DRIVE AWAY AXLE ASSEMBLY
First Claim
1. A drive away axle assembly comprising at least an axle shaft having a proximal end seated within an axle housing and a distal terminal flange and a hub having a distal end land and a sidewall, the distal terminal flange of the axle shaft having bores therein which align with threaded bores in the distal end land of the hub, axle shaft/hub connectors engaging through the bores to removably connect the hub to the axle shaft, and an axle shaft retaining bolt extending through the sidewall of the hub for engagement with the axle shaft structures to maintain the axle shaft within the axle housing when the axle shaft/hub connectors are removed, and allowing for independent rotation of the hub about the axle shaft, without imparting any rotation thereto, when such axle shaft/hub connectors are removed.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The drive away axle assembly comprises at least an axle shaft having a proximal end seated within an axle housing and a distal terminal flange and a hub having a distal end land and a sidewall. The distal terminal flange of the axle shaft has bores therein which align with threaded bores in the distal end land of the hub, and axle shaft/hub connectors engage through the bores to removably connect the hub to the axle shaft. Further, an axle shaft retaining bolt extends through the sidewall of the hub for engagement with the axle shaft structures to maintain the axle shaft within the axle housing when the axle shaft/hub connectors are removed. Upon removal of such connectors, the hub rotates freely without imparting rotation to the axle shaft. Still further, an accessory spring may be provided for assisting in disengagement of the axle shaft flange from the hub.
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Citations
9 Claims
- 1. A drive away axle assembly comprising at least an axle shaft having a proximal end seated within an axle housing and a distal terminal flange and a hub having a distal end land and a sidewall, the distal terminal flange of the axle shaft having bores therein which align with threaded bores in the distal end land of the hub, axle shaft/hub connectors engaging through the bores to removably connect the hub to the axle shaft, and an axle shaft retaining bolt extending through the sidewall of the hub for engagement with the axle shaft structures to maintain the axle shaft within the axle housing when the axle shaft/hub connectors are removed, and allowing for independent rotation of the hub about the axle shaft, without imparting any rotation thereto, when such axle shaft/hub connectors are removed.
Specification