An axle assembly includes a carrier housing defining a receiving bore that receives a hollow axle tube. An axle shaft extends through the axle tube to an outboard end and is fixed to a wheel hub that extends around the axle tube and is rotatable relative thereto. The axle tube is attached within the receiving bore via an interference fit. The receiving bore is defined by an inner ring of a dual ring structure. A plurality of ribs extend radially between the inner ring and the outer ring of the dual ring structure. The dual ring structure has a reduced stress concentration relative to a single ring structure caused by bending loads resulting from upward reaction forces at the wheel end in response to downward chassis loads on the axle tube. The carrier housing and axle tube are different materials and fixed together without the use of welding.
IMPROVED SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR AXLE HOUSING
2025-02-20
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B60B VEHICLE WHEELS , Räder für Fahrzeuge |