Tandem axle with optimized inter-axle drive
First Claim
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1. A drive axle system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a first axle assembly, comprising;
an input shaft directly connected to a differential carrier, and a transfer shaft, concentric with said input shaft, directly connected to a inter-axle differential output gear;
a pinion gear and a ring gear;
a clutch selectively engageable between an input shaft gear, said transfer shaft and a bevel second drive axle gear;
a bevel second driven axle gear directly drivingly connected to one upper, outer diameter portion of said bevel second drive axle gear;
a driven axle shaft driven by said bevel second driven axle gear wherein said driven axle shaft is non-parallel to and above said input shaft; and
a second axle assembly, comprising a pinion gear and a ring gear, wherein said pinion gear is driven by said driven axle shaft and is collinear therewith.
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Abstract
Various drive axle systems are described each having a bevel gear system associated with the front axle system that is designed to minimize the angle of the inter-axle driveline with respect to the rear axle pinion gear.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A drive axle system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a first axle assembly, comprising; an input shaft directly connected to a differential carrier, and a transfer shaft, concentric with said input shaft, directly connected to a inter-axle differential output gear; a pinion gear and a ring gear; a clutch selectively engageable between an input shaft gear, said transfer shaft and a bevel second drive axle gear; a bevel second driven axle gear directly drivingly connected to one upper, outer diameter portion of said bevel second drive axle gear; a driven axle shaft driven by said bevel second driven axle gear wherein said driven axle shaft is non-parallel to and above said input shaft; and a second axle assembly, comprising a pinion gear and a ring gear, wherein said pinion gear is driven by said driven axle shaft and is collinear therewith. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A drive axle system for a vehicle, comprising:
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an angled first axle assembly, comprising; an input shaft angled downwardly with respect to the horizontal, said input shaft connected to a differential carrier; a transfer shaft, concentric with said input shaft, directly connected to a second inter-axle differential output gear; a pinion gear and a ring gear; a clutch selectively engageable between an input shaft gear and said transfer shaft; a bevel second drive axle gear mounted on said transfer shaft; a bevel second driven axle gear directly drivingly connected to one upper, outer diameter portion of said bevel second drive axle gear; a driven axle shaft driven by said bevel second driven axle gear, wherein said driven axle shaft is non-parallel to and above said input shaft; and a second axle assembly comprising a pinion gear and a ring gear, wherein said pinion gear is driven by said driven axle shaft and is substantially collinear therewith. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A drive axle system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a downwardly angled first axle assembly, comprising; an input shaft angled downwardly with respect to the horizontal, said input shaft connected to a planetary housing, said planetary housing having a carrier, pinions and a sun gear; a transfer shaft, collinear with said input shaft, drivingly connected to said pinions; a pinion gear and a ring gear; a clutch selectively engageable between said planetary housing and a bevel second axle drive gear; a bevel second driven axle gear directly drivingly connected to one upper, outer diameter portion of said bevel second drive axle gear; a driven axle shaft driven by said bevel second driven axle gear, wherein said driven axle shaft is non-parallel to and above said input shaft; and a second axle assembly comprising a pinion gear and a ring gear, wherein said pinion gear is driven by said driven axle shaft and is substantially collinear therewith. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification