Axle assembly
First Claim
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1. An axle assembly comprising:
- an axle housing having a central portion for receiving a differential, the central portion having an opening defined by an axle flange that has a first mating surface, a first axle tube extending from the central portion, and a second axle tube extending from the central portion, wherein the axle flange has a plurality of fastener holes that are spaced circumferentially around the axle flange and are threaded to receive a threaded stud or a threaded bolt; and
a differential carrier assembly having a carrier to which the differential is mounted, the carrier having a carrier flange that has a second mating surface;
wherein the first mating surface is sealed to the second mating surface by a seal and the first mating surface, the second mating surface, or the first mating surface and the second mating surface include a groove, wherein the groove has a first end that is adjacent to a first fastener hole and a second end that is adjacent to a second fastener hole, wherein the first fastener hole and second fastener hole are contiguous around a circumference of the axle flange.
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Abstract
An axle assembly and method of reworking an axle assembly. The axle assembly has an axle housing and a differential carrier assembly. A central portion of the axle housing has an opening that is defined by an axle flange that has a first mating surface. The differential carrier assembly has a differential mounted on a carrier. The carrier has a carrier flange that has a second mating surface. The first mating surface is sealed to the second mating surface by seal. At least one of the first and second mating surfaces includes a groove.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An axle assembly comprising:
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an axle housing having a central portion for receiving a differential, the central portion having an opening defined by an axle flange that has a first mating surface, a first axle tube extending from the central portion, and a second axle tube extending from the central portion, wherein the axle flange has a plurality of fastener holes that are spaced circumferentially around the axle flange and are threaded to receive a threaded stud or a threaded bolt; and a differential carrier assembly having a carrier to which the differential is mounted, the carrier having a carrier flange that has a second mating surface; wherein the first mating surface is sealed to the second mating surface by a seal and the first mating surface, the second mating surface, or the first mating surface and the second mating surface include a groove, wherein the groove has a first end that is adjacent to a first fastener hole and a second end that is adjacent to a second fastener hole, wherein the first fastener hole and second fastener hole are contiguous around a circumference of the axle flange. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An axle assembly comprising:
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an axle housing having a central portion for receiving a differential, the central portion having an opening defined by an axle flange that has a first mating surface, a first axle tube extending from the central portion, and a second axle tube extending from the central portion; and a differential carrier assembly having a carrier to which the differential is mounted, the carrier having a carrier flange that has a second mating surface; wherein the first mating surface is sealed to the second mating surface by a seal and the first mating surface, the second mating surface, or the first mating surface and the second mating surface include a groove, wherein the groove is elongate, circumferentially oriented, and extends around less than 30 degrees of the first mating surface, the second mating surface, or the first mating surface and the second mating surface. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of reworking an axle assembly comprising:
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a) providing the axle assembly that includes; an axle housing that has a central portion for receiving a differential, a first axle tube extending from the central portion, and a second axle tube extending from the central portion, wherein the central portion has an opening defined by an axle flange that has a first mating surface, a differential carrier assembly having the differential mounted on a carrier, the carrier having a carrier flange having a second mating surface, wherein the differential carrier assembly is mounted on the axle housing with the first mating surface engaged with the second mating surface; b) removing the differential carrier assembly from the axle housing; c) forming a groove on the first mating surface, the second mating surface, or the first mating surface and the second mating surface, wherein the groove is elongate, circumferentially oriented, and extends around less than 30 degrees of the first mating surface, the second mating surface, or the first mating surface and the second mating surface; d) applying a seal to the first mating surface, the second mating surface, or the first mating surface and the second mating surface; and e) re-mounting the differential carrier assembly on the axle housing. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification