# US 2025/0146540 A1 · Disconnect mechanisms, transmission systems incorporating the same, and methods associated therewith > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0146540 A1 - Document ID: US20250146540A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 19/014,183 - Filed: 2025-01-08 - Published: 2025-05-08 - Earliest claimed: 2021-11-03 - Assignees: Allison Transmission, Inc. - Applicants: Allison Transmission, Inc. - Inventors: Nicholas Wheeler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250146540A1 ## CPC - F16D 11/10: with clutching members movable only axially - F16D 11/14: with clutching members movable only axially (F16D11/02, F16D11/08 take precedence) - B62D 55/125: Final drives - F16D 2011/006: {Locking or detent means, i.e. means to keep the clutch in engaged condition} - F16D 2023/123: {Clutch actuation by cams, ramps or ball-screw mechanisms} - F16D 2023/126: {Actuation by rocker lever; Rocker levers therefor} - F16D 2250/0084: Assembly or disassembly - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract Transmission systems, disconnect mechanisms, and methods of assembling disconnect mechanisms are envisioned. A disconnect mechanism is adapted to selectively decouple a driving device from a driven device. The disconnect mechanism includes a lever, an inner shaft, an outer shaft, and a housing. The inner shaft is coupled to the lever, the outer shaft is coupled to the inner shaft, and the housing at least partially houses the inner shaft and the outer shaft. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A disconnect mechanism comprising: a lever; an inner shaft coupled to the lever for rotation therewith about a longitudinal axis; an outer shaft coupled to the inner shaft for rotation therewith about the longitudinal axis; and a housing that at least partially houses the inner shaft and the outer shaft, wherein the inner shaft includes a splined rod having a first diameter and a collar having a second diameter greater than the first diameter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The disconnect mechanism of claim 1, wherein the inner shaft includes a keyed cylinder. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The disconnect mechanism of claim 2, wherein the collar is arranged between the splined rod and the keyed cylinder along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The disconnect mechanism of claim 2, wherein the keyed cylinder has a third diameter less than the second diameter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The disconnect mechanism of claim 2, wherein the keyed cylinder includes key projections received by key grooves of the outer shaft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The disconnect mechanism of claim 5, wherein the key projections are circumferentially spaced 180 degrees from one another about the longitudinal axis LA. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The disconnect mechanism of claim 5, wherein the key projections define rectangular projections and the key grooves define rectangular grooves. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The disconnect mechanism of claim 1, wherein the outer shaft includes a body having a third diameter and a neck having a fourth diameter less than the third diameter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The disconnect mechanism of claim 8, wherein the body is formed to include key grooves at an inner diameter thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The disconnect mechanism of claim 9, wherein the key grooves are circumferentially spaced 180 degrees from one another about the longitudinal axis LA. ### Claim 11 A transmission system comprising: a driving device including a transmission to transmit rotational power; a driven device including a final drive hub to receive rotational power from the driving device; and a disconnect mechanism to selectively decouple the driving device from the driven device, the disconnect mechanism comprising a lever, an inner shaft coupled to the lever for rotation therewith about a longitudinal axis, an outer shaft coupled to the inner shaft for rotation therewith about the longitudinal axis, and a housing that at least partially houses the inner shaft and the outer shaft. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The transmission system of claim 11, wherein the inner shaft includes a splined rod having a first diameter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The transmission system of claim 12, wherein the inner shaft includes a collar having a second diameter greater than the first diameter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The transmission system of claim 12, wherein the inner shaft includes a keyed cylinder. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The transmission system of claim 11, wherein the outer shaft includes a body having a first diameter and a neck having a second diameter less than the first diameter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The transmission system of claim 15, wherein the body is formed to include key grooves at an inner diameter thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The transmission system of claim 16, wherein the key grooves includes two grooves circumferentially spaced 180 degrees from one another about the longitudinal axis LA. ### Claim 18 A method of assembling a disconnect mechanism including an inner shaft, an outer shaft, a housing, and a lever, the method comprising: advancing the inner shaft into the outer shaft; installing the inner shaft and the outer shaft in the housing; and attaching the lever to the inner shaft. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein advancing the inner shaft into the outer shaft comprises aligning key projections of the inner shaft with key grooves of the outer shaft and inserting the key projections into the key grooves. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein installing the inner shaft and the outer shaft in the housing comprises arranging a plurality of protrusions of the outer shaft in a plurality of slots of the housing.