AXLE WHEEL END AXIAL THRUST ASSEMBLY

• US 20170232794A1
• Filed: 10/22/2015
• Published: 08/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koyo Bearings North America LLC (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Koyo Bearings North America LLC (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Abrahamson, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 10,183,529 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2310/305 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2310/307 by removably mountable securing elements, e.g. circlips
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2310/316 by press-fitting, shrink-fitting
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2380/16 Needle bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/12 Torque-transmitting axles independent suspension aspects B60G
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/14 composite or split, e.g. half- axles; Couplings between axle parts or sections
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/16 Axle housings
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/18 Arrangement of bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/165 provided between independent half axles B60K17/18, B60K17/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/26 with a single row of rollers
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/30 for axial load mainly
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/44 Needle bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/545 Systems comprising at least one rolling bearing for radial load in combination with at least one rolling bearing for axial load
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2361/31 Axle

Abstract

An axle assembly for a vehicle including a differential assembly, a first axle tube extending outwardly from a first side of the differential assembly and defining an axle bore, a first axle shaft rotatably received in the first axle tube, and defining an annular groove extending radially inwardly from its outer surface, a retainer nut axially fixed to a distal end of the first axle tube, the retainer nut having an annular flange extending inwardly into the axle bore and defining an annular outer raceway, a snap ring received in the annular groove, and an axial thrust component disposed in the axle bore of the first axle tube between the snap ring and the outer raceway of the retainer nut.

Claims

1. An axle assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a differential assembly;

a first axle tube extending outwardly from a first side of the differential assembly, the first axle tube including a proximal end adjacent the differential assembly, an opposite distal end, and an axle bore extending therebetween;

a first axle shaft rotatably received in the first axle tube, the first axle shaft including a proximal end disposed in the differential assembly, an opposite distal end extending outwardly from the distal end of the first axle shaft, and an annular groove extending radially inwardly from its outer surface;

a retainer nut axially fixed to the distal end of the first axle tube, the retainer nut having an annular flange extending inwardly into the axle bore and defining an annular outer raceway;

a snap ring received in the annular groove of the first axle shaft; and

an axial thrust component disposed in the axle bore of the first axle tube between the snap ring and the outer raceway of the retainer nut.

2. The axle assembly of claim 1, further comprising an annular inner raceway disposed in the axle bore of the first axle tube between the snap ring and the thrust component.

3. The axle assembly of claim 1, wherein the thrust component comprises a plurality of needle rollers.

4. The axle assembly of claim 1, further comprising a radial bearing assembly including an outer race and a plurality of roller elements rotatably received therein, the radial bearing assembly being axially fixed within the axle bore of the first axle tube.

5. The axle assembly of claim 4, wherein the thrust component further comprises a cage defining a plurality of roller pockets, each needle roller being rotatably disposed in a corresponding roller pocket.

6. The axle assembly of claim 1, wherein the retainer nut is in threaded engagement with a threaded portion of the axle bore.

7. The axle assembly of claim 1, wherein a flange plate is non-rotatably fixed with respect to the distal end of the axle tube and the retainer nut is in threaded engagement with the threaded portion of the flange plate.

8. The axle assembly of claim 1, wherein a ring insert is disposed adjacent the distal end of the axle bore and is axially fixed with respect to the axle tube, and the retainer nut is in threaded engagement with an inner surface of the ring insert.

9. An axle assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a differential assembly;

a first axle tube extending outwardly from a first side of the differential assembly, the first axle tube including a proximal end adjacent the differential assembly, an opposite distal end, and an axle bore extending therebetween;

a first axle shaft rotatably received in the first axle tube, the first axle shaft including a proximal end disposed in the differential assembly, an opposite distal end extending outwardly from the distal end of the first axle shaft, and an annular groove extending radially inwardly from its outer surface;

a retainer nut axially fixed to the distal end of the first axle tube, the retainer nut having an annular flange extending inwardly into the axle bore;

a thrust cup axially fixed to an inner bore of the retainer nut, the thrust cup defining an annular outer raceway;

a snap ring received in the annular groove of the first axle shaft;

an annular inner raceway disposed in the axle bore of the first axle tube adjacent the snap ring; and

an axial thrust component disposed in the axle bore of the first axle tube between the inner raceway and the outer raceway.

10. The axle assembly of claim 9, further comprising a radial bearing assembly including an outer race and a plurality of roller elements rotatably received therein, the radial bearing assembly being axially fixed within the axle bore of the first axle tube.

11. The axle assembly of claim 9, wherein the axial thrust component comprises a plurality of needle rollers.

12. The axle assembly of claim 9, wherein the retainer nut is in threaded engagement with a threaded portion of the axle bore.

13. The axle assembly of claim 9, wherein a flange plate is non-rotatably fixed with respect to the distal end of the axle tube and the retainer nut is in threaded engagement with the threaded portion of the flange plate.

14. The axle assembly of claim 9, wherein a ring insert is disposed adjacent the distal end of the axle bore and is axially fixed with respect to the axle tube, and the retainer nut is in threaded engagement with an inner surface of the ring insert.