Shortened driveshaft stem
First Claim
1. A wheel assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- an axial direction including an axial outboard direction that is oriented towards an outer side of the motor vehicle along a central axis of a wheel of the wheel assembly and the axial direction further including an axial inboard direction that is oriented towards a longitudinal centerline of the motor vehicle along the central axis of the wheel;
a hub member for mounting the wheel to the motor vehicle, the hub member comprising a central hole and an outboard flange portion;
a driveshaft including a stem portion, the stem portion being configured to insert into the central hole;
a bearing assembly comprising an outboard bearing row and an inboard bearing row, the inboard bearing row being disposed axially inboard of the outboard bearing row;
the outboard bearing row being disposed radially further from a central axis of the hub member than the inboard bearing row;
the outboard bearing row having a first diameter and the inboard bearing row having a second diameter;
wherein the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter;
wherein the bearing assembly includes an inner raceway surface and an outer raceway surface and wherein the inner raceway surface includes a first portion associated with the outboard bearing row and wherein the inner raceway surface includes a second portion associated with the inboard bearing row; and
wherein a contact angle formed with the first portion intersects the central axis of the hub member at a position that is between an inboard face of the outboard flange portion and an axially outboard end of the stem portion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wheel assembly for a motor vehicle, which includes a driveshaft member with a shortened stem portion. The wheel assembly also includes a bearing arrangement with an asymmetric configuration. An outboard bearing row may be disposed radially further from a central axis of a hub member than an inboard bearing row, and may have a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the inboard bearing row. An outboard end of the stem portion may be generally aligned in the axial direction with the outboard bearing row. The stem portion length may approximately correspond to the bearing assembly length. Contact angles of a bearing assembly may be configured to distribute force over the wheel assembly. A fastening member may engage an outboard end of the stem portion and apply force to the hub member at a location inboard of the outboard bearing row.
95 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A wheel assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising:
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an axial direction including an axial outboard direction that is oriented towards an outer side of the motor vehicle along a central axis of a wheel of the wheel assembly and the axial direction further including an axial inboard direction that is oriented towards a longitudinal centerline of the motor vehicle along the central axis of the wheel; a hub member for mounting the wheel to the motor vehicle, the hub member comprising a central hole and an outboard flange portion; a driveshaft including a stem portion, the stem portion being configured to insert into the central hole; a bearing assembly comprising an outboard bearing row and an inboard bearing row, the inboard bearing row being disposed axially inboard of the outboard bearing row; the outboard bearing row being disposed radially further from a central axis of the hub member than the inboard bearing row; the outboard bearing row having a first diameter and the inboard bearing row having a second diameter; wherein the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter; wherein the bearing assembly includes an inner raceway surface and an outer raceway surface and wherein the inner raceway surface includes a first portion associated with the outboard bearing row and wherein the inner raceway surface includes a second portion associated with the inboard bearing row; and wherein a contact angle formed with the first portion intersects the central axis of the hub member at a position that is between an inboard face of the outboard flange portion and an axially outboard end of the stem portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A wheel assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising:
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an axial direction including an axial outboard direction that is oriented towards an outer side of the motor vehicle along a central axis of a wheel of the wheel assembly and the axial direction further including an axial inboard direction that is oriented towards a longitudinal centerline of the motor vehicle along the central axis of the wheel; a hub member for mounting the wheel to the motor vehicle, the hub member comprising a central hole and an outboard flange portion; a driveshaft including a stem portion, the stem portion being configured to insert into the central hole; a bearing assembly comprising an outboard bearing row and an inboard bearing row, the inboard bearing row being disposed axially inboard of the outboard bearing row; the outboard bearing row being disposed radially further from a central axis of the hub member than the inboard bearing row; wherein an outboard end of the stem portion is generally aligned in the axial direction with the outboard bearing row; wherein the bearing assembly includes an inner raceway surface and an outer raceway surface and wherein the inner raceway surface includes a first portion associated with the outboard bearing row and wherein the inner raceway surface includes a second portion associated with the inboard bearing row; and wherein a contact angle formed with the first portion intersects the central axis of the hub member at a position that is between an inboard face of the outboard flange portion of the hub member and the outboard end of the stem portion. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A wheel assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising:
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an axial direction including an axial outboard direction that is oriented towards an outer side of the motor vehicle along a central axis of a wheel of the wheel assembly and the axial direction further including an axial inboard direction that is oriented towards a longitudinal centerline of the motor vehicle along the central axis of the wheel; a hub member for mounting the wheel to the motor vehicle, the hub member comprising a central hole and an outboard flange portion; a driveshaft including a stem portion, the stem portion being configured to insert into the central hole; a bearing assembly comprising an outboard bearing row and an inboard bearing row, the inboard bearing row being disposed axially inboard of the outboard bearing row; the outboard bearing row being disposed radially further from a central axis of the hub member than the inboard bearing row; wherein an outboard end of the stem portion approximately corresponds to an outboard end of the bearing assembly and wherein an inboard end of the stem portion approximately corresponds to an inboard end of the bearing assembly; wherein the bearing assembly includes an inner raceway surface and an outer raceway surface and wherein the inner raceway surface includes a first portion associated with the outboard bearing row and wherein the inner raceway surface includes a second portion associated with the inboard bearing row; and wherein a contact angle formed with the first portion intersects the central axis of the hub member at a position that is between an inboard face of the outboard flange portion and the outboard end of the stem portion. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A wheel assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising:
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an axial direction including an axial outboard direction that is oriented towards an outer side of the motor vehicle along a central axis of a wheel of the wheel assembly and the axial direction further including an axial inboard direction that is oriented towards a longitudinal centerline of the motor vehicle along the central axis of the wheel; a hub member for mounting the wheel to the motor vehicle, the hub member comprising a central hole; the hub member further comprising an outboard flange portion; a driveshaft including a stem portion, the stem portion being configured to insert into the central hole; a bearing assembly comprising an outboard bearing row and an inboard bearing row, the inboard bearing row being disposed axially inboard of the outboard bearing row; the outboard bearing row being disposed radially further from a central axis of the hub member than the inboard bearing row; the bearing assembly including an inner raceway surface and an outer raceway surface and wherein the inner raceway surface includes a first portion associated with the outboard bearing row and wherein the inner raceway surface includes a second portion associated with the inboard bearing row; and wherein a contact angle formed with the first portion intersects the central axis of the hub member at a position that is between an inboard face of the outboard flange portion and an outboard end of the stem portion. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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36. A wheel assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising:
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an axial direction including an axial outboard direction that is oriented towards an outer side of the motor vehicle along a central axis of a wheel of the wheel assembly and the axial direction further including an axial inboard direction that is oriented towards a longitudinal centerline of the motor vehicle along the central axis of the wheel; a hub member for mounting the wheel to the motor vehicle, the hub member comprising a central hole; the hub member further comprising an outboard flange portion; a driveshaft including a stem portion, the stem portion being configured to insert into the central hole; a bearing assembly comprising an outboard bearing row and an inboard bearing row, the inboard bearing row being disposed axially inboard of the outboard bearing row; the outboard bearing row being disposed radially further from a central axis of the hub member than the inboard bearing row; the bearing assembly including an inner raceway surface and an outer raceway surface and wherein the inner raceway surface includes a first portion associated with the outboard bearing row and wherein the inner raceway surface includes a second portion associated with the inboard bearing row; and the first portion being associated with a contact angle; the stem portion comprising an outboard end; and wherein the contact angle intersects the central axis of the hub member at the outboard end of the stem portion and at a position inboard of an inboard face of the outboard flange portion of the hub member. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A wheel assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising:
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an axial direction including an axial outboard direction that is oriented towards an outer side of the motor vehicle along a central axis of a wheel of the wheel assembly and the axial direction further including an axial inboard direction that is oriented towards a longitudinal centerline of the motor vehicle along the central axis of the wheel; a hub member for mounting the wheel to the motor vehicle, the hub member comprising a central hole; the hub member further comprising an outboard flange portion; a driveshaft including a stem portion, the stem portion being configured to insert into the central hole; a bearing assembly comprising an outboard bearing row and an inboard bearing row, the inboard bearing row being disposed axially inboard of the outboard bearing row; the outboard bearing row being disposed radially further from a central axis of the hub member than the inboard bearing row; a fastener configured to engage an outboard end of the stem portion; wherein the fastener applies a force to the hub member at a location inboard of the outboard bearing row; wherein the bearing assembly includes an inner raceway surface and an outer raceway surface and wherein the inner raceway surface includes a first portion associated with the outboard bearing row and wherein the inner raceway surface includes a second portion associated with the inboard bearing row; and wherein a contact angle formed with the first portion intersects the central axis of the hub member at a position that is between an inboard face of the outboard flange portion and the outboard end of the stem portion. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification