Reduced friction differential disconnect for a motor vehicle
View Patent ↗An axle disconnect system for selectively connecting or disconnecting a wheel-side shaft and a differential-side shaft having a common axis of rotation in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle. In the axle disconnect an output gear is splined to the wheel-side shaft on an outside diameter of the wheel-side shaft, and a translatable collar is splined to the output gear on an outside diameter of the output gear. The collar is arranged to be translated along the common axis of rotation for splined connection with the differential-side shaft while retaining the splined connection with the output gear.
1. A vehicle axle disconnect system for selectively connecting or disconnecting a wheel-side shaft and a differential-side shaft having a common axis of rotation, the axle disconnect comprising:
an output gear splined to the wheel-side shaft on an outside diameter of the wheel-side shaft; and
a translatable collar splined to the output gear on an outside diameter of the output gear and arranged to be translated along the common axis of rotation for splined connection with the differential-side shaft on an outside diameter of the differential-side shaft while retaining the splined connection with the output gear, so that the wheel-side shaft and the differential-side shaft are connected.
2. A vehicle axle disconnect system of claim 1 , further comprising a housing for containing the axle disconnect and mounting the axle disconnect on a vehicle.
3. A vehicle axle disconnect system of claim 2 , further comprising an electric motor mounted on the housing for translating the collar.
4. A vehicle axle disconnect system of claim 3 , wherein the electric motor is actuated by a vehicle mounted controller.
5. A vehicle axle disconnect system of claim 1 , wherein the wheel-side shaft is fixed to a wheel hub and the wheel hub is rotatably supported by a needle bearing at an interface of the wheel hub and the housing.
6. A vehicle axle disconnect system of claim 1 , wherein the output gear is rotatably supported by a ball bearing at an interface of the output gear and the housing.
7. A vehicle axle disconnect system of claim 1 , wherein the differential-side shaft is rotatably supported by a needle bearing positioned at an interface of the output gear and the differential-side shaft.
8. A vehicle drivetrain comprising an axle disconnect system for selectively connecting or disconnecting a drive wheel from a secondary differential, wherein the drivetrain comprises:
a primary driveline having a primary axle arranged to drive the vehicle; and
a secondary driveline having a secondary axle, a differential and two axle half-shafts arranged for selective mechanical engagement with the primary axle;
wherein the axle disconnect system comprises:
a wheel-side shaft connected to the drive wheel and a differential-side shaft connected to the differential, wherein the wheel-side shaft and the differential-side shaft have a common axis of rotation;
an output gear splined to the wheel-side shaft on an outside diameter of the wheel-side shaft; and
a translatable collar splined to the output gear on an outside diameter of the output gear and arranged to be translated along the common axis of rotation for splined connection with the differential-side shaft on an outside diameter of the differential-side shaft while retaining the splined connection with the output gear, so that the drive wheel and the differential are connected.
9. A vehicle drivetrain of claim 8 , wherein the axle disconnect system further comprises a housing for containing the axle disconnect and mounting the axle disconnect on a vehicle.
10. A vehicle drivetrain of claim 9 , wherein the axle disconnect system further comprises an electric motor mounted on the housing for translating the collar.
11. A vehicle drivetrain of claim 10 , wherein the electric motor is actuated by a vehicle mounted controller.
12. A vehicle drivetrain of claim 8 , wherein the wheel-side shaft is fixed to a wheel hub and the wheel hub is rotatably supported by a needle bearing at an interface of the wheel hub and the housing.
13. A vehicle drivetrain of claim 8 , wherein the output gear is rotatably supported by a ball bearing at an interface of the output gear and the housing.
14. A vehicle drivetrain of claim 8 , wherein the differential-side shaft is rotatably supported by a needle bearing positioned at an interface of the output gear and the differential-side shaft.