Wheelend assembly with detachable outboard joint
First Claim
1. A wheel end assembly comprising:
- a bearing shaft having an inboard end and an outboard end;
a wheel hub mounted onto said outboard end of said bearing shaft;
a detachable outboard joint mounted onto said inboard end of said bearing shaft;
a wheel bearing mounted onto said bearing shaft between said inboard end and said outboard end;
said inboard end of said bearing shaft including a flange portion, said flange portion providing a support to keep said wheel bearing positioned onto said bearing shaft and to induce a pre-load into said wheel bearing such that said pre-load is maintained on said wheel bearing when said outboard joint is removed from said wheel end assembly; and
a support hub positioned between and interconnecting said detachable outboard joint and said bearing shaft, said support hub having a shaft portion engaging said bearing shaft on an inner diameter of said bearing shaft and an engagement portion extending axially from said shaft portion;
wherein,said engagement portion being attached to said outboard joint so as to prevent axial movement between said engagement portion and said outboard joint.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wheel end assembly includes a bearing shaft having an inboard end and an outboard end, a wheel hub mounted onto the outboard end of the bearing shaft, and a detachable outboard joint mounted onto the inboard end of the bearing shaft. A wheel bearing is mounted onto the bearing shaft between the inboard end and the outboard end. The inboard end of the bearing shaft includes a flange portion to support the wheel bearing on the bearing shaft and to induce a pre-load into the wheel bearing such that the pre-load is maintained on the wheel bearing when the outboard joint is removed from the wheel end assembly. A support hub is positioned between and interconnects the detachable outboard joint and the bearing shaft. The support hub has a shaft portion that engages the bearing shaft and an engagement portion extending axially from the shaft portion.
35 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A wheel end assembly comprising:
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a bearing shaft having an inboard end and an outboard end; a wheel hub mounted onto said outboard end of said bearing shaft; a detachable outboard joint mounted onto said inboard end of said bearing shaft; a wheel bearing mounted onto said bearing shaft between said inboard end and said outboard end; said inboard end of said bearing shaft including a flange portion, said flange portion providing a support to keep said wheel bearing positioned onto said bearing shaft and to induce a pre-load into said wheel bearing such that said pre-load is maintained on said wheel bearing when said outboard joint is removed from said wheel end assembly; and a support hub positioned between and interconnecting said detachable outboard joint and said bearing shaft, said support hub having a shaft portion engaging said bearing shaft on an inner diameter of said bearing shaft and an engagement portion extending axially from said shaft portion;
wherein,said engagement portion being attached to said outboard joint so as to prevent axial movement between said engagement portion and said outboard joint. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A wheel end assembly comprising:
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a bearing shaft having an inboard end and an outboard end; a wheel hub mounted onto said outboard end of said bearing shaft; a detachable outboard joint mounted onto said inboard end of said bearing shaft; a wheel bearing mounted onto said bearing shaft between said inboard end and said outboard end; said inboard end of said bearing shaft including a flange portion, said flange portion providing a support to keep said wheel bearing positioned onto said bearing shaft and to induce a pre-load into said wheel bearing such that said pre-load is maintained on said wheel bearing when said outboard joint is removed from said wheel end assembly; and a support hub positioned between and interconnecting said detachable outboard joint and said bearing shaft, said support hub having a shaft portion engaging said bearing shaft and an engagement portion extending axially from said shaft portion; wherein said shaft portion of said support hub includes a threaded inner diameter, said wheel end assembly including a threaded fastener engaging said threaded inner diameter of said support hub to secure said support hub to said bearing shaft.
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Specification