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:
May. 01, 2007
Filed:
Apr. 30, 2004
Michael Green, Kalamazoo, MI (US);
Chris Pollack, Kalamazoo, MI (US);
Gary A. Turner, Three Rivers, MI (US);
Leo Wenstrup, Portage, MI (US);
James F. Ziech, Kalamazoo, MI (US);
Michael Green, Kalamazoo, MI (US);
Chris Pollack, Kalamazoo, MI (US);
Gary A. Turner, Three Rivers, MI (US);
Leo Wenstrup, Portage, MI (US);
James F. Ziech, Kalamazoo, MI (US);
Dana Corporation, Toleda, OH (US);
Abstract
An improved inter-axle differential locking clutch is provided that aligns the actuator and the clutch member thereby reducing space and material requirements in the axle assembly housing. The clutch also eliminates the need for a pushrod and shift fork thereby reducing tooling and production costs, as well as eliminating issues associated with misalignment of the piston and pushrod, relative rotation of the shift fork and clutch member, and tipping of the shift fork. The clutch includes one or more pistons disposed within either the axle housing or a carrier supporting the input shaft bearing. Fluid pressure actuates the pistons against a clutch member causing selective engagement between the clutch member and either a side gear driven by the inter-axle differential or a differential case housing the differential gears of the inter-axle differential.