Tag axle assembly
AssigneeArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
InventorDaniel Philpott
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tag axle assembly includes an axle housing having first and second ends. A torque plate is fixed to each of the first and second ends for mounting a braking assembly. The torque plate is attached between front and rear plates of the axle housing. The tag axle assembly is fabricated by forming a substantially rectangular housing having open first and second ends and at least a partially open bottom portion. The torque plate is fixed at the open ends of a tubular housing that extends the entire length of the rectangular housing. The torque plates and the axle housing are secured to the housing and a center portion of the axle housing is cut away to provide for the drive shaft to extend through to the tag axle.
Claims15
An axle assembly comprising:
- an axle housing comprising a first plate spaced away from a second plate to define a first segment and a second segment;
- a torque plate fixed to each of said first segment and said second segment along a portion of said axle housing mounted at least partially between said first plate and said second plate;
- and
- a spindle assembly fixed to each of said first segment and said second segment, wherein said spindle assembly includes a spindle housings and said torque plate includes an opening through which said spindle assembly extends and said axle housing includes a partial opening along a bottom portion adjacent each of said first segment and said second segment for receiving a portion of said spindle housing.
A method of fabricating a non-driven axle assembly comprising the steps of:
- a.) forming a substantially rectangular housing comprising a first plate spaced apart from a second plate to define an open first segment and an open second segment and at least a partially open bottom;
- b.) welding a torque plate transverse to said first plate and said second plates over each of said open first segment and said open second segment, wherein said torque plate includes at least one mounting flange;
- and
- c.) mounting a brake assembly to each of said torque plates including fixing said brake assembly to said at least one mounting flange.
A method of fabricating a non-driven axle assembly comprising the steps of:
- a.) forming a substantially rectangular housing as an inverted U-shape comprising a first plate spaced apart from a second plate to define an open first segment and an open second segment disposed adjacent an axis of rotation, a center portion spaced a distance away from said axis of rotation, and a partially open bottom;
- b) welding a torgue plate transverse to said first plate and said second plate over each of said open first segment and said open second segment;
- and
- c) mounting a brake assembly to each of said torque plates.
A method of fabricating a non-driven axle assembly comprising the steps of:
- a) constructing an axle housing having first and second segments, and a bottom surface, said first and second segments defining an opening, and at least a portion of said bottom surface defining an opening;
- b) fixing torque plates adjacent said first and second segments of said axle housing;
- c.) fitting at least a portion of a tubular housing into said opening defined by said bottom surface of said axle housing;
- d.) attaching said torque plates to said first and second segments of said axle housing;
- and
- e.) removing a portion of said tubular housing between said first and second segments of said axle housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.