Quick connect/disconnect driveline assembly
First Claim
1. A driveline assembly comprising:
- a first shaft operably coupled to a drive axle, said first shaft having a first mount portion and a second mount portion;
a bearing supporting said shaft for rotation within said drive axle;
a retaining ring mounted on said first mount portion for engagement with said bearing to retain said bearing at a desired location along said first shaft; and
a yoke member mounted on said second mount portion for coupling said first shaft to a second shaft.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A driveline assembly includes a shaft that is rotatably supported on a bearing assembly within a drive axle. The shaft has a first mount portion with a threaded exterior surface and a second mount portion with a splined exterior surface. A retaining ring is threaded onto the first mount portion to engage and retain the bearing assembly at a proper location. A yoke member with a splined inner bored is mounted on the shaft in engagement with the splined exterior surface. The yoke member can easily be connected and disconnected from the shaft without having to remove the retaining ring. The yoke member also includes a quick disconnect device that simplifies removal and re-assembly of the yoke member from the shaft.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A driveline assembly comprising:
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a first shaft operably coupled to a drive axle, said first shaft having a first mount portion and a second mount portion;
a bearing supporting said shaft for rotation within said drive axle;
a retaining ring mounted on said first mount portion for engagement with said bearing to retain said bearing at a desired location along said first shaft; and
a yoke member mounted on said second mount portion for coupling said first shaft to a second shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A driveline assembly comprising:
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a first shaft operably coupled to a drive axle, said first shaft having a first mount portion comprising a threaded exterior surface and a second mount portion comprising a splined exterior surface;
a bearing supporting said shaft for rotation within said drive axle;
a retaining ring having a threaded inner bore for threadably engaging said threaded exterior surface of said first shaft such that said retaining ring engages said bearing to retain said bearing at a desired location along said first shaft; and
a yoke member having a splined inner bore for mating engagement with said splined exterior surface of said first shaft, said yoke member for coupling said first shaft to a second shaft. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for assembling a driveline comprising the steps of:
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(a) supporting a first shaft on a bearing assembly for rotation within a drive axle, (b) installing a retaining ring on a first mount portion formed on the first shaft;
(c) engaging the retaining ring against the bearing assembly to retain the bearing assembly at a desired location along the first shaft; and
(d) mounting a yoke member on a second mount portion formed on the first shaft for coupling the first shaft to a second shaft. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification