Axle wheel end axial thrust assembly
AssigneeKoyo Bearings North America LLC
InventorScott Abrahamson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An axle assembly of a vehicle including a differential assembly, an axle tube extending outwardly from a first side of the differential assembly and defining an axle bore, an axle shaft rotatably received in the first axle tube and defining an annular groove extending radially inwardly from its outer surface, a retaining nut axially fixed to the distal end of the first axle tube, and a snap ring received in the annular groove of the first axle shaft, wherein the snap ring abuts the retaining nut, thereby preventing outward motion of the first axle shaft with respect to the first axle tube.
Claims9
An axle assembly of vehicle, comprising:
- a differential assembly;
- a first axle tube extending outwardly from a first side of the differential assembly, the first axle tube including a proximal end adjacent the differential assembly, an opposite distal end, and an axle bore extending therebetween;
- a first axle shaft rotatably received in the first axle tube, the first axle shaft including a proximal end disposed in the differential assembly, an opposite distal end extending outwardly from the distal end of the first axle shaft, and an annular groove extending radially inwardly from an outer surface of the first axle shaft;
- a retaining nut axially fixed to the distal end of the first axle tube;
- and a snap ring received in the annular groove of the first axle shaft,
- wherein the snap ring bears against the retaining nut, thereby preventing outward motion of the first axle shaft with respect to the first axle tube.
An axial thrust assembly of an axle assembly having an axle tube and an axle shaft rotatably received therein, comprising:
- a retaining nut axially fixed to a first end of the axle tube, the retaining nut including an annular flange extending axially inwardly into the axle bore;
- a snap ring received in an annular groove defined in an outer surface of the axle shaft, and a radial bearing assembly including an outer race and a plurality of roller elements rotatably received therein, the radial bearing assembly being axially fixed within the axle bore of the axle tube,
- wherein the snap ring bears against the retaining nut, thereby preventing outward motion of the axle shaft with respect to the axle tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.