# US 2018/0022154 A1 · Axle Assembly Having an Axle Shaft Subassembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0022154 A1 - Document ID: US20180022154A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/218,248 - Filed: 2016-07-25 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-25 - Assignees: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC - Applicants: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC - Inventors: Antonio Coletta; Jaw-Ping Pan; Gregory D. Pavuk; Bin Hu; Walter A. Santarossa; Phillip Leicht - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180022154A1 ## CPC - B60B 27/02: adapted to be rotatably arranged on axle - B60B 27/04: housing driving means, e.g. sprockets - B60B 27/06: adapted to be fixed on axle - B60B 35/12: Torque-transmitting axles (independent suspension aspects B60G) - B60B 35/121: {Power-transmission from drive shaft to hub} - B60B: VEHICLE WHEELS (making wheels or wheel parts by rolling B21H1/00, by forging, hammering or pressing B21K1/28); CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION ## Abstract An axle assembly having an axle shaft subassembly. The axle shaft subassembly may include an axle shaft and an adapter ring. The adapter ring may receive the axle shaft and may be fixedly positioned with respect to the axle shaft. A hub may receive the adapter ring and may be fixedly positioned with respect to the adapter ring. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An axle assembly comprising: an axle shaft subassembly that includes: an axle shaft that is rotatable about an axis; and an adapter ring that has an adapter ring hole that receives the axle shaft and an outer adapter ring spline that is disposed opposite the adapter ring hole; and a hub that has a hub opening that receives the adapter ring and a hub spline that is disposed in the hub opening and that mates with the outer adapter ring spline; wherein the adapter ring is fixedly positioned with respect to the axle shaft and the hub is fixedly positioned with respect to the adapter ring. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The axle assembly of claim 1 wherein the outer adapter ring spline is completely received in the hub opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The axle assembly of claim 1 wherein the axle shaft has an axle shaft spline that is arranged around the axis and the adapter ring has an inner adapter ring spline that is disposed opposite the outer adapter ring spline, wherein the axle shaft spline mates with the inner adapter ring spline to inhibit rotation of the adapter ring with respect to the axle shaft. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The axle assembly of claim 3 wherein the adapter ring further comprises a plurality of passages that extend through the adapter ring and are radially positioned between the inner adapter ring spline and the outer adapter ring spline. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The axle assembly of claim 1 further comprising a cover that is coupled to a first hub end surface that extends around the axis, wherein the cover extends completely across the hub opening. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The axle assembly of claim 5 further comprising a seal that extends around the axis and extends from the cover to the first hub end surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The axle assembly of claim 6 further comprising a cover fastener that attaches the cover to the hub, wherein the cover fastener extends through a hole in the seal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The axle assembly of claim 6 wherein the cover is spaced apart from and does not engage the axle shaft and the hub. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The axle assembly of claim 1 further comprising a retainer that is disposed on the axle shaft and that inhibits axial movement of the adapter ring with respect to the axle shaft. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The axle assembly of claim 9 wherein the adapter ring has an annular wall that extends around the axis and toward the axis such that the annular wall is axially disposed between the retainer and an axle step surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The axle assembly of claim 10 wherein the axle step surface engages the annular wall to inhibit axial movement of the adapter ring away from the retainer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The axle assembly of claim 10 wherein the retainer engages the annular wall to inhibit axial movement of the adapter ring toward a cover that is coupled to a first hub end surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The axle assembly of claim 10 wherein the adapter ring further comprises a ring that extends from the annular wall and is disposed opposite an inner adapter ring spline, wherein the ring extends around the retainer. ### Claim 14 An axle assembly comprising: a spindle that has a spindle hole; a hub that is rotatably disposed on the spindle, wherein the hub includes: a first hub end surface; a second hub end surface disposed opposite the first hub end surface; a hub opening that extends from the first hub end surface to the second hub end surface and that receives the spindle; and a hub spline that is disposed in the hub opening and that extends from the first hub end surface toward the second hub end surface; and an axle shaft subassembly that includes: an axle shaft that extends along and is rotatable about an axis, wherein the axle shaft extends through the spindle and has an axle shaft spline; an adapter ring that is received in the hub opening, wherein the adapter ring includes: an adapter ring hole that receives the axle shaft; an inner adapter ring spline that is arranged around the axis and that mates with the axle shaft spline to inhibit rotation of the adapter ring with respect to the axle shaft; and an outer adapter ring spline that is disposed opposite the inner adapter ring spline and mates with the hub spline to inhibit rotation of the hub with respect to the adapter ring. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The axle shaft of claim 14 wherein the adapter ring is spaced apart from and does not engage the spindle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The axle assembly of claim 14 wherein at least a portion of the axle shaft spline is received in the spindle hole. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The axle assembly of claim 14 further comprising a cover that is mounted to the hub and that extends across the hub opening, wherein the axle shaft spline is disposed between the cover and a first spindle end surface of the spindle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The axle assembly of claim 17 further comprising a first wheel bearing assembly that rotatably supports the hub, wherein the first wheel bearing assembly is disposed on the spindle in the hub opening and the adapter ring is disposed between the first wheel bearing assembly and the cover. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The axle assembly of claim 18 wherein the hub spline extends from the first hub end surface toward the first wheel bearing assembly. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The axle assembly of claim 19 wherein teeth of the hub spline terminate at a hub step surface of the hub, wherein the hub step surface is disposed in the hub opening between the first wheel bearing assembly and the adapter ring.