Axle assembly with bearing adjustment mechanism
AssigneeAmerican Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsRichard A. Ason, Jeffrey S. Jackson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides an axle assembly for a motor vehicle including an axle housing, a differential assembly supported in the axle housing with a differential bearing, a bearing insert, an adjuster sleeve and a lock ring. The bearing insert is coupled to the axle housing. The adjuster sleeve is rotatably coupled to the bearing insert in a pre-installed position. The adjuster sleeve is adapted to engage the differential bearing and impart a preload force thereon. The lock ring is disposed between the bearing insert and the adjuster sleeve in an installed position. The lock ring precludes relative movement between the bearing insert and the adjuster sleeve thereby maintaining a desired preload on the differential bearing.
Claims23
A method for maintaining a differential bearing preload in an axle assembly, the method comprising:
- coupling a bearing insert to an axle housing;
- rotatably coupling an adjuster sleeve to said bearing insert;
- supporting a differential assembly in said axle housing with a differential bearing;
- rotatably advancing said adjuster sleeve relative to said bearing insert into engagement with said differential bearing;
- and
- engaging a lock ring with said bearing insert and said adjuster sleeve by forming a press-fit between an inner diameter of said bearing insert and an outer diameter of said lock ring and an outer diameter of said adjuster sleeve and an inner diameter of said lock ring, said lock ring precluding relative rotation between said bearing insert and said adjuster sleeve.
An axle assembly comprising:
- an axle housing;
- a differential assembly supported in said axle housing with a differential bearing;
- a bearing insert mounted on said axle housing and having inner serrations defined around an inner surface;
- an adjuster sleeve rotatably coupled to said bearing insert and having outer serrations defined around an outer diameter, said adjuster sleeve being adapted to engage said differential bearing and impart a preload force thereon;
- a lock ring being positioned between said bearing insert and said adjuster sleeve, said lock ring precluding relative movement between said bearing insert and said adjuster sleeve thereby maintaining a desired preload on said differential bearing.
A method for maintaining a differential bearing preload in an axle assembly comprising:
- coupling a bearing insert to a first portion of an axle housing, said bearing insert having an adjuster sleeve rotatably coupled thereto, said bearing insert and said adjuster sleeve collectively defining an annular pocket therebetween;
- supporting a differential assembly in said axle housing with a differential bearing;
- rotatably advancing said adjuster sleeve into engagement with said differential bearing to achieve a desired preload;
- and
- advancing a lock ring into a press-fit relationship with said bearing insert and said adjuster sleeve at said annular pocket, said lock ring preventing rotation of said adjuster sleeve and thereby maintaining said differential bearing at said desired preload.
An axle assembly comprising:
- an axle housing;
- a differential assembly supported in said axle housing with a differential bearing;
- a bearing insert mounted on said axle housing;
- an adjuster sleeve rotatably coupled to said bearing insert, said adjuster sleeve being adapted to engage said differential bearing and impart a preload force thereon;
- and
- a lock ring precluding relative movement between said bearing insert and said adjuster sleeve for maintaining a desired preload on said differential bearing, said lock ring having extension portions defined around an inner diameter and an outer diameter thereof, said extension portions being adapted to deflect upon advancement of said lock ring into engagement with said bearing insert.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.