Wheel and system
AssigneeGKN Automotive AG
InventorSteven C. Hahn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wheel end for use in a vehicle wherein the wheel end includes a side shaft wherein the side shaft having an appendage on one end thereof. The side shaft having a cylindrical cavity at a center point of the appendage. The wheel end unit also includes a spindle arranged around the appendage. A knuckle is arranged around a portion of the spindle and a portion of the side shaft. The wheel end also includes a fastener secured between the spindle and the appendage to ensure a robust connection between the spindle and the appendage.
Claims21
A wheel end for use in a vehicle, said wheel end including:
- a side shaft, said side shaft having an appendage on one end thereof, said side shaft having a cylindrical cavity in said appendage said cylindrical cavity extending at least one quarter of the length of said appendage into said appendage;
- a spindle arranged around said appendage;
- a knuckle arranged around a portion of said spindle and a portion of said side shaft;
- and
- a fastener secured between said spindle and said appendage.
A side shaft for use on a vehicle, said side shaft including:
- a body;
- a neck portion extending from an end;
- and
- a cylindrical cavity in said neck portion, said cylindrical cavity having a depth of at least one quarter of the length of said neck portion into said neck portion;
- said cylindrical cavity having a plurality of threads therein.
A wheel end disconnect system for use in a vehicle, said wheel end disconnect system including:
- a side shaft, said side shaft having a neck portion extending from one end thereof;
- a ring gear engaged with said side shaft;
- a support surrounding said side shaft and said ring gear;
- a spindle rotatably supported within said support;
- a spindle ring gear arranged near one end of said spindle;
- and
- a fastener arranged between said neck portion and said spindle.
A method of connecting a wheel end unit to a side shaft for a vehicle, said method including the steps of:
- inserting a reduced neck portion of said side shaft within an inner bore of a spindle of said wheel end unit;
- supporting said reduced neck portion of said side shaft within said spindle by at least one bearing assembly;
- and
- securing said wheel end unit to said side shaft by a shoulder bolt engaging said reduced neck portion one end thereof and said spindle or said bearing assembly on an opposite end of said shoulder bolt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.