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US 8,911,321 B2Granted
Tandem axle system
AssigneeDana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
InventorsJames F. Ziech, Donald J. Remboski, Richard A. Nellums, Benjamin J. Passino, Stephen C. Cochran, Stephen A. Edelen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tandem axle system has a forward axle system and a rear axle system. A method of selectively driving one or both of the axle systems is described.
Claims50
A method of driving a tandem axle system, comprising:
- providing rotation to an input shaft for said tandem axle system, said input shaft rotation being continuously transmitted to a rear axle system of said tandem axle system and being selectively provided to a forward axle system of said tandem axle system,
- said input shaft driving an inter-axle differential having differential pinion gears and first and second side gears, wherein said first side gear is connected to a shaft concentric with said input shaft, and said second side gear drives a rear pinion gear that provides rotation to said rear axle system comprising a rear differential and rear axles connected to said rear differential,
- wherein said concentric shaft drives a cone assembly of a synchronizer system, said cone assembly is selectively engagable with a plate assembly of said synchronizer system to rotate said plate assembly,
- wherein said plate assembly rotationally drives a forward pinion gear for providing rotation to said forward axle system comprising a forward differential, said forward differential driving at least one stub shaft selectively connected to an axle shaft by a forward axle system clutch.
1 more element
A method of driving a tandem axle system, comprising:
- providing rotation to an input shaft for said tandem axle system, said input shaft rotation being continuously transmitted to a forward axle system of said tandem axle system and being selectively provided to a rear axle system of said tandem axle system,
- said input shaft driving an inter-axle differential having differential pinion gears and first and second side gears, wherein said first side gear is connected to a shaft concentric with said input shaft, and said second side gear providing rotational input to a synchronizer system,
- wherein said concentric shaft has a drop gear set mounted for rotation thereon, said drop gear set driving a forward pinion gear connected to a forward differential of said forward axle system, wherein forward axles are connected to said forward differential for rotation therewith,
- wherein said synchronizer system comprises a cone assembly selectively engageable with a plate assembly to rotate said plate assembly,
- wherein said plate assembly provides rotation to a rear differential of said rear axle system, said rear differential driving at least one stub shaft selectively connected to an axle shaft by a rear axle system clutch.
2 more elements
A method for driving a tandem axle system, comprising:
- providing rotation to an input shaft for said tandem axle system, said input shaft rotation being continuously transmitted to a forward axle system of said tandem axle system and being selectively provided to a rear axle system of said tandem axle system,
- wherein said input shaft rotationally drives a differential carrier of an inter-axle differential, said differential carrier housing a differential pinion and a first and a second side gear,
- wherein said first side gear drives an output shaft and said second side gear provides rotational input to a shaft concentric with said output shaft,
- wherein said concentric shaft drives a pinion shaft for a forward differential of said forward axle system, wherein forward axles are connected to said forward differential for rotation therewith,
- wherein said output shaft drives a synchronizer system comprising a cone assembly selectively engageable with a plate assembly to rotate said plate assembly,
- wherein said plate assembly provides rotation to a rear differential of said rear axle system, said rear differential driving at least one stub shaft selectively connected to an axle shaft by a rear axle system clutch.
3 more elements
A method for driving a tandem axle system, comprising:
- providing rotation to an input shaft for said tandem axle system, said input shaft rotation being continuously transmitted to a forward axle system of said tandem axle system and being selectively provided to a rear axle system of said tandem axle system,
- wherein said input shaft rotationally drives an inter-axle differential comprising a differential pinion and a first and a second side gear,
- wherein said first side gear drives a shaft concentric with said input shaft and said second side gear drives an inter-axle differential output shaft,
- wherein said concentric shaft drives a pinion shaft for a forward differential of said forward axle system, wherein forward axles are connected to said forward differential for rotation therewith,
- wherein said inter-axle differential output shaft drives a rear differential pinion shaft, said rear differential pinion shaft providing rotation to a rear differential housing a differential pinion gear and two side gears, wherein one of said side gears drives a stub shaft connected to a plate assembly of a synchronizer system, said synchronizer system also comprising a cone assembly selectively engageable with said plate assembly.
2 more elements
A method for driving a tandem axle system, comprising:
- providing rotation to an input shaft for said tandem axle system, said input shaft rotation being continuously transmitted to a forward axle system of said tandem axle system and being selectively provided to a rear axle system of said tandem axle system,
- wherein said input shaft rotationally drives an inter-axle differential, said inter-axle differential comprising a differential pinion and a first and a second side gear,
- wherein said first side gear drives a shaft concentric with said input shaft and said second side gear drives an input pinion gear for a forward differential,
- wherein said concentric shaft drives a synchronizer shaft for a synchronizer system comprising a plate assembly and a cone assembly connected to said synchronizer shaft, said cone assembly is selectively engageable with said plate assembly,
- wherein said plate assembly provides rotation to a rear differential pinion shaft, said rear differential pinion shaft providing rotation to a rear differential housing a differential pinion gear and two side gears.
2 more elements
A method for driving a tandem axle system, comprising:
- providing rotation to an input shaft for said tandem axle system, said input shaft rotation being continuously transmitted to a rear axle system of said tandem axle system and being selectively provided to a forward axle system of said tandem axle system,
- wherein said input shaft rotationally drives an inter-axle differential, said inter-axle differential comprising a differential pinion and a first and a second side gear,
- wherein said first side gear drives a shaft concentric with said input shaft and said second side gear drives an input pinion gear for a rear differential of said rear axle system,
- wherein said concentric shaft drives a cone assembly of a synchronizer system, said synchronizer system also comprising a plate assembly,
- wherein said plate assembly is connected to an input pinion gear of said forward axle system, said forward axle system also comprising a differential having a pair of side gears and differential pinion gears.
2 more elements
A method for driving a tandem axle system, comprising:
- providing rotation to an input shaft for said tandem axle system, said input shaft rotation being continuously transmitted to a forward axle system of said tandem axle system and being selectively provided to a rear axle system of said tandem axle system,
- wherein said input shaft rotationally drives an inter-axle differential, said inter-axle differential comprising a differential pinion and a first and a second side gear,
- wherein said first side gear drives a shaft concentric with said input shaft and said second side gear drives an input pinion gear for a forward differential of said forward axle system,
- wherein said concentric shaft drives a cone assembly of a synchronizer system, said synchronizer system also comprising a plate assembly,
- wherein said plate assembly is connected to an input pinion gear of said rear axle system, said rear axle system also comprising a differential having a pair of side gears and differential pinion gears.
2 more elements
The method of 43, wherein a second clutch ring and third clutch ring are connected to a single shift mechanism for moving said clutch rings in concert with one another, wherein said single shift mechanism selectively moves said second clutch ring into engagement with a concentric shaft gear and an input shaft gear so that they rotate together and said single shift mechanism selectively moves said third clutch ring into engagement with said concentric shaft gear and said plate assembly so that they rotate together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.