Live spindle hub with inboard bearing retention
First Claim
1. In a vehicle wheel assembly having a live spindle supported by a wheel bearing for rotation relative to a mounting member, the live spindle having inboard and outboard ends and also having a central bore defined therein through which extends an axle driven for rotation, the vehicle wheel assembly also having a hub lock for coupling the axle to the spindle and transferring rotation therebetween, said improvement comprising:
- a bearing retainer adapted to engage the inboard end of the live spindle for rotation therewith, said bearing retainer including portions defining a central aperture through which the axle extends and also including a portion adapted to restrain inboard movement of at least a portion of the wheel bearing relative to the live spindle; and
locking means for preventing disengagement of said bearing retainer from the live spindle, said locking means being associated with the inboard end of the live spindle to interfere with and prevent relative movement between said bearing retainer and said live spindle so that inadvertent disengagement thereof will not occur.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inboard bearing retainer for use in a vehicle wheel assembly having a live spindle. The inboard bearing retainer includes a retaining nut adapted to be engaged to an outer diameter of the inboard end of the live spindle. The nut including a flange which provides inboard retention and restrains inboard movement of the wheel bearing relative to the live spindle. The nut also includes a surface which at least partially defines the bearing seat for the wheel bearing. The retaining nut is engaged by a locking assembly mounted to the spindle'"'"'s inboard end so as to prevent disengagement of the retainer nut from the spindle. In one embodiment, the locking assembly is a one-piece body having a bearing portion, a thrust washer portion and locking tabs which interferingly prevent disengagement of the retainer nut from the live spindle.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. In a vehicle wheel assembly having a live spindle supported by a wheel bearing for rotation relative to a mounting member, the live spindle having inboard and outboard ends and also having a central bore defined therein through which extends an axle driven for rotation, the vehicle wheel assembly also having a hub lock for coupling the axle to the spindle and transferring rotation therebetween, said improvement comprising:
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a bearing retainer adapted to engage the inboard end of the live spindle for rotation therewith, said bearing retainer including portions defining a central aperture through which the axle extends and also including a portion adapted to restrain inboard movement of at least a portion of the wheel bearing relative to the live spindle; and locking means for preventing disengagement of said bearing retainer from the live spindle, said locking means being associated with the inboard end of the live spindle to interfere with and prevent relative movement between said bearing retainer and said live spindle so that inadvertent disengagement thereof will not occur. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, 18)
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11. In a vehicle wheel assembly including a rotating axle, a locking hub, a mounting member and a wheel bearing engaged with the mounting member, said improvement comprising:
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a live spindle including a body having an inboard end and an outboard end, said body being rotatably supported by the wheel bearing in the mounting member, a central bore defined in said body and in which the axle is supported for rotation, said body being connected at said outboard end to the locking hub for coupling to the axle such that said live spindle is driven in rotation by the axle, said body including exterior surfaces generally adjacent to said inboard end defining at least part of a bearing seat for the wheel bearing, said inboard end of said live spindle having portions defining at least one radial slot therein; a bearing retainer adapted to engage an exterior surface of said inboard end for rotation with said live spindle, said bearing retainer including portions defining a central aperture through which the axle extends and providing a radial portion providing inboard bearing retention so as to restrain inboard movement of the wheel bearing relative to said live spindle, said bearing retainer including portions defining at least one radial slot therein adjacent to said inboard end of said live spindle; and a retainer lock engaged with said inboard end of said live spindle adapted to prevent disengagement of said bearing retainer from said live spindle, said retainer lock including an interfering portion configured to be received in said slot of said bearing retainer and to be received in said slot of said inboard end of said live spindle, said interfering portion preventing disengagement of said bearing retainer from said live spindle by interferingly preventing relative movement therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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14. In a vehicle wheel assembly including a rotating axle and a mounting member for mounting the assembly to a vehicle, said improvement comprising:
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a wheel bearing engaged with the mounting member; a live spindle including a body having an inboard end and an outboard end, said body being rotatably supported by said wheel bearing, a central bore defined in said body and supporting the axle for rotation, said body including exterior surfaces generally adjacent to said inboard end defining at least part of an inner bearing race for the wheel bearing, said inboard end of said live spindle having portions defining at least one generally radially directed slot therein; a bearing retainer adapted to engage said inboard end of said live spindle, said baring retainer including a radial shoulder located to provide inboard bearing retention thereby restraining inboard movement of the wheel baring relative to said live spindle, said bearing retainer including a portion defining at least part of an inner race for said wheel bearing, said bearing retainer having a slot defined therein adjacent to said inboard end of said live spindle, said slot being alignable with said slot in said live spindle; and retainer lock means for preventing disengagement of said bearing retainer from said live spindle. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification