Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090245969 | AXLE SPINDLE NUT ASSEMBLY FOR HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLES - An axle spindle nut assembly secures a wheel end assembly on an axle spindle. The wheel end assembly includes outboard and inboard outboard bearings that are immovably mounted on the axle spindle, and a wheel hub which is rotatably mounting on the bearings. The spindle nut assembly includes a nut that threads onto an outboard end of the axle spindle, and is tightened against the outboard bearing to a selected torque level. The nut includes an outboard surface that is formed with a plurality of features. A washer is formed with a tab that engages a keyway of the axle spindle outboardly of the nut, and with a plurality of mating features that mechanically engage the features formed in the outboard surface of the nut to prevent substantial rotation of the nut after the nut has been tightened to the selected torque level. | 10-01-2009 |
20100301665 | PRECISION AXLE SPINDLE AND WHEEL END ASSEMBLY FOR HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLES - An axle spindle and wheel end assembly includes a precision-formed axle spindle, wheel hub, and axle spindle nut. The axle spindle is formed with parallel inboard and outboard bearing surfaces, a shoulder that is perpendicular to the inboard and outboard bearing surfaces, and threads for a spindle nut that are aligned with the inboard and outboard bearing surfaces. The wheel hub is formed with inboard and outboard bearing surfaces that are in parallel alignment with one another, and bearing axial stop surfaces that are perpendicular to the wheel hub bearing surfaces. The spindle nut is formed with threads on its inner periphery and a flat inboard surface that is perpendicular to the threads. The axle spindle, wheel hub, and spindle nut cooperate to enable an axle spindle nut assembly to consistently provide a light preload on a bearing cone and spacer group of the wheel end assembly. | 12-02-2010 |
20110062772 | BEARING RETAINER FOR HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLE WHEEL END ASSEMBLY - A wheel end assembly for a heavy-duty vehicle includes an inboard bearing that is immovably mounted on an axle spindle, an outboard bearing that is immovably mounted on the axle spindle outboardly of the inboard bearing, and a wheel hub that is rotatably mounted on the bearings. A bearing retainer for the wheel end assembly includes a circumferentially-extending groove that is formed in an inner surface of the wheel hub adjacent an outboard surface of the wheel hub, and a retainer ring that is received in the groove. The retainer ring contacts a radially outward edge of a roller of a cone of the outboard bearing when the roller is at its minimum projected diameter in order to retain the relative position of the outboard bearing cone in the wheel hub during servicing of components of the wheel end assembly. | 03-17-2011 |
20130125369 | PRECISION AXLE SPINDLE AND WHEEL END ASSEMBLY FOR HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLES - An axle spindle and wheel end assembly includes a precision-formed axle spindle, wheel hub, and axle spindle nut. The axle spindle is formed with parallel inboard and outboard bearing surfaces, a shoulder that is perpendicular to the inboard and outboard bearing surfaces, and threads for a spindle nut that are aligned with the inboard and outboard bearing surfaces. The wheel hub is formed with inboard and outboard bearing surfaces that are in parallel alignment with one another, and bearing axial stop surfaces that are perpendicular to the wheel hub bearing surfaces. The spindle nut is formed with threads on its inner periphery and a flat inboard surface that is perpendicular to the threads. The axle spindle, wheel hub, and spindle nut cooperate to enable an axle spindle nut assembly to consistently provide a light preload on a bearing cone and spacer group of the wheel end assembly. | 05-23-2013 |
20130139911 | VEHICLE AXLE VENT SYSTEM - A vent system for an axle of a heavy-duty vehicle includes a check valve and an exhaust tube that is connected to the check valve. The check valve includes a first end that is mounted on the axle, a second end, and a body that is disposed between the first and second ends and is in selective fluid communication with the axle interior. The exhaust tube includes a first end that is mounted on the second end of the check valve, and a second end that is open to atmosphere and is in fluid communication with the check valve body. Using any one of a number of types of configurations for the valve body, the vent system selectively exhausts air from the axle interior to atmosphere to relieve buildups of pressure in the axle, while protecting the integrity of the check valve and preventing contaminants from entering the axle. | 06-06-2013 |
20140175861 | OUTBOARD SEALING SYSTEM FOR A HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLE WHEEL END ASSEMBLY - An outboard sealing system cooperates with components of a heavy-duty vehicle wheel end assembly to retain lubricant in the assembly. The sealing system includes a seal that is disposed axially between an outboard bearing and a hubcap of a wheel end assembly. The seal also extends radially between an axle spindle nut and a surface of a bore formed in the hub of the wheel end assembly. The seal forms a barrier between the outboard bearing and the hubcap to reduce a flow of lubricant from a hub cavity into the hubcap. The sealing system retains lubricant in the wheel end assembly, prevents contaminants from entering the wheel end assembly, and retains the relative position of the outboard bearing in the hub during servicing. The sealing system preferably includes an additional barrier that reduces corrosion at the interface of the hubcap and an outboard face of the hub. | 06-26-2014 |
20140239597 | MAIN SEAL FOR A HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLE WHEEL END ASSEMBLY - A wheel end assembly for a heavy-duty vehicle includes an axle spindle and a hub rotatably mounted on the axle spindle. A main seal extends radially between the axle spindle and the hub. The seal includes a dynamic portion that seats in a bore formed in the wheel hub, and a static portion that seats on the axle spindle. The static portion includes a rigid carrier that in turn includes a first member, and a second member that is rigidly attached to the first member. An elastomer is bonded to the carrier member and forms a first external lip. The first external lip extends generally parallel to a chamfer formed in an inboard end of the hub. The first external lip, other external features, and internal features prevent contaminants from entering the wheel end assembly, retain lubricant in the assembly, and provide a dynamic expulsion surface to expel contaminants. | 08-28-2014 |
20150021128 | DISC BRAKE ROTOR FOR HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLES - The invention is directed to a rotor of a disc brake system for heavy-duty vehicles. The rotor includes an inboard disc and an outboard disc. The outboard disc is spaced apart from the inboard disc, and a plurality of pins extends between and rigidly connects the inboard disc and the outboard disc. A sleeve includes an inboard end and an outboard end, and is disposed inside an inner perimeter of the outboard disc. A connecting member extends between and rigidly connects an inner perimeter of the inboard disc to the inboard end of the sleeve. The inboard disc attachment to the sleeve and the interconnecting pins cooperate to improve the resistance of the rotor to thermal stress created during braking, thereby increasing the performance and the life of the rotor. | 01-22-2015 |