US-12623488-B2 - Axle seal shield for compaction machine

Abstract

A shield assembly is configured for use with the axle assembly of a compaction machine. The machine includes a ground-engaging device with a hub that defines a cavity and an inboard opening. The axle assembly comprises a spindle and a final drive, with a gap between them. The shield assembly includes a shield body mounted within the hub cavity, positioned above the spindle and final drive, and extending over the gap. This arrangement directs debris away from the gap and associated seals, reducing contamination and wear of axle components during operation in debris-laden environments.

Inventors

• Gerald William Gavin
• James William Schaffer
• Matthew M. DeSanto
• Jeremy Dean Folkerts
• Travis Edward Schwark

Assignees

• CATERPILLAR INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20220427

Claims (17)

1. 1 . A machine, comprising: a frame; a ground engaging device including a hub, the hub defining a cavity and an inboard opening to the cavity; an axle assembly connected to the frame and supporting the ground engaging device, the axle assembly extending along an axle axis and comprising: a housing coupled to the frame, a spindle coupled to the housing, a final drive rotatably coupled to the spindle and disposed within the cavity of the ground engaging device, and a gap disposed between the spindle and the final drive; and a shield assembly coupled to the axle assembly and disposed within the cavity of the ground engaging device, the shield assembly being located above portions of the spindle and the final drive, wherein the shield assembly includes a shield body extending over the gap, the shield body comprising: a first planar lateral portion, a second planar lateral portion, and a peaked central portion joining the first planar lateral portion to the second planar lateral portion.
2. 2 . The machine of claim 1 , in which the shield body is imperforate.
3. 3 . The machine of claim 1 , in which the axle assembly further includes a seal disposed in the gap.
4. 4 . The machine of claim 1 , in which: the axle assembly includes a spindle wall coupled to and extending outward from the spindle, the spindle wall being disposed within the cavity of the ground engaging device; and the shield assembly is coupled to the spindle wall.
5. 5 . The machine of claim 1 , in which the gap is concentric with the axle axis and disposed along a virtual gap plane extending perpendicular to the axle axis.
6. 6 . The machine of claim 5 , in which the shield body further comprises: a shield body first end coupled to a top portion of the spindle inboard of the virtual gap plane; and a shield body second end disposed outboard of the virtual gap plane; and a shield body length extending parallel to the axle axis and across the virtual gap plane from the shield body first end to the shield body second end.
7. 7 . The machine of claim 6 , in which the shield assembly further includes a flange coupled to the shield body adjacent the shield body second end.
8. 8 . A shield assembly for an axle assembly of a machine, the machine including a ground engaging device including a hub, the hub defining a cavity and an inboard opening to the cavity, the axle assembly including a spindle, a final drive rotatably coupled to the spindle, and a gap disposed between the spindle and the final drive, the shield assembly comprising: a shield body comprising: a first planar lateral portion, a second planar lateral portion, and a peaked central portion joining the first planar lateral portion to the second planar lateral portion, wherein the shield body is coupled to the axle assembly and disposed within the cavity of the ground engaging device, wherein the shield body is located above portions of the spindle and the final drive, wherein the shield body extends over the gap.
9. 9 . The shield assembly of claim 8 , in which the shield body is imperforate.
10. 10 . The shield assembly of claim 8 , in which: the axle assembly includes a spindle wall coupled to and extending outward from the spindle, the spindle wall being disposed within the cavity of the ground engaging device; and the shield assembly is coupled to the spindle wall.
11. 11 . The shield assembly of claim 8 , in which: the gap is concentric with an axle axis and is disposed along a virtual gap plane extending perpendicular to the axle axis; and the shield body further comprises: a shield body first end coupled to a top portion of the spindle, the shield body first end being located inboard of the virtual gap plane; a shield body second end disposed outboard of the virtual gap plane; and a shield body length extending parallel to the axle axis and across the virtual gap plane from the shield body first end to the shield body second end.
12. 12 . The shield assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a flange coupled to the shield body adjacent the shield body second end.
13. 13 . A final drive assembly for a machine, comprising: a ground engaging device including a hub defining a cavity, and an inboard opening to the cavity; an axle assembly, comprising: a housing; a spindle coupled to the housing; a final drive rotatably coupled to the spindle and disposed within the cavity of the ground engaging device, wherein the housing, spindle, and final drive are disposed along an axle axis; and a gap disposed between the spindle and the final drive, the gap being concentric with the axle axis and disposed along a virtual gap plane extending perpendicular to the axle axis; and a shield assembly coupled to the axle assembly and disposed within the cavity of the ground engaging device, the shield assembly comprising: a shield body located above portions of the spindle and the final drive, the shield body comprising: a shield body first end coupled to a top portion of the spindle inboard of the virtual gap plane; a shield body second end disposed outboard of the virtual gap plane; a shield body length extending parallel to the axle axis and across the virtual gap plane from the shield body first end to the shield body second end; a first planar lateral portion; a second planar lateral portion; and a peaked central portion joining the first planar lateral portion to the second planar lateral portion.
14. 14 . The final drive assembly of claim 13 , in which the shield body is imperforate.
15. 15 . The final drive assembly of claim 13 , in which the axle assembly further includes a seal disposed in the gap.
16. 16 . The final drive assembly of claim 13 , in which: the axle assembly includes a spindle wall coupled to and extending outward from the spindle, the spindle wall being disposed within the cavity of the ground engaging device; and the shield assembly is coupled to the spindle wall.
17. 17 . The final drive assembly of claim 13 , in which the shield assembly further includes a flange coupled to the shield body adjacent the shield body second end.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to compaction machines and, more particularly, to shield assemblies for axles on compaction machines used to protect the axle and associated components from damage caused by debris. BACKGROUND Compaction machines, such as landfill compactors, typically traverse terrain that is covered with debris and refuse. For example, landfill compactors drive over trash, thereby to compact or compress it for depositing in a landfill site. During such operation, the landfill compactor may encounter a significant amount of loose debris, which may migrate along the axle in the direction of the wheel into the internal cavity of the wheel which houses a rotational seal between the interface of the wheel and the axle. When this happens, the integrity of the seal can be compromised, thereby creating the need for immediate repair. The machine must be taken out of service to make the repair, which may include the replacement of several components. If operation of the machine continues without making the repair, one or more components of the drive assembly can be destroyed or negatively affected. U.S. Pat. No. 7,731,307 is entitled, “Seal Guard for Compactor.” The '307 patent is directed to a guard for the axle seal of a wheeled tractor, which is an annular steel structure that bridges the plane of the seal between a spindle and final drive. The guard includes a pair of axially spaced flanges having circular outer peripheries, at least one of the outer peripheries of the flanges being sized to produce a narrow gap seal with a circular interior surface of a wheel rim, and a hub extending axially between the flanges and spaced radially inward of said flange outer peripheries. The flanges, hub and interior wheel surface define an annular space adapted to trap debris. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE In one aspect of the present disclosure, a machine comprises a frame, a ground engaging device including a hub, the hub defining a cavity and an inboard opening to the cavity, and an axle assembly connected to the frame and supporting the ground engaging device. The axle assembly extends along an axle axis and comprises a housing coupled to the frame, a spindle coupled to the housing, a final drive rotatably coupled to the spindle and disposed within the cavity of the ground engaging device, and a gap disposed between the spindle and the final drive. A shield assembly is coupled to the axle assembly and disposed within the cavity of the ground engaging device. The shield assembly is located above portions of the spindle and the final drive, wherein the shield assembly includes a shield body extending over the gap. In another aspect of the disclosure, a shield assembly is provided for an axle assembly of a machine. The machine includes a ground engaging device including a hub, the hub defining a cavity and an inboard opening to the cavity. The axle assembly includes a spindle, a final drive rotatably coupled to the spindle, and a gap disposed between the spindle and the final drive. The shield assembly comprises a shield body coupled to the axle assembly and disposed within the cavity of the ground engaging device, the shield body being located above portions of the spindle and the final drive, wherein the shield body extends over the gap. In yet another aspect of the disclosure, a final drive assembly for a machine, comprises a ground engaging device including a hub defining a cavity, and an inboard opening to the cavity. An axle assembly comprises a housing, a spindle coupled to the housing, a final drive rotatably coupled to the spindle and disposed within the cavity of the ground engaging device, wherein the housing, spindle, and final drive are disposed along an axle axis, and a gap disposed between the spindle and the final drive, the gap being concentric with the axle axis and disposed along a virtual gap plane extending perpendicular to the axle axis. A shield assembly is coupled to the axle assembly and disposed within the cavity of the ground engaging device. The shield assembly comprises a shield body located above portions of the spindle and the final drive, the shield body comprising a shield body first end coupled to a top portion of the spindle inboard of the virtual gap plane a shield body second end disposed outboard of the virtual gap plane, and a shield body length extending parallel to the axle axis and across the virtual gap plane from the shield body first end to the shield body second end. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a landfill compaction machine having a shield assembly according to the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a portion of an axle assembly for the landfill compaction machine of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view, in cross-section, of the axle assembly of FIG. 2 showing the shield assembly according to the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view, in cross-section, of the axle