IP Library › Granted Patent US 12673516
Granted Patent B2
US 12673516 · App. 18/110,940 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Half shaft to bearing hub connection to reduce driveline click

Inventors: Brian Michael Valovick (Oxford, MI); Avissai Alcantara (Sterling Heights, MI); Kevin P. Callaghan (Bloomfield Hills, MI)
Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
B60B27/0026B60B35/18B60B35/003B60B35/128B60B2900/133B60B2900/5112
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12673516
App. No.
18/110,940
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle drive assembly including a wheel bearing hub and a half shaft. The wheel bearing hub defines a receptacle including internal splines. A bearing face of the wheel bearing hub defines an opening to the receptacle. The half shaft includes a joint housing and a stem extending from the joint housing. The stem is seated within the receptacle. The stem includes a splined portion, a shoulder, and a stop surface. The splined portion includes a plurality of external splines configured to mesh with the internal splines. The shoulder has a maximum outer diameter that is greater than a minor diameter of the internal splines of the wheel bearing hub. A stop surface is between the splined portion and the shoulder, the stop surface contacting ends of the internal splines of the wheel bearing hub to stop the joint housing from moving into contact with the bearing face.

Claims (37)

1 . A vehicle drive assembly comprising:

a wheel bearing hub defining a receptacle including internal splines, a bearing face of the wheel bearing hub defines an opening to the receptacle; and

a half shaft including a joint housing and a stem extending from the joint housing, the stem seated within the receptacle of the wheel bearing hub, the stem including:

a splined portion including a plurality of external splines meshed with the internal splines;

a shoulder between the splined portion and the joint housing, the shoulder has a maximum outer diameter that is greater than a minor diameter of the internal splines of the wheel bearing hub; and

a stop surface between the splined portion and the shoulder, the stop surface contacting ends of the internal splines of the wheel bearing hub to stop the joint housing from moving into contact with the bearing face.

2 . The vehicle drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein the stop surface is spaced apart from the joint housing at a first distance, and the ends of the internal splines are spaced apart from the bearing face at a second distance, the first distance is greater than the second distance such that the bearing face does not contact the joint housing when the stop surface is in contact with the ends of the internal splines.

3 . The vehicle drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein the stop surface includes a sloped surface.

4 . The vehicle drive assembly of claim 3 , wherein the sloped surface of the stop surface contacts sloped ends of the internal splines to stop the joint housing from moving into contact with the bearing face.

5 . The vehicle drive assembly of claim 4 , wherein the stop surface extends around the stem of the half shaft.

6 . The vehicle drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein the stem further includes a transition area devoid of the plurality of external splines, the transition area is between the splined portion and the stop surface.

7 . The vehicle drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shoulder is surrounded by, and spaced apart from, the wheel bearing hub.

8 . The vehicle drive assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a gap defined between the bearing face and the joint housing.

9 . The vehicle drive assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a polymeric seal seated in a gap defined between the bearing face and the joint housing, the polymeric seal contacts both the bearing face and the joint housing.

10 . The vehicle drive assembly of claim 9 , wherein the polymeric seal includes an excluder outboard of the gap, the excluder seated on the joint housing to restrict debris from entering the wheel bearing hub.

11 . The vehicle drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein the joint housing is a constant velocity joint housing.

12 . A vehicle drive assembly comprising:

a wheel bearing hub defining a receptacle including internal splines, a bearing face of the wheel bearing hub defines an opening to the receptacle; and

a half shaft including a joint housing and a stem extending from the joint housing, the stem seated within the receptacle of the wheel bearing hub, the stem including:

a splined portion including a plurality of external splines meshed with the internal splines;

a shoulder between the splined portion and the joint housing, the shoulder has a maximum outer diameter that is greater than a minor diameter of the internal splines of the wheel bearing hub; and

a sloped stop surface between the splined portion and the shoulder, the sloped stop surface in contact with ends of the internal splines of the wheel bearing hub to stop the joint housing from moving into contact with the bearing face;

wherein the sloped stop surface is spaced apart from the joint housing at a first distance, and the ends of the internal splines are spaced apart from the bearing face at a second distance, the first distance is greater than the second distance such that contact between the sloped stop surface and the ends of the internal splines stops the joint housing from contacting the bearing face.

13 . The vehicle drive assembly of claim 12 , wherein the sloped stop surface extends around the stem.

14 . The vehicle drive assembly of claim 12 , wherein the joint housing is a constant velocity joint housing.

15 . The vehicle drive assembly of claim 12 , wherein the wheel bearing hub is seated in a steering knuckle.

16 . The vehicle drive assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a polymeric seal seated in a gap defined between the bearing face and the joint housing, the polymeric seal contacts both the bearing face and the joint housing.

17 . The vehicle drive assembly of claim 16 , wherein the polymeric seal includes an excluder outboard of the gap, the excluder seated on the joint housing to restrict debris from entering the wheel bearing hub.

18 . A vehicle drive assembly comprising:

a wheel bearing hub defining a receptacle including internal splines, a bearing face of the wheel bearing hub defines an opening to the receptacle; and

a half shaft including a joint housing and a stem extending from the joint housing, the stem seated within the receptacle, the stem including:

a splined portion including a plurality of external splines meshed with the internal splines;

a shoulder between the splined portion and the joint housing, the shoulder has a maximum outer diameter that is greater than a minor diameter of the internal splines of the wheel bearing hub; and

a stop surface between the splined portion and the shoulder, the stop surface in contact with ends of the internal splines of the wheel bearing hub to stop the joint housing from moving into contact with the bearing face; and

a polymeric seal seated in a gap defined between the bearing face and the joint housing, the polymeric seal contacts both the bearing face and the joint housing.

19 . The vehicle drive assembly of claim 18 , wherein the polymeric seal includes an excluder outboard of the gap, the excluder seated on the joint housing to restrict debris from entering the wheel bearing hub.

20 . The vehicle drive assembly of claim 18 , wherein the stop surface is spaced apart from the joint housing at a first distance, and the ends of the internal splines are spaced apart from the bearing face at a second distance, the first distance is greater than the second distance such that contact between the stop surface and the ends of the internal splines stops the joint housing from contacting the bearing face.