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. 11, 2005
Filed:
Oct. 23, 2002
Jack Darrin Oates, Fletcher, NC (US);
Michael Rossi, Hendersonville, NC (US);
Jack Darrin Oates, Fletcher, NC (US);
Michael Rossi, Hendersonville, NC (US);
ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC, Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
An inter-axle differential assembly for a tandem drive axle set is disclosed that significantly reduces the vertical distance between input axes for a rear drive assembly and a forward drive assembly. The forward drive assembly includes a hollow pinion gear that is supported by a pair of tapered roller bearings. An inter-axle differential assembly is supported by a single tapered roller bearing and receives input from a driveline connection and transfers this input to the hollow pinion gear and to a through shaft that extends through the hollow pinion gear. The hollow pinion gear drives a main differential assembly that in turn drives a forward axle. The through shaft extends toward a rear drive assembly and provides input to the rear drive assembly. The rear drive assembly utilizes a rear pinion gear to drive a rear differential. The rear differential in turn drives a rear axle. This configuration significantly reduces the vertical distance between the input to the forward drive assembly and the input to the rear drive assembly or even allows a common axis to be shared by the inputs to the forward and rear drive assemblies.