Vehicle with multiple drive axle assembly with a raisable and lowerable rear drive axle, and method of operating such a vehicle
First Claim
1. A vehicle having a multiple drive axle assembly, comprising:
- a forward axle assembly comprising, a forward interaxle differential, a forward interaxle differential input shaft, a first forward interaxle differential output shaft, and a second forward interaxle differential output shaft, the forward interaxle differential distributing power from the forward interaxle differential input shaft between the first and the second forward interaxle differential output shafts;
an intermediate drive shaft directly connected to the second forward interaxle differential output shaft;
a rear axle assembly comprising a rear differential and a rear differential input shaft;
a rear clutch arrangement between the intermediate drive shaft and the rear differential input shaft, the rear clutch arrangement being movable between a first position in which the rear clutch arrangement rotationally locks the intermediate drive shaft and the rear differential input shaft and a second position in which the intermediate drive shaft and the rear differential input shaft are rotationally disconnected.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle having a multiple drive axle assembly includes a forward axle assembly including a forward interaxle differential, a forward interaxle differential input shaft and a forward interaxle differential output shaft. An intermediate drive shaft is connected to the forward interaxle differential output shaft. A rear axle assembly includes a rear differential and a rear differential input shaft. A rear clutch arrangement is provided between the intermediate drive shaft and the rear differential input shaft and is movable between a first position in which the rear clutch arrangement rotationally locks the intermediate drive shaft and the rear differential input shaft and a second position in which the intermediate drive shaft and the rear differential input shaft are rotationally disconnected. The rear axle assembly of the vehicle can be raised and lowered relative to a frame of the vehicle.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A vehicle having a multiple drive axle assembly, comprising:
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a forward axle assembly comprising, a forward interaxle differential, a forward interaxle differential input shaft, a first forward interaxle differential output shaft, and a second forward interaxle differential output shaft, the forward interaxle differential distributing power from the forward interaxle differential input shaft between the first and the second forward interaxle differential output shafts; an intermediate drive shaft directly connected to the second forward interaxle differential output shaft; a rear axle assembly comprising a rear differential and a rear differential input shaft; a rear clutch arrangement between the intermediate drive shaft and the rear differential input shaft, the rear clutch arrangement being movable between a first position in which the rear clutch arrangement rotationally locks the intermediate drive shaft and the rear differential input shaft and a second position in which the intermediate drive shaft and the rear differential input shaft are rotationally disconnected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A vehicle having a multiple drive axle assembly, comprising:
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a forward axle assembly comprising a forward interaxle differential a forward interaxle differential input shaft and a forward interaxle differential output shaft; an intermediate drive shaft connected to the forward interaxle differential output shaft; a rear axle assembly comprising a rear differential and a rear differential input shaft; a rear clutch arrangement between the intermediate drive shaft and the rear differential input shaft, the rear clutch arrangement being a movable, splined ring-type clutch and being movable between a first, position in which the rear clutch arrangement rotationally locks the intermediate drive shaft and the rear differential input shaft and a second position in which the intermediate drive shaft and the rear differential input shaft are rotationally disconnected, and a forward clutch arrangement movable between a first position in which the forward clutch arrangement rotationally locks the forward interaxle differential input shaft to the forward interaxle differential output shaft and a second position in which the forward interaxle differential input shaft is not locked to the forward interaxle differential output shaft. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method of operating a vehicle having a multiple drive axle assembly, comprising
dividing power from a forward interaxle differential input shaft between a first forward interaxle differential output shaft associated with a forward axle assembly and a second forward interaxle differential out shaft associated with a rear axle assembly via a forward interaxle differential; -
transmitting power to a rear differential shaft of a rear differential of the rear axle assembly via an intermediate drive shaft connected to the second forward interaxle differential output shaft; rotationally disconnecting the intermediate drive shaft and the rear differential input shaft by moving a rear clutch arrangement between the intermediate drive shaft and the rear differential input shaft, the rear clutch arrangement being a movable, splined ring-type clutch, from a first position in which the rear clutch arrangement rotationally locks the intermediate drive shaft and the rear differential input shaft to a second position in which the intermediate drive shaft and the rear differential input shaft are rotationally disconnected, and raising the rear axle assembly above a normal operating level relative to a frame of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification