Land vehicles: wheels and axles – Axle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-21
2001-07-03
Stormer, Russell D. (Department: 3617)
Land vehicles: wheels and axles
Axle
C301S105100, C301S137000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254196
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a driving axle assembly and is more particularly directed to a full floating inverted axle hub assembly with a removable axle shaft.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional rear axle assemblies the wheel hub is secured to the axle by a nut on the end of the axle. All axial forces on the wheel hub are directly transmitted to the axle. Furthermore, the weight of the vehicle is transmitted to the wheel hub and consequently to the axle causing a bending moment on the axle. The axle shaft, which turns on a bearing in the axle tube/housing, must then be strong and heavy to endure all these loads. This arrangement is undesirable particularly in heavy-duty truck applications.
In an effort to remove loads applied to the axle shafts, full floating axle assemblies were designed. Full floating axle hub assemblies provide hubs mounted on bearings directly attached to the axle housing independently of the axle shaft that drives the hub. With this arrangement the axle shaft only provides torque to drive the hub and consequently turn the wheels and does not endure vehicle weight or axial loads. However, heretofore, the prior art has failed to provide a full floating inverted axle hub assembly having an independently removable axle shaft or a replaceable brake torque plate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved axle hub assembly that improves upon the related art.
The present invention is directed to full floating inverted axle hub assembly. An inverted hub assembly is an arrangement providing an inner race disposed within the outer race. The inverted hub assembly includes an inner race rigidly connected to a wheel body and rotatably connected to an outer race which is in turn rigidly connected to an axle housing to enable rotation of the wheel body relative to the axle housing without substantial relative motion in the other five degrees of freedom. A driving member is disposed within the axle housing for driving the inner race and wheel body. A removable axle shaft forms a detachable connection between the driving member and inner race. The removable axle shaft is externally removable from the entire axle assembly when the hub assembly is connected to the axle housing. Such an arrangement facilitates a disconnect between the driving member and inner race thereby allowing the wheel body to freely rotate, such as during towing, without having to remove the hub assembly. The full floating arrangement alleviates excessive loads placed on the driving member.
REFERENCES:
patent: 583195 (1897-05-01), Ferguson
patent: 900562 (1908-10-01), Martin
patent: 1594148 (1926-07-01), Buckwalter
patent: 1819110 (1931-08-01), Moorhouse
patent: 3099491 (1963-07-01), Peras
patent: 4121871 (1978-10-01), Adams, Jr.
patent: 4331210 (1982-05-01), Petrak
patent: 4371214 (1983-02-01), Strader
patent: 4381874 (1983-05-01), Strader
patent: 4437536 (1984-03-01), Colanzi et al.
patent: 4765688 (1988-08-01), Hofmann et al.
patent: 4881842 (1989-11-01), Farrell et al.
patent: 4986608 (1991-01-01), Fett
patent: 5281005 (1994-01-01), Babcock et al.
patent: 5458352 (1995-10-01), Lederman
patent: 5553927 (1996-09-01), Mastrangelo
patent: 5603554 (1997-02-01), Monroe et al.
patent: 5720530 (1998-02-01), Holsnijders et al.
patent: 5782566 (1998-07-01), Bertetti
patent: 6017097 (2000-01-01), Weir, III
Liniak Berenato Longacre & White
Stormer Russell D.
LandOfFree
Axle hub assembly with removable axle shaft does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Axle hub assembly with removable axle shaft, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Axle hub assembly with removable axle shaft will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2489536