Axle shaft disconnect system
AssigneeDana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
InventorCorey Kwapich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for drivetrain of a vehicle. In one example, the drivetrain includes an axle shaft with a radial nub and a shaft guide surrounding the axle shaft. The shaft guide may have an inner radial groove configured to have an interference fit with the radial nub. When the axle shaft is axially translated along an axial direction to engage the radial nub with the inner radial groove of the shaft guide, the axle shaft may be disconnected from a wheel hub of the vehicle.
Claims20
A drivetrain for a vehicle, comprising:
- an axle shaft having a radial nub protruding from an outer surface of the axle shaft;
- and
- a shaft guide circumferentially surrounding the axle shaft and having an inner radial groove configured to have an interference fit with the radial nub,
- wherein when the axle shaft is axially translated along an axial direction to engage the radial nub with the inner radial groove of the shaft guide, the axle shaft is disconnected from a wheel hub of the vehicle.
A method for a disconnecting an axle shaft from a powertrain of a vehicle, comprising:
- axially translating the axle shaft in an outboard direction, the axle shaft circumferentially surrounded by a shaft guide having an inner radial groove, to engage a radial nub of the axle shaft with the inner radial groove of the shaft guide, wherein the axle shaft is disconnected from a wheel hub when the radial nub is engaged with the inner radial groove.
A vehicle, comprising:
- an electric motor coupled to a drivetrain of the vehicle, the drivetrain including:
- an axle shaft having a radial nub;
- an axle tube enclosing the axle shaft;
- and
- a shaft guide arranged between an inner surface of the axle tube and an outer surface of the axle shaft and having an inner radial groove configured to receive the radial nub of the axle shaft,
- wherein a wheel hub of the vehicle spins independent of the electric motor when the radial nub of the axle shaft is inserted into the inner radial groove of the shaft guide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.