Axle housing assembly and method

• US 7,984,552 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2008
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• 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): Taousakis; Alexander P
• Application Number:
  US12/150,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20080196233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 294/28, 295/250.1, 295/251.3, 295/251.4, 295/251.5, 746/07, 180/378, 180/379, 228/185, 228/265, 301/124.1, 301/125, 301/137, 411/393, 411/406
• US Class Current: 29/897.2
• 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

A method of forming a joint includes providing a first member made of cast iron having an exterior surface and a first end. A pocket is formed in the exterior surface of the first end. An insert made of steel is connected to the pocket. A second member made of cast iron is provided with an aperture. The method includes positioning the first end of the first member within the aperture and positioning a plug made of steel in the second member proximate the aperture. The plug is fixedly connected to the insert.

Claims

1. A method of forming a joint, the method comprising:

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

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

connecting an insert made of steel to said pocket;

providing a second member made of cast iron with an aperture;

positioning said first end of said first member within said aperture;

positioning a plug made of steel in said second member proximate said aperture; and

fixedly connecting said plug to said insert.

2. The method of claim 1 further including forming a through bore in said second member and aligning said insert with said through bore.

3. The method of claim 2 further including positioning said plug in said through bore.

4. The method of claim 1 further including aligning a top surface of said insert with said exterior surface.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein connecting said plug to said insert includes welding.

6. The method of claim 1 further including forming a serrated-structure on a pair of walls of said pockets, forming a complementary serrated-structure on said insert to said serrated-structure on said pair of walls, and connecting said serrated-structure on said pair of walls to said complementary serrated-structure on said insert.

7. The method 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.

8. The method of claim 1 further including applying an adhesive between said pocket and said insert.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said adhesive is an acrylic adhesive.

10. The method of claim 1 further including connecting said insert to said first member with a fastener.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said insert is a ring and said pocket is an annular depression, said ring being connected to said annular depression.

12. A method of forming an axle assembly, the method comprising:

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

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

positioning an insert made of steel within said pocket;

coupling said insert to said axle tube;

providing a carrier housing made of cast iron having an aperture;

positioning said first end of said axle tube within said aperture;

extending a plug made of steel through said carrier housing; and

fixedly connecting said plug to said insert.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said pocket includes a recess extending inwardly from said exterior surface of said axle tube, said pocket extending a distance less than a thickness of said axle tube.

14. The method of claim 12 further including engaging a serrated wall of said pocket with a complementary serrated-structure of said insert.

15. The method of claim 12 further including positioning a top surface of said insert flush with said exterior surface of said axle tube.

16. The method of claim 12 further including welding said plug to said insert.

17. The method of claim 12 further including positioning a differential gear assembly within said carrier housing.

18. The method of claim 17 further including rotatably supporting an axle shaft driven by said differential assembly within said axle tube.

19. The method of claim 12 further including positioning another insert within another pocket formed in said axle tube, said inserts being circumferentially spaced apart from one another.

20. The method of claim 19 further including extending another steel plug through said carrier housing and fixing said another plug to said another insert.

21. A method of forming an axle housing assembly, the method comprising:

providing a cast iron tube with a first end;

forming a pocket proximate said first end of said cast iron tube;

coupling an insert made of steel to said cast iron tube, said insert being received in said pocket and a top surface of said insert being flush with an exterior surface of said tube;

providing a carrier housing at least partially made of cast iron, the carrier housing having a collar with an aperture; and

positioning said first end of said cast iron tube within said aperture.

22. The method of claim 21 further including fixedly connecting said plug to said insert.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said plug is welded to said insert.

24. A method of forming an axle housing assembly, the method comprising:

forming a pocket in a cast iron tube, the pocket having a radially inner end wall that does not intersect an inside diametrical surface of the cast iron tube; and

coupling a steel insert to the cast iron tube, the steel insert being received in the pocket;

wherein a radially outer surface of the steel insert is flush with a radially outer surface of the cast iron tube.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the pocket comprises a plurality of first side walls, wherein the steel insert comprises a plurality of second side walls and wherein at least a portion of one of the first side walls extends inwardly toward the steel insert to overlie at least a portion of one of the second side walls on a radially outer side of the at least the portion of the one of the second side walls to thereby resist removal of the steel insert from the pocket in a direction that is radially outwardly from the cast iron tube.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein a plurality of peaks and valleys are formed on the one of second side walls, the plurality of peaks and valleys being meshingly engaged to mating valleys and mating teeth, respectively, formed on the one of the first side walls.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least the portion of the one of the first side walls extends over the at least the portion of the one of the second side walls in a circumferential direction along the cast iron tube.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the steel insert at least partly forms the pocket as the cast iron tube is cast.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the steel insert comprises a locking member into which molten cast iron material flows when the cast iron tube is cast, wherein solidification of the cast iron material received into the locking member inhibits withdrawal of the steel insert from the cast iron tube.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the locking member comprises at least one inwardly extending surface on at least one side wall of the steel insert, the at least one inwardly extending surface extending in a circumferential direction along the cast iron tube, in an axial direction along the cast iron tube, or in both the circumferential direction and the axial direction.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein an aperture is formed in the pocket and wherein the steel insert comprises a post that is received in the aperture.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein the steel insert is bonded to the cast iron tube.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein an adhesive is employed to bond the steel insert to the cast iron tube.

34. The method of claim 24, wherein coupling the steel insert to the cast iron tube comprises securing a fastener to the cast iron tube.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the fastener is thereadably engaged to the cast iron tube.