Patent · US Expired

Modified fast fade drive axle housing

US4841802A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
13References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 27, 1986
Grant dateJun 27, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 27, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T74/2188
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A modified fast fade rear axle housing of rectangular cross-section having a shortened neck shape to maximize the torsional strength of the housing in the expanded annular section where the transition zone joins the center differential receiving portion and the beam arms of the axle. Two U sections are welded after being bent to provide parallel legs joined to a web by arcuate corner sections. The axially extending curvature of the corner sections and the web are respectively convexly defined by a first radius R.sub.1 measured from a true origin at the vertical axis of the differential receiving portion where it intersects the longitudinal axis of the axle and a second eccentric radius R.sub.2 measured from a displaced origin and concavely by blending radii R.sub.4 and R.sub.3 which are substantially less than corresponding blending radii in drive axle housings in which the convex curvature is concentric with the true origin. The blending radii and the eccentric radius values result in a shortened taper in the transitional zone which is about half that of a conventional slow fade taper wherein no eccentric radius is used.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.