Rear portal gear assembly for trailing arms

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12065034-B2
Application number	US-202217752107-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2022
Priority date	May 24, 2021
Publication date	Aug 20, 2024
Grant date	Aug 20, 2024

Abstract

A rear portal trailing arm assembly for a vehicle rear suspension that includes a CV joint hub for coupling with a transaxle and a wheel hub for coupling with a rear wheel. A gear transfer case extends rearward from the CV joint hub to an axle case and functions similarly to a rear trailing arm. Forward mounts facilitate coupling the gear transfer case to the chassis such that the trailing arm assembly pivots vertically with respect to the chassis. A rearward mount facilitates coupling a strut with the gear transfer case to control the vertical motion of the rear wheel. Multiple gear assemblies are meshed within the gear transfer case. An axle is coupled with the meshed gear assemblies and housed within the axle case, such that torque applied to the CV joint hub is communicated to the wheel hub.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rear portal trailing arm assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a CV joint hub for coupling with a transaxle;
a gear transfer case having a proximal end and a distal end, the CV joint hub disposed at the proximal end of the gear transfer case,
an axle case disposed at the distal end of the gear transfer case;
two or more meshed gear assemblies disposed within the gear transfer case;
an axle coupled to a first gear of the two or more meshed gear assemblies, the axle housed within the axle case, wherein the CV joint hub is coupled to a second gear of the two or more meshed gear assemblies;
a wheel hub for coupling with a rear wheel;
a plurality of forward mounts disposed at the proximal end of the gear transfer case, the plurality of forward mounts are integral with the gear transfer case, the plurality of forward mounts configured to couple to a chassis of the vehicle such that the trailing arm assembly pivots vertically with respect to the chassis; and
a rearward strut mount disposed at the distal end of the gear transfer case, wherein the rearward strut mount is configured to couple to a strut of the vehicle to control a vertical motion of the rear wheel.

2. The trailing arm assembly of claim 1 , wherein the trailing arm assembly is configured for use with rear-engine drivetrains wherein a transaxle is positioned forward of the engine.

3. The trailing arm assembly of claim 1 , wherein the axle is mounted within the axle case by way of bearings.

4. The trailing arm assembly of claim 1 , wherein the two or more meshed gear assemblies are configured to communicate torque from the CV joint hub to the wheel hub.

5. The trailing arm assembly of claim 1 , wherein the two or more meshed gear assemblies comprise five gear assemblies incorporated into the gear transfer case such that the CV joint hub and the wheel hub share the same direction of rotation.

6. The trailing arm assembly of claim 1 , wherein the wheel hub comprises a plurality of wheel studs for fastening the rear wheel onto the wheel hub.

7. The trailing arm assembly of claim 1 , wherein the gear transfer case comprises a lubrication fill port configured to facilitate filling the gear transfer case with a lubricant.

8. The trailing arm assembly of claim 7 , wherein a drain plug is incorporated into the gear transfer case to enable periodic replacement of the lubricant.

9. The trailing arm assembly of claim 8 , wherein the axle case comprises a drain plug and a fill port, the fill for filling a lubricant into the axle case, and the drain port for draining the filled lubricant from the axle case.

10. A rear portal trailing arm assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a trailing arm for coupling a rear wheel with a chassis;
an inboard case disposed at an end of the trailing arm;
an outboard case for fastening to the inboard case to enclose an interior cavity;
a pinion gear assembly disposed in the interior cavity and coupled with a drive axle, the pinion gear assembly is longitudinally aligned along a pinion axis; and
an output gear assembly meshed with the pinion gear assembly and coupled with a wheel hub, the output gear assembly is longitudinally aligned along a hub axis, wherein the pinion axis is disposed at an angle relative to the hub axis, wherein the angle ranges from 1-25 degrees.

11. The trailing arm assembly of claim 10 , wherein the pinion gear assembly and the output gear assembly are configured to communicate torque applied to the drive axle to the wheel hub.

12. The trailing arm assembly of claim 10 , wherein the pinion gear assembly is configured to be coupled with an adapter and a protective boot that facilitate coupling an outboard constant velocity joint with the pinion gear assembly.

Assignees

• Gordon Robby

Inventors

• Gordon Robby

Classifications

• B62D17/00

  Means on vehicles for adjusting camber, castor, or toe-in · CPC title

• B60B27/0015

  for driven wheels · CPC title

• F16H2057/02052

  Axle units; Transfer casings for four wheel drive · CPC title

• F16H2057/02056

  for utility vehicles, e.g. tractors or agricultural machines · CPC title

• F16H57/0495

  with fixed gear ratio · CPC title