Drive axle system having a clutching device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A drive axle system, comprising:
- a first shaft comprising at least one shaft section;
a bevel gear inter-axle differential comprising a first side gear, a driving spider, and a second side gear, the driving spider drivingly engaged with the 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 second side gear of the bevel gear inter-axle differential, 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; and
a second clutching device having at least a first position and a second position, wherein the second clutching device in the first position drivingly engages the second driving gear with the first side gear of the bevel gear inter-axle differential and the second clutching device in the second position drivingly engages the first side gear of the bevel gear inter-axle differential with the driving spider of the bevel gear inter-axle differential.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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 bevel gear inter-axle differential, a first axle assembly, a second axle assembly, a first clutching device, and a second clutching device. 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 a portion of the bevel gear inter-axle differential.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A drive axle system, comprising:
-
a first shaft comprising at least one shaft section; a bevel gear inter-axle differential comprising a first side gear, a driving spider, and a second side gear, the driving spider drivingly engaged with the 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 second side gear of the bevel gear inter-axle differential, 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; and a second clutching device having at least a first position and a second position, wherein the second clutching device in the first position drivingly engages the second driving gear with the first side gear of the bevel gear inter-axle differential and the second clutching device in the second position drivingly engages the first side gear of the bevel gear inter-axle differential with the driving spider of the bevel gear inter-axle differential. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A drive axle system, comprising:
-
a first shaft comprising at least one shaft section; a bevel gear inter-axle differential comprising a first side gear, a driving spider, and a second side gear, the driving spider drivingly engaged with the 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 second side gear of the bevel gear inter-axle differential, 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; and a second clutching device having at least a first position and a second position, the second clutching device comprising a shift collar concentrically disposed about the first shalt, a first synchronizer, and a second synchronizer, wherein the first synchronizer engages an output gear and an inter-axle shaft with the second driving gear of the second axle assembly to drivingly engage the second driving gear with the first side gear of the bevel gear inter-axle differential when the shift collar is in the first position and the second synchronizer engages the first shaft to drivingly engage the first side gear of the bevel gear inter-axle differential with the driving spider of the bevel gear inter-axle differential when the shift collar is in the second position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A drive axle system, comprising:
-
a first shaft comprising an engagement portion and an end portion; a bevel gear inter-axle differential comprising a first side gear, a driving spider, and a second side gear, the driving spider drivingly engaged with the first shaft; a first clutching device concentric with the first shaft, the first clutching device selectively engaging the driving spider of the bevel gear inter-axle differential with the engagement portion of the first shaft; an output shaft comprising a first end portion and a second end portion; a first axle assembly comprising a first wheel differential, a first driving gear coupled to the first wheel differential and drivingly engaged with the second end portion of the output 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 and drivingly engaged with the first side gear of the bevel gear inter-axle differential, a second pair of output axles drivingly engaged with the second wheel differential, and an axle clutching device disposed on and dividing one of the second pair of output axles into first and second portions; and a second clutching device concentric with the first shaft, the second clutching device having at least a first position and a second position, wherein the second clutching device in the first position selectively engages the second side gear with the first end portion of the output shaft and the second clutching device in the second position selectively engages the first end portion of the output shaft with the end portion of the first shaft. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification