Axle assembly for a work vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9227464-B2
Application number	US-201414291182-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 30, 2014
Priority date	May 30, 2014
Publication date	Jan 5, 2016
Grant date	Jan 5, 2016

Abstract

An axle assembly for a work vehicle may generally include a hub, a casing at least partially received within the hub, and a shaft configured to be received within the casing. The hub defines a tapered inner surface and the casing defines a tapered outer surface. The tapered inner surface of the hub defines a first keyway portion defining a first keyway surface, and the tapered outer surface of the casing defines a second keyway portion defining a second keyway surface. The tapered surfaces of the hub and the casing together define a tapered interface and a keyway. The first and second keyway surfaces of the keyway extend in a direction non-parallel to the tapered interface.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. An axle assembly for a work vehicle comprising:
a hub defining a tapered inner surface and a first keyway portion extending radially outwardly from the tapered inner surface, the first keyway portion defining a first keyway surface;
a casing at least partially received within the hub, the casing defining a tapered outer surface and a second keyway portion, the second keyway portion extending radially inwardly from the tapered outer surface and defining a second keyway surface, the tapered outer surface extending parallel to the tapered inner surface and being configured to contact the tapered inner surface such that a tapered interface is defined between the casing and the hub, the first and second keyway portions configured to be circumferentially aligned such that a keyway is defined between the first and second keyway surfaces;
a shaft configured to be received within the casing, the shaft defining a central axis, the tapered interface extending non-parallel to the central axis; and
a key received within the keyway;
wherein the first and second keyway surfaces extend in a direction non-parallel to the tapered interface, and
wherein the shaft and the casing together define a keyway with a key positioned therein.

2. The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second keyway surfaces extend in a direction non-parallel to the central axis.

3. The axle assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first and second keyway surfaces define a first angle greater than zero relative to the central axis, wherein the tapered interface defines a second angle relative to the central axis, wherein the first angle is less than the second angle.

4. The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the key is a parallel key having substantially parallel opposing walls.

5. The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the casing is attached to the hub using a plurality of bolts extending in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis.

6. The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein second keyway portion further defines a first wall and a second wall at opposite longitudinal ends of the second keyway surface.

7. The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tapered outer surface of the casing defines a frustoconical shape.

8. The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shaft is a component of a bar axle of the work vehicle.

9. The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the casing and the hub are attachable to the shaft at various locations along a length of the shaft.

10. The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hub is configured for attachment to a wheel of the work vehicle.

11. A work vehicle comprising:
an engine;
a transmission in mechanical communication with the engine; and
an axle assembly in mechanical communication with the transmission, the axle assembly comprising
a hub defining a tapered inner surface and a first keyway portion extending radially outwardly from the tapered inner surface, the first keyway portion defining a first keyway surface;
a casing at least partially received within the hub, the casing defining a tapered outer surface and a second keyway portion, the second keyway portion extending radially inwardly from the tapered outer surface and defining a second keyway surface, the tapered outer surface extending parallel to the tapered inner surface and configured to contact the tapered inner surface such that a tapered interface is defined between the casing and the hub, the first and second keyway portions configured to be circumferentially aligned such that a keyway is defined between the first and second keyway surfaces;
an axle in mechanical communication with an engine and a transmission of the work vehicle and comprising a shaft, the shaft configured to be received within the casing, the shaft defining a central axis, the tapered interface extending non-parallel to the central axis; and
a key received within the keyway;
wherein the first and second keyway surfaces extend in a direction non-parallel to the tapered interface, and

wherein the shaft and the casing together define a keyway with a key positioned therein.

12. The work vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the first and second keyway surfaces extend in a direction non-parallel to the central axis.

13. The work vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the first and second keyway surfaces define a first angle greater than zero relative to the central axis, wherein the tapered interface defines a second angle relative to the central axis, wherein the first angle is less than the second angle.

14. The work vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the casing is a bushing attached to the hub using a plurality of bolts extending in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis.

15. The work vehicle of claim 11 , wherein second keyway portion further defines a first wall and a second wall at opposite longitudinal ends of the second keyway surface.

16. The work vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the axle is a bar axle.

17. The work vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the hub is attached to a wheel of the work vehicle.

18. The work vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the shaft of the axle is rotatably driven by the engine of the work vehicle.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc
• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Payne Daniel

Classifications

• B62D49/00

  Tractors (of walk type B62D51/04; endless- track features B62D55/00 {; transport specially adapted for underground galleries E21F13/02}) · CPC title

• B60B27/065 Primary

  characterised by the fixation of the hub to the axle · CPC title

• B62D49/0678

  Tractors of variable track width or wheel base (for vehicles in general B60B23/12 and B60B35/10) · CPC title

• B60B2900/711

  High loads, e.g. by reinforcements · CPC title

• B60B27/0021

  characterised by torque transmission means from drive axle · CPC title