1. A gear set for driving a vehicle wheel comprising:
an input gear operably coupled to an input shaft for rotation about an input axis;
a first reduction gear supported on an intermediate shaft and driven by said input gear about an intermediate axis;
a second reduction gear operably coupled to said first reduction gear;
an output gear coupled to an output shaft for driving a vehicle wheel, said output gear driven by said second reduction gear about an output axis wherein said input gear, said first and second reduction gears, and said output gear are mounted within a common gear housing;
a wheel hub for supporting the vehicle wheel, said output shaft including a flanged portion at an output end, said wheel hub being mounted to said flanged portion; and
a brake assembly having a rotating brake component mounted for rotation with said wheel hub and a non-rotating brake component mounted to said gear housing.
2. The gear set as set forth in claim 1 wherein said input axis, said intermediate axis, and said output axis are parallel to each other.
3. The gear set as set forth in claim 1 wherein said input and output axes are spaced at least 150 mm apart from each other.
4. The gear set as set forth in claim 1 wherein said input gear and said first reduction gear are positioned outboard from said second reduction gear and said output gear.
5. The gear set as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second reduction gear is concentric with said first reduction gear.
6. The gear set as set forth in claim 5 wherein said second reduction gear is supported by said intermediate shaft for rotation about said intermediate axis.
7. The gear set as set forth in claim 6 wherein said first and second reduction gears are fixed for rotation with said intermediate shaft and wherein said input gear is in meshing engagement with said first reduction gear to rotate said intermediate shaft and said second reduction gear, said second reduction gear being in meshing engagement with said output gear.
8. The gear set as set forth in claim 1 wherein said wheel hub is supported for rotation about said output axis by at least one bearing.
9. The gear set as set forth in claim 1 wherein an outboard end of said input shaft, said intermediate shaft, and an inboard end of said output shaft are substantially enclosed within said common gear housing.
10. A gear set for driving a vehicle wheel comprising:
an input gear operably coupled to an input shaft for rotation about an input axis;
a first reduction gear supported on an intermediate shaft and driven by said input gear about an intermediate axis;
a second reduction gear operably coupled to said first reduction gear; and
an output gear coupled to an output shaft for driving a vehicle wheel, said output gear driven by said second reduction gear about an output axis wherein said input axis is positioned at a first vertical distance from ground level, said intermediate axis is positioned at a second vertical distance from ground level, and said output axis is positioned at a third vertical distance from ground level with said second vertical distance being greater than said first vertical distance and said third vertical distance being greater than said second vertical distance.
11. A vehicle wheel end assembly comprising:
an input shaft rotatable about an input axis;
a gear assembly operably coupled to said input shaft and mounted within a gear housing, said gear assembly including an input gear operably coupled to said input shaft, a reduction gear set driven by said input gear, and an output gear driven by said reduction gear set;
an output shaft driven by said output gear about an output axis;
said reduction gear set including a first reduction gear in meshing engagement with said input gear and a second reduction gear in meshing engagement with said output gear wherein said reduction gear set rotates about an intermediate axis positioned between and parallel to said input and output axes and wherein said first and second reduction gears are mounted on an intermediate shaft for rotation about said intermediate axis with said first reduction gear being mounted on an outboard end of said intermediate shaft and said second reduction gear being mounted on an inboard end of said intermediate shaft; and
a wheel hub operably coupled to said output shaft for driving a vehicle wheel about said output axis, wherein said input sear is positioned outboard from said output gear at a position between said wheel hub and said output gear and wherein said input axis is positioned at a first vertical distance from ground level, said intermediate axis is positioned at a second vertical distance from ground level, and said output axis is positioned at a third vertical distance from ground level, with said second vertical distance being greater than said first vertical distance and said third vertical distance being greater than said second vertical distance.
12. The vehicle wheel end assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said input and output axes are spaced apart from each other by at least 180 mm.
13. The vehicle wheel end assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said first reduction gear has a greater diameter than said second reduction gear.
14. A vehicle wheel end assembly comprising:
an input shaft rotatable about an input axis;
a gear assembly operably coupled to said input shaft and mounted within a gear housing,
said gear assembly including an input gear operably coupled to said input shaft, a reduction gear set driven by said input gear, and an output gear driven by said reduction gear set;
an output shaft driven by said output gear about an output axis;
said reduction gear set including a first reduclion gear in meshing engagement with said input gear and a second reduction gear in meshing engagement with said output gear, wherein said reduction gear set rotates about an intermediate axis positioned between and parallel to said input and output axes and wherein said first and second reduction gears are mounted on an intermediate shaft for rotation about said intermediate axis with said first reduction gear being mounted on an outboard end of said intermediate shaft and said second reduction gear being mounted on an inboard end of said intermediate shaft;
a wheel hub operably coupled to said output shaft for driving a vehicle wheel about said output axis wherein said input gear is positioned outboard from said output gear at a position between said wheel hub and said output gear; and
a first bearing set mounted directly between said gear housing and said output gear and a second bearing set mounted directly between said wheel hub and a bearing support mounted to said gear housing.
15. The vehicle wheel end assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said input gear and said first reduction gear are positioned between said first and second bearing sets.
16. A gear set for driving vehicle wheels comprising:
first and second wheel end assemblies interconnected by an axle housing;
an input positioned closer to said first wheel end assembly than said second wheel end assembly;
a first gear assembly mounted within a first gear housing for driving said first wheel end assembly; and
a second gear assembly mounted within a second gear housing for driving said second wheel end assembly, said first and second gear assemblies being driven by said input and wherein each of said first and second gear assemblies includes an input shaft rotatable about an input axis, an input gear operably coupled to said input shaft, a reduction gear set driven by said input gear about an intermediate axis positioned parallel to said input axis, an output gear driven by said reduction gear set, and an output shaft driven by said output gear about an output axis, said output shaft being operably coupled to drive a wheel hub about said output axis wherein said input gear is positioned outboard from said output gear at a position between said wheel hub and said output gear.
17. The gear set as set forth in claim 16 wherein said output axis is vertically higher than said input and intermediate axes.
18. The gear set as set forth in claim 16 wherein each of said first and second wheel end assemblies includes a rotating brake component mounted for rotation with said wheel hub and a non-rotating brake component supported by each of said first and second gear housings.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A rigid, laterally wedge-shaped, and fully enclosed device for attaching to and covering an entire blunt nose of a blunt-nosed trailer that is attached to and spaced behind a towing vehicle without impinging upon the towing vehicle so as to reduce drag of the blunt-nosed trailer when being towed by the towing vehicle by changing the blunt nose of the blunt-nosed trailer to a lateral wedge, comprising:
a) a frame; and
b) a skin;
wherein said frame is laterally wedge-shaped;
wherein said frame is rigid;
wherein said frame is attached to the blunt nose of the blunt-nosed trailer without impinging upon the towing vehicle;
wherein said skin is rigid;
wherein said skin is laterally wedge-shaped;
wherein said skin encloses said frame;
wherein said skin covers the entire blunt nose of the blunt-nosed trailer so as to reduce drag of the blunt-nosed trailer when being towed by the towing vehicle;
wherein said frame comprises:
c) a sole plate;
d) a top plate; and
e) studs;
wherein said sole plate of said frame is flat;
wherein said sole plate of said frame is horizontally oriented;
wherein said sole plate of said frame is triangular-shaped, and as such, has:
f) an apex corner;
g) a pair of sides;
h) a base; and
i) a pair of base corners;
wherein said top plate of said frame is flat;
wherein said top plate of said frame is horizontally oriented;
wherein said top plate of said frame is triangular-shaped, and as such, has:
j) an apex corner;
k) a pair of sides;
l) a base; and
m) a pair of base corners;
wherein said studs of said frame comprise a first stud;
wherein said first stud of said studs of said frame extends vertically from one base corner of said sole plate of said frame to a corresponding base corner of said top plate of said frame;
wherein said studs of said frame comprise a second stud; and
wherein said stud of said frame comprise an adjacent third stud and fourth stud.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein said studs of said frame are straight;
wherein said studs of said frame are vertically oriented; and
wherein said studs of said frame connect said top plate of said frame to said sole plate of said frame, with said sole plate of said frame and said top plate of said frame being:
a) identically oriented;
b) identically configured; and
c) parallel to each other.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein said second stud of said studs of said frame extends vertically from said pair of base corners of said sole plate of said frame to the corresponding base corners of said top plate of said frame.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein said adjacent third stud and fourth stud of said studs of said frame extend vertically from said apex corner of said sole plate of said frame to said apex corner of said top plate of said frame.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein said studs of said frame comprise a fifth stud.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein said fifth stud of said studs of said frame extends vertically from said sole plate of said frame to said top plate of said frame; and
wherein said fifth stud of said studs of said frame is disposed midway between said second stud of said studs of said frame and said adjacent third stud and fourth stud of said studs of said frame.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein said studs of said frame comprise a sixth stud.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein said sixth stud of said studs of said frame extends vertically from said sole plate of said frame to said top plate of said frame; and
wherein said sixth stud of said studs of said frame is disposed midway between said first stud of said studs of said frame and said adjacent third stud and fourth stud of said studs of said frame.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein said skin comprises a pair of panels.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein said pair of panels of said skin extend vertically from said sole plate of said frame to said top plate of said frame; and
wherein said pair of panels of said skin meet each other at a V-shaped forwardmost junction.
11. The device of claim 9, wherein one panel of said skin extends horizontally from said first stud of said studs of said frame to said adjacent third stud and fourth stud of said studs of said frame.
12. The device of claim 9, wherein each panel of said skin comprises a pair of layers.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein said pair of layers of each panel of said skin comprise:
a) an inner layer; and
b) an outer layer.
14. The device of claim 13, wherein said inner layer of said pair of layers of each panel of said skin is sheet exterior grade plywood for rigidity and strength.
15. The device of claim 13, wherein said outer layer of said pair of layers of each panel of said skin is sheet washable plastic for waterproofing.
16. The device of claim 10, wherein said skin comprises a pair of diamond plates.
17. The device of claim 16, wherein said pair of diamond plates of said skin are L-shaped.
18. The device of claim 16, wherein said pair of diamond plates of said skin overlie said pair of panels of said skin, respectively; and
wherein said pair of diamond plates of said skin extend upwardly along close proximity to said V-shaped forwardmost junction of said pair of panels of said skin, respectively, and outwardly along close proximity to said sole plate of said frame.
19. The device of claim 16, wherein said skin comprises a V-shaped molding.
20. The device of claim 19, wherein said V-shaped molding of said skin extends along said V-shaped forwardmost junction of said pair of panels of said skin; and
wherein said V-shaped molding of said skin conceals said V-shaped forwardmost junction of said pair of panels of said skin.
21. The device of claim 19, wherein said V-shaped molding of said skin is washable plastic for waterproofing.
22. The device of claim 19, wherein said skin comprises screws.
23. The device of claim 22, wherein said screws of said skin extend through said V-shaped molding of said skin, through said pair of diamond plates of said skin, through said pair of panels of said skin, and thread into said adjacent third stud and fourth stud of said studs of said frame.