Vehicle wheel end assembly with wheel adapter

US7204339B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Meritor Heavy Vehicle Technology, LLC · US

Inventors

• Tomaz Dopico Varela · Gahanna, US
• Chihping Kuan · Rochester Hills, US
• John Ma · Rochester, US
• William C. Sullivan · Newark, US
• Edward Eshelman · Rochester Hills, US
• Dean House · Pataskala, US
• John L. Bennett · Fraser, US
• Mark Smith · Troy, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 22, 2002
• Grant date: Apr 17, 2007
• Expiry date: Apr 1, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60K17/043
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A wheel end assembly includes an output shaft that is directly mountable to a wheel adapter to drive a vehicle wheel. A gear assembly is coupled to the output shaft to transfer driving force from an input to the output shaft. The gear assembly includes an output gear that is directly coupled to the output shaft. Thus, the wheel adapter and output gear are both supported directly on the output shaft. The gear assembly and output shaft are substantially enclosed within a housing that is mounted to a non-rotating vehicle component. The output shaft is solely supported by a pair of bearings for rotation relative to the housing. The bearings are installed for direct engagement with the output shaft and housing.