Axle unit

• US 10,207,556 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2015
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saf-Holland SA
• Original Assignee: Saf-Holland SA
• Inventors: Christ, Armin, Kreiner, Kerstin
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Toan C
• Application Number:
  US15/510,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20170259636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,260 Days
• Field of Search: 280124116, 280124128
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2310/202 by casting
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/007 for mounting suspension elements to axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/02 Dead axles, i.e. not transmitting torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/04 straight
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/08 of closed hollow section
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/14 composite or split, e.g. half- axles; Couplings between axle parts or sections
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/113 Mountings on the axle B60G11/107 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/31 with two trailing arms rigidly connected to the axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/413 Hydraulic actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/121 Mounting of leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/148 on the unsprung part of the vehicle, e.g. wheel knuckle or rigid axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/1482 on rigid axle by elastic mount
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/201 of fluid lines
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4306 Bracket or knuckle for rigid axles, e.g. for clamping
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/012 Hollow or tubular elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/31 Straight axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/001 Suspension arms, e.g. constructional features B60G7/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/008 Attaching arms to unsprung part of vehicle B60G7/005, B60G7/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 9/003 the axle being rigidly connected to a trailing guiding device

Abstract

The present invention concerns an axle unit comprising a stub axle and an axle tube, wherein the stub axle has a longitudinal channel which extends inside the stub axle substantially along a stub axis, wherein the stub axle has a transverse channel which extends inside the stub axle substantially transversely to the stub axis and opens to the environment at the outer face of the stub axle, wherein the longitudinal channel and the transverse channel are connected together, wherein the stub axle has a stub joining region to which the hollow-bodied axle tube can be secured.

Claims

1. An axle unit, comprising:

a stub axle; and

a hollow-bodies axle tube;

wherein the stub axle has two longitudinal channels which extend inside the stub axle substantially along a stub axis;

wherein the stub axle has two transverse channels which extend inside the stub axle substantially transversely to the stub axis and open to the environment at an outer face of the stub axle;

wherein in each case, one of the longitudinal channels and one of the transverse channels are connected together;

wherein the stub axle has a stub joining region onto which the hollow-bodied axle tube is directly secured;

wherein a first connecting portion is located on the outer face of the stub axle;

wherein the transverse channels include opening points that are arranged inside the first connecting portion; and

wherein the first connecting portion, starting from a vertical to the stub axis, has an arcuate extension of maximum 30°

to 120°

.

2. The axle unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the axle tube extends with a tube length substantially along a tube axis, wherein the stub axle extends with a stub length substantially along the stub axis, and wherein a ratio of the stub length to the tube length is 0.1 to 1.2.

3. The axle unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ratio of the stub length to the tube length is 0.25 to 0.99.

4. The axle unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the ratio of the stub length to the tube length is 0.4 to 0.7.

5. The axle unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stub axle has a reinforcing portion in at least one of the region of the longitudinal channel and the transverse channel, wherein the reinforcing portion comprises a material with higher strength than the stub axle.

6. The axle unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing portion is cast into a recess of the stub axle, and wherein at least one of the longitudinal channel and the transverse channel is provided inside the reinforcing portion.

7. The axle unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two longitudinal channels are two of three longitudinal channels, and wherein the two transverse channels are two of three transverse channels.

8. The axle unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the two longitudinal channels are two of four longitudinal channels, and wherein the two transverse channels are two of four transverse channels.

9. The axle unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first connecting portion has a first engagement means configured to secure a line element.

10. The axle unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first connecting portion, has an arcuate extension of maximum 50°

to 110°

.

11. The axle unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first connecting portion, has an arcuate extension of maximum 85°

to 100°

.

12. The axle unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein at an end face of the stub axle facing away from the axle tube, the stub axle has a second connecting portion with a second engagement means configured to connect the longitudinal channel to an additional unit.

13. The axle unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein at an end of the stub axle facing away from the axle tube, the stub axle has a force transmission portion onto which an additional unit can be secured by at least one of a form fit and a force fit.

14. A chassis system, comprising:

an axle unit; and

a suspension arm unit;

wherein the axle unit has a stub axle;

wherein the stub axle at least in regions is configured rotationally symmetrical to a stub axis and has a first connecting portion on an outer face of the axle stub;

wherein the suspension arm unit extends substantially along an arm axis and has an engagement portion;

wherein the stub axle is configured to be secured to the engagement portion of the suspension arm unit such that the stub axis is oriented transversely to the arm axis;

wherein the connecting portion is connected to channels of the stub axle and is configured for connection of line elements;

wherein the engagement portion has a connecting recess which is configured to be arranged on the first connecting portion such that the first connecting portion is accessible via the connecting recess; and

wherein the suspension arm unit is secured to the axle unit in the region of the first connecting portion.

15. The chassis system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the engagement portion comprises two webs which are spaced apart from each other and surround the stub axle in regions, and wherein the connecting recess is arranged between the webs.

16. The chassis system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the connecting recess and the connecting portion have the same extension along the stub axis and are preferably substantially congruent.

17. The chassis system as claimed in claim 16, wherein adjacent to the connecting portion, the stub axle has a stub joining region onto which an axle tube can be secured.

18. The chassis system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the connecting recess and the connecting portion have the same extension along the stub axis and are preferably substantially congruent.

19. The chassis system as claimed in claim 14, wherein adjacent to the connecting portion, the stub axle has a stub joining region onto which an axle tube can be secured.