# US 9,751,402 B2 · System, method and apparatus for installing a torque tube > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,402 B2 - Document ID: US9751402B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/589,234 - Filed: 2015-01-05 - Published: 2016-07-07 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-05 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Anthony Paul Fama; Bernd Daeschner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751402B2 ## CPC - B60K 17/043: {Transmission unit disposed in on near the vehicle wheel, or between the differential gear unit and the wheel} - B60B 11/06: Wheels with more than one rim mounted on a single wheel body - B60B 27/0021: {characterised by torque transmission means from drive axle} - B60B 35/125: {of the planetary type} - B60K 17/046: {with planetary gearing having orbital motion} - B60B 2320/10: Assembling; disassembling - B60Y 2200/142: Heavy duty trucks - B60Y 2200/145: Haulage vehicles, trailing trucks - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60B: VEHICLE WHEELS (making wheels or wheel parts by rolling B21H1/00, by forging, hammering or pressing B21K1/28); CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY ## Abstract An apparatus for installing a torque tube includes a first clamp portion and a second clamp portion. The first clamp portion is arcuate in shape and has opposed first distal ends. The second clamp portion is arcuate in shape and has opposed second distal ends configured to abut the first distal ends of the first clamp portion to form a ring. The first clamp portion and the second clamp portion are configured to clamp a torque tube therebetween. The apparatus also includes a plurality of legs depending downwardly from the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion which are configured to set a spacing between the torque tube and a seal ring. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for installing a torque tube, comprising: a first clamp portion, the first clamp portion being arcuate in shape and having opposed first distal ends; a second clamp portion, the second clamp portion being arcuate in shape and having opposed second distal ends configured to abut the first distal ends of the first clamp portion to form a ring, the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion being configured to clamp a torque tube therebetween; a plurality of legs depending downwardly from the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion and configured to set a spacing between the torque tube and a seal ring; and at least one rib extending generally perpendicular from each of the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion, the at least one rib including a lifting aperture permitting the apparatus and the torque tube clamped therein to be lifted. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: plural tabs at least one or more of which are coupled to the first clamp portion and at least one or more others of which are coupled to the second clamp portion, the tabs extending inwardly toward a center of the ring and being configured to contact a shoulder of the torque tube to align the apparatus at a predetermined axial location on the torque tube. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: respective underside surfaces of the tabs are substantially planar with a top surface of the first and second clamp portions when formed as the ring; and wherein the underside surfaces of the tabs are configured to rest upon the shoulder of the torque tube. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the legs are configured to contact a flange of a wheel frame containing the seal ring to arrest axial movement of the torque tube with respect to the wheel frame to set the spacing between the torque tube and the seal ring. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein: the legs are substantially L-shaped. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising: opposed first clamp blocks coupled to an outer peripheral surface of the first clamp portion adjacent to the first distal ends, respectively; opposed second clamp blocks coupled to an outer peripheral surface of the second clamp portion adjacent to the second distal ends, respectively, the first and second clamp blocks forming opposed clamp block pairs; and a fastening means associated with each clamp block pair for urging the opposed first distal ends of the first clamp portion and the opposed second distal ends of the second clamp portion towards one another to decrease a diameter of the ring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein: the first clamp blocks and the second clamp blocks each have a generally U-shaped channel formed therein such that each opposed clamp block pair has a channel extending throughout a length thereof; and wherein the fastening means comprises a bolt disposed in the channel and a nut threadedly engaged with the bolt. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein: the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion are configured to exert a clamping force on a peripheral surface of a ring gear of the torque tube sufficient to bear the weight of the torque tube. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: the shoulder is located intermediate the ring gear and a barrel portion of the torque tube. ### Claim 10 A system, comprising: a torque tube having a ring gear and a barrel portion extending from the ring gear and defining a shoulder portion therebetween; a wheel frame having a seal ring coupled to the torque tube and providing a seal between the seal ring and the torque tube; and a spacing device coupled to the torque tube at a predetermined axial location along the torque tube, the spacing device including a plurality of depending legs that are configured to contact the wheel frame to set a predetermined clearance between the torque tube and the seal ring. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein: the spacing device includes a first clamp portion that is arcuate in shape and has opposed first distal ends and a second clamp portion that is arcuate in shape and has opposed second distal ends; wherein the second distal ends of the second clamp portion are arranged so as to abut the first distal ends of the first clamp portion to form a ring within which the torque tube is clamped. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein: the first and second clamp portions include a plurality of clamp blocks and clamping members configured to selectively decrease a diameter of the ring to exert a clamping force on an outer peripheral surface of the torque tube adjacent to the shoulder. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein: the first and second clamp portions each include a lifting aperture for lifting the spacing device and the torque tube. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein: the first and second clamp portions each include at least one tab extending inwardly toward a center of the ring, the tabs being configured to contact the shoulder of the torque tube to retain the spacing device at the predetermined axial location. ### Claim 15 An apparatus for installing a torque tube, comprising: a first clamp portion, the first clamp portion being arcuate in shape and having opposed first distal ends; a second clamp portion, the second clamp portion being arcuate in shape and having opposed second distal ends configured to abut the first distal ends of the first clamp portion to form a ring, the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion being configured to clamp a torque tube therebetween; a plurality of legs depending downwardly from the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion and configured to set a spacing between the torque tube and a seal ring, wherein the legs are configured to contact a flange of a wheel frame containing the seal ring to arrest axial movement of the torque tube with respect to the wheel frame to set the spacing between the torque tube and the seal ring; plural tabs at least one or more of which are coupled to the first clamp portion and at least one or more others of which are coupled to the second clamp portion, the tabs extending inwardly toward a center of the ring and being configured to contact a shoulder of the torque tube to align the apparatus at a predetermined axial location on the torque tube; opposed first clamp blocks coupled to an outer peripheral surface of the first clamp portion adjacent to the first distal ends, respectively; opposed second clamp blocks coupled to an outer peripheral surface of the second clamp portion adjacent to the second distal ends, respectively, the first and second clamp blocks forming opposed clamp block pairs; a fastening means associated with each clamp block pair for urging the opposed first distal ends of the first clamp portion and the opposed second distal ends of the second clamp portion towards one another to decrease a diameter of the ring; and at least one rib extending generally perpendicular from each of the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion, the at least one rib including a lifting aperture permitting the apparatus and the torque tube clamped therein to be lifted. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein: respective underside surfaces of the tabs are substantially planar with a top surface of the first and second clamp portions when formed as the ring; and wherein the underside surfaces of the tabs are configured to rest upon the shoulder of the torque tube. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the legs are substantially L-shaped. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein: the first clamp blocks and the second clamp blocks each have a generally U-shaped channel formed therein such that each opposed clamp block pair has a channel extending throughout a length thereof; and wherein the fastening means comprises a bolt disposed in the channel and a nut threadedly engaged with the bolt. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion are configured to exert a clamping force on a peripheral surface of a ring gear of the torque tube sufficient to bear the weight of the torque tube. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the shoulder is located intermediate the ring gear and a barrel portion of the torque tube.