An axle system (150) for a vehicle comprises: —a differential unit (10) including a first housing (24) and a second housing (20) which rotationally receives at least part of said first housing; —at least one drive shaft (11) having one end configured to be connected to a wheel of the vehicle and one end connected to the differential unit (10) and rotationally received in the first housing (24), the drive shaft (11) including at least one joint (110) connecting two portions (114a, 114d) of the drive shaft (11) to transmit rotary motion between said portions; —a first bearing (30) secured around the drive shaft (11), placed between the drive shaft and the first housing (24), having an outer diameter (D30) smaller than the radial dimension (D) of the joint (110); —a second bearing (40) placed between the first housing (24) and the second housing (20); —at least one tightening member (50) to axially lock the first bearing outer ring (32) relative to the first housing (24). The tightening member comprises at least one manoeuvring portion (51) which is arranged in an offset relation relative to the joint (110), when looking axially towards the differential unit (10), so that the tightening member manoeuvring portion (51) is visible and accessible, at least during a tightening phase of an axle system mounting process.

Multi-axis pivot joints and surgical instrument drive shafts formed using additive manufacturing methods.

The drive shaft (1) comprises end universal joints (5, 7) with accident-preventing end protections (19). Each accident-preventing end protection comprises a lubricant reservoir, delimited radially inwardly by a sleeve (63) of an inner fork (23) of the respective universal joint (5; 7) and radially outwardly by a rigid annular structure of the accident-preventing end protection.

A wheel hub removal tool is provided that allows a single technician to readily remove the hub using the vehicle steering. The tool is a generally U-shaped bracket that is seated on the ball-joint to support a pair of arms on opposite sides of the U-joint assembly. The arms carry corresponding blocks that are sized to seat between the drive axle housing and a component of the U-joint that is coupled to the wheel hub. The tool maintains a block on either side of the U-joint assembly so that pressure may be applied alternatively between the blocks to gradually dislodge the wheel hub from the axle. The tool is adjustable to accommodate different axle hub and bearing assembly configurations for different vehicles.

A gimbal joint may employ a plurality of wear sleeves, each disposed between a pin or pin receptive bore of a first structure and a corresponding bore or pin of a second structure and between another pin or bore of the second structure and a corresponding bore or pin of a third structure. Each of these structures may be adapted to rotate in a single plane, with one structure adapted to also tilt about a first axis, and one other structure adapted to tilt about a second axis. Each integral flanged wear sleeve may comprise a right circular hollow cylindrical body portion, which may be interiorly sized to be retained on one of the pins and externally sized to be retained in one of the pin receptive bores, and a flange portion may radiate from one end of the cylindrical body portion.

A steering shaft assembly comprising female shaft and a male shaft. The female shaft includes an inner surface defining a plurality of outer roller bearing tracks. The male shaft includes an outer surface defining a plurality of inner roller bearing tracks. An adaptable sleeve assembly is located between the inner surface of the female shaft and the outer surface of the male shaft and includes a body. The body defines an outer surface for contacting the inner surface of the female shaft and an inner surface for contacting the outer surface of the male shaft. The body defines at least one rib projecting radially outwardly from the outer surface of the body and projecting radially inwardly from the inner surface of the body. The at least one rib is inserted into one of the plurality of inner roller bearing tracks and one of the plurality of outer roller bearing tracks.

A cardan joint spider comprising a body having four right-angled brackets, each bracket presenting two mutually perpendicular arms, the arm of one bracket being assembled to the arm of an adjacent bracket so as to form a cross-shaped spider having four branches.

A cardan joint spider comprising a body having four right-angled brackets, each bracket presenting two mutually perpendicular arms, the arm of one bracket being assembled to the arm of an adjacent bracket so as to form a cross-shaped spider having four branches.

An assembly apparatus includes backup jigs, a press-fitting and caulking part, and an expansion part. The backup jigs is configured to back up arms of a yoke of the cross shaft universal joint from inside in an axial direction. The press-fitting and caulking part is configured to press-fit cup bearings from outside in the axial direction between bearing holes of the arms and a shaft portion of a cross shaft, and configured to caulk the cup bearings. The expansion part is configured to push a wedge body between the backup jigs and to expand the arms outward via the backup jigs. The press-fitting and caulking part is configured to press-fit the cup bearings and to caulk the cup bearings in a state in which the arms are expanded. The expansion part is configured to release an expansion of the arms after the press-fitting and caulking of the cup bearings.

An assembly apparatus includes backup jigs, a press-fitting and caulking part, and an expansion part. The backup jigs is configured to back up arms of a yoke of the cross shaft universal joint from inside in an axial direction. The press-fitting and caulking part is configured to press-fit cup bearings from outside in the axial direction between bearing holes of the arms and a shaft portion of a cross shaft, and configured to caulk the cup bearings. The expansion part is configured to push a wedge body between the backup jigs and to expand the arms outward via the backup jigs. The press-fitting and caulking part is configured to press-fit the cup bearings and to caulk the cup bearings in a state in which the arms are expanded. The expansion part is configured to release an expansion of the arms after the press-fitting and caulking of the cup bearings.