CN-121989589-A - Integrated washer oil slinger with crevice corrosion resistant feature for drive line components of a vehicle

CN121989589ACN 121989589 ACN121989589 ACN 121989589ACN-121989589-A

Abstract

A drive line component for a vehicle includes a half shaft including a housing having an axially outward facing surface, a hub assembly including a wheel bearing having an axially inward facing surface, and a ring extending around the housing. The ring includes a radially inwardly projecting flange portion disposed between an axially outwardly facing surface of the axle housing and an axially inwardly facing surface of the wheel bearing, a radially outwardly projecting flange portion, and a transition region extending between the radially inwardly projecting flange portion and the radially outwardly projecting flange portion. The transition region includes a first portion extending axially inward from a radially inwardly projecting flange portion, a second portion extending at an angle toward the radially outwardly projecting flange portion, and a third portion including a transition between the first portion and the second portion. The transition has a sharp edge.

Inventors

VALOVICK BRIAN MICHAEL
P.J. Fekkini
A Alcantara
A. C. Bavid
F. CLEMENS

Assignees

通用汽车环球科技运作有限责任公司

Dates

Publication Date: 20260508
Application Date: 20241230
Priority Date: 20241101

Claims (10)

1. A drive line component for a vehicle, comprising: a half shaft comprising a housing having an axially outwardly facing surface; A hub assembly including a wheel bearing having an axially inwardly facing surface, and The axle housing includes a shell, a ring extending around the axle housing, the ring including a radially inwardly projecting flange portion disposed between an axially outwardly facing surface of the axle housing and an axially inwardly facing surface of the wheel bearing, a radially outwardly projecting flange portion, and a transition region extending between the radially inwardly projecting flange portion and the radially outwardly projecting flange portion, the transition region including a first portion extending axially inwardly from the radially inwardly projecting flange portion, a second portion extending at an angle toward the radially outwardly projecting flange portion, and a third portion including a transition between the first portion of the transition region and the second portion of the transition region, the transition having a sharp edge.
2. The drive line component of claim 1, wherein the sharp edge forms a substantially 90 ° angle.
3. The drive line component of claim 1, wherein the housing of the axle half includes a surface extending axially between an axially outwardly facing surface and a radially outwardly projecting portion, the transition being disposed closer to the axially outwardly facing surface than to the radially outwardly projecting portion.
4. A drive line component as in claim 3 wherein the transition reduces moisture retention between the ring and the housing of the axle shaft.
5. The drive line component of claim 4, wherein the surface includes a first thickness portion at an axially outward facing surface of the housing and a second thickness portion adjacent the radially outward protruding portion, the second thickness portion having a thickness less than the first thickness portion, the transition reducing moisture accumulation on the surface adjacent the second thickness portion.
6. The drive line component of claim 1, wherein the ring is formed of an elastomeric material.
7. The drive line component of claim 1, wherein the housing of the axle shaft includes an outer diameter and the ring includes an opening having an inner diameter less than the outer diameter to facilitate a press fit between the ring and the housing of the axle shaft.
8. The drive line component of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the transition region extends at an acute angle between the sharp edge and the radially outwardly projecting flange portion.
9. The driveline component of claim 1, further comprising a fastener configured to secure the wheel bearing to the axle shaft, the fastener torqued to a first selected torque value, a second torque value less than the first selected torque value.
10. The drive line component of claim 1, wherein the hub assembly includes an opening surrounded by a recess, the opening configured to receive the shell of the axle shaft and the recess configured to receive the radially outwardly projecting flange portion of the ring.

Description

Integrated washer oil slinger with crevice corrosion resistant feature for drive line components of a vehicle Technical Field The present disclosure relates to the field of vehicles, and more particularly, to a half-shaft assembly for a drive line component of a vehicle having an integrated washer that includes crevice corrosion resistant features. Background The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure. The transmission unit serves as an interface between the vehicle motor and the drive train. Typically, the transmission unit itself will house an electric motor connected to a gear train. The gear train may be controlled to produce various gear ratios that control the speed of the vehicle. The transmission unit is connected to the first wheel by a first axle and to the second wheel by a second axle. Each half shaft cooperates with a wheel bearing to rotate an associated wheel mounted to the wheel bearing. During torque transitions, the joint housing of the axle shaft may move into contact with the bearing. Such metal-to-metal contact may produce rattling noise. Disclosure of Invention In accordance with the present disclosure, a drive line component for a vehicle includes a half shaft including a housing having an axially outward facing surface, a hub assembly including a wheel bearing having an axially inward facing surface, and a ring extending around the housing of the half shaft. The ring includes a radially inwardly projecting flange portion disposed between an axially outwardly facing surface of the axle housing and an axially inwardly facing surface of the wheel bearing, a radially outwardly projecting flange portion, and a transition region extending between the radially inwardly projecting flange portion and the radially outwardly projecting flange portion. The transition region includes a first portion extending axially inward from the radially inward projecting flange portion, a second portion extending at an angle toward the radially outward projecting flange portion, and a third portion including a transition between the first portion of the transition region and the second portion of the transition region. The transition has a sharp edge. In other features, the sharp edge forms a substantially 90 ° angle. In other features, the housing of the axle shaft includes a surface extending axially between an axially outwardly facing surface and a radially outwardly projecting portion, and the transition is disposed closer to the axially outwardly facing surface than to the radially outwardly projecting portion. In other features, the transition reduces moisture retention between the ring and the housing of the axle shaft. In other features, the surface includes a first thickness portion at an axially outward facing surface of the housing and the surface includes a second thickness portion adjacent the radially outward protruding portion, the second thickness portion having a thickness less than the first thickness portion, the transition reducing moisture accumulation on the surface adjacent the second thickness portion. In other features, the ring is formed of an elastic material. In other features, the housing of the axle shaft includes an outer diameter and the ring includes an opening having an inner diameter less than the outer diameter to facilitate a press fit between the ring and the housing of the axle shaft. In other features, the second portion of the transition region extends at an acute angle between the sharp edge and the radially outwardly projecting flange portion. In other features, a fastener is configured to secure the wheel bearing to the axle shaft, the fastener torqued to a first selected torque value, a second torque value less than the first selected torque value. In other features, the hub assembly includes an opening surrounded by a recess, the opening configured to receive the shell of the axle shaft and the recess configured to receive the radially outwardly projecting flange portion of the ring. In accordance with the present disclosure, a drive line component for a vehicle includes a half shaft including a housing having an axially outward facing surface, a hub assembly including a wheel bearing having an axially inward facing surface, and a ring extending about the half shaft housing. The ring includes a radially inwardly projecting flange portion disposed between an axially outwardly facing surface of the axle housing and an axially inwardly facing surface of the wheel bearing, a radially outwardly projecting flange portion, and a transition region extending between the radially inwardly projecting flange portion