Abstract: A drilling assembly for downhole to surface communications is provided. The drilling assembly includes a series of pipe segments coupled in fluid communication between a slip ring assembly and an end pipe portion. The slip ring assembly is coupled in data and fluid communication with the pipe segments. A surface communications link is in data communication with the drilling assembly via the slip ring assembly. An end pipe portion is coupled with the drilling assembly that includes an electronics assembly with electronic components for transferring data to the slip ring assembly via the drilling assembly. A drill bit is operably coupled with the end pipe portion for drilling a borehole. Each pipe segment includes an outer conductor portion, a hollow inner conductor portion, and a dielectric portion for electrical isolation between the outer conductor portion and the inner conductor portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing noise from occurring due to cavitation in a power steering pump during low temperature start-up includes the addition of a multi-passage orifice element for adding wetted surface resistance to high viscous fluid flow downstream from a single passage outlet orifice element of a fluid flow control device and upstream of an associated steering gear or steering assist valve.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing noise from occurring due to cavitation in a power steering pump during low temperature start-up includes the addition of a multi-passage orifice element for adding wetted surface resistance to high viscous fluid flow downstream from a single passage outlet orifice element of a fluid flow control device and upstream of an associated steering gear or steering assist valve.

Abstract: The present invention involves a detachable half shaft assembly of a vehicle wheel end and has a shaft bell and a disc rotor. The detachable half shaft comprises a preloaded bearing assembly and a detachable body receiving the preloaded bearing assembly. The preloaded bearing assembly has an inner surface formed through inboard and outboard ends thereof. The detachable body has an inboard interface at an inboard end and an outboard interface at an outboard end. The inboard interface is configured for connecting to the shaft bell and the outboard is configured or connecting to the disc rotor. The detachable body has a bearing receiving portion defined by the stepped boss and a roll formed base. The bearing receiving portion radially receives the inner surface of the preloaded bearing assembly.

Abstract: The present invention involves an integrated wheel end assembly for a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle. The integrated wheel end assembly comprises a rotor portion and a hub portion connected to the rotor portion. The rotor portion has a braking surface and an inside surface defining a center bore formed therethrough. The hub portion is disposed in the center bore circumferentially connected to the rotor portion and has inboard and outboard sides. The hub portion has a plurality of extensions radially extending therefrom to radially connect the rotor portion about the hub portion. The hub portion has an inner joint wall formed therethrough having a contour to define a joint bore for torque transfer about an axis. The hub portion has a collar extending from the inner joint wall at the inboard side. The collar has inner and outer sides. The outer side has an inboard inner raceway to house bearings. The inner side defines a receiving bore for rotation about the axis.

Abstract: A knuckle-supported wheelend assembly includes a shaft having a contoured peripheral surface portion proximate to an outboard end featuring a minimum radius and a maximum radius, and a hub mounted on the shaft's contoured surface portion via a complementary, contoured central bore. The nontapered contoured hub-shaft interface includes a slight twist or jog to reduce backlash and to permit a relative shortening of the length of axial hub-shaft engagement to as little as about 45% of the maximum radius, thereby advantageously reducing scrub radius for a given wheel-tire combination. By eliminating any required taper of the contoured interface, the hub's inboard face firmly abuts the machined face of the inner race of a knuckle-mounted, shaft-supporting bearing assembly to achieve reduced assembly runout. The hub's wheel-mounting face and integral annular friction surfaces are each machined with reference to the inboard hub face to ensure a high degree of parallelism.

Abstract: A knuckle-supported wheelend assembly includes a shaft having a contoured peripheral surface portion proximate to an outboard end featuring a minimum radius and a maximum radius, and a hub mounted on the shaft's contoured surface portion via a complementary, contoured central bore. The nontapered contoured hub-shaft interface includes a slight twist or jog to reduce backlash and to permit a relative shortening of the length of axial hub-shaft engagement to as little as about 45% of the maximum radius, thereby advantageously reducing scrub radius for a given wheel-tire combination. By eliminating any required taper of the contoured interface, the hub's inboard face firmly abuts the machined face of the inner race of a knuckle-mounted, shaft-supporting bearing assembly to achieve reduced assembly runout. The hub's wheel-mounting face and integral annular friction surfaces are each machined with reference to the inboard hub face to ensure a high degree of parallelism.

Abstract: A method of making a wheel end to be installed on a vehicle includes assembling a rotor and components with bearing surfaces to define an assembled module configured to be mounted to the vehicle, and preloading the bearing surfaces of the assembled module in a set amount as required for mounting the assembled module to the vehicle. The method further includes mounting the assembled module on a holding fixture and rotating the assembled module on the holding fixture. The method further includes, while rotating the preloaded assembled module, machining the face of the hub flange prior to affixing a rotor to the flange, and then machining a final cut on the rotor once the rotor is affixed to the flange. After machining, the assembled module remains preloaded with the set amount of preload as the assembled module is installed on the vehicle, thereby providing reduced lateral runout.

Abstract: A method of making a wheel end to be installed on a vehicle includes assembling a rotor and components with bearing surfaces to define an assembled module configured to be mounted to the vehicle, and preloading the bearing surfaces of the assembled module in a set amount as required for mounting the assembled module to the vehicle. The method further includes mounting the assembled module on a holding fixture and rotating the assembled module on the holding fixture. The method further includes, while rotating the preloaded assembled module machining the face of the hub flange prior to affixing a rotor to the flange, and then machining a final cut on the rotor once the rotor is affixed to the flange. After machining, the assembled module remains preloaded with the set amount of preload as the assembled module is installed on the vehicle, thereby providing reduced lateral runout.

Abstract: The present invention involves an integrated wheel end assembly for a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle. The integrated wheel end assembly comprises a rotor portion and a hub portion connected to the rotor portion. The rotor portion has a braking surface and an inside surface defining a center bore formed therethrough. The hub portion is disposed in the center bore circumferentially connected to the rotor portion and has inboard and outboard sides. The hub portion has a plurality of extensions radially extending therefrom to radially connect the rotor portion about the hub portion. The hub portion has an inner joint wall formed therethrough having a contour to define a joint bore for torque transfer about an axis. The hub portion has a collar extending from the inner joint wall at the inboard side. The collar has inner and outer sides. The outer side has an inboard inner raceway to house bearings. The inner side defines a receiving bore for rotation about the axis.

Abstract: The present invention involves a wheel end and a method of making a wheel end to be installed on a vehicle for reduced lateral runout. The method includes assembling a rotor and components with bearing surfaces to define an assembled module configured to be mounted to the vehicle and preloading the bearing surfaces of the assembled module. The method further includes mounting the assembled module on a holding fixture and rotating the assembled module on the holding fixture. The method further comprises machining a final cut on the rotor to a rotor width while rotating, after assembling and preloading the assembled module to define the wheel end of the vehicle. After machining, the wheel end remains assembled and preloaded when the assembled module is installed on the vehicle for reduced lateral runout.

Abstract: The present invention involves a wheel end and a method of making the wheel end of a vehicle for reduced lateral runout. The method includes assembling a hub and components with bearing surfaces to define an assembled module configured to be mounted to the vehicle. The method further comprises preloading the bearing surfaces of the assembled module and mounting the assembled module on a holding fixture. The method further comprises rotating the assembled module on the holding fixture. Furthermore, the method includes machining a final cut on an open face of the hub on inner and outer portions of the face to a flange depth, while rotating, after assembling and preloading the assembled module to define the wheel end of the vehicle. After machining the final cut, the wheel end remains assembled and preloaded to be installed on a vehicle for reduced lateral runout.