Reinforced axle joint
AssigneeHendrickson USA, L.L.C.
InventorsDane Gregg, R. Scott Fulton, Phillippi R. Pierce, Jay D. White, Jeffrey R. Wittlinger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An axle and wheel end assembly includes a tubular axle housing with an annular end surface. The axle and wheel end assembly also includes a spindle with an annular end surface welded to the annular end surface of the tubular axle housing at an attachment periphery. The axle and wheel end assembly further includes reinforcing structure fixed to the tubular axle housing and spindle. The reinforcing structure is located to encompass at least a portion of the attachment periphery.
Claims31
An axle and wheel end assembly comprising:
- an axle housing having an end surface;
- a spindle having an end surface fixed to the end surface of the axle housing at an attachment periphery;
- and
- reinforcing structure fixed to the axle housing and to the spindle, the reinforcing structure being located to encompass at least a portion of the attachment periphery, the reinforcing structure having axially opposite end surfaces, one of the end surfaces being located axially on one side of the attachment periphery and the other end surface being located axially on an opposite side of the attachment periphery.
A method of manufacturing an axle and wheel end assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an axle with an axle housing having an end surface;
- joining an end surface of a spindle to the end surface of the axle housing to form an attachment periphery;
- fixing reinforcing structure to the axle housing and the spindle to encompass at least a portion of the attachment periphery;
- forming axially opposite end surfaces on the reinforcing structure;
- and
- locating axially one of the end surfaces of the reinforcing structure on one side of the attachment periphery and locating axially another end surface of the reinforcing structure on an opposite side of the attachment periphery.
An axle and wheel end assembly comprising:
- An axle housing having an end surface;
- a spindle having an end surface that is joined to the end surface of the axle housing at a continuous attachment periphery;
- and
- brake component mounting structure fixed to the axle housing and to the spindle to encompass substantially all of the attachment periphery, axially opposite end surfaces formed on the brake component mounting structure, one of the end surfaces being located axially on one side of the attachment periphery and the other end surface being located axially on the opposite side of the attachment periphery.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.