Richard Neville Knowles

US Patent:

20100084225, Apr 8, 2010

Filed:

Oct 8, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/247341

Inventors:

Thomas George Ore - Cedar Falls IA, US
Richard Neville Knowles - Waterloo IA, US

International Classification:

F16D 55/08
B60K 17/28

US Classification:

188 711, 180 531

Abstract:

A brake for use in a work machine includes a friction disc, a ball ramp assembly, an actuator and an adjustment mechanism. The ball ramp assembly includes an inner plate, a center plate and an outer plate which are generally coaxially arranged relative to each other. The inner plate includes an outer axial face with a plurality of ball ramps, the center plate includes opposite axial faces which each have a plurality of ball ramps, and the outer plate includes an inner axial face with a plurality of ball ramps. A plurality of balls are respectively positioned within one of the plurality of balls ramps of the center plate, and also positioned within one of the ball ramps of a corresponding inner plate or outer plate. The actuator is coupled with the center plate for actuating the ball ramps. The adjustment mechanism is coupled with the inner plate or the outer plate for adjusting the ball ramp assembly relative to the friction disc.

US Patent:

20110269593, Nov 3, 2011

Filed:

Jul 7, 2008

Appl. No.:

13/003038

Inventors:

Richard N. Knowles - Waterloo IA, US
Brian D. Durbin - Waverly IA, US
Chad Vandenberg - Dike IA, US
Duane F. Meyer - Hudson IA, US

International Classification:

F16H 48/20

US Classification:

475 84

Abstract:

A differential locking device () includes a differential () having a differential housing () coaxial with a pair of axle shafts (). The differential housing () includes a pair of side gears () splined to the pair of axle shafts () and a plurality of pinion gears () which engage the side gears (). A locking collar () splined to one of the axle shafts () is sildable between an unlocked position and a locked position. A hydraulic piston () applies pressure to the locking collar () to actuate the locking collar () to the locked position, wherein teeth () on the locking collar () engage corresponding teeth () on the differential housing () thereby fixing the differential housing () for rotation with the locking collar () and thus the side gears (). The resulting differential locking device is compact and can be engaged or disengaged quickly.

US Patent:

20110303035, Dec 15, 2011

Filed:

Jul 31, 2008

Appl. No.:

13/055848

Inventors:

James A. Niebergall - Buckingham IA, US
Benjamin L. Borgmann - Waterloo IA, US
Muthukumar Vallinayagam - Tenkasi, IN
Samantha Hanson - Wateloo IA, US
Werner Stettler - Cedar Falls IA, US
Richard N. Knowles - Waterloo IA, US

International Classification:

F16H 1/20

US Classification:

74414

Abstract:

A final drive for a work machine includes a housing, a pinion gear, a first idler gear, a second idler gear, and a bull gear. The pinion gear is restrained within the housing. The first idler gear and the second idler gears are rotatably connected to the housing and positioned for engagement with the pinion gear. The bull gear is rotatably connected to the housing and positioned for engagement with the first idler gear and the second idler gear. The housing, the pinion gear, the first idler gear, and the second idler gear are configured to permit the pinion gear to float between the first idler gear, and the second idler to provide even sharing of the load from the pinion gear to the first idler gear and the second idler gear.

US Patent:

20120193176, Aug 2, 2012

Filed:

Jan 31, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/017180

Inventors:

Richard N. Knowles - Waterloo IA, US

International Classification:

F16D 65/16
B60T 1/06
F16D 55/22
F16D 55/226
F16D 65/40
F16D 65/18

US Classification:

188 718, 188361, 188352

Abstract:

A brake system is provided, the brake system having a brake valve having a first mode and a second mode. A retractor is in fluid communication with the brake valve, and a brake assembly is in fluid communication with the retractor. When the brake valve is in a first mode, the brake assembly engages, and when the brake valve is in a second mode, the brake retractor disengages the brake assembly via a fluid vacuum.