Rockwell International Corporation

Axletech International IP Holdings, LLC

Patrick Michael Cadaret

Barry Stuart Groves

Joseph F Dernovshek

A high ground clearance drive assembly includes a drop box and an articulation drop box. The drop box is fixed to the vehicle frame and the articulation drop box pivots relative thereto as a suspension system is exercised. The articulation drop box is pivotable about a pivot pin which extends through both the articulation drop box and the drop box to provide an axial preload therebetween. A first chain interconnects an input sprocket on the input shaft and an intermediate sprocket assembly. A second chain interconnects a second intermediate sprocket and the output sprocket to drive an output shaft connected thereto. A hollow shaft supports the first and second intermediate sprockets about the pivot pin such that rotation of the articulation drop box relative the drop box is accommodated without additional complex structure.

Drive assembly for a high ground clearance vehicle

A brake system having a caliper which defines a bore for slideably receiving a piston. The piston defines a hydraulic chamber at one end and generates a force in response to hydraulic pressure applied thereto. This force is then transmitted through the piston to a backing plate of a brake pad. The brake pad engages a rotor to retard rotation thereof. The piston is constructed as a vessel having a continuous circuit of sides which have an overall axial dimension. A first end of the circuit of sides is open, whereas the second end is closed defining a closed bore. The closed bore is filled with a plastic material which is bonded to the bore by the adhesive properties of the interface existing therebetween. The plastic material features a lower modulus of elasticity than that of the vessel in which it is molded. In addition, the plastic material extends axially beyond the axial dimension of the circuit of sides a predetermined dimension which is equal to the amount of deflection which occurs upon the piston transmitting a first range of forces. Upon reaching the limit of deflection of the predetermined dimension, the continuous circuit of sides engages the brake backing plate, and the combination of the continuous circuit of sides and the plastic material then conjunctively cooperate to transmit a second range of forces through the piston.

Composite brake piston with internal cushion and stop

A bearing spacer for a wheel assembly which has a hub rotatable about a spindle. The hub has a bearing stop shoulder projecting radially inwardly from an inner circumferential surface of the hub. A bearing is mounted on an outer circumferential surface of the spindle and the bearing spacer is mounted intermediate the stop shoulder and the bearing. The bearing spacer is comprised of an annular member having axially extending inner and outer cylindrical surfaces and radially extending end surfaces. One of the end surfaces extends radially outward from the inner cylindrical surface a radial distance less than the radial extent of the stop shoulder. This end surface is joined to the upper cylindrical surface of the bearing spacer by a surface spaced from the stop shoulder and the inner circumferential surface of the hub. Consequently, the bearing spacer transmits thrust forces from the bearing to the bearing stop shoulder while allowing a large radius on the bearing stop shoulder to reduce undesirable stress concentrations therein.

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Waterford, MI, United States of America

Patrick Michael Cadaret