Axle housing assembly and method

• US 7,377,598 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2005
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American AXLE & Manufacturing Incorporated (American AXLE & Manufacturing Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: American AXLE & Manufacturing Incorporated (American AXLE & Manufacturing Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Swanson, Blair J., Rea, Jeffrey E., Doud, Stephen C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bellinger; Jason R
• Application Number:
  US11/032,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20060152070A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 301/124.1, 301/125, 301/137, 280/124.11, 280/124.156, 280/93.51, 280/93.515, 180378-380
• US Class Current: 301/137
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2310/202 by casting
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2310/228 by machining
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2310/302 by welding
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2310/316 by press-fitting, shrink-fitting
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2310/318 by adhesive bonding, e.g. glueing
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/10 Metallic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/102 Steel
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/147 Castings
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/003 Steerable axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/16 Axle housings
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/31 Straight axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/8201 by welding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49622 Vehicular structural member making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2188 Axle and torque tubes

Abstract

An axle housing assembly includes a cast iron tube having a pocket that is formed proximate a first end of the cast iron tube. The pocket is disposed generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the cast iron tube. The axle housing assembly also includes an insert made of steel connected to the pocket. The steel insert permits the cast iron tube to be coupled to a cast iron carrier housing by welding steel plugs positioned in the carrier housing to the steel inserts.

Claims

1. An axle housing assembly comprising:

a cast iron tube having a pocket that is formed proximate a first end of said cast iron tube, wherein said pocket is disposed generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of said cast iron tube; and

an insert made of steel connected to said pocket such that a top surface of said insert is flush with an exterior surface of said tube.

2. The axle housing assembly of claim 1 wherein said pocket forms an aperture and said insert includes a post, said post disposed in said aperture.

3. The axle housing assembly of claim 1 wherein said pocket includes a pair of walls, said pair of walls each forming a serrated-structure, said insert includes a pair of sides, said pair of sides each forming a complementary serrated-structure to said serrated-structure on said pair of walls, said serrated-structure on said pair of walls connected to said complementary serrated-structure on said pair of sides.

4. The axle housing assembly of claim 1 wherein said pocket includes a pair of walls and a bottom portion having an angle between each of said pair of said walls and said bottom portion, and wherein said angle is one of an acute angle, an obtuse angle, and a right angle.

5. The axle housing assembly of claim 1 further comprising an adhesive between said pocket and said insert.

6. The axle housing assembly of claim 5 wherein said adhesive is an acrylic adhesive.

7. The axle housing assembly of claim 1 further comprising a fastener connecting said insert to said cast iron tube.

8. The axle housing assembly of claim 7 wherein said fastener includes a head and said insert includes a top surface that is about flush with an exterior surface of said tube assembly, and wherein said head of said fastener is disposed beneath said top surface of said insert.

9. The axle housing assembly of claim 1 further comprising a carrier housing at least partially made of cast iron, said carrier assembly having a collar defining an aperture configured to receive said first end of said cast iron tube therein.

10. The axle housing assembly of claim 9 wherein a hole is formed in said collar and a plug formed of steel is disposed in said hole.

11. The axle housing assembly of claim 10 wherein said plug is fixedly connected to said insert.

12. The axle housing assembly of claim 11 wherein said plug is welded to said insert.

13. The axle housing assembly of claim 1 wherein said pocket forms an at least partial annular depression that at least partially encircles said first end of the cast iron tube.

14. The axle housing assembly of claim 13 wherein said insert forms an at least partial annular member disposed in said at least partial annular depression.

15. The axle housing assembly of claim 13 wherein said insert is a complete ring made of steel and said pocket is a complete annular depression, said ring connected to said annular depression.

16. A combination comprising:

a first member made of cast iron, said first member having an exterior surface and a first end;

a pocket formed in said exterior surface of said first end;

a insert made of steel connected to said pocket;

a second member made of cast iron, said second member forming an aperture configured to receive said first end of said first member therein; and

a plug made of steel disposed in said second member proximate said aperture, said plug being fixedly connected to said insert.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein said pocket forms an aperture and said insert includes a post, said post disposed in said aperture.

18. The combination of claim 16 wherein said pocket includes a pair of walls, said pair of walls each forming a serrated-structure, said insert includes a pair of sides, said pair of sides each forming a complementary serrated-structure to said serrated-structure on said pair of walls, said serrated-structure on said pair of walls connected to said complementary serrated-structure on said pair of sides.

19. The combination of claim 16 wherein said pocket includes a pair of walls and a bottom portion having an angle between each of said pair of said walls and said bottom portion, and wherein said angle is one of an acute angle, an obtuse angle, and a right angle.

20. The combination of claim 16 further comprising an adhesive between said pocket and said insert.

21. The combination of claim 20 wherein said adhesive is an acrylic adhesive.

22. The combination of claim 16 further comprising a fastener connecting said insert to said first member.

23. The combination of claim 16 further comprising a top surface of said insert, wherein said top surface of said insert is flush with said exterior surface of said first member proximate said first end.

24. The combination of claim 16 wherein said plug is welded to said insert.

25. The combination of claim 16 wherein said insert is a ring made of steel and said pocket is an annular depression, said ring connected to said annular depression.

26. An axle assembly comprising:

an axle tube made of cast iron, said axle tube having an exterior surface and a first end;

a pocket formed in said exterior surface of said first end;

an insert made of steel positioned within said pocket and coupled to said axle tube;

a carrier housing made of cast iron, said carrier housing having an aperture configured to receive said first end of said axle tube therein; and

a plug made of steel extending through said carrier housing and being fixedly connected to said insert.

27. The axle assembly of claim 26 wherein said pocket includes a recess extending inwardly from an outer cylindrical surface of said axle tube, said pocket extending a distance less than a thickness of said axle tube.

28. The axle assembly of claim 27 wherein said pocket includes a serrated wall and said insert includes a complementary serrated structure.

29. The axle assembly of claim 26 wherein said insert includes a top surface positioned flush with said exterior surface of said axle tube.

30. The axle assembly of claim 26 wherein said plug is welded to said insert.

31. The axle assembly of claim 26 further including a differential gear assembly positioned within said carrier housing.

32. The axle assembly of claim 31 wherein said axle tube is adapted to rotatably support an axle shaft driven by said differential assembly.

33. The axle assembly of claim 26 further including another insert positioned within another pocket formed in said axle tube, said inserts being circumferentially spaced apart from one another.

34. The axle assembly of claim 33 further including another steel plug extending through said carrier housing and being fixed to said another insert.