Wheel end assembly with spindle sleeve
AssigneeMeritor Heavy Vehicle Technology, LLC
InventorsAnthony T. D'Amico, Daniel G. Chien
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle wheel end assembly includes a sleeve member that allows air to be vented from the wheel end while significantly reducing venting of lubricating fluid. The wheel end includes a hub that is driven by a gear assembly. Lubricating fluid is stored within the hub to lubricate the gear assembly. Air pressure that builds up within the wheel end during vehicle operation is vented from the wheel end assembly via a vent path. A sleeve is installed within the wheel end to block the lubricating fluid from entering the vent path.
Claims20
A vehicle wheel end assembly comprising:
- a non-rotating wheel component defining an inner bore;
- a rotating wheel component supported on at least one bearing for rotation relative to said non-rotating wheel component;
- a driven member operably coupled to said rotating wheel component;
- a drive member positioned within said inner bore and in driving engagement with said driven member;
- a chamber defined within said rotating wheel component, said chamber being at least partially filled with a lubricating fluid and defining a fluid path in communication with said driven member;
- a vent path extending through said inner bore between said drive member and said non-rotating wheel component;
- and
- a blocking member supported by said non-rotating wheel component to at least partially block said fluid path to allow air pressure build-up within said rotating wheel component to be vented through said vent path while reducing the amount of said lubricating fluid that enters said vent path.
A vehicle wheel end assembly comprising:
- a wheel hub;
- a wheel end gear assembly operably coupled to said wheel hub to rotate said wheel hub about an axis of rotation;
- a fluid chamber formed within said wheel hub, said chamber being at least partially filled with a lubricating fluid and defining a fluid path in communication with said wheel end gear assembly;
- a vent path extending from said wheel end gear assembly and through said wheel hub to an outlet for venting air from the wheel end assembly resulting from air pressure build-up during vehicle operation;
- and
- a blocking member positioned within said wheel hub to at least partially block said fluid path to reduce the amount of said lubricating fluid that enters said vent path as air is vented from said vent path through said outlet.
A vehicle wheel end assembly comprising:
- a spindle mounted to an axle housing and including a bore extending through the length of said spindle;
- a hub supported on said spindle by at least one bearing for rotation relative to said spindle;
- an axle shaft mounted within said bore for providing driving torque to said hub;
- a gear assembly reacting between said hub and said axle shaft to transfer driving torque from said axle shaft to said hub;
- a fluid path defined within said hub for supplying a lubricating fluid to said gear assembly;
- a vent path defined within said hub and extending at least from said gear assembly through said bore to an outlet;
- and
- a sleeve extending outwardly from one end of said spindle to at least partially block said fluid path to reduce the amount of said lubricating fluid that enters said vent path as air is vented from said outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.