The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 19, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 01, 1995
Kraig J Schlosser, Ft. Wayne, IN (US);
Ted J Kaufman, Ossian, IN (US);
Dana Corporation, Toledo, OH (US);
Abstract
A tandem rear axle assembly for vehicles including trucks comprises an interaxle differential and a differential lockout mechanism which includes a friction clutch or clutch pack comprising a multiplicity of parallel annular clutch disks arranged in interleaved first and second sets. The clutch pack may be concentric with an input shaft which transmits torque from a vehicle drive shaft to the interaxle differential. The first set of clutch disks may rotate with the input shaft. The second set of clutch disks is in driving engagement with an output gear of the interaxle differential, which drives a pinion shaft to transmit torque to a forward rear axle of the vehicle. The clutch is disengaged under normal driving conditions. The rear axle assembly further includes a clutch actuator assembly comprising first and second sensors for sensing the respective rotational speeds of the rearward rear axle and the forward rear axle, and a computer-control circuit which generates an output signal when the difference exceeds a predetermined maximum. The output signal actuates, for example, by means of air pressure, a piston which compresses the clutch pack so as to engage the clutch and thereby lock out the interaxle differential. When the interaxle differential is locked out, the forward rear axle and the rearward rear axle are driven at the same rotational speed. The clutch may be manually actuated if desired. In either case, smoother and more efficient automatic operation results from use of a friction disk-type clutch or clutch pack.