Patent ID: 9421823
Filing Date: 2016-08-23
CPC Classification: B60B

Claim Text:
1. An axle assembly comprising: a housing having a bore and an external surface facing opposite the bore; an axle elongated along a horizontal direction and rotatably received within the bore, wherein the axle is rotatable about an axis and rotatable relative to the housing; a planetary gear assembly having a ring gear mechanically coupled to the bore, a sun gear mechanically coupled to the axle, and at least one planet gear rotatably coupled to the sun gear and rotatably received by the ring gear such that the at least one planet gear rotates about the sun gear and rotates within the ring gear, wherein the planetary gear assembly multiplies torque from the axle to a planet gear carrier rotatably coupled to the at least one planet gear such that the planet gear carrier rotates about the axis; at least one bearing mechanically coupled to the external surface of the housing; a wheel rotatably supported by the at least one bearing such that the wheel rotates about the axis; a rim flange mechanically coupled to the wheel, wherein the rim flange rotates about the axis; and a hub mechanically coupled to the rim flange and rotatable about the axis, wherein the hub defines a load centerline that extends perpendicular to the axis, wherein the load centerline defines a center of the hub along the axis.