Axle assembly

Abstract

An axle assembly for an undercarriage of a vehicle includes two side plates, a differential, and a skid plate. The two side plates have surfaces configured to support a vehicle hull. The differential is generally positioned between the two side plates. During operation of the axle assembly, the differential receives torque from a driveshaft and provides the torque to half shafts. The skid plate includes an array of beams extending between the side plates and below the differential. The skid plate is designed to shield the differential and portions of the undercarriage of the vehicle from ground obstacles.

Description

BACKGROUNDThe present invention relates generally to the field of vehicle axle assemblies. More specifically, the present invention relates to an axle assembly designed to manage high bursts of energy, such as the energy produced by a landmine explosion.An axle assembly for a vehicle may include all or portions of a number of vehicle systems, such as a suspension system, a drive train, wheel-end components, and other systems. Proper functioning of any or all of the systems of an axle assembly may be important for the proper functioning of the vehicle. However, in a hostile environment the systems of the axle assembly may become targets of attack. As such, landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) may be debilitating to the vehicle, by damaging the axle assembly.During a blast event, explosive energy produced beneath the vehicle may travel around and through components of the undercarriage of the vehicle, to the hull of the vehicle. Explosive energy reaching the hull is then ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Yet another embodiment of the invention relates to a method for shielding the underside of a vehicle from an explosion. The method comprises several steps. One step includes attaching an axle assembly to an undercarriage of a vehicle. Another step includes attaching two side plates having surfaces thereon configured to support a hull of the vehicle. Yet another step includes supporting a differential generally between the two side plates. Another step includes attaching an array of beams between the side plates and below the differential, which further includes configuring the beams to direct the energy of an explosion away from the differential and portions of the undercarriage and thereby reduce damage thereto by an explosion.

Problems solved by technology

However, in a hostile environment the systems of the axle assembly may become targets of attack.

As such, landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) may be debilitating to the vehicle, by damaging the axle assembly.

However, in some instances, some of the explosive energy may not reach the hull.

Instead the explosive forces may be absorbed by components of the undercarriage, such as the axle assembly, damaging the vehicle by destroying the components and / or by catching the components and lifting the vehicle off the ground, such that upon crashing down the vehicle is further harmed.

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