Independently rotating wheels with planetary drive
AssigneeAxleTech International IP Holdings, LLC
InventorsI-Chao Chung, Leonard R. Elliott, Michael E. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wheel end assembly having a dual wheel configuration includes independently rotating wheel hubs to reduce tire wear. The wheel end includes a first planetary gear assembly with a sun gear driven by a differential side gear and a ring gear for driving one wheel hub. A second planetary gear assembly with a sun gear driven by a differential side gear and a ring gear drives another wheel hub. A differential assembly is coupled to the first and second sun gears to allow the first and second wheel hubs to rotate relative to one another as the vehicle executes turning maneuvers.
Claims21
A wheel end apparatus comprising:
- a spindle;
- an axle shaft mounted for rotation relative to said spindle and defining an axis of rotation;
- a first wheel hub supported for rotation about said axis;
- a second wheel hub positioned adjacent to said first wheel hub and supported for rotation about said axis;
- and
- a planetary drive assembly including an input member having at least one sun gear receiving driving input from said axle shaft and further including a first output and a second output with each of said outputs having at least one ring gear with said first output coupled to said first wheel hub and said second output coupled to said second wheel hub such that said first and second wheel hubs rotate relative to one another under predetermined conditions.
An apparatus as set forth in 7 wherein said spindle includes a first set of slots through which said first planetary gear set extends and a second set of slots through which said second planetary gear set extends wherein said first and second sets of slots are wider than said first and second planetary gear sets to permit said planet gears to rotate freely relative to said spindle.
A wheel end apparatus comprising:
- a spindle;
- an axle shaft mounted for rotation relative to said spindle and defining an axis of rotation;
- a first wheel hub supported for rotation about said axis;
- a second wheel hub positioned adjacent to said first wheel hub and supported for rotation about said axis;
- a first planetary gear assembly having a first sun gear and a first ring gear for driving said first wheel hub;
- a second planetary gear assembly having a second sun gear and a second ring gear for driving said second wheel hub;
- and
- a differential assembly coupled to said first and second sun gears to allow said first and second wheel hubs to rotate relative to one another under predetermined conditions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.