Axle flange

Abstract

Systems are provided for reducing an input weight to net weight ratio of an axle shaft, by eliminating a flange used to couple a shaft of the axle to a wheel of the vehicle. A conventional axle shaft may be bolted to the wheel via wheel bolts that extend through holes in the flange. In one example, an axle shaft is provided that includes splines at both ends, where one end of the axle shaft is coupled to the wheel drum via a splined connection, and are held in place by a lock nut and lock pin, eliminating a reliance on the axle flange. As a result, an amount of material wasted during forging of the axle is reduced, and an assembly/disassembly of the axle may be simplified. Additionally, a torque transmitting capability of the axle shaft may be increased.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.