IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0530954
(2012-06-22)
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등록번호 |
US-9010876
(2015-04-21)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Stelter, Anthony J.
- Dull, David A.
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
7 |
초록
▼
A spindle assembly includes a main housing, a spindle mounted for rotation within the housing, a wheel hub attached to the spindle, a coupling located adjacent to an inner end of the spindle, and a disconnect shaft located within a bore of the coupling. The disconnect shaft is moveable in an axial d
A spindle assembly includes a main housing, a spindle mounted for rotation within the housing, a wheel hub attached to the spindle, a coupling located adjacent to an inner end of the spindle, and a disconnect shaft located within a bore of the coupling. The disconnect shaft is moveable in an axial direction between an engaged position in which a splined portion of the disconnect shaft mates with splined portions of both the spindle and the coupling to prevent the spindle from rotating independently of the coupling, and a disengaged position that allows the spindle to free-wheel relative to the coupling. A sprocket or gear is connected to an inner end of the coupling to connect the spindle assembly to a drive motor. An actuator is connected to an inner end of the disconnect shaft to move the shaft between its engaged and disengaged positions.
대표청구항
▼
1. A spindle assembly for use in a drive system of a vehicle, comprising: a main housing having an outer side and an inner side;a spindle mounted for rotation within said housing, said spindle having an outer end and an inner end and a first bore extending between said outer and inner ends, said out
1. A spindle assembly for use in a drive system of a vehicle, comprising: a main housing having an outer side and an inner side;a spindle mounted for rotation within said housing, said spindle having an outer end and an inner end and a first bore extending between said outer and inner ends, said outer end protruding from said outer side of said housing, and at least a portion of said first bore having splines;a wheel hub attached to said spindle adjacent to said outer end;a coupling located adjacent to said inner end of said spindle, said coupling having a second bore extending through a center thereof, and at least a portion of said second bore having splines;a disconnect shaft located within said second bore of the coupling, said disconnect shaft having a splined portion and being moveable in an axial direction between an engaged position in which said splined portion of the disconnect shaft mates with the splined portions of both said spindle and said coupling to prevent said spindle from rotating independently of said coupling, and a disengaged position in which said splined portion of the disconnect shaft is disengaged from the splined portion of said spindle to allow said spindle to rotate independently of said coupling; anda disengagement mechanism connected to an axially inner end of the disconnect shaft to move the disconnect shaft between its engaged and disengaged positions. 2. A spindle assembly for use in a drive system of a vehicle, comprising: a main housing having an outer side and an inner side;a spindle mounted for rotation within said housing, said spindle having an outer end and an inner end and a first bore extending between said outer and inner ends, said outer end protruding from said outer side of said housing, and at least a portion of said first bore having splines;a wheel hub attached to said spindle adjacent to said outer end;a coupling located adjacent to said inner end of said spindle, said coupling having a second bore extending through a center thereof, and at least a portion of said second bore having splines; anda disconnect shaft located within said second bore of the coupling, said disconnect shaft having a splined portion and being moveable in an axial direction between an engaged position in which said splined portion of the disconnect shaft mates with the splined portions of both said spindle and said coupling to prevent said spindle from rotating independently of said coupling, and a disengaged position in which said splined portion of the disconnect shaft is disengaged from the splined portion of said spindle to allow said spindle to rotate independently of said coupling;further comprising a subassembly housing connected to said main housing, said coupling being supported for rotation within said subassembly housing by at least one bearing located between said coupling and said subassembly housing. 3. The spindle assembly according to claim 2, wherein said subassembly housing is connected to said inner side of said main housing by a plurality of bolts, and further comprising an o-ring seal sandwiched between said main housing and said subassembly housing. 4. The spindle assembly according to claim 3, wherein said spindle is supported for rotation within said main housing by at least one bearing located between said coupling and said main housing. 5. The spindle assembly according to claim 4, further comprising a first oil seal arranged to create a seal between said outer end of said main housing and an outer surface of said spindle, and a second oil seal arranged to create a seal between an inner end of said subassembly housing and an outer surface of said coupling, wherein a lubricating liquid chamber is provided within said housings between said first and second seals for lubricating said bearings. 6. The spindle assembly according to claim 5, further comprising a sprocket or gear connected to an inner end of said coupling. 7. The spindle assembly according to claim 5, further comprising a spring arranged to bias said disconnect shaft in an axial direction toward said engaged position. 8. The spindle assembly according to claim 5, further comprising a spring arranged to bias said disconnect shaft in an axial direction toward said disengaged position. 9. The spindle assembly according to claim 5, further comprising a spring arranged to bias said disconnect shaft in an axial direction, a retaining ring arranged in a groove within the bore of said coupling to retain the spring, and an oil seal arranged to form a seal between an outer surface of said disconnect shaft and the second bore of said coupling to contain lubricating liquid within said spindle assembly. 10. The spindle assembly according to claim 9, further comprising an automatic disconnect interface assembly connected to an inner end of said disconnect shaft, said disconnect interface assembly comprising a disconnect housing with a mounting plate that provides an interface for connecting the disconnect shaft to a disengagement mechanism, said disconnect housing being rotatably mounted on the inner end of said disconnect shaft to allow said disconnect shaft to rotate while said disconnect housing remains stationary. 11. A modular spindle assembly for use in a drive system of a vehicle, comprising: a main housing having an outer side and an inner side;a spindle mounted for rotation within said housing, said spindle having an outer end and an inner end and a first bore extending between said outer and inner ends, said outer end protruding from said outer side of said housing, and at least a portion of said first bore having splines;a wheel hub attached to said spindle adjacent to said outer end;a first disconnect configuration for use with a first drive motor mounted directly to the housing, said first disconnect configuration comprising a first coupling located adjacent to said inner end of said spindle for engaging with the first drive motor, and a first disconnect shaft having a splined portion and being moveable in an axial direction between a first engaged position in which said splined portion of the first disconnect shaft mates with splined portions of both said spindle and said coupling to prevent said spindle from rotating independently of said coupling, and a first disengaged position in which said splined portion of the disconnect shaft is disengaged from the splined portion of said coupling to allow said spindle to rotate independently of said coupling, said first disconnect shaft being arranged to be pulled outwardly to move from said first engaged position to said first disengaged position; anda second disconnect configuration for use with a second drive motor that is not mounted directly to the housing, said second disconnect configuration comprising a second coupling located adjacent to said inner end of said spindle, a sprocket or gear supported on said second coupling for connecting to said second drive motor, and a second disconnect shaft having a splined portion and being moveable in an axial direction between a second engaged position in which said splined portion of the second disconnect shaft mates with splined portions of both said spindle and said second coupling to prevent said spindle from rotating independently of said second coupling, and a second disengaged position in which said splined portion of the disconnect shaft is disengaged from the splined portion of said spindle to allow said spindle to rotate independently of said second coupling, said second disconnect shaft being moveable inwardly from said second engaged position to said second disengaged position. 12. A spindle assembly for use with a towable self-propelled vehicle, comprising: a main housing;a spindle mounted for rotation within the main housing;a wheel hub attached to the spindle;a coupling adapted to be connected to a source of power for propelling the vehicle;a disconnect shaft located within a bore of the coupling, said disconnect shaft being moveable in an axial direction between an engaged position in which a splined portion of the disconnect shaft mates with splined portions of both the spindle and the coupling to prevent the spindle from rotating independently of the coupling, and a disengaged position that allows the spindle to rotate relative to the coupling; andan actuator connected to an axially inner end of the disconnect shaft to move the disconnect shaft between its engaged and disengaged positions. 13. The spindle assembly according to claim 12, further comprising a sprocket or gear connected to an inner end of the coupling to connect the coupling to a drive motor. 14. The spindle assembly according to claim 12, wherein said actuator comprises a linear actuator connected to the inner end of the disconnect shaft by a structure that allows the disconnect shaft to rotate relative to the actuator. 15. The spindle assembly according to claim 12, wherein said wheel hub is attached to an outer end of the spindle, and said splined portion of the spindle is located at an inner end of the spindle. 16. The spindle assembly according to claim 15, wherein said splined portion of the coupling is located at an outer end of the coupling, and a sprocket or gear is connected to an inner end of the coupling to connect the coupling to a drive motor. 17. The spindle assembly according to claim 16, wherein said disconnect shaft protrudes inwardly from an inner end of the coupling. 18. The spindle assembly according to claim 12, further comprising a spring arranged to bias said disconnect shaft in an axial direction toward said engaged position. 19. The spindle assembly according to claim 12, further comprising a spring arranged to bias said disconnect shaft in an axial direction toward said disengaged position. 20. The spindle assembly according to claim 12, further comprising a subassembly housing connected to said main housing, said coupling being supported for rotation within said subassembly housing by at least one bearing located between said coupling and said subassembly housing, and wherein said spindle is supported for rotation within said main housing by at least one bearing located between said coupling and said main housing.
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