US 8,297,385 B2Granted

Dual wheelend for a vehicle

AssigneeAxletech International IP Holding, LLC

InventorsDaniel Chien, Alexandru Florea, Tim G. Langlitz, Ken L. Phillipi, Craig R. Roble

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A dual wheelend for an axle assembly having a rotatable axle shaft. The wheelend comprises a spindle defining a first axis. An intermediate hub is supported on the spindle for rotation about the first axis during rotation of the axle shaft. An inner wheel hub and an outer wheel hub are adjacent one another and are each supported on the intermediate hub for rotation about the first axis. A differential mechanism interconnects the inner and outer wheel hubs. A pin is disposed through a pinion along a second axis and couples the differential mechanism to the intermediate hub for driving the wheel hubs during rotation of the intermediate hub and permitting relative rotation between the wheel hubs relative to the intermediate hub. The pin includes proximal end with a head disposed on the proximal end for engaging the pinion and sandwiching the pinion between the head and the intermediate hub.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A dual wheelend for an axle assembly of a vehicle having a rotatable axle shaft, said wheelend comprising:

a stationary spindle defining a first rotational axis with said spindle adapted for coupling to the vehicle;
an intermediate hub supported on said spindle for rotation about said first rotational axis during rotation of the axle shaft;
an inner wheel hub supported on said intermediate hub for rotation about said first rotational axis;
an outer wheel hub adjacent to said inner wheel hub and supported on said intermediate hub for rotation about said first rotational axis;
and
a differential mechanism at least partially mounted to said intermediate hub and interconnecting said inner and outer wheel hubs with said differential mechanism including;
an inner side gear mounted to said inner wheel hub,
an inner differential bushing disposed between said inner side gear and said intermediate hub,
an outer side gear mounted to said outer wheel hub,
an outer differential bushing disposed between said outer side gear and said intermediate hub,
a pinion defining a second rotational axis transverse to said first rotational axis with said pinion coupled to both of said inner and outer wheel hubs for defining said interconnection between said inner and outer wheel hubs, and
a pin disposed through said pinion along said second rotational axis to couple said pinion to said intermediate hub and said pin being directly mounted to said intermediate hub with said pinion rotating about said second rotational axis for driving said inner and outer wheel hubs during rotation of said intermediate hub and permitting relative rotation of said inner and outer wheel hubs relative to said intermediate hub.

9 more elements

A dual wheelend for an axle assembly of a vehicle having a rotatable axle shaft, said wheelend comprising:

a stationary spindle defining a first rotational axis with said spindle adapted for coupling to the vehicle;
an intermediate hub supported on said spindle for rotation about said first rotational axis during rotation of the axle shaft;
an inner wheel hub supported on said intermediate hub for rotation about said first rotational axis;
an outer wheel hub adjacent to said inner wheel hub and supported on said intermediate hub for rotation about said first rotational axis;
and
a differential mechanism at least partially mounted to said intermediate hub and interconnecting said inner and outer wheel hubs with said differential mechanism including;
a pinion defining a second rotational axis transverse to said first rotational axis with said pinion coupled to both of said inner and outer wheel hubs for defining said interconnection between said inner and outer wheel hubs, and
a pin disposed through said pinion along said second rotational axis to couple said pinion to said intermediate hub and said pin being directly mounted to said intermediate hub with said pinion rotating about said second rotational axis for driving said inner and outer wheel hubs during rotation of said intermediate hub and permitting relative rotation of said inner and outer wheel hubs relative to said intermediate hub,
wherein said pin includes a proximal end and a distal end spaced from said proximal end with said pin having a head disposed on said proximal end for engaging said pinion and sandwiching said pinion between said head and said intermediate hub.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/443,544Filed 10 Apr 2012 · division
Priority: 22 Jun 2007
Published: US 2012/0223570 A16 Sep 2012
Granted: 30 Oct 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

B60B 11/02
Units comprising multiple wheels arranged side by side; Wheels having more than one rim or capable of carrying more than one tyre: units of…
B60B 11/06
Units comprising multiple wheels arranged side by side; Wheels having more than one rim or capable of carrying more than one tyre: wheels with…
B60K 17/046
Transmission unit disposed in on near the vehicle wheel, or between the differential gear unit and the wheel: with planetary gearing having…
B60K 17/36
Arrangement or mounting of transmissions in vehicles: for driving tandem wheels

Family

Application11/766,952Parent of this continuation · filed 22 Jun 2007
Application12/818,610Parent of this division · filed 18 Jun 2010
US 7,757,795 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 20 Jul 2010
US 2012/0223570 A1Pre-grant publication · published 6 Sep 2012
US 8,151,913 B2Parent of this division
Application12/818,610Parent of this continuation
US 2008/0315671 A1Published application
US 2010/0289322 A1Published application
US 8,297,385 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.