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US 7,205,760 B2Granted
Beam axle with integral sensor mount and target
AssigneeAmerican Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorBlair J. Swanson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle axle assembly having an axle housing, an axle shaft and a sensor. The axle housing has a tubular portion. A flat is formed on an annular wall of the tubular portion proximate a distal end of the tubular portion. A hole, which intersects the flat, is formed through the tubular portion. The axle shaft can have an integrally formed target portion that includes a plurality of teeth. The sensor is mounted in the hole and abuts the flat to space a tip of the sensor apart from the teeth of the target portion by a predetermined distance.
Claims22
An axle assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
- an axle housing having a tubular portion, a recess being formed on an annular wall of the tubular portion proximate a distal end of the tubular portion, a proximal end adapted to be coupled to a differential assembly, a hole being formed through the tubular portion and intersecting the recess, the recess defining a datum surface, and at least one flange coupled to the distal end of the tubular portion adjacent to the recess, the at least one flange adapted to support a brake assembly;
- a bearing mounted in the tubular portion of the axle housing;
- an axle shaft disposed in the tubular portion of the axle housing and supported by the bearing, the axle shaft having a shaft end and an integrally formed target portion, the shaft end being adapted to be coupled to a differential side gear, the target portion including a plurality of teeth and being disposed proximate the bearing on a side that is between the shaft end and the bearing;
- and
- a sensor coupled directly to the tubular portion of the axle housing, the sensor being mounted in the hole and abutting the recess to thereby space a tip of the sensor apart from the teeth of the target portion by a predetermined distance.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- forming an axle housing with a tubular portion having a first end and a second end, the tubular portion including a recess that is formed on an exterior surface of the tubular portion at the first end, a sensor aperture being formed through the tubular portion generally transverse to the recess;
- forming an axle shaft including a target portion;
- coupling a flange to the first end of the axle housing adjacent the sensor aperture;
- coupling the second end of the axle housing to a differential assembly;
- mounting a bearing in the tubular portion proximate the hole;
- inserting the axle shaft into the tubular portion so that the target portion is disposed in-line with the sensor aperture, the axle shaft having a shaft portion that is supported by the bearing;
- and
- inserting a sensor into the sensor aperture and abutting the sensor against the recess.
5 more elements
An axle assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
- an axle housing defining a central cavity, the housing including a tubular portion with a sensor mount, the sensor mount including a recess formed on an annular wall of the tubular portion proximate a distal end of the tubular portion and a hole that is formed through the tubular portion and intersecting the recess, the recess defining a datum surface, and a flange coupled to the distal end of the tubular portion adjacent to the recess, the flange adapted to support a brake assembly;
- a differential unit disposed in the central cavity, the differential unit including a side gear, the differential unit coupled to a proximal end of the axle housing;
- an axle shaft disposed in the tubular portion of the axle housing, the axle shaft having a shaft end and a target portion, the shaft end being coupled to the side gear, the target portion including a plurality of teeth, the target portion being disposed proximate an end of the axle shaft opposite the shaft end;
- and
- a sensor coupled directly to the tubular portion of the axle housing, the sensor being mounted in the hole and abutting the recess to thereby space a tip of the sensor apart from the teeth of the target portion by a predetermined distance.
2 more elements
An axle assembly, comprising:
- an axle housing defining a central cavity and including a tubular portion with a sensor mount formed proximate to its distal end and a flange secured to the tubular portion adjacent to the sensor mount for supporting a brake assembly, the sensor mount including a recess formed in an outer surface of the tubular portion to define a mount surface and a hole extending through the mounting surface;
- a differential rotatably supported by the axle housing within the central cavity;
- an axle shaft rotatably supported in the tubular portion of the axle housing and having an end portion and a target portion, the end portion coupled to the differential and the target portion aligned with the hole in the sensor mount;
- and
- a sensor secured to the sensor mount such that a tip portion of the sensor is in proximity to the target portion of the axle shaft and a mounting portion of the sensor engages the mounting surface of the recess.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.