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:
May. 09, 2000
Filed:
May. 01, 1997
Michael C Dougherty, Navarre, OH (US);
Terry M McInerney, Columbus, IN (US);
Robert J Stevens, Columbus, IN (US);
Impact Forge, Inc., Columbus, IN (US);
Abstract
A flange and shaft for a two-piece forged axle and method for forging same. The flange includes a hub formed concentric about a longitudinal axis wherein the hub defines an inner annular face, an outer annular face, and a bore extending therebetween. The bore includes a first tapered surface diverging from the longitudinal axis. The flange further includes an annular ring coaxial and integral with the hub as well as a locking arrangement integral with the tapered surface for mechanically coupling the flange for rotation with a shaft. Additional embodiments of the present invention include a two-piece axle having a flange generally configured as described above and a cylindrical shaft disposed in the bore of the flange. The shaft includes a first end portion having a first radial upset engaging a first locking arrangement on the flange to couple the flange for rotation with the shaft. Finally, a method for coupling a flange for rotation with a shaft is disclosed to include the steps of placing a shaft formed of a first material within a bore defined by a flange formed of a second material and upsetting the shaft such that the first material is radially displaced to engage a locking arrangement formed in the flange. More particularly, the flange includes a longitudinal axis, an outer annular face, an inner annular face, and a taper portion diverging from the longitudinal axis. The flange further includes the locking arrangement integral with the taper portion for mechanically coupling the flange for rotation with the shaft.