Drive axle assembly with a collar actuator mechanism
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A drive axle assembly comprising:
- a housing;
an input shaft that is disposed in the housing and configured to rotate about an axis;
a first gear that is disposed proximate the input shaft;
a collar that is disposed proximate the first gear, wherein the collar has a body portion that defines a hole that receives the input shaft and a flange portion that extends radially from the body portion, wherein the flange portion is ferromagnetic; and
a collar actuator mechanism that includes an electromagnetic coil that is disposed in a stationary position with respect to the housing, wherein the electromagnetic coil is configured to actuate the collar between a first position in which the collar is disengaged from the first gear and a second position in which the collar engages the first gear.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A drive axle assembly having a collar actuator mechanism that may include an electromagnetic coil. The electromagnetic coil may be disposed in a stationary position with respect to a housing and may be configured to actuate the collar.
25 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A drive axle assembly comprising:
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a housing; an input shaft that is disposed in the housing and configured to rotate about an axis; a first gear that is disposed proximate the input shaft; a collar that is disposed proximate the first gear, wherein the collar has a body portion that defines a hole that receives the input shaft and a flange portion that extends radially from the body portion, wherein the flange portion is ferromagnetic; and a collar actuator mechanism that includes an electromagnetic coil that is disposed in a stationary position with respect to the housing, wherein the electromagnetic coil is configured to actuate the collar between a first position in which the collar is disengaged from the first gear and a second position in which the collar engages the first gear. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A drive axle assembly comprising:
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a housing; an input shaft disposed in the housing and configured to rotate about a first axis; an interaxle differential unit that is disposed on the input shaft; a first gear that is rotatably disposed on the input shaft and operatively coupled to the interaxle differential unit; a collar that is moveably disposed on the input shaft; and a collar actuator mechanism that includes; an electromagnetic coil disposed in a stationary position on the housing; and a biasing member exerts a biasing force that biases the collar away from the first gear; wherein the electromagnetic coil is configured to actuate the collar between a first position in which the collar is disengaged from the first gear and a second position in which the collar engages the first gear such that torque is transmitted from the input shaft to the first gear via the collar and wherein the collar is spaced apart from the electromagnetic coil when the collar is in the second position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A drive axle assembly comprising:
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a housing; an input shaft disposed in the housing and configured to rotate about a first axis; an interaxle differential unit that is disposed on the input shaft; a first gear that is rotatably disposed on the input shaft and operatively coupled to the interaxle differential unit; a collar that is moveably disposed on the input shaft; and a collar actuator mechanism that includes; an electromagnetic coil disposed in a stationary position on the housing; and a biasing member exerts a biasing force that biases the collar away from the first gear; wherein the electromagnetic coil is configured to actuate the collar between a first position in which the collar is disengaged from the first gear and a second position in which the collar engages the first gear such that torque is transmitted from the input shaft to the first gear via the collar and wherein the biasing member is disposed between the input shaft and the electromagnetic coil. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A drive axle assembly comprising:
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a housing; an input shaft disposed in the housing and configured to rotate about a first axis; an interaxle differential unit that is disposed on the input shaft; a first gear that is rotatably disposed on the input shaft and operatively coupled to the interaxle differential unit, wherein the first gear includes a face gear portion; a collar that is moveably disposed on the input shaft; and a collar actuator mechanism that includes; an electromagnetic coil disposed in a stationary position on the housing; and a biasing member exerts a biasing force that biases the collar away from the first gear, wherein the biasing member is disposed between the face gear portion and the electromagnetic coil; wherein the electromagnetic coil is configured to actuate the collar between a first position in which the collar is disengaged from the first gear and a second position in which the collar engages the first gear such that torque is transmitted from the input shaft to the first gear via the collar.
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20. A drive axle assembly comprising:
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a housing; an input shaft disposed in the housing and configured to rotate about a first axis; an interaxle differential unit that is disposed on the input shaft; a first gear that is rotatably disposed on the input shaft and operatively coupled to the interaxle differential unit; a collar that is moveably disposed on the input shaft; and a collar actuator mechanism that includes; an electromagnetic coil disposed in a stationary position on the housing; and a biasing member exerts a biasing force that biases the collar away from the first gear; wherein the electromagnetic coil is configured to actuate the collar between a first position in which the collar is disengaged from the first gear and a second position in which the collar engages the first gear such that torque is transmitted from the input shaft to the first gear via the collar and wherein the electromagnetic coil has a thickness that extends from a first surface that faces toward the collar to a second surface that is disposed opposite the first surface, wherein the thickness of the electromagnetic coil is less than a distance of travel of the collar from the first position to the second position.
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Specification