Dana Corporation

Dee E Bear

Timothy M Ward

John T Graft

Michael Robert Fetcho

Richard E Cleveland

Fred Osborne

Thomas Redding

Dick E Cleveland

The invention is directed to a vehicle front-drive axle assembly having a front differential including a housing supporting left hand and right hand one-piece assemblies. Each of the left hand and right hand assemblies extend outwardly from the housing, and include an axle tube having a first end coupled to the housing and a second end having an integral yoke member. The one-piece assemblies further have integral bracket assemblies having outwardly extending mounting portions for mounting of vehicle suspension components and for securing the axle assembly to the vehicle. Each of the left hand and right hand one-piece assemblies are manufactured by suitable casting procedures, providing an assembly which has greater structural integrity than when multiple components are welded together, and which reduces cost and simplifies assembly into the vehicle.

Cast tube-yoke bracket assembly

A modular power drive assembly includes a plain carbon driving shaft having an externally splined connection end, and a cast iron yoke having a hub thereon in fixed engagement with said connected end of the shaft. In a preferred form, the hub includes an internally splined mating portion for fixed torsional securement to the externally splined connection end of the shaft. The splined portions are sized to be press-fitted together to provide an interference fit between the splined members. A bonding adhesive is applied between the mating splined portions, and the yoke and shaft members are thereby fixedly secured against axial and rotational movement with respect to one another.

Modular yoke end

Growing community of inventors

Roanoke, IN, United States of America

Dee E Bear