Vehicle transmission with disconnect devices

A vehicle transmission, comprising:

• a first disconnect device including:
• a first splined sleeve mated with a first output shaft that is configured to selectively rotationally decouple the first output shaft from a first transmission shaft, wherein a first output interface is directly rotationally coupled to the first output shaft and wherein the first output interface is configured to rotationally couple to a first differential in a first drive axle via one or more mechanical components that extend between the first output interface and the first differential;
• and
• a hydraulic actuation system including a hydraulic actuator coupled to the first splined sleeve, wherein the hydraulic actuator is configured to axially translate the first splined sleeve in opposing directions to place the hydraulic actuator in an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration;
• a second disconnect device including:
• a second splined sleeve mated with a second output shaft configured to rotationally couple to a second differential in a second drive axle via one or more mechanical components that extend between a second output interface and the second differential;
• and
• wherein the hydraulic actuation system includes a second hydraulic actuator coupled to the second splined sleeve and configured to axially translate the second splined sleeve in opposing directions to place the second hydraulic actuator in an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration, wherein in the engaged configuration the second splined sleeve mates with splines in a second transmission shaft;
• wherein the first and second drive axles are spaced away from one another;
• wherein, in the engaged configuration, the first splined sleeve mates with splines in the first transmission shaft;
• wherein the hydraulic actuation system is configured to automatically transition the hydraulic actuator into the disengaged configuration responsive to a hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic actuation system decreasing below a threshold value;
• wherein the first output shaft and the first disconnect device are enclosed within a transmission housing;
• and
• wherein the first disconnect device and the second disconnect device are both commonly enclosed in the transmission housing.

A method for operation of a vehicle transmission, comprising:

• automatically operating a first disconnect device to mechanically decouple a first drive axle from the vehicle transmission when a pressure in a hydraulic actuation system coupled to the first disconnect device decreases below a threshold value;
• wherein the vehicle transmission includes:
• a second disconnect device configured to selectively inhibit mechanical power transfer from a second transmission shaft to a second output interface, wherein the second output interface is configured to rotationally couple to a second differential in a second drive axle via one or more mechanical components that extend between the second output interface and the second differential;
• wherein the first and second drive axles are spaced away from one another;
• wherein the first drive axle includes a first differential that is coupled to axle shafts;
• wherein the first disconnect device includes a splined sleeve mated with an output shaft that is directly coupled to an output interface which is configured to rotationally couple to the differential;
• wherein the hydraulic actuation system comprises a hydraulic actuator coupled to the splined sleeve;
• wherein the hydraulic actuator is configured to axially translate the splined sleeve in opposing directions to place the hydraulic actuator in an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration;
• and
• wherein the first disconnect device and the second disconnect device are both commonly enclosed in a transmission housing.