External shaft low floor drive axle assembly
AssigneeArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
InventorLawrence D. Brill
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An inverted portal drive axle includes an off-center driving input that is coupled to first and second axle shafts. The first axle shaft drives a first gear box that is coupled to a first wheel assembly. The second axle shaft extends underneath a vehicle floor and drives a second gear box that is coupled to a second wheel assembly. An axle housing extends between the first and second gear boxes. The second axle shaft includes an exposed central portion that is positioned directly between the vehicle floor and the axle housing. Seal assemblies seal first and second ends of the second axle shaft to the axle housing.
Claims20
An inverted portal drive axle comprising:
- a driving input including a differential;
- a first wheel assembly driven by said driving input about a wheel axis of rotation;
- a second wheel assembly laterally spaced from said first wheel assembly and driven by said driving input about said wheel axis of rotation;
- an axle housing extendable underneath a vehicle floor between said first and second wheel assemblies, said axle housing defining an enclosed cavity that houses said differential;
- and
- at least one axle shaft operably coupled to said differential and operably coupled to drive at least one of said first and second wheel assemblies wherein one end of said at least one axle shaft is at least partially received within said enclosed cavity and wherein said at least one axle shaft has an exposed portion that is positioned outside of said enclosed cavity above said axle housing.
An inverted portal drive axle comprising:
- a driving input;
- a first wheel assembly driven by said driving input about a wheel axis of rotation;
- a second wheel assembly laterally spaced from said first wheel assembly and driven by said driving input about said wheel axis of rotation;
- an axle housing extendable underneath a vehicle floor between said first and second wheel assemblies;
- and
- at least one axle shaft operably coupled to said driving input and operably coupled to drive at least one of said first and second wheel assemblies wherein said axle shaft is positioned above said axle housing and wherein said axle housing includes an externally formed ledge extending in a direction parallel to said wheel axis of rotation, said ledge comprising a horizontal surface transitioning into a vertical surface wherein said horizontal surface is positioned immediately underneath said at least one axle shaft and said vertical surface is positioned immediately adjacent to one side of said at least one axle shaft.
An inverted portal drive axle comprising:
- a driving input;
- a first axle shaft having a first end coupled to said driving input and a second end coupled to a first gear box;
- a first wheel assembly driven by said first gear box;
- a second axle shaft having a first end coupled to said driving input and a second end coupled to a second gear box wherein said second axle shaft is significantly longer than said first axle shaft;
- a second wheel assembly driven by said second gear box;
- and
- an axle housing extendable underneath a vehicle floor between said first and second gear boxes, said axle housing having an exterior surface and an interior surface defining an enclosed cavity wherein a central portion of said second axle shaft is positioned outside of said enclosed cavity directly above said external surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.