AXLE ASSEMBLY

• US 20110079978A1
• Filed: 09/17/2010
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Original Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Inventors: Schreiner, Matthew A., Pelko, David J., Roehl, Steven R.
• Application Number:
  US12/885,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20110079978A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/124.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/15 Mounting of subframes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/19 Mounting of transmission differential
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/026 Heavy duty trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/07 Off-road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/20 all arms being rigid
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/026 Slat armour; Nets
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/04 Armour construction in general F41H5/00
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/042 Floors or base plates for increased land mine protection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An axle assembly for an undercarriage of a vehicle includes two side plates, a differential, and a skid plate. The two side plates have surfaces configured to support a vehicle hull. The differential is generally positioned between the two side plates. During operation of the axle assembly, the differential receives torque from a driveshaft and provides the torque to half shafts. The skid plate includes an array of beams extending between the side plates and below the differential. The skid plate is designed to shield the differential and portions of the undercarriage of the vehicle from ground obstacles.

Claims

1. An axle assembly for an undercarriage of a vehicle, comprising:

two side plates having surfaces thereon configured to support a vehicle hull;

a differential generally positioned between the two side plates, the differential receiving torque from a driveshaft and providing the torque to half shafts during operation of the axle assembly; and

a skid plate comprising an array of beams extending between the side plates and below the differential, the skid plate configured to shield the differential and portions of the undercarriage of the vehicle from ground obstacles.

2. The axle assembly of claim 1, wherein the array of beams includes a first set of beams extending generally in a first direction, and wherein ends of at least two beams of the first set of beams are fastened to the side plates.

3. The axle assembly of claim 2, wherein the array of beams further includes a second set of beams that are substantially arcuate.

4. The axle assembly of claim 3, wherein the second set of beams curve around at least a portion of the differential.

5. The axle assembly of claim 4, wherein the second set of beams extend generally along planes that are orthogonal to the first direction.

6. The axle assembly of claim 5, wherein the first set of beams further includes a subset of beams extending between the at least two beams of the second set of beams, the beams of the subset of beams having ends fastened to the at least two beams of the second set of beams.

7. The axle assembly of claim 6, wherein the beams of the first set of beams are substantially straight.

8. A skid plate configured to be fastened to an undercarriage of a vehicle, to shield the undercarriage of the vehicle from ground obstacles, comprising:

a first set of beams extending generally parallel with each other in a first direction;

a second set of beams coupled to the first set of beams; and

at least two flanges coupled to ends of beams of either the first set or the second set of beams, the flanges configured to support fastening of the skid plate to the undercarriage,

wherein the first and second sets of beams define open space therebetween, and

wherein the area defined by the open space exceeds the area covered by the first and second sets of beams when viewed in at least two directions orthogonal the first direction.

9. The skid plate of claim 8, wherein the area defined by the open space is more than twice as great as the area covered by the first and second sets of beams when viewed in at least two directions orthogonal the first direction.

10. The skid plate of claim 9, wherein the at least two flanges are connected to ends of at least one beam of the first set of beams.

11. The skid plate of claim 10, wherein the second set of beams are arcuate.

12. The skid plate of claim 11, wherein ends of the second set of beams are fastened to at least two beams of the first set of beams.

13. The skid plate of claim 12, wherein the second set of beams includes at least two beams having curvature defining planes that are parallel with each other.

14. The skid plate of claim 13, wherein the first direction is generally orthogonal to the parallel plane.

15. A method for shielding the underside of a vehicle from an explosion comprising the steps of:

attaching an axle assembly to an undercarriage of a vehicle;

attaching two side plates having surfaces thereon configured to support a hull of the vehicle;

supporting a differential generally between the two side plates; and

attaching an array of beams between the side plates and below the differential and configuring the beams to direct the energy of an explosion away from the differential and portions of the undercarriage and thereby reduce damage thereto by an explosion.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the beams of the array of beams is arcuate.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a first set of the beams of the array of beams is substantially orthogonal to a second set of the beams of the array of beams.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one arcuate beam is substantially orthogonal to a straight beam that is fastened to each of the side plates.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the beams of the array of beams a tubular.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the array of beams comprises at least four beams, two beams of which are arcuate and intersect another two beams that are straight.