Tandem axle power divider assembly with inboard slip driveshaft connection
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tandem axle assembly, comprising:
- a first axle assembly having;
a wheel differential; and
, a pinion shaft drivingly coupled to said wheel differential;
a second axle assembly having;
a wheel differential;
an inter-axle differential configured to divide power between said wheel differentials of said first and second axle assemblies;
a power input shaft drivingly coupled to said inter-axle differential;
an output shaft driven by said inter-axle differential; and
, a power transmission shaft coupled to said power input shaft and a drive shaft assembly; and
, an intermediate drive shaft assembly having;
an output yoke driven by said output shaft; and
, an input yoke drivingly coupled to said pinion shaft wherein one member of said power transmission shaft, said power input shaft, said output shaft, said output yoke, said input yoke, and said pinion shaft defines a bore and another member of said power transmission shaft, said power input shaft, said output shaft, said output yoke, said input yoke, and said pinion shaft extends into said bore, said one member axially movable relative to said another member.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tandem axle assembly capable of accommodating variations in driveline length is provided. The tandem axle assembly includes forward and rear axle assemblies each having a wheel differential with the forward axle assembly further including an inter-axle differential for dividing power between the two wheel differentials. A male-female slip connection is formed between two members at one or more of the following intersections: the connection between a power input shaft driving the inter-axle differential and a power transmission shaft for transferring power from a vehicle driveshaft to the power input shaft; the connection between an output shaft driven by the inter-axle differential and an output yoke of an intermediate drive shaft assembly extending between the forward and rear axle assemblies; and the connection between an input yoke of the intermediate drive shaft assembly and a pinion shaft in the rear axle assembly drivingly coupled to the rear wheel differential.
52 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A tandem axle assembly, comprising:
-
a first axle assembly having;
a wheel differential; and
,a pinion shaft drivingly coupled to said wheel differential;
a second axle assembly having;
a wheel differential;
an inter-axle differential configured to divide power between said wheel differentials of said first and second axle assemblies;
a power input shaft drivingly coupled to said inter-axle differential;
an output shaft driven by said inter-axle differential; and
,a power transmission shaft coupled to said power input shaft and a drive shaft assembly; and
,an intermediate drive shaft assembly having;
an output yoke driven by said output shaft; and
,an input yoke drivingly coupled to said pinion shaft wherein one member of said power transmission shaft, said power input shaft, said output shaft, said output yoke, said input yoke, and said pinion shaft defines a bore and another member of said power transmission shaft, said power input shaft, said output shaft, said output yoke, said input yoke, and said pinion shaft extends into said bore, said one member axially movable relative to said another member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 21)
-
-
10. A tandem axle assembly comprising:
-
a first axle assembly having a first wheel differential;
a second axle assembly having;
a second wheel differential;
an inter-axle differential configured to divide power between said first and second wheel differentials;
a power input shaft drivingly coupled to said inter-axle differential and disposed about a longitudinal axis; and
,a power transmission shaft coupled to said power input shaft and a drive shaft assembly and disposed about said axis, wherein one of said power input shaft and said power transmission shaft defines an axially extending bore and the other of said power input shaft and said power transmission shaft extends into said bore, said power transmission shaft axially movable relative to said power input shaft. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A tandem axle assembly, comprising:
-
a first axle assembly having a first wheel differential;
a second axle assembly having;
a second wheel differential;
an inter-axle differential configured to divide power between said first and second wheel differentials;
a power input shaft drivingly coupled to said inter-axle differential and disposed about a longitudinal axis; and
,a power transmission shaft coupled to said power input shaft and a drive shaft assembly and disposed about said axis wherein one shaft of said power input shaft and said power transmission shaft defines an axially extending bore and a first plurality of splines on a radially inner surface and the other shaft of said power input shaft and said power transmission shaft extends into said bore and defines a second plurality of splines configured to mate with said first plurality of splines, said one shaft axially movable relative to said other shaft. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification
-
- Resources
Litigation Campaign Assessment
Thank you for your request. You will receive a custom alert email when the Litigation Campaign Assessment is available.
×
-
Current AssigneeDana Automotive Systems Group, LLC (Dana, Inc.)
-
Original AssigneeDana Corporation (Dana, Inc.)
-
InventorsWillford, George A., Holman, James L.
-
Primary Examiner(s)Lorence, Richard M.
-
Application NumberUS10/408,410Publication NumberTime in Patent Office701 DaysField of Search475/221, 475/222, 180/24.09, 180/24.12, 464/162, 464/182US Class Current475/221CPC Class CodesB60K 17/36 for driving tandem wheelsF16H 2048/426 characterised by spigot bea...
