Back to results
US 4,768,839 AGranted
Method of manufacturing axle assemblies
OwnerDietmar E. Spindlerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An axle assembly includes an axle member, a flange, and a spindle. The flange is provided with a central bore. An end portion of the spindle extends through the central bore of the flange to contact an end of the axle member. A central portion of the spindle contacts a surface of the flange. Separate weld joints are formed between the axle assembly components at the two contact areas. The welding flash around the outer circumference of the weld may be removed to allow for visual inspection. A preferred method of manufacturing the assembly is by a friction or inertia welding process.
Claims8
An axle assembly for a vehicle comprising:
- an axle member having an outer surface on an end thereof;
- a flange having a central bore coaxially aligned with and axially spaced apart from the end of the axle member, and having a first surface facing away from the end of the axle member;
- and
- a spindle having an end portion which extends through the central bore of the flange and which is welded to the outer surface on the end of the axle member, and said spindle having a central portion which is welded to the first surface of the flange, wherein the central portion and end portions of the spindle are generally circular in cross-section and wherein an outer diameter of the central portion is substantially larger than an outer diameter of the end portion.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.