Pinion nut retainer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9321310-B2
Application number	US-201314135949-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2013
Priority date	Dec 20, 2013
Publication date	Apr 26, 2016
Grant date	Apr 26, 2016

Abstract

An axle assembly is provided and includes an axle component, a pinion nut, and a retainer. The axle component has a recess that defines a wall portion. The pinion nut is received within the recess. The retainer is received within the recess and is disposed between the pinion nut and the wall portion. The retainer is movable between a compressed state and a first expanded state, whereby the compressed state permits movement of the retainer relative to the pinion nut and the first expanded state engages the pinion nut and the wall portion to restrict movement of the retainer relative to the pinion nut and the wall portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An axle assembly comprising:
an axle component having a recess defining a wall portion;
a pinion shaft disposed within the recess;
a pinion nut received within said recess and threadably engaged to said pinion shaft to couple said axle component to said pinion shaft; and
a retainer received within said recess and disposed between said pinion nut and said wall portion, said retainer movable between a compressed state permitting movement of said retainer relative to said pinion nut and a first expanded state engaging said pinion nut and said wall portion to restrict movement of said retainer relative to said pinion nut and said wall portion.

2. The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein said retainer is movable from said first expanded state to a second expanded state to further engage said wall portion.

3. The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein said retainer includes a substantially C-shape having a gap formed between a first end of a first arm and a second end of a second arm, said first arm and said second arm moving away from one another to widen said gap when said retainer is moved from said compressed state to said first expanded state.

4. The axle assembly of claim 3 , wherein said retainer includes a fastener located along at least one of said first arm and said second arm, said fastener operable to move said retainer from said first expanded state to a second expanded state when driven into said at least one of said first arm and said second arm, to further engage said wall portion.

5. The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein said retainer includes a cam surface operable to radially expand said retainer when said cam surface receives a rotational force from said pinion nut.

6. The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein said retainer includes a plurality of outer projections, said outer projections engaging said wall portion when in said first expanded state.

7. The axle assembly of claim 6 , wherein said outer projections are configured to cause local deformation of said wall portion to restrict movement of said retainer relative to said wall portion when in said first expanded state.

8. A retainer for a pinion nut of an axle assembly having a flange and a pinion shaft threadably engaged to the pinion nut, the retainer comprising:
a substantially annular body having a gap formed between a first end of a first arm and a second end of a second arm, said body surrounding the pinion nut and moveable between a compressed state permitting rotation of said body relative to the pinion nut and a first expanded state restricting rotation of said body relative to the pinion nut and the flange; and
an actuation mechanism associated with at least one of said first arm and said second arm and operable to move said body between said compressed state and said first expanded state by causing movement of said first end relative to said second end.

9. The retainer of claim 8 , wherein said actuation mechanism includes a first orifice located along said first arm and a second orifice located along said second arm, said first and second orifices configured to accept a tool to move said retainer between said compressed state and said first expanded state.

10. The retainer of claim 8 , wherein said actuation mechanism includes a fastener located along at least one of said first arm and said second arm, said fastener operable to move said retainer from said first expanded state to a second expanded state when driven into said at least one of said first arm and said second arm.

11. The retainer of claim 10 , further comprising outer projections located along an outer periphery of said annular body, wherein said outer projections cause local deformation of the flange when said retainer is moved from said first expanded state to said second expanded state.

12. The retainer of claim 8 , further comprising a cam surface located along an inner periphery of said annular body, said cam surface operable to engage the pinion nut and radially expand said retainer when said cam surface receives a rotational force from said pinion nut.

13. The retainer of claim 8 , further comprising outer projections located along an outer periphery of said annular body, said outer projections engaging the flange when in said first expanded state.

14. The retainer of claim 13 , wherein said outer projections are configured to cause local deformation of the flange when said retainer is moved from said compressed state to one of said first expanded state and said second expanded state to restrict movement of said retainer relative to the flange.

15. A method comprising:
applying a force to a retainer to move said retainer from a first expanded state to a compressed state;
inserting said retainer into a recess formed between an axle component and a pinion nut;
rotating said retainer relative to said pinion nut until said retainer contacts an outer surface of said pinion nut;
removing said force to cause said retainer to move from said compressed state to said first expanded state; and
engaging said pinion nut and said axle component upon movement into said first expanded state to restrict rotation of said pinion nut relative to said axle component.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising moving said retainer into a second expanded state to further engage said axle component.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein said moving said retainer into said second expanded state includes causing local deformation of said axle component.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein said moving said retainer into said second expanded state includes driving a fastener into said retainer.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein said rotating said retainer relative to said pinion nut includes rotating said retainer until an inner cam surface of said retainer contacts said outer surface of said pinion nut.

Assignees

• Malik Rashid
• Bardecki Richard F
• Fca Us Llc

Inventors

• Malik Rashid
• Bardecki Richard F

Classifications

• B60B27/065 Primary

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

• F16B35/005

  Set screws; Locking means therefor · CPC title

• F16B39/10

  by a plate, {spring, wire} or ring immovable with regard to the bolt or object {and mainly perpendicular to the axis of the bolt}(F16B39/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60B35/12 Primary

  Torque-transmitting axles (independent suspension aspects B60G) · CPC title

• B60B35/122

  using gearings · CPC title