Pivotable Portion Of Means Includes Ball Or Socket Element Of Ball-and Socket Type Universal Joint Patents (Class 180/258)
  • Patent number: 11745797
    Abstract: An adjustable front axle includes an axle housing; an axle tube connected to an end of the axle housing; an inner-C-forging disposed on the axle tube at an end away from the axle housing; and a mounting apparatus configured for detachably fixing the inner-C-forging to the axle tube. The inner-C-forging is provided with a first angle adjustment structure, the axle tube is provided with a second angle adjustment structure. The mounting apparatus is disposed on the axle tube, and capable of cooperating with the inner-C-forging to fix the inner-C-forging to the axle tube. The first angle adjustment structure and the second angle adjustment structure have different cooperation positions such that the inner-C-forging has different installation angles relative to the axle tube. A vehicle is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: SHANGHAI LINGHUO TRADING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dehui Du, Jia Fu, Bin Cheng
  • Patent number: 11009078
    Abstract: A driveshaft includes a first end, a second end, and a length extending from the first end to the second end. The driveshaft includes an engagement section at the first end configured to cooperatively engage and transfer torque to a gearbox. The driveshaft also includes a compressible section configured to selectively decrease the length of the driveshaft. The driveshaft being configured to transition between an engaged configuration, wherein the engagement portion is engaged with the gearbox, and a disengaged configuration, wherein the compressible section is compressed, and the engagement portion is disengaged from the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Colton Gilliland, Russell L. Mueller
  • Patent number: 10369841
    Abstract: A wheel hub system is disclosed. The wheel hub system has a hub assembly, a joint component, and a threaded bolt. The hub assembly has a hub having a though-hole, a circumferential groove formed in the through-hole, and a first support surface having a first plurality of teeth. The hub assembly also has a bearing unit positioned on the hub. The joint component is secured to the hub assembly and has a projection positioned in the through-hole and having a threaded bore and a retainer positioned in the circumferential groove. The joint component also has a second support surface having a second plurality of teeth operatively engaging the first plurality of teeth. The retainer positions the hub assembly and the joint component relative to each other during assembly. The threaded bolt is positioned in the threaded bore and secures the hub assembly in the position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Cameron Gibson, Ahmadreza Sedighi
  • Patent number: 10247245
    Abstract: A halfshaft assembly in a vehicle is disclosed. The halfshaft assembly includes a hub and a mating universal joint, such as a constant-velocity joint. The hub has a plurality of hub-teeth arranged annularly about an axis. The constant-velocity joint has a plurality of joint-teeth arranged annularly about the axis and engaged with the hub-teeth. Between each joint-tooth is a joint-root. The top, outermost surface of each tooth facing away from adjacent roots extends at a first angle with respect to the central axis. The root extends at a second angle with respect to the central axis. The angles are different such that the height of the tooth varies along the same tooth along the length of the tooth. Each tooth has involute side surfaces. The joint-teeth form a conical or inverse-conical shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wayne Uhrick, Dennis William Isken, II, Nathan Wieseler, Kevin Brooks, Djamel Bouzit, Benjamin Graves, Mark Weston
  • Patent number: 9931888
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus has a double row rolling bearing detachably united with a constant velocity universal joint. The double row rolling bearing has an outer member, an inner member, and double row rolling elements rollably disposed between the double row raceway surfaces of the outer member and inner member. The constant velocity universal joint has an outer joint member, a shoulder portion, and a shaft portion. A female thread is formed on the shaft portion. End faces of the shoulder portion and the caulked portion are formed with face splines, respectively. The face spline of the caulked portion has a portion where a tooth height of a tooth space of a portion radially outside the pitch circle diameter is set lower than that of other portions of the tooth space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Shinsuke Hirano, Makoto Seki
  • Patent number: 9221299
    Abstract: A rotary ring of a hub unit has an annular first end face on one side in the axial direction, and an outer ring of a joint has an annular second end face on the other side in the axial direction. Outer splines are formed in a radially outer-side region of the first end face and outer splines are formed in a radially outer-side region of the second end face. The outer splines of the first end face and the outer splines of the second end face mesh with each other. Inner splines are formed in a radially inner-side region of the first end face and inner splines are formed in a radially inner-side region of the second end face. The inner splines of the first end face and the inner splines of the second end face mesh with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Harada, Hiroshi Anno
  • Patent number: 9186986
    Abstract: A propulsive apparatus for use in an electric vehicle includes a gear rotatable by a propulsive motor and having first teeth, and a constant velocity joint having an outer member which includes a larger-diameter portion having second teeth on an outer wall surface thereof. The second teeth serve as part of a speed reducer mechanism which is thus interposed between the propulsive motor and the constant velocity joint. When the gear is rotated by the propulsive motor, the propulsive power is transmitted through the speed reducer mechanism to the constant velocity joint for rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Suto, Xingwei Ning, Takahiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8857554
    Abstract: A transaxle assembly is provided which is configured to be mounted to a frame of a vehicle. The transaxle assembly includes a transmission that has two separately attached pivotable knuckle assemblies. Each pivotable knuckle assembly can be independently steered and includes an axle driven by the transmission. Each axle drives a wheel of the vehicle. In another configuration, the two pivotable knuckle assemblies are joined by an integrally formed crossmember.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Scott W. Keller
  • Patent number: 8826542
    Abstract: In summary, the invention relates to a method for forming an end-side toothing arrangement of a roiling bearing, in particular a wheel bearing. The aim is to improve the uniformity of the end-side toothing arrangement and to allow a greater tooth depth. This is achieved by two method steps in that, in a first step before the reshaping of an end piece of a hub, a die is axially arranged on the rolling bearing in a preassembled state and, in a second step during the reshaping of the end piece and the shaping of the end-side toothing arrangement, the die radially delimits a radial recess of the rolling rivet collar as it forms. In addition, the die reduces or prevents radial widening of the inner ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Roland Langer, Peter Niebling, Sebastian Lorenz
  • Patent number: 8660736
    Abstract: A method of navigating an autonomous mobile device to a base station is provided. In the method, when a detector detects a navigating signal sent out by the base station, the mobile device rotates in a first direction until the detector fails to detect the navigating signal, and a first time point is set at this time. Then, the mobile device rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction until the detector fails to detect the navigating signal, and a second time point is set at this time. Afterward, the mobile device rotates in the first direction by a time computed based on the first and second time points to make the detector face the base station, and then, moves toward a direction pointed by the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Agait Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Tien-Chen Chen, Kai-Sheng Lee, Peng-Sheng Chen
  • Patent number: 7360951
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas C. Myers, Paul E. Beshears, Jr., Aaron A. Horne, Sr., James M. Story, Gunnar Ross
  • Patent number: 7021414
    Abstract: A birdcage assembly for a high performance vehicle includes a birdcage having an opening defined by an inner periphery. The birdcage is secured to a rear suspension of the vehicle and is maintained in a substantially vertical position. The opening is intended to receive a vehicle axle therethough. The opening has a bearing located therein, which includes an inner race, an outer race, and a plurality of rollers disposed between the inner race and the outer race. The inner race of the bearing is in communication and rotates with the vehicle rear axle. Further, the bearing is moveable with respect to the birdcage such that as the axle deviates from an orientation parallel to ground, the bearing can move with respect to the birdcage away from a vertical position. The floating aspect of the bearing with respect to the birdcage minimizes side loads on the birdcage are thus prolongs the life of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Inventor: Wayne Campbell
  • Patent number: 6994405
    Abstract: An axle assembly serves as a primary structural member for a motor vehicle and comprises an axle tube having a first end and a second end and with an opening located near the first end and a mounting module formed as a unitary extension of the axle tube. At least one steel insert is positioned near the first end, and the steel insert is adapted to be welded to a differential carrier to secure the axle tube to the differential carrier. The axle assembly may also have an axle tube formed unitary with the differential carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Citation Corporation
    Inventors: Xiao-Ming Li, Michael Wayne Johnston, Vincent Joseph Genise
  • Patent number: 6533060
    Abstract: An all terrain vehicle comprises a frame supported by at least a left wheel and a right wheel. The left wheel and the right wheel being connected to said frame by a left suspension and a right suspension respectively. The independently suspended wheels preferably are drive wheels. The wheels are driven by an engine through a transmission. The transmission is connected to the left wheel by a left half shaft and to the right wheel by a right half shaft. Constant velocity couplings are used to coupling the half shafts to the respective wheels and to the transmission. The constant velocity couplings connecting the two half shafts to the transmission are joined in a single housing. The housing includes a body portion and a gear portion. The two portions can be integrally formed. A left cage and a right cage are mounted within a left axial bore and a right axial bore formed in the body portion. The cages are secured for rotation with the body portion but can move axially within the respective bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Minoru Seto
  • Patent number: 6450585
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel suspension for the driven wheels of a motor vehicle which are each fastened detachably by means of wheel bolts to a contact surface of a brake member which for its part is mounted rotatably by means of at least one roller bearing on a suspension connected in pivotable manner to the frame or structure of the vehicle and is connected to a drive shaft. In order to provide a structurally simple connection which is free of play both in the axial as well as in the radial direction the end of the drive shaft on the wheel side is connected via a shaft section having a polygonal outer contour directly to the brake member. Furthermore the drive shaft adjoining this polygonal shaft section is constructed with a cylindrical shaft section serving as the seat for the roller bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: IPROTEC Maschinen-und Edelstahlprodukte GmbH
    Inventor: Guido Kochsiek
  • Patent number: 6179308
    Abstract: A wheel end assembly for a steerable rear axle of a four wheel steer motor vehicle chassis comprises a constant velocity joint drivingly interconnected with an axle shaft of the steerable rear axle, along a lateral axis defined by the axle shaft, and a wheel assembly for transmitting driving torque therebetween. A yoke has a main body portion with a central, laterally-extending pass-through for the constant velocity joint and is fixedly mounted to the chassis. The yoke has an upper and a lower ball joint arm which laterally extend towards the wheel assembly, where each ball joint arm has a ball joint passage therethrough. A knuckle for transferring steering rotation to the wheel assembly comprises a flat plate body with a central, lateral opening for the constant velocity joint to pass through and splined upper and lower ball joint pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Michael W. Mielauskas, Clarence I. Mitchell, Chandrakant D. Ravani
  • Patent number: 5941335
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wheel end assembly wherein the constant velocity universal joint, the spindle, and the wheel flange are combined into an integral unit that is easy to install and service. The wheel end assembly comprises a steering knuckle including a bore, and a CV joint having an inner race coupled for rotation with an axle shaft. The CV joint includes an integral spindle supported for rotation within the bore of the steering knuckle by removable bearing assemblies. A wheel mounting flange is also formed integrally with the spindle and allows piloting of a non-offset brake rotor thereto. The wheel end assembly is less complex, lighter weight, and less expensive to manufacture. The arrangement also allows easier service and preload adjustment of the bearing assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventor: James A. Krisher
  • Patent number: 5667032
    Abstract: A riding or walk-behind self-propelled lawn mower has pivoted rear axles so that the mower is steerable to a low turning radius as measured off a lateral edge of the mower deck. The rear wheels are supported on a crossbar which is fixed at its middle to the main frame, supports at its ends double universal joints, each of which drives one of the rear wheels, and together with the frame provides spaces into which the rear wheels may pivot during a minimum radius turn. The front wheels may be steerable or free pivoted casters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Inventor: Igor Kamlukin
  • Patent number: 5664847
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a vehicle front-drive axle assembly having a front differential including a housing supporting left hand and right hand one-piece assemblies. Each of the left hand and right hand assemblies extend outwardly from the housing, and include an axle tube having a first end coupled to the housing and a second end having an integral yoke member. The one-piece assemblies further have integral bracket assemblies having outwardly extending mounting portions for mounting of vehicle suspension components and for securing the axle assembly to the vehicle. Each of the left hand and right hand one-piece assemblies are manufactured by suitable casting procedures, providing an assembly which has greater structural integrity than when multiple components are welded together, and which reduces cost and simplifies assembly into the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Dee Bear, Richard Cleveland, Michael R. Fetcho, John T. Graft, Thomas Redding, Timothy Ward
  • Patent number: 5549514
    Abstract: A constant velocity universal ball joint for a wheel hub/universal joint unit has a bearing assembly arranged on the wheel hub and tensioned relative thereto by the outer joint part of the universal joint. The joint has an unfastenable connection between the wheel hub and universal joint includes a bolt/nut assembly. The outer joint part and the inner joint part have longitudinally extending ball tracks which are arranged radially opposite one another. The tracks contain torque-transmitting balls which, in turn, are held in one plane in individual windows of a ball cage positioned between the outer joint part and the inner joint part. Upon articulation of the joint, the balls are moved on to the angle-bisecting plane with the outer joint part, at one end, closed by a base part and the inner joint part connected to a shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Lohr & Bromkamp GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Heinrich Welschof
  • Patent number: 5197786
    Abstract: A rigid cambered drive axle has a straight rigid housing for the two drive axles and a cambered spindle, integral with the end of the housing, for supporting a wheel hub. A drive in each inside of the housing turns a cambered drive plate through a direction changing ball joint. The drive axle and the cambered spindle each have an axis that intersects the other at the direction changing drive ball joint. The axle housing is provided with internal bearing seats concentric with the drive ball joint. The axle housing is provided with internal bearing seats concentric with the drive axle and with the external bearing seats concentric with the wheel hub. The spindle supports the wheel hub at a degree of camber equal to the angle formed by the intersection of the central axes of the spindle and the drive axle, whereby the degree of camber of the wheel hub is kept constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: National Racing Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Rodney Eschenburg
  • Patent number: 4858998
    Abstract: A wheel supporting assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising a wheel carrier member (1) with means for attachment to at least one suspension component, and a unit of hub member (16), universal joint member (21), and bearing with outer race (15) integral with or received in a bearing housing (3), secured to the wheel carrier member. The wheel carrier member affords a formation (2) open and undercut-free in a direction transversely of the rotational axis of the hub member, so that the hub member-bearing unit can be fitted radially to the wheel carrier member. The bearing housing of the unit is then held to the wheel carrier member by at least two fixing elements, particularly bolts, spaced from one another by a distance greater than an outer diameter of the bearing, which distance is preferably less than the size of a flange on the hub member to which a wheel is to be attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Lohr & Bromkamp GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Heinrich Welschof, Rudolf Beier
  • Patent number: 4784441
    Abstract: In a wheel assembly for a vehicle wheel, a supportive sleeve is provided mounted in rotatably fixed engagement with a hub of the wheel assembly with one side of a protective boot for the universal joint being attached thereto. The supportive sleeve is constructed as a shaped sheet metal part shaped which, during installation, is permanently plastically deformed in press-fitted engagement with a groove in the hub of the wheel assembly and is formed with a radially extending annular region which is pressed into abutting engagement with an inner bearing ring of the wheel bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: Lohr & Bromkamp GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Heinrich Welschof, Rudolf Beier
  • Patent number: 4545458
    Abstract: A drive mechanism for the steering wheels of a vehicle. The drive mechanism includes a housing adapted to be mounted on the frame of the vehicle and a differential gear in the housing adapted to be operatively connected to the drive shaft of the vehicle. A pair of half shafts are provided in the housing which are operatively connected to the differential gear and extend outwardly from the differential gear in opposite directions generally perpendicular to the vehicle drive shaft with at least the inner portions thereof having a common axis. A pair of stub shafts are provided in the housing which are operatively connected to the half shafts and extend outwardly beyond the ends of the half shafts remote from the differential gear generally parallel to and laterally spaced from the outer portions of the half shafts. The drive mechanism also includes a mechanism for accommodating the relative pivotal movement between the stub shafts and at least a portion of the half shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Assignee: Trac 4 Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Jones
  • Patent number: 4529254
    Abstract: An assembly for mounting a wheel on a vehicle including a bearing assembly and a universal joint wherein the outer bearing ring of the bearing assembly is affixed to the wheel carrier and wherein the hub of the wheel, the inner bearing ring of the bearing assembly and the outer joint member of the universal joint are formed as a single unitary part. Grooves formed in the inner and outer joint members have torque transmitting balls engaged therebetween and the grooves extend so as to be undercut-free beginning at one end thereof facing the wheel hub. In accordance with the invention, the grooves of the inner joint member and of the outer joint member are arranged in such a way that the connecting line extends between the center of the radius of curvature and that of the balls with the connecting line together with the axis of rotation of the inner joint member enclosing an angle .omega.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1985
    Assignee: Uni-Cardan Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Werner Krude
  • Patent number: 4493388
    Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly wherein the wheel is driven through a universal joint is arranged with the outer joint member of the universal joint in positive driving engagement with the inner bearing ring of the wheel bearing which is connected to drive the wheel hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1985
    Assignee: Lohr & Bromkamp GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Heinrich Welschof, Rudolf Beier
  • Patent number: 4482025
    Abstract: A steered and driven axle-end assembly has a steering knuckle whose inside and outside halves are pivotal about an upright pivot axis. An axle extends into the inside knuckle half and is connected to the inner side of a universal joint whose outer side is connected to one end of a gear train whose other end is connected to a wheel support which is rotatable about a horizontal wheel axis on the outside knuckle half. A pair of roller bearings centered on the wheel axis are spaced axially apart therealong by a spacing which is equal to at most half of the axial distance through which the outside knuckle half extends into the wheel support. Thus the outside knuckle half and associated structure can pivot through a considerable angle relative to the inside knuckle half for minimum turning radius of a vehicle embodying the axle-end assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1984
    Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Friedrich Ehrlinger, Peter Dziuba, Dieter Maurer, Manfred Goeft
  • Patent number: 4460058
    Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly driven by a universal joint is arranged to consist of two individual finish-assembled units having its components joined together so as to be easily disconnected and removable. The universal joint is formed with an outer joint member having an end face which is arranged with gear teeth engaging complementary gear teeth formed on the inner bearing ring of the wheel bearing assembly for torque transmission purposes whereby a construction having a shorter axial length may be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1984
    Assignee: Lohr & Bromkamp GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Heinrich Welschof, Rudolf Beier
  • Patent number: 4437536
    Abstract: A support assembly for a motor vehicle wheel having an outer ring provided with a flange for fixing to a suspension strut for the wheel, an inner ring with a fixing flange for the wheel, and rolling elements which roll between the two rings, in which the inner ring is mounted on a shaft and is provided with oppositely directed conical surfaces cooperating with a conical surface formed on a shoulder of the shaft coaxially with respect to a cylindrical surface formed on the shaft itself and with a conical surface of a ring fitted over the cylindrical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1984
    Assignee: RIV-SKF Officine
    Inventors: Franco Colanzi, Vittorio Donn
  • Patent number: 4421197
    Abstract: A device for supporting a steering and driving wheel of an automobile vehicle comprises a hollow hub constituting the outer element of a ball joint of which the inner element is fixed on a drive shaft, a seal element made of sheet metal being provided at the open end of the hub, opposite the joint. A brake disc having a central opening is fixed on the hub on the same side as the wheel. The seal element is in the form of a bowl whose closed end is fitted in the hollow hub and whose length is such that the other end, of outer diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the opening in the brake disc, opens outside the hollow hub and passes through the disc, centering same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1983
    Assignees: S.A. Automobiles Citroen, Automobiles Peugeot
    Inventor: Andre Chandioux
  • Patent number: 4418785
    Abstract: A steered and driven axle-end assembly has a steering knuckle whose inside and outside halves are pivotal about an upright pivot axis. An axle extends into the inside knuckle half and is connected to the inner side of a universal joint whose outer side is connected to one end of a gear train whose other end is connected to a wheel support which is rotatable about a horizontal wheel axis on the outside knuckle half. A pair of roller bearings centered on the wheel axis are spaced axially apart therealong by a spacing which is equal to at most half of the axial distance through which the outside knuckle half extends into the wheel support. Thus the outside knuckle half and associated structure can pivot through a considerable angle relative to the inside knuckle half for minimum turning radius of a vehicle embodying the axle-end assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1983
    Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Friedrich Ehrlinger, Peter Dziuba, Dieter Maurer, Manfred Goeft
  • Patent number: 4359128
    Abstract: In a bearing arrangement of a wheel hub driven by a constant velocity universal joint, a vehicle wheel is bolted to the wheel hub. The outer joint member of the universal joint at its outer end has a double frusto-conical surface diverging first outwardly and then inwardly in the inward direction of the wheel. A complementary frusto-conical surface is provided on an inner bearing ring fixed to the wheel hub and bears against the inner part of the double frusto-conical surface. Another complementary frusto-conical surface is provided on an intermediate flange of a brake disc positioned between the wheel hub and vehicle wheel. This frusto-conical surface bears against the outer part of the double frusto-conical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1982
    Assignee: Uni-Cardan Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Werner Krude
  • Patent number: 4352528
    Abstract: A device for mounting a vehicle wheel having a hub on a support has a roller bearing comprising two rows of rolling elements and an inner unit defining raceways for the rolling elements and defining at least one end face provided with frontal radiating splines, this unit consisting of a single ring which is axially clamped between two faces, of which one face is associated with the support and the other face pertains to the wheel hub splines being provided on the face of the hub which fit and engage these splines on the single ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1982
    Assignee: Glaenzer Spicer
    Inventor: Pierre L. Guimbretiere
  • Patent number: 4275799
    Abstract: The assembly comprises a hub and a homokinetic joint comprising a first tripod element connected to the hub and defining three trunnions on which are mounted three part-spherical rollers and a second element connected to a transmission shaft and defining three raceways in which the rollers carried by the tripod element are received. The hub defines a cavity in which is received at least partly this tripod element which constitutes a distinct part and is connected to the wall of this cavity by an auxiliary homokinetic coupling. The latter is capable of operating at a given angle which is added to the normal pivoting or break angle of the joint and consequently increases the maximum break angle of the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1981
    Assignee: Spicer Glaenzer
    Inventor: Pierre L. Guimbretiere