Axle housing assembly and method

• US 8,469,462 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2011
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• 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: Doud, Stephen C., Swanson, Blair J., Rea, Jeffrey E.
• Primary Examiner(s): BELLINGER, JASON R
• Application Number:
  US13/189,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20120019053A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 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 apparatus that includes a first member, an insert, and an object. The first member made of a first metal and has a first exterior surface and a first end. A pocket is formed in the exterior surface of the first end. The insert is made of a second, different metal. The insert is connected to the pocket and has a second exterior surface that is flush with the first exterior surface. The object is formed of the second metal and is resistance welded to the insert. The second metal is steel and the first metal is a metal that cannot be resistance welded directly to steel.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first member made of a first metal, said first member having a first exterior surface and a first end, wherein a pocket is formed in said exterior surface of said first end;

an insert made of a second, different metal connected to said pocket and having a second exterior surface that is flush with the first exterior surface; and

an object formed of the second metal and resistance welded to the insert;

wherein the second metal is steel and wherein the first metal is a metal that cannot be resistance welded directly to steel.

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

3. The apparatus 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 apparatus 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 apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an adhesive between said pocket and said insert.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said adhesive is an acrylic adhesive.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a fastener connecting said insert to said pocket.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said fastener includes a head and said insert includes a top surface that is substantially flush with an exterior surface of said first member, and wherein said head of said fastener is disposed beneath said top surface of said insert.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a top surface of said insert and an exterior surface of said first member, wherein said top surface of said insert is substantially flush with said exterior surface of said first member.