Locking collar for vehicular differential

A vehicle comprising:

• a pair of wheels;
• and
• a drivetrain that comprises:
• a first axle;
• and
• a second axle, each of the wheels being rotatably supported by one of the first axle and the second axle;
• and
• a differential comprising:
• a stationary case;
• a rotatable carrier journalled within stationary case, the rotatable carrier having a neck portion, the neck portion including a first set of external splines;
• at least two spider gears rotatably coupled to the rotatable carrier;
• a first side gear meshed with each of the at least two spider gears, the first axle being coupled with the first side gear and rotatable together with the first side gear;
• a second side gear meshed with each of the at least two spider gears, the second axle being coupled with the axle tube and rotatable together with the axle tube;
• a shaft coupled with the second side gear and rotatable together with the second side gear, the shaft having a distal end that includes a second set of external splines;
• an axle tube disposed at the distal end of the shaft and including a third set of external splines;
• and
• a locking collar co-axially disposed about the second axle and having a first set of internal splines and a second set of internal splines, the locking collar being longitudinally movable relative to the second axle between a first position, a second position, and a third position and the locking collar being rotatable with the second axle;
• wherein:
• the locking collar has a first internal diameter corresponding with the first set of internal splines;
• the locking collar has a second internal diameter corresponding with the second set of internal splines;
• the second internal diameter is greater than the first internal diameter;
• when the locking collar is in the first position, the first set of internal splines is meshed with the third set of external splines to facilitate operation of a vehicle in a two-wheel drive mode;
• when the locking collar is in the second position, the first set of internal splines is meshed with the second and third sets of external splines such that the shaft and the second axle are coupled together to facilitate operation of a vehicle in a four-wheel drive mode;
• and
• when the locking collar is in the third position, the first set of internal splines is meshed with the second and third sets of external splines and the second set of internal splines is meshed with the first set of external splines, such that the rotatable carrier, the shaft, and the second axle are coupled together to facilitate locking of the differential and operation of a vehicle in a locked four-wheel drive mode.

A locking collar for association with a differential and configured to facilitate operation of vehicle in one of a two-wheel drive mode, a four-wheel drive mode, and a four-wheel drive mode with a locked differential, the locking collar comprising:

• a first set of internal splines;
• a shoulder surface, wherein the first set of splines terminate adjacent to the shoulder surface;
• at least one protrusion that extends from the shoulder surface,
• wherein said at least one protrusion is configured to extend into at least one respective recess defined by a rotatable carrier to facilitate locking of the rotatable carrier and the locking collar together.