Patent ID: 8297385

Claim:
A dual wheelend for an axle assembly of a vehicle having a rotatable axle shaft, said wheelend comprising: a stationary spindle defining a first rotational axis with said spindle adapted for coupling to the vehicle; an intermediate hub supported on said spindle for rotation about said first rotational axis during rotation of the axle shaft; an inner wheel hub supported on said intermediate hub for rotation about said first rotational axis; an outer wheel hub adjacent to said inner wheel hub and supported on said intermediate hub for rotation about said first rotational axis; and a differential mechanism at least partially mounted to said intermediate hub and interconnecting said inner and outer wheel hubs with said differential mechanism including; an inner side gear mounted to said inner wheel hub, an inner differential bushing disposed between said inner side gear and said intermediate hub, an outer side gear mounted to said outer wheel hub, an outer differential bushing disposed between said outer side gear and said intermediate hub, a pinion defining a second rotational axis transverse to said first rotational axis with said pinion coupled to both of said inner and outer wheel hubs for defining said interconnection between said inner and outer wheel hubs, and a pin disposed through said pinion along said second rotational axis to couple said pinion to said intermediate hub and said pin being directly mounted to said intermediate hub with said pinion rotating about said second rotational axis for driving said inner and outer wheel hubs during rotation of said intermediate hub and permitting relative rotation of said inner and outer wheel hubs relative to said intermediate hub.