Axle assembly having a drive pinion and a bearing preload element
First Claim
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1. An axle assembly comprising:
- a housing;
a drive pinion that is rotatable about an axis with respect to the housing, the drive pinion including;
a gear portion; and
a shaft portion that extends from the gear portion and extends through the gear portion;
a first set of roller bearing elements disposed in the housing that rotatably support the shaft portion, wherein the first set of roller bearing elements are part of a first roller bearing assembly that includes a first outer race that is disposed on the housing and a first inner race that is disposed on the shaft portion;
a second set of roller bearing elements disposed in the housing between the first set of roller bearing elements and the gear portion that rotatably support the shaft portion;
a yoke that is at least partially disposed outside the housing, wherein the yoke receives the shaft portion;
a yoke retainer that couples the yoke to the shaft portion; and
a preload element that exerts a preload force on at least one of the first set of roller bearing elements and the second set of roller bearing elements, wherein the preload element is disposed on the drive pinion in an inboard direction from the yoke, the inboard direction extending along the axis from the yoke toward the gear portion, wherein the shaft portion has a first shaft end surface disposed proximate the yoke retainer, a second shaft end surface disposed opposite the first shaft end surface, and an annular shoulder that extends away from the axis and is axially positioned between the yoke and the first inner race and the annular shoulder transmits the preload force to the first set of roller bearing elements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An axle assembly having a drive pinion that may be rotatably supported by first and second sets of roller bearing elements. A preload element may exert a preload force on at least one of the first and second sets of roller bearing elements. The preload element may be disposed on the drive pinion in an inboard direction from the yoke.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An axle assembly comprising:
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a housing; a drive pinion that is rotatable about an axis with respect to the housing, the drive pinion including; a gear portion; and a shaft portion that extends from the gear portion and extends through the gear portion; a first set of roller bearing elements disposed in the housing that rotatably support the shaft portion, wherein the first set of roller bearing elements are part of a first roller bearing assembly that includes a first outer race that is disposed on the housing and a first inner race that is disposed on the shaft portion; a second set of roller bearing elements disposed in the housing between the first set of roller bearing elements and the gear portion that rotatably support the shaft portion; a yoke that is at least partially disposed outside the housing, wherein the yoke receives the shaft portion; a yoke retainer that couples the yoke to the shaft portion; and a preload element that exerts a preload force on at least one of the first set of roller bearing elements and the second set of roller bearing elements, wherein the preload element is disposed on the drive pinion in an inboard direction from the yoke, the inboard direction extending along the axis from the yoke toward the gear portion, wherein the shaft portion has a first shaft end surface disposed proximate the yoke retainer, a second shaft end surface disposed opposite the first shaft end surface, and an annular shoulder that extends away from the axis and is axially positioned between the yoke and the first inner race and the annular shoulder transmits the preload force to the first set of roller bearing elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An axle assembly comprising:
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a housing; a drive pinion that is rotatable about an axis with respect to the housing, the drive pinion including; a gear portion; and a shaft portion that extends from the gear portion and extends through the gear portion; a first set of roller bearing elements disposed in the housing that rotatably support the shaft portion; a second set of roller bearing elements disposed in the housing between the first set of roller bearing elements and the gear portion that rotatably support the shaft portion; a yoke that is at least partially disposed outside the housing, wherein the yoke receives the shaft portion; a yoke retainer that couples the yoke to the shaft portion; and a preload element that exerts a preload force on at least one of the first set of roller bearing elements and the second set of roller bearing elements, wherein the preload element is disposed on the drive pinion in an inboard direction from the yoke, the inboard direction extending along the axis from the yoke toward the gear portion, wherein the shaft portion has a first shaft end surface disposed proximate the yoke retainer and a second shaft end surface disposed opposite the first shaft end surface and the preload force is provided by axial movement of the shaft portion relative to the gear portion. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification