Abstract: A drive assembly is disclosed, including a housing cylinder with a cap end, an attachment end with a first attachment surface, and gear teeth disposed around an inner circumference to form at least one ring gear. A planetary gear set may be surrounded by the housing cylinder and includes at least one sun gear and at least one set of planet gears. An output interface may include an interface body and an annular attachment lip with a second attachment surface. The housing cylinder may be attached to the attachment lip for operation of the drive assembly via the second attachment surface contacting the first attachment surface, with the cap end of the housing cylinder extending axially past an axial end of the attachment lip. Rotational power may be transmitted from the planetary gear set to the output interface via the gear teeth and the contact between the attachment surfaces.

Abstract: A duty cycle recording system and method is disclosed for a vehicle with a drivetrain having a plurality of components and sensors. The duty cycle recording system may include a control unit and communication link. The control unit may receive sensor readings, compute damage estimates for drivetrain components based on the readings, and compute estimated remaining life (ERL) estimates based on the damage estimates. The communication link may transmit the computed damage and ERL estimates. The control unit may sample transmission torque and speed sensor readings, and for each sample may populate a three-dimensional histogram of transmission torque and speed the vehicle has experienced.

Abstract: A drive assembly is disclosed, including a housing cylinder with a cap end, an attachment end with a first attachment surface, and gear teeth disposed around an inner circumference to form at least one ring gear. A planetary gear set may be surrounded by the housing cylinder and includes at least one sun gear and at least one set of planet gears. An output interface may include an interface body and an annular attachment lip with a second attachment surface. The housing cylinder may be attached to the attachment lip for operation of the drive assembly via the second attachment surface contacting the first attachment surface, with the cap end of the housing cylinder extending axially past an axial end of the attachment lip. Rotational power may be transmitted from the planetary gear set to the output interface via the gear teeth and the contact between the attachment surfaces.

Abstract: A drive assembly is disclosed, including a housing cylinder having a cap end and an attachment end including a first attachment surface, with gear teeth being disposed around an inner circumference forming at least one ring gear. The housing cylinder encloses a planetary gear set including at least one sun gear and at least one set of planet gears. An output interface includes an interface body having an annular attachment lip including a second attachment surface. The first attachment surface contacts, and is connected, as by welding, to the second attachment surface, whereby rotational power may be transmitted from the planetary gear set to the output interface via the gear teeth and the contact between the attachment surfaces.

Abstract: A driven wheel unit includes an electric motor coupled to a two-speed, three stage planetary drive assembly and has a width dimensioned for traveling between rows of crop. A wheel hub is supported on an outer surface of a fixed housing by large diameter wheel bearings surrounding both a motor-containing cavity and an adjacent cavity containing first and second planetary stages. Nested radially and surrounding the two planetary stages are two SAHR disc clutches including pistons engaging inner and outer surfaces of a compact piston guide member. The third stage planet carrier defines a cap and is fixed to an axially outer end of the wheel hub. A third stage ring gear has an outside diameter approximately equal to that of the wheel bearings and has an inside diameter fixed to the housing by a planar, annular wheel bearing retainer plate that is fixed to an end of the housing.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an improved shaft design. The design includes an elongated annular shaft body, having an outer surface and defining a hollow cavity, and a core insert disposed in the hollow cavity. The shaft body has one or more radial flow ports that align with at least one fluid conduit in the insert. A pin couples the insert to the shaft body to prevent rotation of the insert relative to the shaft body. The shaft and the insert can be of different materials, for example, such that the density of the insert is less than that of the shaft body.

Abstract: A driven wheel unit includes an electric motor coupled to a two-speed, three stage planetary drive assembly and has a width dimensioned for traveling between rows of crop. A wheel hub is supported on an outer surface of a fixed housing by large diameter wheel bearings surrounding both a motor-containing cavity and an adjacent cavity containing first and second planetary stages. Nested radially and surrounding the two planetary stages are two SAHR disc clutches including pistons engaging inner and outer surfaces of a compact piston guide member. The third stage planet carrier defines a cap and is fixed to an axially outer end of the wheel hub. A third stage ring gear has an outside diameter approximately equal to that of the wheel bearings and has an inside diameter fixed to the housing by a planar, annular wheel bearing retainer plate that is fixed to an end of the housing.

Abstract: An electrical device including a housing having an inner surface, a lamination assembly and at least one pin extending from an inner surface of the housing. The lamination assembly has at least one slot therein. The lamination assembly is clocked to a position so that the at least one pin coacts with the at least one slot to rotationally orient the lamination assembly. The at least one pin additionally acts to constrain the lamination assembly from axial removal from the housing thereby rotationally and axially limiting movement of the lamination assembly to a predetermined range of movement within the housing.

Abstract: A lubricating system and method can be used to meter lubricating fluid to a pinion and pinion bearing mounted to a pinion carrier. A sun gear shaft may include a channel fluidly connected to a lubricating fluid reservoir through a bore in the sun gear shaft. A sleeve may be fluidly sealed on its axial ends over the channel to form a chamber with the channel. The sleeve may include a plurality of through-holes to allow lubricating fluid to flow through a plurality of radial bores extending through the pinion carrier. Lubricating fluid may flow through an annular gap passage in a pinion shaft to provide lubricating fluid to the pinion and the pinion bearing.

Abstract: A power train apparatus and motor grader are described. The apparatus or motor grader includes a power source for providing rotational mechanical power. A first output interface of the power source is driven by the rotational mechanical power from the power source and rotates around a first axis A differential includes at least one output shaft rotating around a second axis offset from and parallel to the first axis. A first gear is included in the differential, the first gear rotating around the second axis and providing rotational mechanical power to the at least one output shaft of the differential. A second gear rotates around the first axis, the second gear receiving rotational mechanical power from the output interface to the power source and providing rotational mechanical power to the first gear.

Abstract: A duty cycle recording system and method is disclosed for a vehicle with a drivetrain having a plurality of components and sensors. The duty cycle recording system may include a control unit and communication link. The control unit may receive sensor readings, compute damage estimates for drivetrain components based on the readings, and compute estimated remaining life (ERL) estimates based on the damage estimates. The communication link may transmit the computed damage and ERL estimates. The control unit may sample transmission torque and speed sensor readings, and for each sample may populate a three-dimensional histogram of transmission torque and speed the vehicle has experienced.

Abstract: A lubricating system and method can be used to meter lubricating fluid to a pinion and pinion bearing mounted to a pinion carrier. A sun gear shaft may include a channel fluidly connected to a lubricating fluid reservoir through a bore in the sun gear shaft. A sleeve may be fluidly sealed on its axial ends over the channel to form a chamber with the channel. The sleeve may include a plurality of through-holes to allow lubricating fluid to flow through a plurality of radial bores extending through the pinion carrier. Lubricating fluid may flow through an annular gap passage in a pinion shaft to provide lubricating fluid to the pinion and the pinion bearing.

Abstract: A shaft retention and lubricating fluid delivery system and method are described, such as for mounting a pinion shaft to a pinion carrier and providing lubricating fluid to a pinion and pinion bearing. A retaining pin fits inside a pinion shaft radially bore and a pinion carrier radially bore to constrain the axial and rotational movement of the pinion shaft relative to the pinion carrier. Pressurized lubricant and centrifugal force from pinion carrier rotation aids in maintaining the retaining pin in a retaining position. When the pinion carrier is not rotating, a cap screw prevents the retaining pin from disengaging. An annular gap passage between the cap screw and the interior of the pinion shaft allows lubricating fluid to reach the shaft, pinion and pinion bearing.

Abstract: A power train and related vehicle are described for multi-mode power transmission. A first continuously variable power source (“CVP”) may convert rotational power received by the engine for transmission to a second CVP. A variator assembly may receive rotational power from the second CVP at a first input and directly from the engine at a second input. A control assembly may include one or more output components and a plurality of clutch devices arranged between the one or more output components and the variator assembly and engine. In a first state of the control assembly, the plurality of clutch devices may collectively provide direct power transmission between the engine and the one or more output components. In a second state of the control assembly, the plurality of clutches may collectively provide power transmission between the variator and the one or more output components.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an improved splined shaft coupling including an inner shaft having at least one external spline and an outer shaft having an internal cavity configured to receive and mate with the inner shaft at a connection interface and having at least one internal spline configured to engage the external spline(s) at a shaft coupling. At least one of the inner and outer shafts has a channel positioned at the connection interface. A seal is disposed in the channel. The seal has at least one fluid passage configured to meter a fluid at a defined rate to the spline coupling.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an improved shaft design. The design includes an elongated annular shaft body, having an outer surface and defining a hollow cavity, and a core insert disposed in the hollow cavity. The shaft body has one or more radial flow ports that align with at least one fluid conduit in the insert. A pin couples the insert to the shaft body to prevent rotation of the insert relative to the shaft body. The shaft and the insert can be of different materials, for example, such that the density of the insert is less than that of the shaft body.

Abstract: A power train apparatus and motor grader are described. The apparatus or motor grader includes a power source for providing rotational mechanical power. A first output interface of the power source is driven by the rotational mechanical power from the power source and rotates around a first axis A differential includes at least one output shaft rotating around a second axis offset from and parallel to the first axis. A first gear is included in the differential, the first gear rotating around the second axis and providing rotational mechanical power to the at least one output shaft of the differential. A second gear rotates around the first axis, the second gear receiving rotational mechanical power from the output interface to the power source and providing rotational mechanical power to the first gear.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a multi-ratio scalable transmission system for multiple vehicle configurations. The system includes an input disposed along a first axis configured to receive torque from a variable speed propulsion device and an output disposed along a second axis and coupled to the input. The system further includes a selectably engageable clutch coupled between the input and output and a planetary unit coupled to both the input and the output, where the planetary unit includes at least one planetary gearset and a brake. The system is configurable based on a particular vehicle configuration such that the first axis and second axis can be coaxial or non-coaxial.

Abstract: An electric motor coupled to a driven device of a vehicle. The electric motor includes a rotor and a shaft coupled to the rotor. The rotor has at least one radially oriented cavity and at least one fluid channel. The fluid channel extends in a generally axial direction. The fluid channel is fluidly connected to the at least one radially oriented cavity. The shaft has a fluid passageway therein. The at least one radially oriented cavity has a fluid connection to the fluid passageway of the shaft. The at least one radially oriented cavity leads to a radial exit from the rotor for a flow of fluid therefrom.

Abstract: A vehicle including a movable element and an electric machine either driving or being driven by the movable element. The electric machine having first and second housing portions and a stator. The second housing portion is engaged with the first housing portion. The stator being coupled to the first housing portion and the second housing portion by way of compressive force applied to the stator by and between the first housing portion and the second housing portion.