# US 11,306,803 B2 · Vehicle drive unit assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,306,803 B2 - Document ID: US11306803B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/683,722 - Filed: 2019-11-14 - Published: 2021-05-20 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2019-11-14 - Assignees: GKN Automotive AG - Applicants: GKN Automotive Limited - Inventors: Lei Yang; Brent Peura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306803B2 ## CPC - B60K 17/20: {in which the differential movement is limited} - F16H 37/04: Combinations of toothed gearings only (F16H37/06 takes precedence) - B60K 17/165: {provided between independent half axles (B60K17/18, B60K17/20 take precedence)} - B60K 17/344: having a transfer gear - B60K 17/3462: {with means for changing distribution of torque between front and rear wheels} - F16H 3/54: one of the central gears being internally toothed and the other externally toothed - F16H 2057/02052: {Axle units; Transfer casings for four wheel drive} - F16H 2063/3093: {Final output elements, i.e. the final elements to establish gear ratio, e.g. coupling sleeves or other means establishing coupling to shaft} - F16H 2200/0034: the gear ratios comprising two forward speeds - F16H 2200/2005: with one sets of orbital gears - F16H 2200/2035: with two engaging means - F16H 2200/2064: using at least one positive clutch, e.g. dog clutch - F16H 2200/2094: using positive clutches, e.g. dog clutches - F16H 2702/02: Mechanical transmissions with planetary gearing combined with one or more other mechanical transmissions - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract A rear drive unit (RDU) for a vehicle includes a shift collar, a sleeve disposed around the shift collar, a planetary gear set, a differential including a side gear, and a locking plate configured to engage the side gear. The sleeve is configured to move the shift collar between a first position and a second position. The planetary gear set includes a sun gear and at least one planetary gear engaged with the sun gear. The sun gear is configured to engage the shift collar in the second position. The at least one planetary gear includes a pin extending through an entire length of the at least one planetary gear. The shift collar is configured to exert a force upon the locking plate via the pin to move the locking plate into engagement with the side gear in a third position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rear drive unit (RDU) for a vehicle, the RDU comprising: a shift collar; a sleeve disposed around the shift collar and configured to move the shift collar between a first position of the shift collar and a second position of the shift collar, the sleeve being in a first position when the shift collar is in the first position of the shift collar, the sleeve being in a second position when the shift collar is in the second position of the shift collar, and the sleeve having a third position; a planetary gear set including a sun gear and at least one planetary gear engaged with the sun gear, the sun gear being configured to engage the shift collar in the second position, and the at least one planetary gear including a pin extending an entire length of the at least one planetary gear; a differential including a side gear; and a locking plate configured to engage the side gear, the sleeve being configured to exert a force upon the locking plate via the pin to move the locking plate into engagement with the side gear in the third position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The RDU of claim 1, further comprising an input shaft engaged with the shift collar, the input shaft configured to transfer torque to the shift collar. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The RDU of claim 1, wherein the planetary gear set includes a planetary cage configured to house the sun gear and the at least one planetary gear, and wherein the differential includes a differential housing configured to house the side gear. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The RDU of claim 3, wherein, in the first position, the shift collar is configured to transfer torque to the side gear through the differential housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The RDU of claim 3, wherein, in the second position, the shift collar is configured to transfer torque to the side gear through the sun gear, the at least one planetary gear, and the differential housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The RDU of claim 3, wherein, in the third position, the sleeve is configured to transfer torque to the side gear through the sun gear, the at least one planetary gear, the pin, and the locking plate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The RDU of claim 1, further comprising a spring disposed between the shift collar and the sleeve, the spring configured to compress as the sleeve moves from the second position to the third position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The RDU of claim 1, wherein the at least one planetary gear is radially engaged with the sun gear and the sun gear is laterally engaged with the shift collar in the second position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The RDU of claim 1, wherein the differential is directly adjacent the planetary gear set. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The RDU of claim 1, wherein the sleeve moves relative to the shift collar when the sleeve moves from the second position of the sleeve to the third position of the sleeve. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The RDU of claim 1 wherein the pin extends: 1) through the at least one planetary gear; or 2) the planetary gear set includes multiple planetary gears and the pin extends between two planetary gears of the multiple planetary gears. ### Claim 12 A rear drive unit (RDU) for a vehicle, the RDU comprising: a planetary gear set; a locking differential disposed directly adjacent the planetary gear set; an input shaft configured to selectively transfer torque to the locking differential through the planetary gear set; a shift collar and a sleeve disposed around the shift collar, the sleeve being configured to move the shift collar between a first position and a second position; and a spring disposed between the shift collar and the sleeve, the spring configured to compress as the sleeve moves from the second position to a third position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The RDU of claim 12, further comprising an input shaft engaged with the shift collar, the input shaft configured to transfer torque to the shift collar. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The RDU of claim 12, further comprising a locking plate configured to engage a side gear of the locking differential, the sleeve being configured to exert a force upon the locking plate to move the locking plate into engagement with the side gear in the third position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The RDU of claim 12, wherein the planetary gear set includes a sun gear and at least one planetary gear engaged with the sun gear, the sun gear being configured to engage the shift collar in the second position and the at least one planetary gear including a pin extending an entire length of the at least one planetary gear. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The RDU of claim 15, wherein the at least one planetary gear is radially engaged with the sun gear and the sun gear is laterally engaged with the shift collar in the second position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The RDU of claim 12, wherein the planetary gear set includes a planetary cage configured to house a sun gear and at least one planetary gear, and wherein the locking differential includes a differential housing configured to house a side gear. ### Claim 18 A rear drive unit (RDU) for a vehicle, the RDU comprising: a planetary gear set; a locking differential disposed directly adjacent the planetary gear set; an input shaft configured to selectively transfer torque to the locking differential through the planetary gear set; a shift collar and a sleeve disposed around the shift collar, the sleeve being configured to move the shift collar between a first position and a second position, wherein the planetary gear set includes a planetary cage configured to house a sun gear and at least one planetary gear, and wherein the locking differential includes a differential housing configured to house a side gear, and wherein, in the first position, the shift collar is configured to transfer torque to the side gear through the differential housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The RDU of claim 18, wherein, in the second position, the shift collar is configured to transfer torque to the side gear through the sun gear, the at least one planetary gear, and the differential housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The RDU of claim 18, further comprising a locking plate configured to engage the side gear, the sleeve being configured to exert a force upon the locking plate through a pin extending through the at least one planetary gear to move the locking plate into engagement with the side gear in a third position, and wherein, in the third position, the shift collar is configured to transfer torque to the side gear through the sun gear, the at least one planetary gear, and the locking plate.