Wheel end assembly
AssigneeMeritor Heavy Vehicle Technology, LLC
InventorPatrick B. Melton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wheel end assembly is provided which facilitates maintenance of the wheel end assembly, and further provides a more secure bearing housing. The spindle is caused to rotate with the drive axle, and is in turn connected to drive a wheel hub. In other features, a housing mounts a bearing cup structure which surrounds the spindle, and has a piloting land for positioning a brake torque plate or a spider, along with the bearing cup. A tone wheel is sandwiched between two nuts, and is caused to rotate with the spindle. The tone wheel includes a tab extending into an opening on the washer such that the washer rotates with the tone wheel. The overall assembly facilitates maintenance and assembly, and provides a more secure environment for the bearing structure.
Claims35
A wheel end assembly comprising:
- a drive axle shaft extending along an axis;
- a wheel hub positioned radially outwardly of said drive axle shaft;
- a spindle to be driven by said drive axle shaft, said spindle in turn driving said wheel hub, and said spindle being positioned radially between said wheel hub and said drive axle shaft;
- and
- a bearing cup structure positioned between said wheel hub and said spindle, said bearings cup structure being fixed, and bearings positioned between said bearing cup structure and said spindle, said bearing having bearing components contacting and supporting said spindle.
A wheel end assembly comprising:
- a drive axle shaft extending along an axis;
- a wheel hub positioned radially outwardly of said drive axle shaft;
- a spindle to be driven by said drive axle shaft, said spindle in turn driving said wheel hub, and said spindle being positioned radially between said wheel hub and said drive axle shaft;
- a bearing cup structure positioned between said wheel hub and said spindle, said bearing cup structure being fixed, and bearings positioned between said bearing cup structure and said spindle;
- and
- said spindle drives said wheel hub through a plurality of intermeshing gear teeth.
A wheel end assembly comprising:
- a drive axle shaft extending along an axis;
- a wheel hub positioned radially outwardly of said drive axle shaft;
- a spindle to be driven by said drive axle shaft, said spindle in turn driving said wheel hub, and said spindle being positioned radially between said wheel hub and said drive axle shaft;
- a bearing cup structure positioned between said wheel hub and said spindle, said bearing cup structure being fixed, and bearings positioned between said bearing cup structure and said spindle;
- a nut is threaded into an inner surface of said spindle to position said drive axle along said axis;
- a washer closes an end of said spindle;
- and
- said washer also abuts an axially outer face of said wheel hub.
A wheel end assembly comprising:
- a fixed housing including a brake flange extending from a radially outer surface, and a piloting boss positioned forwardly of said brake flange;
- a brake connection structure positioned forwardly of said brake flange and on said piloting boss;
- a bearing cup structure also received on said piloting boss, and a seal on said piloting boss providing sealing between said bearing cup and said piloting boss;
- and
- a wheel hub operatively connected to be driven.
A wheel end assembly comprising:
- a rotating housing part rotating with a drive axle;
- a fixed housing positioned adjacent to said rotating part, said fixed housing carrying an ABS sensor;
- and
- a tone wheel operatively exacted to rotate with said rotating part, said tone wheel including a finger extending into a groove in said rotating part, and a member on one side of said tone wheel, said tone wheel including a tab extending into an opening in said member to cause said member to rotate with said tone wheel.
A method of assembling a rotating spindle comprising the steps of:
- (1) providing the rotating spindle to be secured to a drive axle, and providing a bearing cup to be positioned outwardly of said rotating spindle;
- (2) positioning at least one inner bearing race on an outer periphery of said spindle, and positioning bearings outwardly of said inner race;
- and
- (3) bending an axially inner end of said spindle radially outwardly to capture said races on said outer periphery of said spindle.
A wheel end assembly comprising:
- a wheel hub positioned radially outwardly of a drive axis;
- a spindle to be driven about said drive axis, said spindle in turn driving said wheel hub, said spindle being positioned radially inwardly of said wheel hub;
- and
- a bearing cup structure positioned between said wheel hub and said spindle, said bearing cup being non-driven, and bearings positioned between said bearing cup and said spindle, said bearing shaving bearings components contacting and supporting said spindle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.