Drive unit with twin side shaft torque coupling
First Claim
1. A drive unit with twin side shaft torque coupling, comprising:
- a pinion shaft with a pinion gear;
a ring gear meshed with said pinion gear;
an intermediate shaft having a first end portion and a second end portion and a central portion bounded by said first end portion and said second end portion;
wherein said ring gear is drivingly connected to said central portion of said intermediate shaft;
a first clutch drum is drivingly connected to said first end portion of said intermediate shaft;
wherein said first clutch drum supporting selective axial movement of a first plurality of clutch plates on an internal surface of said first clutch drum;
a bearing mount extends axially outboard from a first side of a substantially vertical wall portion of said first clutch drum away from said ring gear;
wherein said bearing mount is integrally formed as part of said substantially vertical wall portion of said first clutch drum;
a first clutch can is located radially inboard from said first clutch drum, wherein said first clutch can supporting selective axial movement of a second plurality of clutch plates on an external surface of said first clutch can;
wherein said first plurality of clutch plates of said first clutch drum are interleaved with said second plurality of clutch plates of said first clutch can to form a first clutch pack;
wherein at least a portion of said first clutch can is disposed radially outboard from at least a portion of said bearing mount of said first clutch drum;
wherein said first clutch can is drivingly connected to one end portion of a first output shaft located radially inboard from said first clutch can;
a first clutch drum bearing located radially inboard from said first clutch can and said bearing mount of said first clutch drum;
wherein at least a portion of said first clutch drum bearing is in direct contact with at least a portion of said first output shaft and at least a portion of said bearing mount of said first clutch drum;
wherein said first clutch drum bearing rotationally supports said inboard end of said first output shaft;
a first clutch actuator assembly wherein said first clutch actuator assembly is selectively engagable to drivingly connect said first clutch drum to said first clutch can of said first clutch pack;
a second clutch drum drivingly connected to said second end portion of said intermediate shaft;
wherein said second clutch drum supporting selective axial movement of a first plurality of clutch plates on an internal surface of said second clutch drum;
a bearing mount extends axially outboard from a first side of a substantially vertical wall portion of said second clutch drum away from said ring gear;
wherein said bearing mount is integrally formed as part of said substantially vertical wall portion of said second clutch drum;
a second clutch can located radially inboard from said second clutch drum;
wherein said second clutch can supporting selective axial movement of a second plurality of clutch plates on an external surface of said second clutch can;
wherein said first plurality of clutch plates of said second clutch drum are interleaved with said second plurality of clutch plates of said second clutch can to form a second clutch pack;
wherein at least a portion of said second clutch can is disposed radially outboard from at least a portion of said bearing mount of said second clutch drum;
wherein said second clutch can is directly connected to one end portion of a second output shaft located radially inboard from said second clutch can;
a second clutch drum bearing located radially inboard from said second clutch can and said bearing mount of said second clutch drum;
wherein at least a portion of said second clutch drum bearing is in direct contact with at least a portion of said second output shaft and at least a portion of said bearing mount of said second clutch drum;
wherein said second clutch drum bearing rotationally supports said inboard end of said second output shaft;
a second clutch actuator assembly wherein said second clutch actuator assembly is selectively engagable to drivingly connect said second clutch drum to said second clutch can of said second clutch pack.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A drive unit with twin side shaft torque coupling has an intermediate shaft with a first end portion and a second end portion and a central portion with a ring gear. A first clutch drum is directly mounted on the first end portion of the intermediate shaft. The first clutch drum has a first plurality of clutch plates. A first clutch can is located radially inboard of the first clutch drum. The first clutch can supports selective axial movement of a second plurality of clutch plates. The first and second plates are interleaved with one another to form a clutch pack. The first clutch can is connected to one end portion of a first output shaft located radially inboard from said first clutch can. A first clutch actuator assembly selectively actuates the first clutch. The drive unit also comprises a second clutch drum, clutch can and clutch actuator assembly.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A drive unit with twin side shaft torque coupling, comprising:
- a pinion shaft with a pinion gear;
a ring gear meshed with said pinion gear;an intermediate shaft having a first end portion and a second end portion and a central portion bounded by said first end portion and said second end portion; wherein said ring gear is drivingly connected to said central portion of said intermediate shaft; a first clutch drum is drivingly connected to said first end portion of said intermediate shaft; wherein said first clutch drum supporting selective axial movement of a first plurality of clutch plates on an internal surface of said first clutch drum;
a bearing mount extends axially outboard from a first side of a substantially vertical wall portion of said first clutch drum away from said ring gear;wherein said bearing mount is integrally formed as part of said substantially vertical wall portion of said first clutch drum;
a first clutch can is located radially inboard from said first clutch drum, wherein said first clutch can supporting selective axial movement of a second plurality of clutch plates on an external surface of said first clutch can;wherein said first plurality of clutch plates of said first clutch drum are interleaved with said second plurality of clutch plates of said first clutch can to form a first clutch pack; wherein at least a portion of said first clutch can is disposed radially outboard from at least a portion of said bearing mount of said first clutch drum; wherein said first clutch can is drivingly connected to one end portion of a first output shaft located radially inboard from said first clutch can;
a first clutch drum bearing located radially inboard from said first clutch can and said bearing mount of said first clutch drum;wherein at least a portion of said first clutch drum bearing is in direct contact with at least a portion of said first output shaft and at least a portion of said bearing mount of said first clutch drum; wherein said first clutch drum bearing rotationally supports said inboard end of said first output shaft; a first clutch actuator assembly wherein said first clutch actuator assembly is selectively engagable to drivingly connect said first clutch drum to said first clutch can of said first clutch pack; a second clutch drum drivingly connected to said second end portion of said intermediate shaft;
wherein said second clutch drum supporting selective axial movement of a first plurality of clutch plates on an internal surface of said second clutch drum;
a bearing mount extends axially outboard from a first side of a substantially vertical wall portion of said second clutch drum away from said ring gear;wherein said bearing mount is integrally formed as part of said substantially vertical wall portion of said second clutch drum; a second clutch can located radially inboard from said second clutch drum; wherein said second clutch can supporting selective axial movement of a second plurality of clutch plates on an external surface of said second clutch can; wherein said first plurality of clutch plates of said second clutch drum are interleaved with said second plurality of clutch plates of said second clutch can to form a second clutch pack; wherein at least a portion of said second clutch can is disposed radially outboard from at least a portion of said bearing mount of said second clutch drum; wherein said second clutch can is directly connected to one end portion of a second output shaft located radially inboard from said second clutch can; a second clutch drum bearing located radially inboard from said second clutch can and said bearing mount of said second clutch drum; wherein at least a portion of said second clutch drum bearing is in direct contact with at least a portion of said second output shaft and at least a portion of said bearing mount of said second clutch drum; wherein said second clutch drum bearing rotationally supports said inboard end of said second output shaft; a second clutch actuator assembly wherein said second clutch actuator assembly is selectively engagable to drivingly connect said second clutch drum to said second clutch can of said second clutch pack. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 13, 15, 16)
- a pinion shaft with a pinion gear;
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4. A drive unit with twin side shaft torque coupling, comprising:
- a pinion shaft with a pinion gear;
a ring gear meshed with said pinion gear;an intermediate shaft having a first end portion and a second end portion and a central portion bounded by said first end portion and said second end portion; wherein said ring gear is integrally formed as part of said central portion of said intermediate shaft; a first clutch drum is drivingly connected to said first end portion of said intermediate shaft; wherein said first clutch drum supporting selective axial movement of a first plurality of clutch plates on an internal surface of said first clutch drum;
a bearing mount extends axially outboard from a first side of a substantially vertical wall portion of said first clutch drum away from said ring gear;wherein said bearing mount is integrally formed as part of said substantially vertical wall portion of said first clutch drum;
a first clutch can is located radially inboard from said first clutch drum, wherein said first clutch can supporting selective axial movement of a second plurality of clutch plates on an external surface of said first clutch can;wherein said first plurality of clutch plates of said first clutch drum are interleaved with said second plurality of clutch plates of said first clutch can to form a first clutch pack; wherein at least a portion of said first clutch can is disposed radially outboard from at least a portion of said bearing mount of said first clutch drum; wherein said first clutch can is directly connected to one end portion of a first output shaft located radially inboard from said first clutch can;
a first clutch drum bearing located radially inboard from said first clutch can and said bearing mount of said first clutch drum;wherein at least a portion of said first clutch drum bearing is in direct contact with at least a portion of said first output shaft and at least a portion of said bearing mount of said first clutch drum; wherein said first clutch drum bearing rotationally supports said inboard end of said first output shaft; a first clutch actuator assembly wherein said second clutch actuator assembly is selectively engagable to drivingly connect said first clutch drum to said first clutch can of said first clutch pack; a second clutch drum drivingly connected to said second end portion of said intermediate shaft; wherein said second clutch drum supporting selective axial movement of a first plurality of clutch plates on an internal surface of said second clutch drum;
a bearing mount extends axially outboard from a first side of a substantially vertical wall portion of said second clutch drum away from said ring gear;wherein said bearing mount is integrally formed as part of said substantially vertical wall portion of said second clutch drum;
a second clutch can located radially inboard of said second clutch drum;wherein said second clutch can supporting selective axial movement of a second plurality of clutch plates on an external surface of said second clutch can; wherein said first plurality of clutch plates of said second clutch drum are interleaved with said second plurality of clutch plates of said second clutch can to form a second clutch pack; wherein at least a portion of said second clutch can is disposed radially outboard from at least a portion of said bearing mount of said second clutch drum; wherein said second clutch can is directly connected to one end portion of a second output shaft located radially inboard from said second clutch can; a second clutch drum bearing located radially inboard from said second clutch can and said bearing mount of said second clutch drum; wherein at least a portion of said second clutch drum bearing is in direct contact with at least a portion of said second output shaft and at least a portion of said bearing mount of said second clutch drum; wherein said second clutch drum bearing rotationally supports said inboard end of said second output shaft; a second clutch actuator assembly wherein said second clutch actuator assembly is selectively engagable to drivingly connect said second clutch drum to said second clutch can of said second clutch pack. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- a pinion shaft with a pinion gear;
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10. A method of coupling torque through twin side shafts of a drive unit, comprising:
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providing a drive unit comprising a pinion shaft with a pinion gear, a ring gear, an intermediate shaft, a first clutch drum, a second clutch drum, a first clutch drum bearing, a second clutch drum bearing, a first clutch can, a second clutch can, a first clutch actuator assembly, a second clutch actuator assembly, a first output shaft and a second output shaft; wherein said clutch drums are mounted for rotation with end portions of said intermediate shaft, wherein each of said clutch drums supporting selective axial movement of a first plurality of clutch plates on an internal surface of each of said clutch drums, wherein a bearing mount extends axially outboard from a first side of a substantially vertical wall portion of said clutch drums away from said ring gear, wherein said bearing mount is integrally formed as part of said substantially vertical wall portion of said clutch drums; wherein said clutch cans are located radially inboard from said clutch drums, wherein each of said clutch cans supporting selective axial movement of a second plurality of clutch plates on an external surface of each of said clutch cans, wherein said first plurality of clutch plates are interleaved with said second plurality of clutch plates to form clutch packs, wherein at least a portion of said clutch cans are disposed radially outboard from at least a portion of said bearing mounts of said clutch drums, wherein said clutch cans are drivingly connected to end portions of said output shafts located radially inboard from said clutch cans; wherein said clutch drum bearings are located radially inboard from said clutch cans and said bearing mounts of said clutch drums, wherein at least a portion of said clutch drum bearings are in direct contact with at least a portion of said output shafts and at least a portion of bearing mounts of said clutch drums; wherein said clutch actuator assemblies are selectively engagable to drivingly connect said clutch drums to said clutch cans; providing an idle mode for said drive unit, wherein said pinion shaft with said pinion gear, said ring gear, said intermediate shaft, said first clutch drum and said second clutch drum are disconnected from said first output shaft and said second output shaft; providing an engaged mode wherein said pinion shaft with said pinion gear, said ring gear, said intermediate shaft, said first clutch drum, said second clutch drum, said first clutch can, said second clutch can, said first clutch actuator assembly and said second clutch actuator assembly provide drive to said first output shaft and/or said second output shaft. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 14)
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Specification