All wheel drive axle disconnect device
AssigneeGKN Automotive AG
InventorsTheodore Gassmann, Brent Peura
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An axle disconnect device for use in an all wheel drive vehicle. The axle disconnect device includes a one-way overrunning clutch and a spring contacting the clutch. A spline locking ring contacts the spring on an end opposite of the clutch. A friction dog spline engages the surface of the spline locking ring while a differential ramp ring contacts the friction dog spline. The axle disconnect device also includes a cover ramp engaging the differential ramp ring.
Claims19
An axle disconnect device, said device including:
- a one-way overrunning clutch;
- a spring contacting said one-way overrunning clutch;
- a spline locking ring contacting said spring on an end opposite of said one-way overrunning clutch;
- a friction spline engaging a surface of said spline locking ring;
- a differential ramp ring contacting said friction spline;
- and
- a cover ramp engaging said differential ramp ring, said ramps interact and develop an axial force that moves said friction spline into said spline locking ring during predetermined conditions.
An axle disconnect device, said device including:
- a one-way overrunning clutch;
- a spring contacting said one-way overrunning clutch;
- a spline locking ring contacting said spring on an end opposite of said one-way overrunning clutch;
- a friction spline engaging a surface of said spline locking ring;
- a differential ramp ring contacting said friction spline;
- and
- a cover ramp engaging said differential ramp ring, said cover ramp is made of a tetrafluoroethylene material.
An axle disconnect system for use in a vehicle drive train, said axle disconnect system including:
- an axle housing having a cover thereon;
- a differential rotatably supported within said axle housing;
- an overrunning clutch located within said differential;
- a spline locking ring adjacent to said overrunning clutch;
- a friction spline engaging a surface of said spline locking ring;
- a differential ramp ring contacting said friction spline;
- and
- a cover ramp engaging said differential ramp ring, said cover ramp secured to said cover of said axle housing.
An all wheel drive system for use in a vehicle, the vehicle having a half shaft and a pinion shaft, said system including:
- a housing;
- a differential housing rotatably supported within said housing, said differential housing having a plurality of orifices on one end thereof;
- a ring gear arranged on an outside surface of said differential housing, said ring gear engaging the pinion shaft;
- a differential gear set rotatably supported within said differential housing, said differential gear set having a planet gear and a side gear;
- an overrunning clutch having a first plate and a second plate, said first plate connected to said side gear and said second plate connected to the half shaft;
- a spring contacting said second plate;
- a spline locking ring contacting said spring on an end opposite of said second plate;
- a friction spline having a plurality of appendages extending from one end thereof, said plurality of appendages extend through said plurality of orifices of said differential housing, said appendages engage said spline locking ring;
- a differential ramp ring contacting said friction spline, said differential ramp ring having a plurality of ramp surfaces on one end thereof;
- and
- a cover ramp ring secured to said housing and engaging said differential ramp ring, said cover ramp ring having a plurality of ramp surfaces, said ramp surfaces of said cover ramp interact with said ramp surfaces of said differential ramp ring to provide axial motion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.