Tandem axle pinion shaft subassembly
First Claim
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1. A pinion shaft subassembly for a drive axle assembly, comprising:
- a bearing cage disposed about a first axis, said bearing cage defining a mounting flange that extends radially outwardly and is configured to mount to a corresponding mounting flange of a drive axle housing;
bearings disposed within said bearing cage; and
, a pinion shaft supported on said bearings, said pinion shaft having a first axial end extending in a first axial direction and a second axial end extending from said bearing cage in a second axial direction, said pinion shaft configured to support a pinion gear proximate said second axial end;
wherein a first side of said mounting flange of said bearing cage faces in said first axial direction and also faces said corresponding mounting flange of said drive axle housing upon installation of said bearing cage in said drive axle housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pinion shaft subassembly for a tandem drive axle assembly is provided. The preassembled subassembly includes a bearing cage, bearings disposed within the bearing cage, a pinion shaft disposed about an axis and supported on the bearings, and a driven gear disposed about the pinion shaft. The bearing cage defines a mounting flange that extends radially outwardly and is configured to mount to a corresponding mounting flange of a drive axle housing. The flange is configured such that the subassembly is installed in the drive axle housing from the rear of the housing rather than the forward end. As a result, the housing may be made of a unitary construction.
15 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A pinion shaft subassembly for a drive axle assembly, comprising:
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a bearing cage disposed about a first axis, said bearing cage defining a mounting flange that extends radially outwardly and is configured to mount to a corresponding mounting flange of a drive axle housing;
bearings disposed within said bearing cage; and
,a pinion shaft supported on said bearings, said pinion shaft having a first axial end extending in a first axial direction and a second axial end extending from said bearing cage in a second axial direction, said pinion shaft configured to support a pinion gear proximate said second axial end;
wherein a first side of said mounting flange of said bearing cage faces in said first axial direction and also faces said corresponding mounting flange of said drive axle housing upon installation of said bearing cage in said drive axle housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A pinion shaft subassembly for a drive axle assembly, comprising:
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a bearing cage disposed about a first axis, said bearing cage defining a gear-receiving cavity and first and second axially aligned bearing openings disposed on either side of said cavity, said bearing cage further defining a mounting flange that extends radially outwardly and is configured to mount to a corresponding mounting flange of a drive axle housing;
bearings disposed within said first and second bearing openings in said bearing cage; and
,a pinion shaft supported on said bearings, said pinion shaft having a first axial end extending in a first axial direction and a second axial end extending from said bearing cage in a second axial direction, said pinion shaft configured to support a pinion gear proximate said second axial end; and
,a driven gear coupled to said pinion shaft and disposed within said gear-receiving cavity, said driven gear configured to engage an input gear;
wherein a first side of said mounting flange of said bearing cage faces in said first axial direction and also faces said corresponding mounting flange of said drive axle housing upon installation of said bearing cage in said drive axle housing. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A drive axle assembly for a tandem drive axle, comprising:
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a first housing;
a ring gear disposed within said first housing;
a second housing coupled to said first housing;
a pinion gear disposed within said second housing and in engagement with said ring gear;
a pinion shaft subassembly disposed within said second housing, said subassembly including;
a bearing cage disposed about a first axis, said bearing cage defining a mounting flange that extends radially outwardly and is configured to mount to a corresponding mounting flange of said second housing;
bearings disposed within said bearing cage; and
a pinion shaft supported on said bearings, said pinion shaft having a first axial end extending in a first axial direction and a second axial end extending from said bearing cage in a second axial direction, said pinion shaft configured to support said pinion gear proximate said second axial end;
wherein a first side of said mounting flange of said bearing cage faces in said first axial direction and also faces said corresponding mounting flange of said second housing. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification