Patent ID: 7757795
Filing Date: 2010-07-20
Classification: B60B,B60K,F16D

Abstract:
1. An axle assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising: a stationary spindle defining a central bore and adapted for coupling to the vehicle; a rotatable axle shaft disposed within said bore and terminating at a distal end with said axle shaft defining a rotational axis; a drive gear mounted to said distal end of said axle shaft for rotation with said axle shaft; an intermediate hub supported on said spindle and coupled to said drive gear for rotation about said rotational axis during rotation of said axle shaft; an inner wheel hub supported on said intermediate hub for rotation about said rotational axis; an outer wheel hub adjacent to said inner wheel hub and supported on said intermediate hub for rotation about said rotational axis; a differential mechanism interconnecting said inner wheel hub and said outer wheel hub with said differential mechanism at least partially mounted to said intermediate hub for driving both of said wheel hubs during rotation of said axle shaft and for permitting relative rotation between said wheel hubs relative to said intermediate hub when the vehicle travels in a curved path; a gear reduction system interconnecting said intermediate hub and said drive gear for providing torque multiplication to said wheel hubs when driven by said axle shaft; and a wet disc brake device is coupled between said spindle and said intermediate hub with said wet disc brake device including first and second sets of friction discs adjacent one another in an alternating relationship defining a running clearance therebetween with said first set of friction discs coupled to said spindle and in interlocking and sliding relationship relative to said spindle and said second set of friction discs coupled to said intermediate hub and in interlocking and sliding relationship relative to said intermediate hub for rotating relative to said first set of friction discs in conjunction with said intermediate hub.