Trunnion mount
AssigneeMeritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC
InventorRaji Said El-Kassouf
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A unique trunnion mount for an axle assembly allows the axle to pivot about a longitudinal axis of a vehicle. The trunnion mount is comprised of two separate mounts, each of which is supported by an axle housing. The first mount is supported by the bearing cage on the input side of the axle housing. The second mount is attached to the opposite side of the axle housing and is comprised of a V-shaped bushing which presents angular exterior bearing surfaces which rotatably support the vehicle frame.
Claims20
An axle assembly for a vehicle having a longitudinal axis comprising:
- an axle housing extending along a central axis to be disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of a vehicle and including first and second mounts disposed on longitudinally opposite sides of said central axis for supporting said axle housing on a vehicle, said second mount including a bushing having a central bushing axis and presenting a bearing surface for sliding engagement with an opposing bearing surface such that said axle housing pivots on said bushing about the longitudinal axis, said bearing surface being disposed at an angular relationship relative to said central bushing axis for reacting to both axial and radial forces.
An axle assembly for a vehicle having a longitudinal axis comprising:
- an axle housing extending along a central axis to be disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of a vehicle and including first and second mounts disposed on longitudinally opposite sides of said central axis for supporting said axle housing on a vehicle, said second mount including a bushing having a central bushing axis and presenting a bearing surface for sliding engagement with an opposing bearing surface, said bearing surface being disposed at an angular relationship relative to said central bushing axis for reacting to both axial and radial forces and wherein said bushing includes an outer piece and an inner piece disposed on opposite sides of said central bushing axis, said axle housing including an extension which engages a circumferentially disposed lip of said inner piece for locating said inner piece with respect to said axle housing.
A trunnion mount comprising:
- a first member having a longitudinal axis;
- a second member extending along a central axis to be disposed transversely to said longitudinal axis of said first member;
- a first interface depending from said first member;
- a second interface depending from said first member and spaced apart from said first interface;
- a first mount supported by said second member for engaging said first interface;
- and
- a second mount supported by said second member longitudinally opposite from said first mount for engaging said second interface, said first and second mounts for allowing pivotal movement of said second member about said longitudinal axis and wherein said second mount includes a bushing having a central bushing axis and presenting an exterior bearing surface for sliding engagement with an opposing bearing surface of said second interface, said bearing surface being disposed at an angular relationship relative to said central bushing axis.
A bushing rotatably supporting an axle on a vehicle mounting member comprising:
- a mounting member defining a longitudinal axis and presenting an interior bearing surface;
- a first piece and a second piece supported on the axle and disposed on opposite sides of a central bushing axis oriented generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said first piece including a first exterior bearing surface and said second piece including a second exterior bearing surface wherein said first and second exterior bearing surfaces originate at an apex located on said central bushing axis and extend radially outwardly from opposite sides of said central bushing axis forming a V, said first and second exterior bearing surfaces engaging said interior bearing surface to provide pivotal support about said longitudinal axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.