Abstract: Bearings (72, 74) are arranged for a drive unit (10) having an electric motor for providing drive to an electric axle and a wheel assembly of a vehicle. The drive unit includes a pair of bearings and a reduction gear assembly (12) with a first drive gear mounted to and coaxial with the main shaft of the motor, and a first driven gear rotatably coupled to the first drive gear and mounted to and coaxial with an intermediate shaft to form an intermediate shaft assembly. The reduction gear assembly includes a second drive gear mounted to and coaxial with the intermediate shaft, and a second driven gear rotatably coupled with the second drive gear. A first bearing of said pair of bearings is mounted to a bulkhead and to said intermediate shaft assembly between the first driven gear and second drive gear to reduce the distance between the first and second bearings.

Abstract: A coaxial electrified drive axle is provided for a vehicle. The coaxial electrified drive axle has an electric motor connected to a gear box housing containing a stepped planetary gear set operatively coupling a drive shaft of the electric motor to a linkshaft and an output shaft through a differential assembly. The differential assembly is contained within a carrier which also supports the planet gears through planet pins. The carrier is supported by a single carrier support bearing. The drive shaft, the linkshaft, and the output shaft are coaxial and share a common axis of rotation.

Abstract: A parallel axis gearbox is provided for a vehicle. The parallel axis gearbox includes an input shaft having a first axis of rotation and an intermediate shaft having a second axis of rotation parallel to the first axis of rotation. The intermediate shaft includes an intermediate driving gear, an intermediate driven gear, and a longitudinal bore passing through the intermediate shaft. The intermediate driven gear is meshingly engaged with a first driving gear on the input shaft. The input shaft and the intermediate shaft are contained within and supported by a cover fixedly coupled to a housing. A bolt fixedly couples the cover to the housing and passes through the longitudinal bore of the intermediate shaft.

Abstract: Bearings (72, 74) are arranged for a drive unit (10) having an electric motor for providing drive to an electric axle and a wheel assembly of a vehicle. The drive unit includes a pair of bearings and a reduction gear assembly (12) with a first drive gear mounted to and coaxial with the main shaft of the motor, and a first driven gear rotatably coupled to the first drive gear and mounted to and coaxial with an intermediate shaft to form an intermediate shaft assembly. The reduction gear assembly includes a second drive gear mounted to and coaxial with the intermediate shaft, and a second driven gear rotatably coupled with the second drive gear. A first bearing of said pair of bearings is mounted to a bulkhead and to said intermediate shaft assembly between the first driven gear and second drive gear to reduce the distance between the first and second bearings.

Abstract: A rolling bearing is provided that includes an outer ring having a first portion which includes a first raceway and a second portion that includes a second raceway that has a larger diameter than the first raceway. An outer diameter of the first portion of the outer ring is less than an outer diameter of the second portion of the outer ring. The rolling bearing includes an inner ring having a first portion that includes a first raceway and a second portion that includes a second raceway that has a larger diameter than the first raceway. An inner diameter of the first portion of the inner ring is less than an inner diameter of the second portion of the inner ring.

Abstract: A rolling bearing is provided that includes an outer ring having a first portion which includes a first raceway and a second portion that includes a second raceway that has a larger diameter than the first raceway. An outer diameter of the first portion of the outer ring is less than an outer diameter of the second portion of the outer ring. The rolling bearing includes an inner ring having a first portion that includes a first raceway and a second portion that includes a second raceway that has a larger diameter than the first raceway. An inner diameter of the first portion of the inner ring is less than an inner diameter of the second portion of the inner ring.

Abstract: A tandem rolling bearing including a first rolling element subassembly and a second rolling element subassembly is provided. The subassemblies both include a plurality of rolling elements and a cage. The cages each include a ring and a plurality of axial projections having axial free ends. The free ends of the cages in the first and second subassemblies face each other. Rolling element retaining pockets are defined between adjacent pairs of projections in the cages. The projections include pairs of lugs that, together with a partially spherical retaining surface provided between the projections of each of the pockets, contact and retain the rolling elements in the pockets.

Abstract: A tandem rolling bearing including a first rolling element subassembly and a second rolling element subassembly is provided. The subassemblies both include a plurality of rolling elements and a cage. The cages each include a ring and a plurality of axial projections having axial free ends. The free ends of the cages in the first and second subassemblies face each other. Rolling element retaining pockets are defined between adjacent pairs of projections in the cages. The projections include pairs of lugs that, together with a partially spherical retaining surface provided between the projections of each of the pockets, contact and retain the rolling elements in the pockets.

Abstract: A method to ascertain measured friction torque to a bearing and a method to reduce preload variation of a hearing pair or set. Friction torque of a bearing is measured at a known load and speed. The value of the measured friction torque is then printed in a data matrix that is then applied to the bearing that was measured. Prior to assembling the bearings on a shaft system, the data matrix is read. The targeted friction torque is calculated for the shaft system based on the desired assembly preload. The bearing preload is then set and verified by measuring the friction torque of the pair of bearings assembled on the shaft. As a result of the method, bearing friction torque variation is substantially mitigated.