IMPROVED WORM GEAR ASSEMBLY FOR DRIVE AXLE

摘要

A drive axle assembly (10) for a vehicle receives input torque from an engine (30) via an input shaft (22). The input shaft (22) drives a worm (20) which in turn drives a worm gear (18). The worm gear includes teeth (34) which engage and drive an axle shaft (14) which in turn drives a vehicle wheel (12). The teeth of the worm gear are defined by a tooth profile which has two pressure angles, one on each side of the tooth. The worm includes a thread with a thread profile that also has two pressure angles, one on each side of the thread. One of the pressure angles on the thread of the worm is greater than its other pressure angle and one of the pressure angles on the worm gear teeth is greater than its other pressure angle.