Twin Electronic Torque Management Device
AssigneeGKN Driveline North America, Inc.
InventorsBrenten Corliss, Samuel Oram, Joseph Palazzolo, Matthew Schmalenberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An axle module may comprise an outer housing and a ring gear assembly rotatably supported within the outer housing on a hub. The axle module may further include first and second shafts arranged within the ring gear assembly, and first and second inner hubs rotatably fixed to the first and second shafts, respectively. Additionally, the axle module may include first and second clutch packs, each having a first plurality of friction plates fixed for rotation to the first and second inner hubs, and a second plurality of friction plates fixed for rotation to the hub. Exemplary axle modules may have a reduced packaging width.
Claims20
A ring gear assembly, comprising:
- a hub having a central wall, the central wall defining a first cavity and second cavity on opposing sides of the central wall;
- first and second inner hubs configured to be fixed to first and second shafts arranged within the ring gear assembly for rotation therewith;
- and
- first and second clutch packs received within the first and second cavities, respectively, the first and second clutch packs each having a first plurality of friction plates fixed for rotation to the first and second inner hubs, the first and second clutch packs each having a second plurality of friction plates fixed for rotation to the hub.
A ring gear assembly, comprising:
- a hub;
- first and second inner hubs configured to be fixed to first and second shafts arranged within the ring gear assembly for rotation therewith;
- first and second clutch packs received within the first and second cavities, respectively, the first and second clutch packs each having a first plurality of friction plates fixed for rotation to the first and second inner hubs, the first and second clutch packs each having a second plurality of friction plates fixed for rotation to the hub housing;
- and
- first and second inner hub bearings disposed between the hub and the first and second inner hubs, respectively, the first and second inner hub bearings configured to allow the first and second inner hubs to rotate with respect to the hub;
- wherein the first and second hub bearings are disposed at least partially within the first and second inner hubs, respectively.
An axle module, comprising:
- an outer housing;
- a ring gear assembly rotatably supported within the outer housing on a hub;
- first and second inner hubs configured to be fixed to first and second shafts arranged within the ring gear assembly for rotation therewith;
- first and second clutch packs received within the first and second cavities, respectively, the first and second clutch packs each having a first plurality of friction plates fixed for rotation to the first and second inner hubs, the first and second clutch packs each having a second plurality of friction plates fixed for rotation to the hub housing;
- a first expansion assembly and a second expansion assembly, the first and second expansion assemblies each adjacent to the housing, wherein the first and second expansion assemblies are configured to transfer an axial load to the first and second clutch packs to selectively engage the first and second friction plates together;
- and
- a differential bearing disposed on the outer housing and configured to allow the hub to rotate with respect to the housing;
- wherein at least one of the first and second expansion assemblies includes a ball ramp supported on a ball ramp bearing, wherein an inner diameter portion of the differential bearing abuts the ball ramp bearing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.