Drive arrangement for a running gear

A running apparatus, for a rail vehicle, comprising:

• a wheel unit defining an axial direction and a radial direction and a drive unit;
• wherein said wheel unit is driven by said drive unit via a drive apparatus, wherein the drive apparatus comprises:
• a first torque transmission device;
• and
• a second torque transmission device;
• wherein said first torque transmission device is connected in a torsionally rigid manner to said wheel unit and said second torque transmission device is connected in a torsionally rigid manner to said first torque transmission device using a connecting device, wherein an arrangement substantially coaxial to said axial direction is formed;
• wherein said wheel unit has a wheel unit end section protruding, along said wheel axis, into a receptacle of said second torque transmission device;
• wherein a protective unit is arranged between said wheel unit end section and said second torque transmission device;
• and
• wherein said protective unit is configured to protect said wheel unit end section against damage by said second torque transmission device in case of failure of said connecting device.

A method of assembling a drive apparatus, comprising,

• threading an inner threaded end of a threaded element into a wheel unit end section to bring a first torque transmission device and a second torque transmission device into contact, wherein a protective unit is arranged between said second torque transmission device and said wheel unit end section and an outer threaded end of said threaded element, in an axial direction, protrudes beyond an abutment of said second torque transmission device facing away from said wheel unit end section;
• screwing a nut element onto said outer threaded end such that an interface part of said outer threaded end, in said axial direction;
• protrudes beyond said nut element on a side of said nut element facing away from said wheel unit;
• connecting a tensioning tool to said interface part;
• imposing, in said axial direction, a defined tensile prestress onto said threaded element via the tensioning tool;
• advancing said nut element further on said outer threaded end;
• bringing said nut element into contact with said abutment of said second torque transmission device;
• and
• releasing said tensioning tool to press said nut element against said abutment using a tensile force generated by said threaded element, which firmly connects said first torque transmission device and said second torque transmission device.