Portal wheel end
AssigneeAxleTech International IP Holdings, LLC
InventorJeffrey S. Armfield
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular portal wheel end system allows for connection of a portal wheel end to any of a plurality of differently configured axles for vehicles. The portal wheel end includes a housing that houses an input gear and an output gear. The input gear is coupled to the axle to which the portal wheel end is connected. A wheel hub is coupled to the output gear. A plurality of adapter brackets are each configured to be interchangeably connected to the housing and the axle. Each adapter bracket has a different predetermined configuration for connection to a separate one of the differently configured axles. The portal wheel end system allows the same housing, input gear, output gear, and wheel hub to be connected to any of the differently configured axles with the use of the appropriate adapter bracket.
Claims23
A modular portal wheel end system for connection to a plurality of differently configured axles for vehicles, said portal wheel end system comprising:
- a housing for being selectively coupled with any one of the plurality of differently configured axles;
- an input gear supported by said housing and rotatable about a first rotational axis for receiving rotational input from any one of the plurality of differently configured axles;
- an output gear supported by said housing and coupled to said input gear with said output gear rotatable about a second rotational axis offset from said first rotational axis;
- a wheel hub coupled to said output gear;
- and
- a plurality of adapter brackets each configured to be interchangeably connected to said housing and each having a different predetermined configuration for connection to a separate one of the plurality of differently configured axles for coupling said housing to any one of the plurality of differently configured axles.
A portal wheel end for connection to an axle of a vehicle, said portal wheel end comprising:
- a housing for being selectively coupled with any one of a plurality of differently configured axles;
- an input gear supported by said housing and rotatable about a first rotational axis for receiving rotational input from any one of the plurality of differently configured axles;
- an output gear supported by said housing and coupled to said input gear with said output gear rotatable about a second rotational axis offset from said first rotational axis;
- a wheel hub coupled to said output gear;
- and
- an adapter bracket extending from said housing and having a predetermined configuration for connection to a selected one of the plurality of differently configured axles;
- said adapter bracket formed separately from and connected to said housing for coupling said housing to the selected one of the plurality of differently configures axles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.