Quick disconnect for an integrated drive unit

A drive unit including a fixed spindle connectable to a vehicle and a rotatable hub connected to a wheel, said drive unit comprising:

• a gear set operable to be selectively driven by a power source, the hub selectively operably coupled to said power source through said gear set;
• an input shaft for selectively connecting said power source to said gear set, said input shaft selectively axially displaceable from an engaged position in which said input shaft is drivingly engaged with said gear set to a disengaged position in which said input shaft is disengaged from said gear set;
• a rotatable camming surface connected to said input shaft, whereby actuation of said camming surface operates to axially displace said input shaft between said engaged and said disengaged positions;
• a disconnect pin, said camming surface connected to said input shaft via said disconnect pin, said disconnect pin having a first end abutting said camming surface and a second end abutting said input shaft;
• a removable cover member connected to said hub, said cover substantially sealably enclosing an end of the hub, said disconnect pin traversing an aperture in said cover;
• and
• a disconnect knob rotatably attached to said cover, said camming surface comprising an annular ramped surface integral with said disconnect knob, whereby rotation of said knob actuates said camming surface and axially displaces said input shaft between said engaged and said disengaged positions.

A drive unit including a fixed spindle connectable to a vehicle and a rotatable hub connected to a wheel, said drive unit comprising:

• a gear set operable to be selectively driven by a power source, the hub selectively operably coupled to said power source through said gear set;
• an input shaft for selectively connecting said power source to said gear set, said input shaft selectively axially displaceable from an engaged position in which said input shaft is drivingly engaged with said gear set to a disengaged position in which said input shaft is disengaged from said gear set;
• a rotatable camming surface connected to said input shaft, whereby actuation of said camming surface operates to axially displace said input shaft between said engaged and said disengaged positions;
• a disconnect pin, said camming surface connected to said input shaft via said disconnect pin, said disconnect pin having a first end abutting said camming surface and a second end abutting said input shaft;
• a removable cover member connected to said hub, said cover substantially sealably enclosing an end of the hub;
• and
• a disconnect knob rotatably attached to said cover, said camming surface comprising an annular ramped surface integral with said disconnect knob, whereby rotation of said knob actuates said camming surface and axially displaces said input shaft between said engaged and said disengaged positions, said disconnect knob having an engage detent, wherein said disconnect pin is retained within said engage detent when said input shaft is placed in said engaged position, said annular ramped surface having a pinnacle, said disconnect knob having a disengage detent located on said pinnacle, whereby said disconnect pin is retained in said disengage detent when said input shaft is placed in said disengaged position.

An integrated drive unit including a fixed spindle connectable to a vehicle and a rotatable hub connected to a wheel, said integrated drive unit comprising:

• a hydraulic motor;
• a gear set selectively driven by said motor;
• the hub selectively operably coupled to said motor via an output shaft, said output shaft rotatably fixed to said motor, an input shaft splined to said output shaft, and said gear set;
• said input shaft selectively axially displaceable from an engaged position in which said input shaft is drivingly engaged with said gear set to a disengaged position in which said input shaft is disengaged from said gear set;
• an actuatable camming surface connected via a disconnect pin to said input shaft, whereby actuation of said camming surface operates to axially displace said input shaft between said engaged and said disengaged positions;
• a removable cover substantially sealably enclosing an end of the hub, said disconnect pin traversing an aperture in said cover;
• and
• a disconnect knob rotatably attached to said cover, said camming surface comprising an annular ramped surface integral with said disconnect knob, whereby rotation of said knob actuates said camming surface and axially displaces said input shaft between said engaged and said disengaged positions.

A wheel drive unit including a fixed spindle connectable to a vehicle and a rotatable hub connected to a wheel, said wheel drive unit comprising:

• a gear set operable to be selectively driven by a power source, the hub selectively operably coupled to said power source through said gear set and an input shaft, said input shaft selectively axially displaceable from an engaged position in which said input shaft is drivingly engaged with said gear set to a disengaged position in which said input shaft is disengaged from said gear set;
• an actuatable ramped surface connected via a disconnect pin to said input shaft, whereby actuation of said ramped surface operates to axially displace said input shaft between said engaged and said disengaged positions;
• a removable cover substantially sealably enclosing an end of the hub, said disconnect pin traversing an aperture in said cover;
• and
• a disconnect knob rotatably attached to said cover, said ramped surface comprising an annular ramped surface integral with said disconnect knob, whereby rotation of said knob actuates said ramped surface and axially displaces said input shaft between said engaged and said disengaged positions.

A method of placing a drive unit in a freewheel position, wherein the drive unit includes a fixed spindle and a rotatable hub connected to a wheel;

• the drive unit further including a gear set selectively driven by a power source, the hub selectively operably coupled to the power source through the gear set;
• an input shaft for selectively connecting said power source to said gear set, the input shaft selectively axially displaceable from an engaged position in which said input shaft is drivingly engaged with the gear set to a disengaged position in which the input shaft is disengaged from the gear set;
• and a camming surface moveably mounted on the drive unit and connected to the input shaft, said method comprising:
• manually actuating said camming surface while said camming surface remains mounted on said drive unit;
• and
• axially displacing said input shaft to thereby shift said input shaft into one of said engaged and disengaged positions by said manual actuation of said camming surface.

A method of placing a drive unit in a freewheel position, wherein the drive unit includes a fixed spindle and a rotatable hub connected to a wheel;

• the drive unit further including a gear set selectively driven by a power source, the hub selectively operably coupled to the power source through the gear set;
• an input shaft for selectively connecting said power source to said gear set, the input shaft selectively axially displaceable from an engaged position in which said input shaft is drivingly engaged with the gear set to a disengaged position in which the input shaft is disengaged from the gear set;
• and a rotatable camming surface connected to the input shaft, said method comprising:
• rotating said camming surface;
• axially displacing said input shaft to thereby shift said input shaft into one of said engaged and disengaged positions;
• and
• wherein said drive unit further comprises:
• a disconnect pin, said ramped surface connected to said input shaft via said disconnect pin;
• a removable cover member connected to said hub, said cover substantially sealably enclosing an end of the hub, the disconnect pin traversing an aperture in the cover;
• a disconnect knob rotatably attached to the cover, the rotatable camming surface comprising an annular ramped surface integral with the disconnect knob, whereby rotation of the disconnect knob actuates the ramped surface and axially displaces the input shaft between the engaged and disengaged positions;
• wherein said step of rotating said camming surface comprises rotating the disconnect knob.