초록 ▼

Referring more particularly to FIG. 4, the present invention red ices such shear loading on the bolts, by utilizing a wedge member or a tapered block 106, inserted and wedged into a space 108 between wedge surfaces 70 and 88, and having oppositely facing outer surfaces 110 and 112 thereby placed int

Referring more particularly to FIG. 4, the present invention red ices such shear loading on the bolts, by utilizing a wedge member or a tapered block 106, inserted and wedged into a space 108 between wedge surfaces 70 and 88, and having oppositely facing outer surfaces 110 and 112 thereby placed into abutment with those surfaces, respectively, so as to exert a fore and aft directed force against those surface, denoted by arrows C, effectively acting to push those surfaces apart and counteracting the shear loads B. Such forces will also act in opposition to and reduce tensile loads acting on bolts 100. Tapered block 106 has at least one passage 114 therethrough (FIG. 3) for the passage of bolts 104 therethrough, to allow insertion of those bolts into threaded holes 98 and tightening those bolts to exert compressive forces against tapered block 106, denoted by arrows D, for holding that block in position. This may also be sufficient to apply a tensile load bolts 100, which are preferably at least generally longitudinally aligned therewith as shown. As a result, a force equilibrium condition can be achieved, which can significantly and predictably reduce and control shear forces acting against the bolts or other connectors for connecting axle housing 74 to the side plates 24 of chassis 22.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus for assembling an axle and a vehicle chassis, comprising: a plurality of locating surfaces on the chassis against which mating surfaces on the axle can be urged for positioning the axle in a desired position in relation to the chassis; a plurality of connectors exte

What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus for assembling an axle and a vehicle chassis, comprising: a plurality of locating surfaces on the chassis against which mating surfaces on the axle can be urged for positioning the axle in a desired position in relation to the chassis; a plurality of connectors extending in a predetermined direction for rigidly connecting the axle to the chassis in the desired position; wedge surfaces on the chassis and on the axle, respectively, disposed so as to be in opposing relation at a predetermined acute angle one relative to the other and define a space therebetween when the axle is in the desired position in relation to the chassis; and a tapered block having oppositely facing outer surfaces angularly related at about the predetermined acute angle, the tapered block being positionable in the space between the wedge surfaces and having an extent between the outer surfaces thereof sufficiently large so as to simultaneously contact the wedge surfaces when the tapered block is positioned in the space, and an adjusting member for connecting the tapered block to at least one of the chassis and the axle and adjustable for moving the tapered block to a position for applying forces against the wedge surfaces urging the wedge surfaces apart for reducing at least some of any shear forces acting against the connectors connecting the housing to the chassis and thereby maintaining a rigidly fixed relationship between the chassis and the axle. 2. Apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional connector for fixing the tapered block in the position for applying the forces against the wedge surfaces. 3. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjusting member comprises a threaded fastener threadedly engageable with the tapered block for moving the tapered block to the position for applying the forces against the wedge surfaces. 4. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the acute angle is within a range of from about 1�� to about 30��. 5. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tapered block includes an elongate passage extending therethrough between the outer surfaces thereof and adapted for receiving at least one of the connectors. 6. Apparatus mounting an axle to structural elements of a vehicle chassis, comprising: a plurality of connectors for rigidly connecting the axle to the structural elements, at least one of the connectors extending between at least one of the structural elements and the axle and being positioned and oriented so as to be subjected to a shear force; wedge surfaces on the axle and on at least one of the structural elements, respectively, disposed in opposing relation defining a space therebetween, the wedge surfaces being oriented at an acute angle one relative to the other and facing at least generally in a direction of the shear force; and a tapered block having oppositely facing outer surfaces oriented at about the acute angle one relative to the other, the tapered block being disposed in the space between the wedge surfaces and bearing thereagainst to apply a force against at least one of the structural elements and the axle in a direction for counteracting the shear force and maintaining a rigidly fixed relationship between at least one of the structural elements and the axle. 7. Apparatus of claim 6, wherein the tapered block is held against the wedge surfaces by an adjusting member operable for adjustably moving the tapered block for changing the force applied against the structural element and the axle. 8. Apparatus of claim 6, further including at least one connector for mounting the tapered block in the space bearing against the wedge surfaces for applying the force against the structural element and the axle. 9. Apparatus for mounting an axle housing to a chassis of a vehicle, comprising: pairs of mounting pads each including a pad on the axle housing and a pad on the chassis, positioned so as to be capable of being brought into abutment by tightening of fasteners for rigidly connecting the axle housing to the chassis in a predetermined mounting position in relation to the chassis, at least one of the pairs of mounting pads being oriented to extend in a first direction and at least one of the pairs of mounting pads being oriented to extend in a second direction angularly related to the first direction; fasteners tightenable for rigidly connecting the axle housing to the chassis and for bringing the pairs of mounting pads into abutment, respectively; a pair of wedge surfaces including a wedge surface on the axle housing and a wedge surface on the chassis, the wedge surfaces being positioned so as to extend in the second direction oriented at an acute angle one relative to the other in opposing relation defining a space therebetween when the axle housing is in the predetermined mounting position; a tapered block positionable in the space between the wedge surfaces and adjustably movable in the second direction relative thereto for applying a force thereagainst when the fastener are tightened for reducing any shear force acting against one or more of the tightened fasteners and maintaining a rigidly fixed relationship between the chassis and the axle housing. 10. Apparatus of claim 9 further including an adjusting member for moving the tapered block in the space in contact with the wedge surfaces for varying the force applied thereagainst. 11. Apparatus of claim 9, further including at least one fastener for holding the tapered block in the space in a desired position in contact with the wedge surfaces. 12. Apparatus of claim 9, further including an adjusting member operable by applying a torque thereagainst for moving the tapered block in the space in contact with the wedge surfaces for applying a force against the wedge surfaces corresponding to the applied torque. 13. A method for mounting an axle to a chassis of a vehicle, comprising the steps of: providing pairs of mounting pads each including a pad on the axle and a pad on the chassis, positioned so as to be capable of being brought into abutment by tightening of fasteners for rigidly connecting the axle to the chassis in a predetermined mounting position in relation to the chassis, at least one of the pairs of mounting pads being oriented to extend in a first direction and at least one of the pairs of mounting pads being oriented to extend in a second direction angularly related to the first direction; providing fasteners tightenable for connecting the axle to the chassis and for bringing the pairs of mounting pads into abutment, respectively; providing a pair of wedge surfaces including a wedge surface on the axle and a wedge surface on the chassis, the wedge surfaces being positioned so as to extend in the second direction and being oriented in a acute angle one relative to the other in opposing relation defining a space therebetween when the axle is in the predetermined mounting position; positioning the axle in the predetermined mounting position and tightening the fasteners to bring the pairs of mounting pads into abutment, respectively; and positioning a tapered block in the space between the wedge surfaces and driving the tapered block into the second direction against the wedge surfaces for applying a force thereagainst which is transmitted thereby to the axis and the chassis for reducing any shear force acting against one or more of the tightened fasteners and thereby maintaining a rigidly fixed relationship between the chassis and the axle. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the tapered block is forced against the wedge surfaces by tightening a fastener connecting the tapered block to one of the axle and the chassis.