Steered and driven axle-end assembly

US4482025A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen AG · DE

Inventors

• Friedrich Ehrlinger
• Peter Dziuba · Helmstedt, DE
• Dieter Maurer · Pfullingen, DE
• Manfred Goeft · Friedrichshafen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 14, 1983
• Grant date: Nov 13, 1984
• Expiry date: Jul 14, 2003

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60K17/30
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A steered and driven axle-end assembly has a steering knuckle whose inside and outside halves are pivotal about an upright pivot axis. An axle extends into the inside knuckle half and is connected to the inner side of a universal joint whose outer side is connected to one end of a gear train whose other end is connected to a wheel support which is rotatable about a horizontal wheel axis on the outside knuckle half. A pair of roller bearings centered on the wheel axis are spaced axially apart therealong by a spacing which is equal to at most half of the axial distance through which the outside knuckle half extends into the wheel support. Thus the outside knuckle half and associated structure can pivot through a considerable angle relative to the inside knuckle half for minimum turning radius of a vehicle embodying the axle-end assembly.