Vehicle with multiple drive axle assembly with a raisable and lowerable rear drive axle, and method of operating such a vehicle
US9381806B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 5, 2012 |
| Grant date | Jul 5, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 5, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60W2530/10
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A vehicle having a multiple drive axle assembly includes a forward axle assembly including a forward interaxle differential, a forward interaxle differential input shaft and a forward interaxle differential output shaft. An intermediate drive shaft is connected to the forward interaxle differential output shaft. A rear axle assembly includes a rear differential and a rear differential input shaft. A rear clutch arrangement is provided between the intermediate drive shaft and the rear differential input shaft and is movable between a first position in which the rear clutch arrangement rotationally locks the intermediate drive shaft and the rear differential input shaft and a second position in which the intermediate drive shaft and the rear differential input shaft are rotationally disconnected. The rear axle assembly of the vehicle can be raised and lowered relative to a frame of the vehicle.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.