Sleeve for an axle shaft assembly

An axle shaft assembly, the axle shaft assembly comprising:

• a sleeve comprising:
• a cylindrical body, the cylindrical body defining an axis of rotation about which the cylindrical body is radially symmetric, a first radial face, a second radial face, an inner circumferential surface extending axially from the first radial face to the second radial face, and an outer circumferential surface, the cylindrical body comprising:
• a first set of splines, the first set of splines protruding outward from the outer circumferential surface, and the first set of splines being spaced apart about the axis of rotation and being spaced apart by an offset from the first radial face;
• a second set of splines, the second set of splines protruding outward from the outer circumferential surface, the second set of splines being spaced apart about the axis of rotation, and the first set of splines is axially spaced apart from the second set of splines, along the axis of rotation;
• and
• a third set of splines, the third set of splines protruding inward from the inner circumferential surface, the third set of splines extending continuously from the first radial face to the second radial face with respect to the axis of rotation, and the third set of splines being spaced apart about the axis of rotation,
• wherein the second set of splines and the third set of splines both abut the second radial face of the cylindrical body;
• and
• a shift fork having a first end coupled to the sleeve and a second end adapted for coupling with a piston used to provide motive force to the shift fork, the shift fork configured to shift from a first position to a second position, the first end of the shift fork circumferentially extending at least partially about the sleeve, the first end of the shift fork located in the offset between the first set of splines and the first radial face when the shift fork is in the first position and when the shift fork is in the second position.

An axle shaft assembly comprising:

• a carrier flange, the carrier flange being positioned about an axle shaft, the carrier flange comprising a first set of splines and a second set of splines;
• a sleeve, the sleeve being positioned about the axle shaft, and the sleeve comprising:
• a body, the body defining an inner surface, and an outer surface, the body comprising:
• a third set of splines, the third set of splines protruding outward from the outer surface, and the third set of splines being spaced apart about the carrier flange;
• a fourth set of splines, the fourth set of splines protruding outward from the outer surface, the fourth set of splines being spaced apart about the carrier flange, the third set of splines being axially spaced apart from the fourth set of splines, along a length of the axle shaft, wherein the third set of splines and the fourth set of splines are configured to engage with the first set of splines and the second set of splines, respectively;
• and
• a chamfered edge on the third set of splines, the chamfered edge being configured to engage the first set of splines with the third set of splines, before the second set of splines engages with the fourth set of splines.