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US 2014/0232177 A1Published application
Axle assembly and a method of manufacture
AssigneeArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
InventorMichael Andrew Power
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An axle assembly and a method of manufacture. The axle assembly may have an axle tube that may be formed to increase a wall thickness of an end portion. A spindle may be fastened to the end portion with a fastener that is received in the fastener hole in the end portion.
Claims20
A method of manufacturing an axle assembly comprising:
- providing an axle tube that extends along an axis and has a first end and a second end, wherein the axle tube has a nominal wall thickness;
- forming an end portion of the axle tube to provide an end portion wall thickness that is greater than the nominal wall thickness, wherein the end portion wall thickness extends from the first end toward the second end;
- providing a fastener hole in the end portion;
- and
- fastening a spindle to the end portion with a fastener that is received in the fastener hole.
2 more elements
A method of manufacturing a trailer axle assembly comprising:
- providing a hollow cylindrical axle tube having a nominal wall thickness;
- inserting the axle tube into a hole in a suspension arm;
- hydroforming the axle tube against the suspension arm to fixedly position the axle tube with respect to the suspension arm;
- hydroforming an end portion of the axle tube to provide an end portion wall thickness that is greater than the nominal wall thickness and extends from a first end of the axle tube toward the suspension arm;
- providing a fastener hole in the end portion that extends from the first end toward the suspension arm;
- positioning a spindle for supporting a wheel hub assembly proximate the first end;
- and
- fastening a spindle to the end portion with a fastener that is received in the fastener hole.
5 more elements
An axle assembly comprising:
- a suspension arm having a first surface, a second surface, and a hole that extends from the first surface to the second surface;
- a unitary axle tube that extends along an axis through the hole, the axle tube having a nominal wall thickness proximate the hole and an end portion disposed at a first end of the axle tube having an end portion wall thickness that is greater than the nominal wall thickness;
- and
- a spindle that is fixedly mounted to the end portion.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.