooperating member fixedly supported on said slide assembly and a cam surface formed on one of said cam member and said cooperating member, the axial movement of said slide assembly causing rotation of said finger means through said cam member and said cooperating member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
108 words
The combination of claim 6, wherein said gage head means further includes a plunger assembly adapted to be inserted into the differential carrier and a slide assembly slidably mounted for axial movement relative to said plunger assembly, said cam assembly Including a first movable cam member, a cooperating member fixedly supported on said slide assembly and a cam surface formed on at least one of said cam member and said cooperating member, the axial movement of said slide assembly causing axial movement of said finger means to reciprocate said finger means into and out of engagement with the surface through said first cam member and said cooperating member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
The combination of claim 10, wherein said cam assembly further includes a second movable member, a second cooperating member and a second cam surface formed on one of said second members, the axial movement of said slide assembly causing rotational movement of said finger means into alignment with the surface through said second cam member and cooperating member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 11, wherein said axial movement first causes said rotation and subsequently causes said reciprocating movement of said finger means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination of claim 9, wherein said cam member is formed generally as a cylinder, and said cam surface is formed circumferentially about said cylinder.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination of claim 13, wherein said co-operating member is formed as a pin engageable with said cam surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 10, wherein said clamp means further includes a rod mounting said finger means at one end thereof and said cam assembly at the other end, and means for resiliently biasing said finger means into engagement with the surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination of claim 15, wherein said cam member is formed as a plunger adapted to move into and out of engagement with an end of said rod, the engagement of said rod moving said finger means out of engagement with the surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
63 words
The combination of claim 16, wherein said cam member and said cooperating member are both formed with cam surfaces, the axial movement of said slide assembly in one direction camming said plunger in a first direction transverse to the direction of movement of said rod and the axial movement of said assembly in a direction opposite to sand one direction releasing said rod.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 17 further including resilient means biasing said rod in a direction tending to engage said finger with the surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
The combination as set forth in claim 5, wherein said finger means engages a surface on the differential case, said clamping means including a gear assembly for initially positioning said finger means beyond the surface and out of alignment with the surface, and subsequently rotating said finger means into alignment with the surface and into engagement therewith.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination as set forth in claim 19, wherein said clamp means further includes a rod mounting said finger means at one end thereof and said gear assembly intermediary from the other end, and means for resiliently biasing said finger means into engagement with the surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination as set forth in claim 19, wherein said finger means is rotated and positioned into engagement with the surface while said rotary drive means is stationary.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
73 words
The combination as set forth in claim 19, wherein said gage head means further includes a plunger assembly adapted to be inserted into the differential carrier, and a slide assembly slidably mounted for axial movement relative to said plunger assembly; and wherein said gear assembly including a pinion gear, a cooperating gear member supported on said slide assembly, and means for driving said cooperating gear member to effect rotation of said finger means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination as set forth in claim 22, wherein said driving means includes a power cylinder supported on said slide assembly.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination as set forth in claim 6, wherein said clamp means further comprises a rod mounting said finger means at one end and said cam assembly intermediary an opposite end, and including means for resiliently biasing said finger means into engagement with the surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination as set forth in claim 24 further includinG a power cylinder in axially driving cooperation with an opposite end of said rod for effecting relative movement of said rod and said cam assembly.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
94 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rotary drive means comprises an elongate tube rotatably supported by said gage head means and having one end projecting outwardly therefrom, an expansible sleeve supported on said one end of the tube and adapted to be loosely received therein the bore of the differential case, a camming member disposed in the bore of said sleeve for expanding said sleeve into frictional engagement with the bore of the differential case, and means for rotating said tube member whereby said differential case will be correspondingly rotated.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rotary drive means comprises a coupling removably connected to the rotatable drive pinion, and means for rotating said coupling to rotate the ring gear via the drive pinion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
173 words
In a machine for assembling a differential drive of the type provided with a differential gear case fixedly supporting a ring gear and having aligned hub portions disposed in bearings mounted on seats provided in an outer differential carrier which also supports a rotatable drive pinion in mesh with the ring gear, mechanism for preloading the bearings and providing an output signal having a characteristic which varies in accordance with the variation of a characteristic of one of the ring gear and the bearings under preload conditions, assembly of the drive occurring under conditions in which the case is supported in the carrier with the bearings loosely resting on and shiftable relative to said seats, said mechanism comprising gage head means having means operable to shift and preload the bearings with predetermined force; rotary drive means operable to rotate the ring gear while said bearings are preloaded and means coactive with said gage head means for providing an output signal having a condition which varies as a function of the variation in spacing.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
173 words
In a machine for assembling a differential drive of the type provided with a differential gear case fixedly supporting a ring gear and having aligned hub portions disposed in bearings mounted on seats provided in an outer differential carrier which also supports a rotatable drive pinion in mesh with the ring gear, mechanism for preloading the bearings and providing an output signal having a characteristic which varies in accordance with the variation of a characteristic of one of the ring gear and the bearings under preload conditions, assembly of the drive occurring under conditions in which the case is supported in the carrier with the bearings loosely resting on and shiftable relative to said seats, said mechanism comprising gage head means having means operable to shift and preload the bearings with predetermined force; rotary drive means operable to rotate the ring gear while said bearings are preloaded and means coactive with said gage head means for providing an output signal having a condition which varies as a function of the variation in spacing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3029498A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-17 | 1976-04-17 | 1976-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-17 | 1980-04-17 | 1980-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-17 | 1984-04-17 | 1984-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |