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Drive unit with twin side shaft torque coupling

  • US 10,408,323 B2
  • Filed: 07/15/2015
  • Issued: 09/10/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2014
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

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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