Claims
- 1. An enclosed axle differential lock apparatus comprising:
an axle carrier assembly; a bearing having a bearing cap fixedly disposed within said axle carrier assembly; a differential housing rotatably supported by said bearing; a pinion gear rotatably supported in said differential housing; a side gear rotatably supported in said differential housing, said side gear meshingly engaged with said pinion gear; an axle drivingly connected to said side gear; a clutch disposed between said differential housing and said axle, said clutch comprising a first clutch element drivingly disposed on said differential housing and a second clutch element drivingly disposed on said axle and axially movable thereon; said second clutch element having a first disengaged position in which said first clutch element and said second clutch element are substantially disconnected; said second clutch element having a second engaged position in which said first clutch element and said second clutch element are substantially drivingly connected; and an actuator integrally disposed in said bearing cap; wherein said actuator urges said second clutch element from said first disengaged position to said second engaged position.
- 2. The enclosed axle differential lock apparatus of claim 1, wherein said actuator is a pneumatic actuator.
- 3. The enclosed axle differential lock apparatus of claim 2, wherein said pneumatic actuator comprises further:
a cylinder fixedly disposed within said bearing cap; a piston slidingly disposed within said cylinder, said piston having a rod; a lever having a first end and a second end, said first end fixedly connected to said rod; wherein said second end urges said second clutch element from said first disengaged position to said second engaged position upon introduction of a fluid to said cylinder.
- 4. The enclosed axle differential lock apparatus of claim 3, wherein said fluid is air.
- 5. The enclosed axle differential lock apparatus of claim 1, wherein said actuator is a hydraulic actuator.
- 6. The enclosed axle differential lock apparatus of claim 5, wherein said hydraulic actuator comprises further:
a cylinder fixedly disposed within said bearing cap; a piston slidingly disposed within said cylinder, said piston having a rod; a lever having a first end and a second end, said first end fixedly connected to said rod; wherein said second end urges said second clutch element from said first disengaged position to said second engaged position upon introduction of a fluid to said cylinder.
- 7. The enclosed axle differential lock apparatus of claim 6, wherein said fluid is oil.
- 8. The enclosed axle differential lock apparatus of claim 1, wherein said actuator is an electronic actuator.
- 9. The enclosed axle differential lock apparatus of claim 8, wherein said electronic actuator comprises further:
a coil fixedly disposed within said bearing cap; a plunger slidingly disposed within said coil, said plunger having a rod; a lever having a first end and a second end, said first end fixedly connected to said rod; wherein said second end urges said second clutch element from said first disengaged position to said second engaged position upon introduction of electricity to said coil.
- 10. The enclosed axle differential lock apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second clutch element comprises further:
a first spline element fixedly connected to said second clutch element; a second spline element fixedly connected to said axle, said second spline element slidingly disposed on said first spline element; wherein said second clutch element moves from said first disengaged position to said second engaged position by said first spline element moving axially relative to said second spline element.
- 11. The enclosed axle differential lock apparatus of claim 1, wherein said clutch is selected from the group consisting of:
a dog clutch; a viscous clutch; and a cone clutch.
- 12. The enclosed axle differential lock apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
said first clutch element comprises further a plurality of first gear teeth disposed angularly about said axle; said second clutch element comprises further a plurality of second gear teeth disposed angularly about said axle; and wherein said first gear teeth are meshingly connected to said second gear teeth when said second clutch element is in said second engaged position.
- 13. The enclosed axle differential lock apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pneumatic actuator comprises further a tube having a fitting;
said fitting piercingly disposed in a wall of said axle carrier assembly; said axle carrier assembly having an oil level; wherein said fitting is above said oil level.
- 14. The enclosed axle differential lock apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bearing is selected from the group consisting of:
a rolling element bearing, a tapered roller bearing, a needle bearing, a ball bearing, a hydrodynamic bearing, and a hydrostatic bearing.
- 15. A vehicle comprising:
a chassis; an axle tube elastically disposed on said chassis; an axle carrier assembly fixedly connected to said axle tube; a bearing having a bearing cap fixedly disposed within said axle carrier assembly; a differential housing rotatably supported by said bearing; a pinion gear rotatably supported in said differential housing; a side gear rotatably supported in said differential housing, said side gear meshingly engaged with said pinion gear; an axle drivingly connected to said side gear, said axle rotatably disposed within said axle tube; a clutch disposed between said differential housing and said axle, said clutch comprising a first clutch element drivingly disposed on said differential housing and a second clutch element drivingly disposed on said axle and axially movable thereon; said second clutch element having a first disengaged position in which said first clutch element and said second clutch element are substantially disconnected; said second clutch element having a second engaged position in which said first clutch element and said second clutch element are substantially drivingly connected; and an actuator integrally disposed in said bearing cap; wherein said actuator urges said second clutch element from said first disengaged position to said second engaged position.
- 16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein said actuator is a pneumatic actuator.
- 17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein said pneumatic actuator comprises further:
a cylinder fixedly disposed within said bearing cap; a piston slidingly disposed within said cylinder, said piston having a rod; a lever having a first end and a second end, said first end fixedly connected to said rod; wherein said second end urges said second clutch element from said first disengaged position to said second engaged position upon introduction of a fluid to said cylinder.
- 18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein said fluid is air.
- 19. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein said actuator is a hydraulic actuator.
- 20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein said hydraulic actuator comprises further:
a cylinder fixedly disposed within said bearing cap; a piston slidingly disposed within said cylinder, said piston having a rod; a lever having a first end and a second end, said first end fixedly connected to said rod; wherein said second end urges said second clutch element from said first disengaged position to said second engaged position upon introduction of a fluid to said cylinder.
- 21. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein said fluid is oil.
- 22. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein said actuator is an electronic actuator.
- 23. The vehicle of claim 22, wherein said electronic actuator comprises further:
a coil fixedly disposed within said bearing cap; a plunger slidingly disposed within said coil, said plunger having a rod; a lever having a first end and a second end, said first end fixedly connected to said rod; wherein said second end urges said second clutch element from said first disengaged position to said second engaged position upon introduction of electricity to said coil.
- 24. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein said second clutch element comprises further:
a first spline element fixedly connected to said second clutch element; a second spline element fixedly connected to said axle, said second spline element slidingly disposed on said first spline element; wherein said second clutch element moves from said first disengaged position to said second engaged position by said first spline element moving axially relative to said second spline element.
- 25. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein said clutch is selected from the group consisting of:
a dog clutch; a viscous clutch; and a cone clutch.
- 26. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein:
said first clutch element comprises further a plurality of first gear teeth disposed angularly about said axle; said second clutch element comprises further a plurality of second gear teeth disposed angularly about said axle; and wherein said first gear teeth are meshingly connected to said second gear teeth when said second clutch element is in said second engaged position.
- 27. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein said pneumatic actuator comprises further a tube having a fitting;
said fitting piercingly disposed in a wall of said axle carrier assembly; said axle carrier assembly having an oil level; wherein said fitting is above said oil level.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to Provisional Application Serial No. 60/298,906, filed Jun. 19, 2001, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60298906 |
Jun 2001 |
US |