DRIVE PINION FASTENING ASSEMBLY

• US 20140105680A1
• Filed: 10/15/2013
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC (Dana, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC (Dana, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schnebele, Jens
• Granted Patent: US 9,618,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 403/359.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/16 of differential gearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/182 in tandem arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/364 with tapered rollers, i.e. rollers having essentially the shape of a truncated cone
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/548 in O-arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2226/60 with threaded parts, e.g. bolt and nut connections in general F16B23/00 - F16B43/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2361/61 Toothed gear systems, e.g. support of pinion shafts in general F16H57/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 25/06 Ball or roller bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/063 Fixing them on the shaft with interposition of an element F16C35/07
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/04 with clamping hub; with hub and longitudinal key
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2048/423 characterised by bearing arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/037 Gearboxes for accommodating differential gearings rotating cases for differential gearings F16H48/40
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7033 including a lock or retainer

Abstract

A drive pinion fastening assembly is provided. The drive pinion fastening assembly includes a drive pinion, a pinion sleeve, an external spline, and a pinion fastener. The pinion sleeve is disposed on and engaged with the drive pinion. The external spline is formed on one of the drive pinion and the pinion sleeve for engaging a power transmission component. The pinion fastener is disposed on and engaged with the drive pinion. The pinion fastener militates against axial movement of the pinion sleeve with respect to the drive pinion. The drive pinion fastening assembly is compact, able to handle increased torque loads, and is easy to manufacture.

Claims

1. A drive pinion fastening assembly, comprising:

a drive pinion;

a pinion sleeve disposed on and engaged with the drive pinion;

an external spline formed on one of the drive pinion and the pinion sleeve for engaging a power transmission component; and

a pinion fastener disposed on and engaged with the drive pinion, wherein the pinion fastener militates against axial movement of the pinion sleeve with respect to the drive pinion.

2. The drive pinion fastening assembly according to claim 1, wherein the external spline is formed on the drive pinion.

3. The drive pinion fastening assembly according to claim 2, wherein the pinion fastener includes a thread formed on an inner surface thereof for threadingly engaging the drive pinion.

4. The drive pinion fastening assembly according to claim 2, wherein the drive pinion further includes a threaded portion and the pinion sleeve includes a thread formed thereon for engaging the threaded portion of the drive pinion.

5. The drive pinion fastening assembly according to claim 2, wherein the pinion fastener is engaged with the drive pinion through an interference fit.

6. The drive pinion fastening assembly according to claim 2, wherein the drive pinion further includes a locking spline portion for engaging the pinion fastener.

7. The drive pinion fastening assembly according to claim 6, wherein a diameter of the external spline is less than a diameter of the locking spline portion.

8. The drive pinion fastening assembly according to claim 1, wherein the external spline is formed on the pinion sleeve.

9. The drive pinion fastening assembly according to claim 8, wherein the pinion sleeve further includes a fastening flange which extends radially outwardly from a first end of the pinion sleeve.

10. The drive pinion fastening assembly according to claim 8, wherein the drive pinion further includes a splined portion and the pinion sleeve includes an inner splined portion for engaging the splined portion of the drive pinion.

11. The drive pinion fastening assembly according to claim 10, wherein the drive pinion further includes a thread formed thereon for engaging the thread formed on an inner surface of the pinion fastener.

12. The drive pinion fastening assembly according to claim 11, wherein the pinion sleeve is coupled to the drive pinion with the pinion fastener.

13. The drive pinion fastening assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pinion fastener is disposed within the pinion sleeve.

14. The drive pinion fastening assembly according to claim 13, wherein the pinion fastener is drivingly engaged with the pinion sleeve.

20. The drive pinion fastening assembly according to claim 11, wherein the pinion sleeve is coupled to the drive pinion with the pinion fastener.

15. A drive pinion fastening assembly, comprising:

a drive pinion including a locking spline portion;

a pinion sleeve disposed on and engaged with the drive pinion;

an external spline formed the drive pinion for engaging a power transmission component; and

a pinion fastener disposed on and engaged with the locking spline portion of the drive pinion through an interference fit, wherein the pinion fastener militates against axial movement of the pinion sleeve with respect to the drive pinion.

16. The drive pinion fastening assembly according to claim 15, wherein the drive pinion further includes a threaded portion and the pinion sleeve includes a thread formed thereon for engaging the threaded portion of the drive pinion.

17. The drive pinion fastening assembly according to claim 15, wherein a diameter of the external spline is less than a diameter of the locking spline portion.

18. A drive pinion fastening assembly, comprising:

a drive pinion including a splined portion;

a pinion sleeve including an inner splined portion for engaging the splined portion of the drive pinion, the pinion sleeve disposed on and engaged with the drive pinion;

an external spline formed on the pinion sleeve for engaging a power transmission component; and

a pinion fastener including a thread formed on an inner surface thereof, the pinion fastener disposed on and threadingly engaged with the drive pinion, wherein the pinion fastener militates against axial movement of the pinion sleeve with respect to the drive pinion.

19. The drive pinion fastening assembly according to claim 18, wherein the drive pinion further includes a thread formed thereon for engaging the thread formed on an inner surface of the pinion fastener.