Drive axle system

A drive axle system comprising:

• a first axle assembly that has a first drive pinion and a first differential assembly that has first ring gear wherein the first ring gear and the first drive pinion cooperate to provide a first near ratio;
• a second axle assembly that is operatively connected to the first axle assembly, the second axle assembly having a second drive pinion and a second differential assembly that has a second ring gear, wherein the second drive pinion and second ring gear cooperate to provide a second gear ratio that differs from the first gear ratio;
• an interaxle differential unit configured to operatively connect the first axle assembly and the second axle assembly;
• and
• a one-way freewheel clutch that transmits torque between the first axle assembly and the second axle assembly when the interaxle differential unit is unlocked, and that transmits torque to one of the first axle assembly and the second axle assembly when the interaxle differential unit is locked, wherein the first differential assembly is rotatable about a first differential axis, the second differential assembly is rotatable about a second differential axis, and the one-way freewheel clutch transmits torque to the first axle assembly to rotate the first differential assembly about the first differential axis in a second rotational direction that is opposite a first rotational direction when the first gear ratio is less than the second gear ratio and the interaxle differential unit is locked.

A drive axle system comprising:

• a first axle assembly that has a first drive pinion and a first differential assembly that has a first ring gear, wherein the first ring gear and the first drive pinion cooperate to provide a first gear ratio;
• a second axle assembly that is operatively connected to the first axle assembly, the second axle assembly having a second drive pinion and a second differential assembly that has a second ring gear, wherein the second drive pinion and second ring gear cooperate to provide a second gear ratio that differs from the first gear ratio;
• an interaxle differential unit configured to operatively connect the first axle assembly and the second axle assembly, the interaxle differential unit including a case, a first side gear, a second side gear that is fixed to an output shaft, a pinion gear that meshes with the first side gear and the second side gear, and an interaxle differential lock, wherein the case receives the first side gear, the second side gear, and the pinion gear, and the interaxle differential lock selectively couples the first side gear to the case such that the first side gear and the case are rotatable together when the interaxle differential lock is in a locked position and the case is rotatable with respect to the first side gear when the interaxle differential lock is in an unlocked position, the interaxle differential lock including a disc pack that extends around the first side gear and is received in the case;
• and
• a one-way freewheel clutch that transmits torque between the first axle assembly and the second axle assembly when the interaxle differential unit is unlocked, and that transmits torque to one of the first axle assembly and the second axle assembly when the interaxle differential unit is locked.

A drive axle system comprising:

• a first axle assembly that has a first drive pinion and a first differential assembly that has a first ring gear, wherein the first ring gear and the first drive pinion cooperate to provide a first sear ratio;
• a second axle assembly that is operatively connected to the first axle assembly, the second axle assembly having a second drive pinion and a second differential assembly that has a second ring gear, wherein the second drive pinion and second ring gear cooperate to provide a second gear ratio that differs from the first gear ratio;
• an interaxle differential unit configured to operatively connect the first axle assembly and the second axle assembly, wherein the interaxle differential unit includes:
• a planet carrier that is rotatable about an axis with an input shaft;
• a planetary ring gear that is rotatable about the axis with an output shaft;
• a sun gear that receives the first drive pinion;
• and
• a planet gear that is rotatably disposed on the planet carrier and meshes with the planetary ring gear and the sun gear;
• and
• a one-way freewheel dutch that transmits torque between the first axle assembly and the second axle assembly when the interaxle differential unit is unlocked, and that transmits torque to one of the first axle assembly and the second axle assembly when the interaxle differential unit is locked, wherein the one-way freewheel clutch is received in the sun gear.