The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 20, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 18, 1997
Malcolm F Ruppert, Jr, Hebron, OH (US);
Bradley A Arnold, Granville, OH (US);
Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC, Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
An automotive vehicle suspension unit assembly located near the sides of a vehicle includes a driving axle shaft, a gear box, an electric motor, and a suspension beam. The driving axle shaft, which drives a wheel hub of the vehicle, defines an axis of rotation about which the wheel hub rotates. The gear box includes a pinion shaft connected to a pinion gear which meshes with a ring gear. The pinion shaft is driven by a motor drive shaft which extends outwardly from the electric motor. The motor generates the torque necessary to drive the driving axle shaft. As known, suspension beams extend transversely to the axis of rotation of the driving axle shaft. The electric motor is pivotally attached to the gear box by means of a flexible coupling and is pivotally attached to the suspension beam by means of a movable connection. The flexible coupling allows the electric motor to pivot relative to the gear box and the movable connection allows the electric motor to pivot relative to the suspension beam as the suspension beam receives road load input.