WHEEL HUB CLUTCH ACTUATION MECHANISM, WHEEL END DISCONNECT, AND WHEEL END SYSTEM
A wheel hub clutch actuation mechanism includes a hub having a rotational axis, a latch member rotatably and axially fixed to the hub, a translating member supported on the latch member, and rotatably fixed and axially movable relative to the rotational axis, an indexer supported on the hub, and rotatably and axially movable relative to the rotational axis, a carrier supported on the hub and engaging the indexer, and rotatably fixed and axially movable for axial motion with no rotation, and a return member biasing the indexer towards a retracted position wherein the translating member acts against the return member to move the indexer to an extended position. The actuation mechanism also may include a manual, pneumatic, or electric actuator to translate the translating member, and may be a bi-stable actuation mechanism. Also disclosed are related wheel end systems including wheel hub clutches actuated by the wheel hub clutch actuation mechanism.
1 . A wheel hub clutch actuation mechanism, comprising:
a hub having a rotational axis;
a latch member rotatably and axially fixed to the hub;
a translating member supported on the latch member, and rotatably fixed and axially movable relative to the rotational axis;
an indexer supported on the hub, and rotatably and axially movable relative to the rotational axis;
a carrier supported on the hub and engaging the indexer, and rotatably fixed and axially movable for axial motion with no rotation; and
a return member biasing the indexer towards a retracted position wherein the translating member acts against the return member to move the indexer to an extended position.
2 . A wheel end system, comprising:
a wheel hub including
a wheel hub body having
a hub outboard portion with a hub outboard facing surface having fastener passages therein, and
a spindle passage, and
a wheel hub cover coupled to the hub outboard portion of the wheel hub body;
an axle shaft extending through the spindle passage;
a wheel hub clutch operatively coupled between the axle shaft and the wheel hub cover; and
the wheel hub clutch actuation mechanism of claim 1 cooperative with the wheel hub clutch to engage and disengage the wheel hub clutch to couple and decouple the axle shaft with respect to the wheel hub.
3 . The wheel end system of claim 2 , wherein the wheel hub clutch includes a pocket plate coupled to the axle shaft and a notch plate unitary with the wheel hub cover, and wherein the actuation mechanism is disposed axially inboard with respect to the pocket plate.
4 . The wheel end system of claim 3 , further comprising a pneumatic or electric actuator disposed axially inboard with respect to the translating member to move the translating member.
5 . The wheel end system of claim 3 , further comprising a manual actuator disposed axially outboard with respect to the wheel hub clutch and having a portion accessible via an opening through the wheel hub cover.
6 . The wheel end system of claim 2 , wherein the wheel hub clutch includes a notch plate, and a pocket plate disposed axially outboard with respect to the notch plate.
7 . A vehicle drivetrain having the wheel end system of claim 2 .
8 . (canceled)
9 . (canceled)
10 . A wheel hub clutch actuation mechanism, comprising:
a hub including a shaft;
a first member secured to the hub and constrained against rotational and axial movement with respect to the hub, the first member having a first side surface extending between a first inner and a first outer circumferential surface of the first member, the first side surface of the first member including a first cam surface;
a second member rotatably fixed and axially movable with respect to the first member, the second member having a second side surface extending between a second inner and a second outer circumferential surface of the second member, the second side surface of the second member including a second cam surface;
a third member rotatably and axially movable with respect to the shaft, the third member having a third side surface extending between a third inner circumferential surface and a third outer circumferential surface, the third side surface of the third member including a third cam surface and a fourth cam surface, the fourth cam surface of the third member radially inward of the third cam surface of the third member, the third member having a groove in the inner circumferential surface of the third member; and
the first cam surface of the first member is in the groove of the third member when the mechanism is placed in a retracted position, and the first cam surface of the first member contacts the fourth cam surface of the third member when the mechanism is placed in an extended position.
11 . A wheel end system, comprising:
a wheel hub including
a wheel hub body having
a hub outboard portion with a hub outboard facing surface having fastener passages therein, and
a spindle passage, and
a hub flange extending transversely outwardly and having wheel fastener passages extending therethrough; and
a wheel hub cover coupled to the hub outboard portion of the wheel hub body;
an axle shaft extending through the spindle passage;
a wheel hub clutch operatively coupled between the axle shaft and the wheel hub cover; and
the wheel hub clutch actuation mechanism of claim 10 cooperative with the wheel hub clutch to engage and disengage the wheel hub clutch to couple and decouple the axle shaft with respect to the wheel hub cover.
12 . The wheel end system of claim 11 , wherein the wheel hub clutch includes a pocket plate coupled to the axle shaft and a notch plate integrated into the wheel hub cover, and wherein the wheel hub clutch actuation mechanism is disposed axially inboard with respect to the pocket plate.
13 . The wheel end system of claim 12 , further comprising a pneumatic or electric actuator disposed axially inboard with respect to the second member to move the second member.
14 . The wheel end system of claim 12 , further comprising a manual actuator disposed axially outboard with respect to the wheel hub clutch and having a portion accessible via an opening through the wheel hub cover.
15 . The wheel end system of claim 11 , wherein the wheel hub clutch includes a notch plate coupled to the axle shaft and a pocket plate cooperative with the wheel hub cover, and wherein a translator is coupled to the second member and is disposed axially outboard with respect to the pocket plate and has a portion accessible via an opening through the wheel hub cover.
16 . A vehicle drivetrain having the wheel end system of claim 11 .
17 . (canceled)
18 . (canceled)
19 . A wheel hub clutch actuation mechanism, comprising:
a first member having a first cylindrically shaped body, a first cam surface extending transversely to a first rotational axis of the first member, and an end opposite the first cam surface, the first member including a first plurality of projections and grooves on an outer circumferential surface of the first member;
a second member having a second cylindrically shaped body, a second cam surface extending transversely to a second rotational axis of the second member, and a second plurality of projections and grooves on an a second inner circumferential surface of the second member, the second projections and grooves on the inner circumferential surface of the second member complementary to the first projections and grooves on the outer circumferential surface of the first member wherein engagement of the first projections and grooves on the outer circumferential surface of the first member with the second projections and grooves on the inner circumferential surface of the second member allows axial movement and prevents rotational movement between the first member in the second member;
the second cam surface of the second member spaced radially from and concentric with the first cam surface of the first member;
a third member having a third cylindrically shaped body, a third member cam surface extending transversely to a third rotational axis of the third member, and a third plurality of projections and grooves on a third inner circumferential surface of the third member, the third member cam surface of the third member including a third member first cam surface and a third member second cam surface, wherein third member first and second cam surfaces are concentric; and
the third member first cam surface of the third member engages the second cam surface of the second member, and the third member second cam surface of the third member engages the first cam surface of the first member.
20 . A wheel end system, comprising:
a wheel hub including
a wheel hub body having
a hub outboard portion with a hub outboard facing surface having fastener passages therein, and
a spindle passage, and
a hub flange extending transversely outwardly and having wheel fastener passages extending therethrough; and
a wheel hub cover coupled to the hub outboard portion of the wheel hub body;
an axle shaft extending through the spindle passage;
a wheel hub clutch operatively coupled between the axle shaft and the wheel hub cover; and
the wheel hub clutch actuation mechanism of claim 19 cooperative with the wheel hub clutch to engage and disengage the wheel hub clutch to couple and decouple the axle shaft with respect to the wheel hub cover.
21 . The wheel end system of claim 20 , wherein the wheel hub clutch includes a pocket plate coupled to the axle shaft and a notch plate integrated into the wheel hub cover, and wherein the second member is disposed axially inboard with respect to the pocket plate.
22 . The wheel end system of claim 21 , further comprising a pneumatic or electric actuator disposed axially inboard with respect to the second member to move the second member.
23 . The wheel end system of claim 21 , further comprising a manual actuator disposed axially outboard with respect to the wheel hub clutch and having a portion accessible via an opening through the wheel hub cover.
24 . The wheel end system of claim 20 , wherein the wheel hub clutch includes a notch plate coupled to the axle shaft and a pocket plate cooperative with the wheel hub cover, and wherein a translator is coupled to the second member and is disposed axially outboard with respect to the pocket plate and has a portion accessible via an opening through the wheel hub cover.
25 . (canceled)
26 . (canceled)
27 . (canceled)