AXLE ASSEMBLY

摘要

Axle Assembly Axle assemblies having a sensor of the mechanical input shaft type are difficult to access and subjected to radial and axial loads which cause premature failure. A connecting arrangement affixes a sensor body to a support bracket adjacent a second end of a rotatable spindle and maintains an input shaft of the sensor within a preselected range of axially aligned positions with respect to a spindle axis. A coupling arrangement couples the second end portion of the spindle to the input shaft and transfers only rotational motion from the spindle to the input shaft. The coupling arrangement permits a preselected amount of freedom of movement of the spindle relative to the sensor in axial and radial directions. Thus, damage to and premature failure of the sensor is alleviated and accessibility is substantially improved. The axle assembly is particularly suited for use on an automatic guided vehicle.