Axle shaft disconnect clutch

US12337615B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

• Brian Lee · York, US
• Michael Hodge · Creston, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 20, 2022
• Grant date: Jun 24, 2025
• Expiry date: Sep 14, 2043

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16D2023/123
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An axle shaft disconnect clutch includes a housing, an axle shaft, a stub shaft, a dog clutch and an inner race. The axle shaft includes a first outer spline and the stub shaft includes a second outer spline. The dog clutch has an inner spline engaged with the second outer spline and the inner race is rotationally fixed and axially displaceable relative to the housing to axially displace the dog clutch and engage or disengage the inner spline with the first outer spline. In some example embodiments, the axle shaft disconnect clutch has a bushing pad fixed to the inner race. The inner race is arranged to push the dog clutch towards the first outer spline to engage the dog clutch, and the inner race is arranged to pull the bushing pad to pull the dog clutch away from the first outer spline to disengage the dog clutch.