Single speed and two-speed disconnecting axle arrangements

A drivetrain for an all-wheel drive motor vehicle, the drivetrain comprising:

• a primary driveline including a first differential, said primary driveline being adapted for driving a pair of first vehicle wheels, said first differential having a first differential case;
• a power switching mechanism having an input shaft adapted to receive rotary power from a powertrain, a first two-speed range unit disposed between said input shaft and said first differential that is operable in a first range mode to couple said input shaft and said first differential case for common rotation and in a second range mode to establish a reduced speed ratio drive connection between said input shaft and said first differential case, an output pinion shaft, and a disconnect mechanism operable in a connected mode to permit transmission of rotary power between said input shaft and said output pinion shaft and in a disconnected mode to inhibit transmission of rotary power between said input shaft and said output pinion shaft;
• and
• a second driveline including a propshaft and a rear drive module, said rear drive module including a second differential, an input pinion shaft driving a hypoid gear, a torque transfer device, and a second two-speed range unit, said second differential having an input member and a pair of output members adapted to drive a pair of second vehicle wheels, said input pinion shaft being coupled by said propshaft to said output pinion shaft of said power switching mechanism, said second two-speed range unit including a planetary gear assembly and a range shift mechanism, said torque transfer device configured to surround said planetary gear assembly and includes a clutch input member driven by said hypoid gear, a clutch output member driving said planetary gear assembly, and a clutch pack operably disposed between said input clutch member and said output clutch member, said torque transfer device being operable in a first mode to permit transmission of rotary power from said clutch input member to said clutch output member and in a second mode to inhibit transmission of rotary power from said clutch input member to said clutch output member, said range shift mechanism being operable in a first range mode to establish a first speed ratio drive connection between said clutch output member and said input member of said second differential and in a second range mode to establish a second speed ratio drive connection between said planetary gear assembly and said input member of said second differential.