GB2055714A - Steerable drive hub assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A hub assembly for a steer drive axle comprises a housing 10 with a removable backplate 12, which backplate carries steering swivel bearings 16, 17 and also supports planet gears 27 of a planetary reduction gearing through which an input shaft 34 extending through the backplate drives a wheel carrier 20 rotatably mounted in the housing 10. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Steerable hub assembly This invention relates to a steerable hub assembly incorporating a planetary reduction gearing.

According to the invention, we provide a steerable hub assembly comprising a housing in which is supported by bearing means a wheel carrier secured to an annulus gear, the housing incorporating a removable backplate which carries steering swivel bearing means and also planet gears which mesh with said annulus gear, and an input shaft passing through said backplate and being connected to a sun gear meshing with said planet gears.

Preferably the input shaft is connected to the sun gear by a connection, e.g. a splined connection, allowing self-alignment of the sun gear.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a longitudinal section through a steerable hub assembly embodying the invention.

The illustrated assembly forms one end of a steer drive axle, and comprises a housing 10 constituted by a part 11 and a removable backplate 12, these being secured together by a plurality of bolts 1 3. The backplate 1 2 has a rearward extension 14 which is connected to a fixed axle casing part 1 5 by upper and lower steering swivel bearings 16, 1 7 of conventional construction.

Supported within the housing 10 by bearings 18, 1 9 is an assembly of a wheel carrier 20 and an annulus gear 21, these components being held together axially and for torque transmission by a splined connection at 22 (between a rearwardly extending spigot of the wheel carrier and a forwardly extending spigot of the annulus gear) and a securing plate 23 held to the annulus gear by bolts 24.

The wheel carrier 20 bears wheel securing studs 25.

The backplate 12 carries a number, e.g.

three, of spindles 26 each of which carries a planet gear 27. Each planet gear is held on its spindle by an abutment 28 held by bolts 29.

A bearing carrier 30 is fixed to the rear of the backplate 1 2 by bolts 31.

Supported by a bearing 32 in the bearing carrier 30, and a bearing 33 in the forward extension of the annulus gear, is an input shaft 34 to which is splined a sun gear 35 meshing with planet gears 27. The splined connection may allow for limited movement of the sun gear to centralise itself relative to the planet gears. The input shaft 34 is driven through a universal joint 36, which as illustrated is a double Hookes joint, to allow for steering movement of the hub assembly and provide homokinetic running characteristics.

The invention provides a simple hub construction incorporating a planetary reduction gear. By removal of bolts 13, the part of the housing supporting the wheel carrier and annulus gear may be removed from the backplate thereof, rendering the planet gears and sun gear accessible.

1. A steerable hub assembly comprising a housing in which is supported by bearing means a wheel carrier secured to an annulus gear, the housing incorporating a removable backplate which carries steering swivel bearing means and also planet gears which mesh with said annulus gear, and an input shaft passing through said backplate and being connected to a sun gear meshing with said planet gears.

2. A hub assembly according to Claim 1 wherein the input shaft is connected to the sun gear by a connection allowing for selfalignment of the sun gear relative to the planet gears.

3. A steerable hub assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Steerable hub assembly This invention relates to a steerable hub assembly incorporating a planetary reduction gearing. According to the invention, we provide a steerable hub assembly comprising a housing in which is supported by bearing means a wheel carrier secured to an annulus gear, the housing incorporating a removable backplate which carries steering swivel bearing means and also planet gears which mesh with said annulus gear, and an input shaft passing through said backplate and being connected to a sun gear meshing with said planet gears. Preferably the input shaft is connected to the sun gear by a connection, e.g. a splined connection, allowing self-alignment of the sun gear. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a longitudinal section through a steerable hub assembly embodying the invention. The illustrated assembly forms one end of a steer drive axle, and comprises a housing 10 constituted by a part 11 and a removable backplate 12, these being secured together by a plurality of bolts 1 3. The backplate 1 2 has a rearward extension 14 which is connected to a fixed axle casing part 1 5 by upper and lower steering swivel bearings 16, 1 7 of conventional construction. Supported within the housing 10 by bearings 18, 1 9 is an assembly of a wheel carrier 20 and an annulus gear 21, these components being held together axially and for torque transmission by a splined connection at 22 (between a rearwardly extending spigot of the wheel carrier and a forwardly extending spigot of the annulus gear) and a securing plate 23 held to the annulus gear by bolts 24. The wheel carrier 20 bears wheel securing studs 25. The backplate 12 carries a number, e.g. three, of spindles 26 each of which carries a planet gear 27. Each planet gear is held on its spindle by an abutment 28 held by bolts 29. A bearing carrier 30 is fixed to the rear of the backplate 1 2 by bolts 31. Supported by a bearing 32 in the bearing carrier 30, and a bearing 33 in the forward extension of the annulus gear, is an input shaft 34 to which is splined a sun gear 35 meshing with planet gears 27. The splined connection may allow for limited movement of the sun gear to centralise itself relative to the planet gears. The input shaft 34 is driven through a universal joint 36, which as illustrated is a double Hookes joint, to allow for steering movement of the hub assembly and provide homokinetic running characteristics. The invention provides a simple hub construction incorporating a planetary reduction gear. By removal of bolts 13, the part of the housing supporting the wheel carrier and annulus gear may be removed from the backplate thereof, rendering the planet gears and sun gear accessible. CLAIMS

1. A steerable hub assembly comprising a housing in which is supported by bearing means a wheel carrier secured to an annulus gear, the housing incorporating a removable backplate which carries steering swivel bearing means and also planet gears which mesh with said annulus gear, and an input shaft passing through said backplate and being connected to a sun gear meshing with said planet gears.

2. A hub assembly according to Claim 1 wherein the input shaft is connected to the sun gear by a connection allowing for selfalignment of the sun gear relative to the planet gears.

3. A steerable hub assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.