Tether restraint for truck drive wheels

1 . An apparatus for restraining at least a first wheel assembly and a second wheel assembly mounted on an axle assembly wherein the axle assembly comprises an axle body with a first end, a second end, and a passage extending through the axle body from the first end to the second end, a first hub rotatably mounted on the first end of the axle body, and a second hub rotatably mounted on the second end of the axle body, the first wheel assembly mountable on the first hub and the second wheel assembly mountable on the second hub, the apparatus comprising:

a first hub member coaxially connectable to the first hub and having threads extending along an outer periphery thereof;

a first wheel retainer having an annular rim and positionable over the first hub member so the annular rim of the first wheel retainer is engageable with the first wheel assembly when the first wheel assembly is mounted on the first hub;

a first wheel retaining nut threadingly engaged with the threads of the first hub member so the first wheel retainer is securable between the first wheel assembly and the first retaining nut;

a second hub member coaxially connectable to the second hub and having threads extending along an outer periphery thereof;

a second wheel retainer having an annular rim and positionable over the second hub member so the annular rim of the second wheel retainer is engageable with the second wheel assembly when the second wheel assembly is mounted on the second hub;

a second wheel retaining nut threadingly engaged with the threads of the second hub member so the second wheel retainer is secured between the second wheel assembly and the second retaining nut; and

a tether assembly extendible through the passage of the axle body and having a flexible cable having a first end and a second end, a first cable end component attached to the first end of the cable, and a second cable end component attached to the second end of the cable, the first cable end component connected to the first hub member so the first hub member is rotatable relative to the first cable end component and the second cable end component connected to the second hub member so the second hub member is rotatable relative to the second cable end component and the second hub member is interconnected to the first hub member.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first cable end component is slidably and sealingly connectable to the axle body and sealingly connected to the first hub member, and wherein the second cable end component is slidably and sealingly connectable to the axle body and sealingly connected to the second hub member.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first wheel retaining nut comprises:

a split-ring; and

at least one fastener securing the split ring together thereby securing the first wheel retaining nut to the first hub member.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the second wheel retaining nut comprises:

a split-ring; and

at least one fastener securing the split-ring together thereby securing the second wheel retaining nut to the second hub member.

5 . An axle assembly, comprising

an axle body with a first end, a second end, and a passage extending through the axle body from the first end to the second end;

a first hub rotatably mounted on the first end of the axle body, a first wheel assembly mountable on the first hub;

a second hub rotatably mounted on the second end of the axle body, a second wheel assembly mountable on the second hub;

a first hub member coaxially connected to the first hub and having threads extending along an outer periphery thereof;

a first wheel retainer having an annular rim and positionable over the first hub member so the annular rim of the first wheel retainer is engaged with the first wheel assembly when the first wheel assembly is mounted on the first hub;

a first wheel retaining nut threadingly engaged with the threads of the first hub member so the first wheel retainer is secured between the first wheel assembly and the first retaining nut;

a second hub member coaxially connected to the hub of the second wheel end assembly and having threads extending along an outer periphery thereof;

a second wheel retainer having an annular rim and positionable over the second hub member so the annular rim of the second wheel retainer is engaged with the second wheel assembly when the second wheel assembly is mounted on the second hub;

a second wheel retaining nut threadingly engaged with the threads of the second hub member so the second wheel retainer is secured between the second wheel assembly and the second retaining nut; and

a tether assembly extending through the passage of the axle body and comprising a flexible cable with a first end and a second end, a first cable end component attached to the first end of the cable, and a second cable end component attached to the second end of the cable, the first cable end component connected to the first hub member so the first hub member is rotatable relative to the first cable end component and the second cable end component connected to the second hub member so the second hub member is rotatable relative to the second cable end component and the second hub member is interconnected to the first hub member.

6 . The axle assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first cable end component is slidably and sealingly connected to the axle body and sealingly connected to the first hub member, and wherein the second cable end component is slidably and sealingly connected to the axle body and sealingly connected to the second hub member.

7 . The axle assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first wheel retaining nut comprises:

a split-ring; and

at least one fastener securing the split-ring together thereby securing the first wheel retaining nut to the first hub member.

8 . The axle assembly of claim 7 , wherein the second wheel retaining nut comprises:

a split-ring; and

at least one fastener securing the split-ring together thereby securing the second wheel retaining nut to the second hub member.

9 . The axle assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a first dust cover connected to the first hub member and a second dust cover connected to the second hub member.

10 . A method of restraining a first wheel assembly and a second wheel assembly mounted on an axle assembly wherein the axle assembly comprises an axle body with a first end, a second end, and a passage extending through the axle body from the first end to the second end, a first hub rotatably mounted on the first end of the axle body, and a second hub rotatably mounted on the second end of the axle body, the first wheel assembly mounted on the first hub and the second wheel assembly mounted on the second hub, the method comprising:

connecting a first hub member coaxially to the first hub;

securing a first wheel retainer having an annular rim to the first hub member so the annular rim of the first wheel retainer is engaged with the first wheel assembly;

connecting a second hub member coaxially to the second hub; and

securing a second wheel retainer having an annular rim to the second hub member so the annular rim of the second wheel retainer is engaged with the second wheel assembly; and

extending a tether assembly through the passage of the axle body, the tether assembly comprising a flexible cable having a first end and a second end, a first cable end component attached to the first end of the cable, and a second cable end component attached to the second end of the cable;

connecting the first cable end component to the first hub member so the first hub member is rotatable relative to the first cable end component; and

connecting the second cable end component to the second hub member so the second hub member is rotatable relative to the second cable end component and the second hub member is interconnected to the first hub member.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of securing the first wheel retainer comprises:

positioning the first wheel retainer over the first hub member so the annular rim of the first wheel retainer is engaged with the first wheel assembly, the first hub having threads extending along an outer periphery thereof; and

threadingly engaging a first wheel retaining nut with the threads of the first hub member so the first wheel retainer is secured between the first wheel assembly and the first retaining nut.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first wheel retaining nut comprises a split-ring and wherein the step of threadingly engaging the first wheel retaining nut further comprises securing the split-ring together thereby securing the first wheel retaining nut to the first hub member.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of securing the second wheel retainer comprises:

positioning the second wheel retainer over the second hub member so the annular rim of the second wheel retainer is engaged with the second wheel assembly, the second hub having threads extending along an outer periphery thereof; and

threadingly engaging a second wheel retaining nut with the threads of the second hub member so the second wheel retainer is secured between the second wheel assembly and the second retaining nut.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the second wheel retaining nut comprises a split-ring and wherein the step of threadingly engaging the second wheel retaining nut further comprises securing the split-ring together thereby securing the second wheel retaining nut to the second hub member.

15 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

slidably and sealingly connecting the first cable end component to the axle body and sealingly connecting the first cable end component to the first hub member; and

slidably and sealingly connecting the second cable end component to the axle body and sealingly connecting the second cable end component to the second hub member.