A bearing arrangement for rotatably supporting a pinion shaft in a housing is described. A pinion of the pinion shaft interacting with a ring gear, the pinion shaft being mounted in the housing by way of two axial bearings and a radial bearing which is arranged between the axial bearings.

An axle assembly that includes a housing assembly, an input pinion, a ring gear, a ring gear bearing, and a differential assembly having a differential case. The ring gear bearing supports the ring gear for rotation on the housing assembly as well as handles thrust loads between the ring gear and the housing assembly in opposite axial directions. The ring gear bearing includes an outer bearing race having a first race member, which may be unitarily and integrally formed with the ring gear, and a second race member that is received in a groove formed on the ring gear. The differential case is coupled to the ring gear and secures the second race member to the ring gear.

A gear module includes a rotating cylinder, a first planetary gear set, a second planetary gear set, a concave-convex structure, and a limit bearing set. The first planetary gear set is accommodated in the rotating cylinder and includes a driven gear; the second planetary gear set includes a positioning frame, second planetary gears pivoted to a positioning frame, a driven gear engaged with the second planetary gears, and the positioning frame has a through hole; the concave-convex structure includes a convex column extended from the rotating cylinder and a concave hole formed on the positioning frame, the convex column is plugged into the concave hole; the limit bearing set includes a first ball bearing sheathing the driven gear and mounted between the driven gear and the through hole, and a second ball bearing sheathing the convex column and mounted between the convex column and the concave hole.

A transaxle may include an input shaft including a first shaft and a second shaft; and a torque limiter including an input unit and connected to the other end of the first shaft so as to be relatively non-rotatable, a driven unit connected to a second end of the second shaft so as to be relatively non-rotatable, and a region transmitting a torque between the input unit and the driven unit while limiting the torque to a predetermined value or less. By connecting the input unit and the driven unit of the torque limiter with a one-way clutch, the second shaft is rotatable relative to the first shaft when a rotation direction of the first shaft is a first direction, and the second shaft is non-rotatable relative to the first shaft when the rotation direction is a second direction opposite to the first direction.

An axle assembly having a drive pinion that may be rotatably supported by first and second sets of roller bearing elements. A preload element may exert a preload force on at least one of the first and second sets of roller bearing elements. The preload element may be disposed on the drive pinion in an inboard direction from the yoke.

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.

An axle assembly having a preload mechanism. The preload mechanism engages a bearing assembly and includes a preload element and an adjuster element. The preload element is disposed inside a housing and is rotatable about an axis. The adjuster element engages the preload element and is moveable to actuate the preload element and exert a preload force on a bearing assembly. The adjuster element is accessible from outside of the housing.

A method for joining components of a vehicle drive axle assembly. The method includes heating an axle housing to a first predetermined temperature and cooling a pinion cartridge to be installed with the housing to a second predetermined temperature. Removing the axle housing from exposure to the first predetermined temperature and removing the pinion cartridge from the second predetermined temperature and rapidly installing the pinion cartridge within the axle assembly before the axle assembly and the pinion return to ambient temperature provides a frictional fit, joining the two components without use of additional fastening devices.

An axle assembly having a drive pinion that may be rotatably supported by first and second sets of roller bearing elements. A preload element may exert a preload force on at least one of the first and second sets of roller bearing elements. The preload element may be disposed on the drive pinion in an inboard direction from the yoke.

Some embodiments are directed to a pinion shaft assembly of a power transfer unit for transferring torque from an output gear of a transmission to a driveline structure of a vehicle. The embodiments include a hollow shaft that includes an internal splined portion, a pinion gear connected to a first end of the hollow shaft, and a coupling member that includes a flange and a coupling extension extending from the flange. The coupling extension includes an external splined portion at a first end such that the coupling extension mounts coaxially within the hollow shaft. The internal splined portion of the hollow shaft meshes with the external spline portion of the coupling extension in a spline connection for coupled rotation of the hollow shaft and the coupling extension, and the flange is disposed external to the hollow shaft and configured to be connected to the driveline structure.