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US 9,429,222 B2Granted
Drive unit assembly
AssigneeMeritor Heavy Vehicle Systems Cameri SpA
InventorsMarco Bassi, Roberto Gianone, Eugenio Tiziani
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A drive unit assembly including an input element, a first output element, a second output element and a drive unit housing containing a differential unit, the differential unit drivingly coupling the input element, the first output element and the second output element, the input element having input coupling features positioned externally of the drive unit housing, the first output element having output coupling features positioned externally of the drive unit housing, wherein the drive unit housing includes at least one mounting feature for securing the drive unit housing externally relative to an axle assembly and the second output element is suitable for driving an axle assembly.
Claims20
A drive unit assembly comprising:
- an input element having input coupling features;
- a first output element having output coupling features;
- a second output element;
- and
- a drive unit housing containing a differential unit, the differential unit drivingly coupling the input element, the first output element, and the second output element;
- wherein the input coupling features and the output coupling features are positioned externally of the drive unit housing;
- wherein the drive unit housing includes at least one mounting feature for securing the drive unit housing externally relative to an axle assembly having a differential carrier and an axle housing;
- and
- wherein the second output element is suitable for driving the axle assembly and wherein the differential unit is drivingly coupled to a first gear that is in meshing engagement with an idler gear arrangement that is in meshing engagement with a second gear that is drivingly coupled to the second output element, wherein the idler gear arrangement and the second gear rotate about different axes.
6 more elements
An axle arrangement comprising:
- a drive unit assembly having:
- an input element having input coupling features;
- a first output element having output coupling features;
- a second output element;
- and
- a drive unit housing containing a differential unit, the differential unit drivingly coupling the input element, the first output element, and the second output element, wherein the input coupling features and output coupling features are positioned externally of the drive unit housing and the drive unit housing includes at least one mounting feature;
- and
- an axle assembly having:
- an axle input element defined by a differential carrier;
- a right wheel output element;
- a left wheel output element;
- and
- an axle housing containing a single axle differential unit, the single axle differential unit drivingly coupling the axle input element, the right wheel output element, and the left wheel output element;
- wherein the drive unit housing is secured to the axle assembly externally relative to the axle housing via the at least one mounting feature such that the second output element selectively drives the axle input element and lubricant in the drive unit assembly is not provided to the axle assembly.
11 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- an axle arrangement including:
- a drive unit assembly having:
- an input element having input coupling features;
- a first output element having output coupling features;
- a second output element;
- and
- a drive unit housing containing a differential unit, the differential unit drivingly coupling the input element, the first output element, and the second output element, wherein the input coupling features and the output coupling features are positioned externally of the drive unit housing and wherein the drive unit housing includes at least one mounting feature;
- and
- an axle assembly having:
- an axle input element defined by a differential carrier;
- a right wheel output element;
- a left wheel output element;
- and
- an axle housing containing a single axle differential unit, the single axle differential unit drivingly coupling the axle input element, the right wheel output element, and the left wheel output element, wherein the drive unit housing is secured to the axle assembly externally relative to the axle housing via the at least one mounting feature such that the second output element selectively drives the axle input element, and wherein the axle arrangement defines a forward-rear axle arrangement of the vehicle and the differential carrier defining a forward-rear differential carrier;
- and
- a rear-rear axle assembly positioned behind the forward-rear axle arrangement, the rear-rear axle assembly including a rear-rear differential carrier upon which is mounted a single rear-rear differential unit;
- wherein the forward-rear differential carrier is substantially the same as the rear-rear differential carrier and lubricant in the drive unit assembly is not provided to the axle assembly.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.