This disclosure relates to an axle assembly that includes an axle shaft subassembly.
An axle assembly having an axle shaft is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,109,635.
In at least one embodiment, an axle assembly is provided. The axle assembly may include an axle shaft subassembly and a hub. The axle shaft subassembly may include an axle shaft and an adapter ring. The axle shaft may be rotatable about an axis. The adapter ring may have an adapter ring hole and an outer adapter ring spline. The adapter ring hole may receive the axle shaft such that the adapter ring may be fixedly positioned with respect to the axle shaft. The outer adapter ring spline may be disposed opposite the adapter ring hole. The hub may have a hub opening and a hub spline. The hub opening may receive the adapter ring. The hub spline may be disposed in the hub opening and may mate with the outer adapter ring spline. As such, the hub may be fixedly positioned with respect to the adapter ring.
In at least one embodiment, an axle assembly is provided. The axle shaft assembly may include a spindle, a hub, and an axle shaft subassembly. The spindle may have a spindle hole and a spindle end surface. The hub may be rotatably disposed on the spindle. The hub may include a first hub end surface, a second hub end surface, a hub opening, and a hub spline. The first hub end surface may be disposed opposite the second hub end surface. The hub opening may extend from the first hub end surface to the second hub end surface and may receive the spindle. The hub spline may be disposed in the hub opening and may extend from the first hub end surface toward the second hub end surface. The axle shaft subassembly may include an axle shaft and an adapter ring. The axle shaft may extend along the axis and may be rotatable about an axis. The axle shaft may extend through the spindle and may have an axle shaft spline. The adapter ring may be received in the hub opening. The adapter ring may include an adapter ring hole, an inner adapter ring spline, and an outer adapter ring spline. The adapter ring hole may receive the axle shaft. The inner adapter ring spline may be arranged around the axis. The inner adapter ring spline may mate with the axle shaft spline to inhibit rotation of the adapter ring with respect to the axle shaft. The outer adapter ring spline may be disposed opposite the inner adapter ring spline. The outer adapter ring spline may mate with the hub spline to inhibit rotation of the hub with respect to the adapter ring.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
Referring to
The axle assembly 10 may be configured as a drive axle that may receive torque from a power source, such as an internal combustion engine or electric motor. Alternatively, the axle assembly 10 may be configured as a non-drive axle in one or more embodiments. The axle assembly 10 may include an axle housing 20, an axle shaft subassembly 22, and a wheel end assembly 24.
Referring to
The spindle 30 may be provided with or may be fixedly positioned with respect to the axle housing 20. For example, the spindle 30 may be integrally formed with the axle housing 20 or may be a separate component that may be fixedly mounted to an end of the axle housing 20. The spindle 30 may extend around an axis 32 but may not rotate about the axis 32. In at least one configuration, the spindle 30 may include a first spindle end surface 40, a second spindle end surface 42, an internal surface 44, an external surface 46, and a spindle hole 48.
The first spindle end surface 40 may be disposed at a free end or distal end of the spindle 30. The first spindle end surface 40 may extend around the axis 32.
The second spindle end surface 42 may be disposed opposite the first spindle end surface 40. The second spindle end surface 42 may be disposed proximate or may engage the axle housing 20 in configurations where the spindle 30 is a separate component from the axle housing 20. The second spindle end surface 42 may be omitted in configurations where the spindle 30 is integrally formed with the axle housing 20.
The internal surface 44 may extend between the first spindle end surface 40 and the second spindle end surface 42. The internal surface 44 may at least partially define the spindle hole 48 through which the axle shaft subassembly 22 may extend. The spindle 30 and its internal surface 44 may be spaced apart from the axle shaft subassembly 22 to permit the axle shaft subassembly 22 to rotate about the axis 32.
The external surface 46 may be disposed opposite the internal surface 44. The external surface 46 of the spindle 30 may support one or more wheel bearing assemblies that may rotatably support the wheel end assembly 24 as will be discussed in more detail below.
Referring to
The axle shaft 50 may be rotatable about the axis 32. In addition, the axle shaft 50 may extend may extend along the axis 32 and may extend through the spindle hole 48. The axle shaft 50 may have a first end and a second end.
The first end may be operatively connected to a vehicle drivetrain component, like a differential or an input shaft.
The second end may be disposed opposite the first end. The axle shaft 50 may be coupled to the adapter ring 52 proximate the second end.
As is best shown in
An axle protrusion 62 may extend from the axle end surface 60 to an axle step surface 64. The axle protrusion 62 may include a groove 66 that may receive the retainer 54.
The axle step surface 64 may be axially offset from the axle end surface 60. In at least one embodiment, the axle step surface 64 may be disposed substantially parallel to the axle end surface 60. The axle step surface 64 may extend from the axle protrusion 62 toward an axle shaft spline 68.
The axle shaft spline 68 may facilitate mounting of the adapter ring 52 to the axle shaft 50. The axle shaft spline 68 may mate with the adapter ring 52 to inhibit rotation of the adapter ring 52 with respect to the axle shaft 50 as will be discussed in more detail below. As is best shown in
As is best shown in
Referring to
Referring to
The inner adapter ring spline 82 may be disposed in or may extend into the adapter ring hole 80. The inner adapter ring spline 82 may facilitate mounting of the adapter ring 52 to the axle shaft 50. The inner adapter ring spline 82 may mate with the axle shaft spline 68 to inhibit rotation of the adapter ring 52 with respect to the axle shaft 50. The inner adapter ring spline 82 may extend around the axis 32 and may include a set of inner adapter ring spline teeth 110.
The inner adapter ring spline teeth 110 may be arranged around the axis 32. As is best shown with reference to
Referring to
The outer adapter ring spline teeth 112 may be arranged around the axis 32. The outer adapter ring spline teeth 112 may extend between opposing sides of the adapter ring 52, such as a side of the adapter ring 52 that faces toward the spindle 30 and a side of the adapter ring 52 that faces away from the spindle 30. In at least one embodiment, the outer adapter ring spline teeth 112 may extend in an axial direction or substantially parallel to the axis 32. The outer adapter ring spline teeth 112 may be spaced apart from each other such that a gap is provided between adjacent outer adapter ring spline teeth 112. The gap may receive a spline tooth of the hub as will be discussed in more detail below.
Referring to
Referring to
One or more passages 90 may extend through the adapter ring 52. The passages 90 may be through holes that may be radially positioned between the inner adapter ring spline 82 and the outer adapter ring spline 84. The passages 90 may be spaced apart from each other and may be provided to help reduce the weight of the adapter ring 52.
Referring to
Referring to
The hub 120 may be rotatably disposed on the spindle 30. As such, the hub 120 may be configured to rotate about the axis 32. The hub 120 may be coupled to the axle shaft subassembly 22 as will be discussed in more detail below. As is best shown in
The first hub end surface 140 may face toward the cover 128. The first hub end surface 140 may extend around the axis 32 and may generally extend around the adapter ring 52.
A plurality of cover fastener holes 150 may be provided with the first hub end surface 140. The cover fastener holes 150 may be arranged around the axis 32 and may be disposed between an outside circumference of the hub 120 and the hub opening 144 and the hub spline 146.
The second hub end surface 142 may be disposed opposite the first hub end surface 140. As is best shown in
The hub opening 144 may extend from the first hub end surface 140 to the second hub end surface 142. As is best shown in
Referring to
The hub spline teeth 160 may be arranged around the axis 32. The hub spline teeth 160 may extend from the first hub end surface 140 toward the second hub end surface 142. In at least one embodiment, the hub spline teeth 160 may extend in an axial direction or substantially parallel to the axis 32. The hub spline teeth 160 may be spaced apart from each other such that a gap is provided between adjacent hub spline teeth 160. The gap may receive a spline tooth 112 of the outer adapter ring spline 84. As such, the hub spline 146 may cooperate with the outer adapter ring spline 84 to inhibit rotation of the hub 120 with respect to the adapter ring 52.
The mounting flange 148 may extend away from the axis 32 and the hub opening 144. The mounting flange 148 may facilitate mounting of other components to the hub 120. For example, a portion of the brake subsystem 126 and a wheel 170 may be mounted to the mounting flange 148 as is best shown in
The mounting stud 174 may extend through a component of the brake subsystem 126, such as a brake drum 180, and through a corresponding mounting hole in the wheel 170. A lug nut 182 may be threaded onto the mounting stud 174 to secure the wheel 170 to the hub 120. The wheel 170 may be configured to support the tire 184.
Referring to
The second wheel bearing assembly 124 may also be disposed on the spindle 30 and may rotatably support the hub 120. The second wheel bearing assembly 124 may be positioned closer to the axle housing 20 than the first wheel bearing assembly 122. The second wheel bearing assembly 124 may have any suitable configuration. For instance, the second wheel bearing assembly 124 may include a plurality of rolling elements, such as balls or rollers, that may be disposed between an inner race and an outer race.
The brake subsystem 126 may facilitate braking of the wheel to slow rotation of the hub 120 and an associated wheel 170 about the axis 32. The brake subsystem 126 may have any suitable configuration. For instance, the brake subsystem 126 may be configured as a friction brake, such as a disc brake or a drum brake. In
Referring to
The cover fastener openings 190 may be arranged around the axis 32. Each cover fastener opening 190 may be aligned with a corresponding cover fastener hole 150 on the hub 120 and may receive a corresponding cover fastener 192 that may attach the cover 128 to the hub 120. The cover fasteners 192 may have any suitable configuration. For example, the cover fasteners 192 may be configured as bolts, screws, pins or the like.
Referring to
While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2693393 | Heth | Nov 1954 | A |
4331210 | Petrak | May 1982 | A |
4431043 | Goodell | Feb 1984 | A |
4881842 | Farrell | Nov 1989 | A |
5520272 | Ewer | May 1996 | A |
5597058 | Ewer | Jan 1997 | A |
5950785 | Adachi et al. | Sep 1999 | A |
6254196 | Gee | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6572199 | Creek | Jun 2003 | B1 |
9109635 | Boothby et al. | Aug 2015 | B2 |
20040251650 | Katsuyama | Dec 2004 | A1 |
20150059945 | Flory et al. | Mar 2015 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
202029646 | Nov 2011 | CN |
103978836 | Aug 2014 | CN |
2006248442 | Sep 2006 | JP |
Entry |
---|
Meritor, Maintenance Manual MM-0361, Heavy-Duty Front Drive Steer Axles MX-140 and MX-160 Series, Revised Apr. 2010. |
European Patent Office, Extended European Search Report for the corresponding European Patent Application No. 17182112.7 dated Nov. 29, 2017. |
The Patent Office of India, Examination Report for corresponding Indian Application No. 201714025852, dated Jul. 31, 2019. |
The State Intellectual Property Office of Peoples Republic of China, First Office Action for corresponding Chinese Application No. 2017106181080, dated Aug. 28, 2019. |
Chinese Office Action dated Jun. 8, 2020 for the corresponding Chinese Patent Application No. 201710618108.0; 19 pages. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20180022154 A1 | Jan 2018 | US |