Dana Corporation

Larry G Sparks

Kraig J Schlosser

James H Sheets

A wheel end assembly for driving an individual wheel of a motor vehicle, with the assembly comprising a stationary, annular spindle which is operably affixable to the vehicle, a wheel hub rotatably mounted to and coaxial with the spindle, and an electric motor and axially spaced apart inboard and outboard speed reduction gear sets for driving the wheel hub and vehicle wheel at a speed less than the speed of the motor output shaft. The assembly further comprises a cartridge bearing disposed between the inboard and outboard gear sets with the wheel hub rotatably mounted to the spindle via the cartridge bearing. The wheel end assembly is advantageously configured to accommodate a brake assembly disposed in surrounding relationship with the cartridge bearing between the inboard and outboard gear sets and to minimize the assembly length from the cartridge bearing to the inboard end of the assembly which maximizes the available space from the centerline of the associated vehicle to the inboard end of the assembly for enhanced accommodation of vehicle design features.

Growing community of inventors

Grabill, IN, United States of America

Larry G Sparks