Drive axle system having a clutching device

• US 9,457,655 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2015
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group LLC (Dana, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group LLC (Dana, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ziech, James F., Remboski, Donald J., Wesolowski, Steven J., Morscheck, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): KNIGHT, DEREK DOUGLAS
• Application Number:
  US14/790,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20150375617A1
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/16 of differential gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/165 provided between independent half axles B60K17/18, B60K17/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/3462 with means for changing distribution of torque between front and rear wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/3467 combined with a change speed gearing, e.g. range gear
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 23/08 for changing number of driven wheels , for switching from driving one axle to driving two or more axles B60K17/3515 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/429 Control of secondary clutches in drivelines
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/424 Friction clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/80 Differentials
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/82 Four wheel drive systems
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2048/368 using additional orbital gears in combination with clutches or brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/05 Multiple interconnected differential sets
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/06 with gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/08 comprising bevel gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/36 characterised by intentionally generating speed difference between outputs

Abstract

A drive axle system for a vehicle drive train having a clutching device is provided. The drive axle system includes a first shaft, a first axle assembly, a second axle assembly, a first clutching device, a second clutching device, and an axle assembly housing. At least a portion of the first shaft, the second clutching device, and at least one of the first axle assembly and the second axle assembly are disposed in the axle assembly housing. The first axle assembly is drivingly engaged with the first shaft. The first clutching device divides one of a pair of output axles into first and second portions. The second clutching device selectively engages a driving gear of the second axle assembly with one of the first shaft and a portion of the first axle assembly.

Claims

1. A drive axle system, comprising:

a first shaft comprising at least one shaft section;

a first axle assembly comprising a first wheel differential, a first driving gear coupled to the first wheel differential and drivingly engaged with the first shaft, and a first pair of output axles drivingly engaged with the first wheel differential;

a second axle assembly comprising a second wheel differential, a second driving gear coupled to the second wheel differential, a second pair of output axles drivingly engaged with the second wheel differential, and a first clutching device disposed on and dividing one of the second pair of output axles into first and second portions;

an axle assembly housing for housing at least a portion of the first shaft, a second clutching device, and at least one of the first axle assembly and the second axle assembly; and

the second clutching device having at least a first position and a second position, the second clutching device permitting variable frictional engagement between the second driving gear and the first shaft, wherein the second clutching device in the first position drivingly engages the second driving gear with the first shaft and the second clutching device in the second position disengaging the second driving gear from the first shaft.

2. The drive axle system according to claim 1, wherein the first shaft is drivingly engaged with the first driving gear of the first axle assembly through a single gear mesh.

3. The drive axle system according to claim 1, wherein the first axle assembly further comprises an axle ratio selection device.

4. The drive axle system according to claim 3, wherein the axle ratio selection device comprises a planetary gear set.

5. The drive axle system according to claim 3, wherein the first axle assembly has at least two first axle ratios and the second axle assembly has a second axle ratio, one of the at least two first axle ratios different from the second axle ratio.

6. The drive axle system according to claim 3, further comprising an output gear and an inter-axle shaft drivingly engaged with the second driving gear, wherein the second clutching device is a plate clutch concentrically disposed about the first shaft, the plate clutch engaging the second driving gear through the output gear and the inter-axle shaft when the plate clutch is in the first position and the plate clutch disengaging the output gear, the inter-axle shaft, and the second driving gear when the plate clutch is in the second position.

7. The drive axle system according to claim 3, further comprising an output gear and an inter-axle shaft drivingly engaged with the second driving gear, wherein the second clutching device is a synchronizer concentrically disposed about the first shaft, synchronizer engaging the second driving gear through the output gear and the inter-axle shaft when the synchronizer is in the first position and the synchronizer disengaging the output gear, the inter-axle shaft, and the second driving gear when the synchronizer is in the second position.

8. A drive axle system, comprising:

a first shaft;

a first axle assembly comprising a first wheel differential, a first driving gear coupled to the first wheel differential and drivingly engaged with the first shaft, a first axle pinion shaft in driving engagement with the first shaft and the first driving gear, and a first pair of output axles drivingly engaged with the first wheel differential;

a second axle assembly comprising a second wheel differential, a second driving gear coupled to the second wheel differential, a second axle pinion shaft in driving engagement with the second driving gear, a second pair of output axles drivingly engaged with the second wheel differential, and a first clutching device disposed on and dividing one of the second pair of output axles into first and second portions;

an axle assembly housing for housing at least a portion of the first shaft, a second clutching device, and the first axle assembly; and

the second clutching device having at least a first position and a second position, the second clutching device permitting variable frictional engagement between the second driving gear and the first shaft, the second clutching device in the first position drivingly engaging the second driving gear with the first shaft through a propeller shaft and the second axle pinion shaft and the second clutching device in the second position disengaging the second driving gear from the first shaft.

9. The drive axle system according to claim 8, wherein the second clutching device is a synchronizer concentrically disposed about the first shaft, the synchronizer engaging the second driving gear through the propeller shaft when the synchronizer is in the first position and the synchronizer disengaging the propeller shaft and the second driving gear when the synchronizer is in the second position.

10. A drive axle system, comprising:

a first shaft;

a first axle assembly comprising a first wheel differential, a first driving gear coupled to the first wheel differential and drivingly engaged with the first shaft, a first axle pinion shaft in driving engagement with the first shaft and the first driving gear through a propeller shaft, and a first pair of output axles drivingly engaged with the first wheel differential;

a second axle assembly comprising a second wheel differential, a second driving gear coupled to the second wheel differential, a second axle pinion shaft in driving engagement with the second driving gear, a second pair of output axles drivingly engaged with the second wheel differential, and a first clutching device disposed on and dividing one of the second pair of output axles into first and second portions;

an axle assembly housing for housing at least a portion of the first shaft, a second clutching device, and the second axle assembly; and

the second clutching device having at least a first position and a second position, the second clutching device permitting variable frictional engagement between the second driving gear and the first shaft, the second clutching device in the first position drivingly engaging the second driving gear with the first shaft through a drop gear and the second axle pinion shaft and the second clutching device in the second position disengaging the second driving gear from the first shaft.

11. The drive axle system according to claim 10, wherein the first shaft is drivingly engaged with the first driving gear of the first axle assembly through a single gear mesh.

12. The drive axle system according to claim 10, wherein the second clutching device is a synchronizer concentrically disposed about the first shaft, the synchronizer engaging the second driving gear through the drop gear when the synchronizer is in the first position and the synchronizer disengaging the drop gear and the second driving gear when the synchronizer is in the second position.