Disclosed herein is an axle assembly and a heavy load vehicle comprising the axel assembly. The axle assembly comprises an interaxle differential configured to distribute torque to first and second axles. The interaxle differential comprises an input shaft and an output shaft. A first gear wheel is journaled in a first bearing about the input shaft. The input shaft is journaled in relation to the output shaft via a tapered roller bearing having a small end and a large end. A lubricant receiving space is fluidly connected to the small end of the tapered roller bearing, and the large end of tapered roller bearing is fluidly connected to the first bearing. Thus, the first bearing is lubricated when there exists a difference in rotational speed between the input and output shafts.

Disclosed herein is an axle assembly and a heavy load vehicle comprising the axel assembly. The axle assembly comprises an interaxle differential configured to distribute torque to first and second axles. The interaxle differential comprises an input shaft and an output shaft. A first gear wheel is journaled in a first bearing about the input shaft. The input shaft is journaled in relation to the output shaft via a tapered roller bearing having a small end and a large end. A lubricant receiving space is fluidly connected to the small end of the tapered roller bearing, and the large end of tapered roller bearing is fluidly connected to the first bearing. Thus, the first bearing is lubricated when there exists a difference in rotational speed between the input and output shafts.

An axle assembly having an electric motor module, a drive pinion, and at least one rotor bearing assembly. The electric motor module may have a rotor. The rotor and the drive pinion may be rotatable about a first axis. The first rotor bearing assembly may extend between the drive pinion and the rotor.

A differential unit includes: a pinion gear shaft including a shaft portion and a gear portion; a ring gear meshing with the gear portion; a differential case that rotates with the ring gear; a differential gear mechanism accommodated in the differential case; a differential carrier having an accommodating space accommodating the differential case and the ring gear; and a pair of bearings supporting the pinion gear shaft such that the pinion gear shaft is rotatable with respect to the differential carrier. The differential carrier has an inner cylindrical portion, an outer cylindrical portion, and a connecting portion that are provided as a single member. The inner cylindrical portion has the pair of bearings fitted in the inner cylindrical portion. The outer cylindrical portion is provided radially outward of the inner cylindrical portion. The connecting portion connects the inner cylindrical portion and the outer cylindrical portion.

A drive axle system having at least one differential assembly, a first electric motor, and a second electric motor. The first electric motor and the second electric motor may be selectively connectable to the differential assembly. The first electric motor, the second electric motor, or both may provide torque to the differential assembly.

An axle system for a vehicle having an input shaft and an input helical gear. Circumferentially extending from at least a portion of an outer surface of an intermediate portion of the input shaft is an increased diameter portion. A bearing journal surface is disposed directly adjacent to a first end portion of the increase diameter portion and a tapered roller bearing journal surface is disposed directly adjacent to a second end portion of the increased diameter portion of the input shaft. Disposed outboard from the bearing journal surface is a bearing and a tapered roller bearing is disposed outboard from the tapered roller bearing journal surface of the input shaft. At least a portion of the tapered roller bearing is disposed with a tapered roller bearing receiving portion circumferentially extending along at least a portion of an inner surface of an input helical side gear.

A method for assembling an axle assembly for a vehicle including that a pinion gear is inserted into a differential housing. The pinion gear having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The pinion gear further includes a gear head at the first end, external threads proximate the second end, and external splines located a first distance away from the second end. The method further includes that a flange is slid over the second end of the pinion gear. The flange including internal splines. The method also includes that the internal splines of the flange are engaged with the external splines of the pinion gear and the flange is anchored to prevent the flange and the pinion gear from rotating. The method may further include that ultrasonic sound waves are transmitted through the pinion gear and reflections of the ultrasonic sound waves are detected.

A method for assembling an axle assembly for a vehicle including that a pinion gear is inserted into a differential housing. The pinion gear having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The pinion gear further includes a gear head at the first end, external threads proximate the second end, and external splines located a first distance away from the second end. The method further includes that a flange is slid over the second end of the pinion gear. The flange including internal splines. The method also includes that the internal splines of the flange are engaged with the external splines of the pinion gear and the flange is anchored to prevent the flange and the pinion gear from rotating. The method may further include that ultrasonic sound waves are transmitted through the pinion gear and reflections of the ultrasonic sound waves are detected.

A torque sensing assembly of a differential of an axle assembly is shown in the present disclosure. The differential may include a differential housing portion, a drive pinion positioned within the differential housing portion, a ring gear, a carrier, a differential pinion, a first side gear, a second side gear, a first bearing, a first bearing support, and the torque sensing assembly. The first bearing is coupled to the differential housing portion and rotatable with the carrier. The first bearing support is coupled to the differential housing portion and used to support the first bearing. The torque sensing assembly is coupled to the first bearing support and operable to measure a strain thereof resulted from a separation force created between the drive pinion and ring gear.

A pinion shaft assembly facilitates assembly of an automotive differential. An angular contact double row ball bearing is assembled to an outer surface of a hollow pinion shaft. An axial pre-load is established and maintained by orbitally forming an outwardly turned portion of the hollow pinion shaft. In some embodiments, the two inner rings are assembled to the pinion shaft. In other embodiments, a raceway may be formed directly on an outer surface of the pinion shaft to eliminate one of the inner rings. The pinion shaft includes a spline, such as an axial spline or a face spline, for fixation to a driveshaft.