Vehicle axle assembly
AssigneeEuclid, Inc.
InventorsSimon A. De Young, Charles C. Gray
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A driving axle assembly (10) comprises a differential mechanism (34) driving axle shafts 36, 38, first and second gear reduction (40) are connected to the axle shafts remote from the differential mechanism for driving vehicle wheel assemblies (14, 16). The differential mechanism and gear reductions are supported by an axle assembly support housing comprising a housing frame (50) supporting the differential mechanism and first and second spindle assemblies (52, 54) attached to the frame and projecting to the respective gear reductions.
Claims17
In an off highway load hauling vehicle having an engine driven propeller shaft for transmitting drive to vehicle propelling ground engaging elements, a driving axle assembly comprising:
- (a) a differential mechanism including differential gearing connected to said propeller shaft and to first and second output driving axle shafts;
- (b) first and second gear reduction means connected, respectively, to said first and second output driving axle shafts remote from said differential mechanism, said gear reduction means transmitting drive to said ground engaging vehicle propelling elements from said axle shafts;
- and
- (c) an axle assembly support housing comprising:
- (i) a housing frame supporting said differential mechanism;
- (ii) first and second spindle assemblies attached to said housing frame and projecting therefrom to said respective gear reduction means;
- (iii) said axle shafts supported by and extending through said respective spindle assemblies to said housing frame for connection to said differential mechanism;
- (d) said differential gearing producing a gear reduction ratio of about 1.5:1 between said propeller shaft and said axle shafts and said gear reduction means producing a gear reduction ratio ranging from about 14:1 to about 21:1 between said axle shafts and the gear reduction means output.
A driving axle assembly comprising:
- (a) a differential mechanism;
- (b) first and second axle shafts driven from said differential mechanism and projecting therefrom;
- (c) first and second spindle assemblies surrounding and supporting respective projecting portions of said first and second axle shafts;
- (d) a housing frame disposed between and fixed to said spindle assemblies, said housing frame defining a differential mechanism receiving opening within which said differential mechanism is disposed, said opening oriented in a direction transverse to the directions of extent of said axle shafts and support structure for supporting said differential mechanism on said housing frame;
- and,
- (e) connecting means for detachably securing said differential mechanism to said housing frame.
The axle assembly claimed in 13 wherein said spindle assembly receiving sections are defined by cast frame members each having a generally cylindrical spindle assembly engaging portion and at least one rectangular shaped cross sectional portion conforming to the cross sectional shape of said frame sections.
A final drive gear reduction for transmitting drive from an axle shaft to an output device comprising a compound epicyclic gear train having first and second gear sets each comprising a sun gear, a coacting planet gear assembly and a ring gear coupled to the planet gear assembly, the sun gear of the first gear set driven from the axle shaft, the sun gear of the second set being driven from the first set ring gear, and the first set planet gear assembly and second set ring gear drivingly connected together to simultaneously produce the output device drive.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.