US3862667A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Drop center drive steer axle
Assignee: Eaton Corp
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Filing: 1972-09-28
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Granted: 1975-01-28
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Expires: 1992-09-28
Abstract
Abstract A drop center drive steer axle adapted to drive and allow pivotal movement of wheels journaled on the outboard ends of the axle. The axle includes a load supporting rigid housing extending transversely of the vehicle and spindle housings pivotally connected to the outboard ends of the rigid housing. The rigid housing has substantially tubular left and right end sections disposed parallel to and substantially coaxial to an axis joining the rotational centers of the wheels and a substantially tubular center section interposed between the end sections and dropped with respect to the wheel axis. The outboard ends of the center section and the respective inboard ends of the end sections are bolted together to define left and right gear reduction housings. The rigid housing contains a high speed differential in the center section driven at its input by a substantially 1:1 ratio right angle drive and drivingly connected at its output to left and right universal joints, disposed adjacent the outboard ends of the rigid housing, via helical speed reduction gears in the gear reduction housings. Left and right wheel drive shafts, adapted to drive the wheels and journaled in the left and right spindle housings, respectively, are driven by the respective universal joints.
Inventors
- 👤 John Wolansky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:28
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K17/00; B60K17/30; B60K17/04; B60K17/043
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
291 words
A load bearing drive axle of the type adapted to journal steerable road wheel assemblies on its outboard ends, said axle comprising: A. a rigid axle housing including 1. a pair of end section housings disposed about a substantially common axis, 2. a dropped center section housing substantially parallel to said common axis and defining a differential housing disposed below said common axis, and 3. a pair of gear housing sections rigidly connecting said dropped center section housing with said end section housings; B. a spindle housing pivotally secured to each of said end section housings and spaced from the respective gear housing section by the length of said end section housing, said spindle housings adapted to rotatably support said road wheel assemblies and be pivoted in unison to steer said raod wheel assemblies; C. a drive shaft positioned in each spindle housing and adapted to be secured at its outboard end to the respective road wheel assembly; D. a drive shaft journaled in each of said end section housings; E. drive means pivotally interconnecting the outboard end of each end section housing drive shaft and the inboard end of each spindle housing drive shaft; F. two drive shafts journaled in said center section housing; G. a gear set in each gear housing section and having first and second meshed gears drivingly connecting the outboard end of the respective center section housing drive shaft with the inboard end of the respective end section housing drive shaft; and H. a differential gear assembly mounted in said differential housing and having a pair of output gears secured to the inboard end of the respective center section housing drive shafts and an input gear means adapted to be drivingly coupled to an input shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
291 words
A load bearing drive axle of the type adapted to journal steerable road wheel assemblies on its outboard ends, said axle comprising: A. a rigid axle housing including 1. a pair of end section housings disposed about a substantially common axis, 2. a dropped center section housing substantially parallel to said common axis and defining a differential housing disposed below said common axis, and 3. a pair of gear housing sections rigidly connecting said dropped center section housing with said end section housings; B. a spindle housing pivotally secured to each of said end section housings and spaced from the respective gear housing section by the length of said end section housing, said spindle housings adapted to rotatably support said road wheel assemblies and be pivoted in unison to steer said raod wheel assemblies; C. a drive shaft positioned in each spindle housing and adapted to be secured at its outboard end to the respective road wheel assembly; D. a drive shaft journaled in each of said end section housings; E. drive means pivotally interconnecting the outboard end of each end section housing drive shaft and the inboard end of each spindle housing drive shaft; F. two drive shafts journaled in said center section housing; G. a gear set in each gear housing section and having first and second meshed gears drivingly connecting the outboard end of the respective center section housing drive shaft with the inboard end of the respective end section housing drive shaft; and H. a differential gear assembly mounted in said differential housing and having a pair of output gears secured to the inboard end of the respective center section housing drive shafts and an input gear means adapted to be drivingly coupled to an input shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
a dropped center section housing substantially parallel to said common axis and defining a differential housing disposed below said common axis, and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
a dropped center section housing substantially parallel to said common axis and defining a differential housing disposed below said common axis, and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
a ring gear having a radius less than the combined radius of said first and second gears and adapted to be coupled to an input shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
a ring gear having a radius less than the combined radius of said first and second gears and adapted to be coupled to an input shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
a dropped center section housing substantially parallel to said common axis, and
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
a dropped center section housing substantially parallel to said common axis, and
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A load bearing drive axle of the type adapted to journal steerable road wheel assemblies on its outboard ends, said axle comprising: A. a rigid axle housing including
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A load bearing drive axle of the type adapted to journal steerable road wheel assemblies on its outboard ends, said axle comprising: A. a rigid axle housing including
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
a spindle housing pivotally secured to each of said end section housings and spaced from the respective gear housing by the length of said end section housing, said spindle housings adapted to rotatably support said road wheel assemblies,
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
a spindle housing pivotally secured to each of said end section housings and spaced from the respective gear housing by the length of said end section housing, said spindle housings adapted to rotatably support said road wheel assemblies,
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
87 words
An improved drive train for a four wheel drive vehicle of the type including a body, a frame supporting said body, a prime mover, rear road wheel assemblies, and steerable front road wheel assemblies; said drive train including a load bearing rear axle adapted to support the rear of said frame and also adapted to journal said rear wheel assemblies on its outboard ends, said rear axle having drive means for driving said rear wheel assemblies, the improvement comprising; A. a load bearing front steer axle including
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
87 words
An improved drive train for a four wheel drive vehicle of the type including a body, a frame supporting said body, a prime mover, rear road wheel assemblies, and steerable front road wheel assemblies; said drive train including a load bearing rear axle adapted to support the rear of said frame and also adapted to journal said rear wheel assemblies on its outboard ends, said rear axle having drive means for driving said rear wheel assemblies, the improvement comprising; A. a load bearing front steer axle including
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
a differential gear assembly positioned in said differential housing and having a pair of output gears, and an input gear means, disposed below said common axis,
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
a differential gear assembly positioned in said differential housing and having a pair of output gears, and an input gear means, disposed below said common axis,
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
226 words
a pair of gear housing sections rigidly connecting said dropped center section housing with said end section housings; B. a spindle housing pivotally secured to each of said end section housings and spaced from the respective gear housing section by the length of said end section housing, said spindle housings adapted to rotatably support said road wheel assemblies and be pivoted in unison to steer said raod wheel assemblies; C. a drive shaft positioned in each spindle housing and adapted to be secured at its outboard end to the respective road wheel assembly; D. a drive shaft journaled in each of said end section housings; E. drive means pivotally interconnecting the outboard end of each end section housing drive shaft and the inboard end of each spindle housing drive shaft; F. two drive shafts journaled in said center section housing; G. a gear set in each gear housing section and having first and second meshed gears drivingly connecting the outboard end of the respective center section housing drive shaft with the inboard end of the respective end section housing drive shaft; and H. a differential gear assembly mounted in said differential housing and having a pair of output gears secured to the inboard end of the respective center section housing drive shafts and an input gear means adapted to be drivingly coupled to an input shaft.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
226 words
a pair of gear housing sections rigidly connecting said dropped center section housing with said end section housings; B. a spindle housing pivotally secured to each of said end section housings and spaced from the respective gear housing section by the length of said end section housing, said spindle housings adapted to rotatably support said road wheel assemblies and be pivoted in unison to steer said raod wheel assemblies; C. a drive shaft positioned in each spindle housing and adapted to be secured at its outboard end to the respective road wheel assembly; D. a drive shaft journaled in each of said end section housings; E. drive means pivotally interconnecting the outboard end of each end section housing drive shaft and the inboard end of each spindle housing drive shaft; F. two drive shafts journaled in said center section housing; G. a gear set in each gear housing section and having first and second meshed gears drivingly connecting the outboard end of the respective center section housing drive shaft with the inboard end of the respective end section housing drive shaft; and H. a differential gear assembly mounted in said differential housing and having a pair of output gears secured to the inboard end of the respective center section housing drive shafts and an input gear means adapted to be drivingly coupled to an input shaft.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
192 words
a pair of gear housing sections rigidly connecting said center section housing with said end section housing; B. a spindle housing pivotally secured to each of said end section housings and spaced from the respective gear housing by the length of said end section housing, said spindle housings adapted to rotatably support said road wheel assemblies and be pivoted in unison to steer said road wheel assemblies; C. a drive shaft positioned in each spindle housing and adapted to be secured at its outboard end to the respective wheel assembly; D. a drive shaft journaled in each of said end section housings; E. drive means pivotally interconnecting the outboard end of each end section housing drive shaft and the inboard end of each spindle housing drive shaft; F. two drive shafts journaled in said center section housing; G. a gear set in each gear housing section and having first and second meshed gears drivingly connecting the outboard end of the respective center section housing drive shaft with the inboard end of the respective end section housing drive shaft; H. a side gear differential assembly mounTed in said center section housing and including
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
192 words
a pair of gear housing sections rigidly connecting said center section housing with said end section housing; B. a spindle housing pivotally secured to each of said end section housings and spaced from the respective gear housing by the length of said end section housing, said spindle housings adapted to rotatably support said road wheel assemblies and be pivoted in unison to steer said road wheel assemblies; C. a drive shaft positioned in each spindle housing and adapted to be secured at its outboard end to the respective wheel assembly; D. a drive shaft journaled in each of said end section housings; E. drive means pivotally interconnecting the outboard end of each end section housing drive shaft and the inboard end of each spindle housing drive shaft; F. two drive shafts journaled in said center section housing; G. a gear set in each gear housing section and having first and second meshed gears drivingly connecting the outboard end of the respective center section housing drive shaft with the inboard end of the respective end section housing drive shaft; H. a side gear differential assembly mounTed in said center section housing and including
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
a gear set in each of said gear housing sections and having first and second meshed gears,
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
a gear set in each of said gear housing sections and having first and second meshed gears,
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
two drive shafts journaled in said dropped center section housing and each drivingly connecting one of said output gears with a respective one of said first gears,
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
two drive shafts journaled in said dropped center section housing and each drivingly connecting one of said output gears with a respective one of said first gears,
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
a drive shaft journaled in each of said end section housings and drivingly connected at its inboard end to the respective second gear,
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
a drive shaft journaled in each of said end section housings and drivingly connected at its inboard end to the respective second gear,
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
a drive shaft journaled in each spindle housing and adapted to be drivingly connected to the respective wheel assembly, and
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
a drive shaft journaled in each spindle housing and adapted to be drivingly connected to the respective wheel assembly, and
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
98 words
drive means pivotally interconnecting the outboard end of each end section housing drive shaft and the inboard end of each spindle housing drive shaft; B. a drive transfer gear assembly including an input gear connected to said prime mover, a first output drive shaft connected to said rear axle drive means, and a second output drive shaft disposed below a horizontal plane defined by the rotational centers of said front and rear wheel assemblies; and C. a propeller shaft disposed below said horizontal plane and drivingly connecting said second output drive shaft with said differential input gear means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
98 words
drive means pivotally interconnecting the outboard end of each end section housing drive shaft and the inboard end of each spindle housing drive shaft; B. a drive transfer gear assembly including an input gear connected to said prime mover, a first output drive shaft connected to said rear axle drive means, and a second output drive shaft disposed below a horizontal plane defined by the rotational centers of said front and rear wheel assemblies; and C. a propeller shaft disposed below said horizontal plane and drivingly connecting said second output drive shaft with said differential input gear means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-27 | 1978-07-29 | 1979-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-27 | 1982-07-29 | 1983-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-27 | 1986-07-29 | 1987-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |