Axle shaft disconnect assembly

Abstract

A drive axle assembly comprises a carrier member having a trunnion outwardly extending from the carrier member, an output shaft axially outwardly extending from the carrier member, a differential assembly including a differential case supported for rotation within the carrier member and a side gear rotatably mounted about the output shaft, a clutch collar non-rotatably coupled thereto and configured to selectively drivingly engage the side gear, and an annular clutch actuator for axially moving the clutch collar between a first position and a second position. The clutch collar drivingly engages the side gear in power transmitting relationship in the first position, while the clutch collar is disengaged from the side gear in the second position.

1 . A drive axle assembly comprising:
 a carrier member including an outwardly extending trunnion having an opening therethrough;   an output shaft axially outwardly extending from said carrier member through said opening in said trunnion;   a differential assembly including a differential case supported for rotation within said carrier member and a side gear being rotatably mounted about said output shaft;   a clutch collar disposed about said output shaft and non-rotatably coupled thereto and configured to selectively drivingly engage said side gear; and   an clutch actuator mounted to said trunnion for axially moving said clutch collar between a first position in which said clutch collar drivingly engages said side gear and a second position in which said clutch collar is disengaged from said side gear.   
   
   
       2 . The drive axle assembly as defined in  claim 15  further comprising a drive sleeve rotatably mounted about said output shaft and non-rotatably coupled to said side gear; wherein said clutch collar configured to selectively drivingly engage said side gear through said drive sleeve. 
   
   
       3 . The drive axle assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said side gear has a plurality of axially outwardly directed coupling gear teeth, and wherein said clutch collar has axially inwardly directed coupling gear teeth complementary to said axially outwardly directed coupling gear teeth of said side gear. 
   
   
       4 . The drive axle assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said clutch actuator is annular and coaxially and non-rotatably secured within said trunnion of said carrier member so as to define an end cap in said opening in said trunnion. 
   
   
       5 . The drive axle assembly as defined in  claim 4 , further comprising an expandable snap ring mounted to said trunnion so as to retain said annular clutch actuator within said carrier member. 
   
   
       6 . The drive axle assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said annular clutch actuator includes an end cap non-rotatably secured to said trunnion and about said output shaft for covering said opening in said trunnion. 
   
   
       7 . The drive axle assembly as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a shaft retention collar disposed about said output shaft between said side gear and output shaft so that said side gear is rotatably mounted about said shaft retention collar. 
   
   
       8 . The drive axle assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said clutch actuator is a fluid-operated clutch actuator including an annular actuator housing mounted to said trunnion coaxially therewith and defining a fluid chamber and an annular actuator piston provided for axially moving said clutch collar between said first position and said second position depending on a fluid pressure within said fluid chamber. 
   
   
       9 . The drive axle assembly as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said annular actuator housing of said first fluid-operated clutch actuator is non-rotatably secured within said trunnion of said carrier member so as to define an end cap covering said opening in said trunnion. 
   
   
       10 . The drive axle assembly as defined in  claim 9 , further comprising an expandable snap ring mounted to said trunnion so as to retain said actuator housing within said carrier member. 
   
   
       11 . The drive axle assembly as defined in  claim 8 , further comprising an end cap non-rotatably secured to said trunnion and about said output shaft for covering said opening in said trunnion; said end cap defines said annular actuator housing of said fluid-operated clutch actuator. 
   
   
       12 . The drive axle assembly as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said first fluid-operated clutch actuator includes a spring member normally biasing said actuator piston toward said first position. 
   
   
       13 . The drive axle assembly as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said actuator piston of said fluid-operated clutch actuator includes an actuator arm formed integrally therewith for drivingly engaging said clutch collar. 
   
   
       14 . The drive axle assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said drive axle assembly is an independent axle assembly. 
   
   
       15 . A drive axle assembly comprising:
 a carrier member;   an output shaft axially outwardly extending from said carrier member;   a differential assembly including a differential case supported for rotation within said carrier member and a side gear being rotatably mounted about said output shaft;   a drive sleeve rotatably mounted about said output shaft and non-rotatably coupled to said side gear;   a clutch collar disposed about said output shaft and non-rotatably coupled thereto and configured to selectively drivingly engage said drive sleeve; and   a clutch actuator for axially moving said clutch collar between a first position in which said clutch collar drivingly engages said drive sleeve and a second position in which said clutch collar is disengaged from said drive sleeve.   
   
   
       16 . The drive axle assembly as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said side gear has radially inwardly directed splines, wherein said clutch collar has radially inwardly directed splines, and wherein said drive sleeve has first radially outwardly directed splines complementary to said radially inwardly directed splines of said side gear at an inner end thereof and second radially outwardly directed splines complementary to said radially inwardly directed splines of said clutch collar at an outer end thereof. 
   
   
       17 . The drive axle assembly as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said drive axle assembly is an independent axle assembly. 
   
   
       18 . A drive axle assembly comprising:
 a carrier member;   an output shaft axially outwardly extending from said carrier member;   a differential assembly including a differential case supported for rotation within by said carrier member and a side gear being rotatably mounted about said output shaft;   a shaft retention collar disposed about said output shaft between said side gear and said output shaft so that said side gear is rotatably mounted about said shaft retention collar;   a clutch collar disposed about said output shaft and non-rotatably coupled thereto and configured to selectively drivingly engage said side gear; and   an annular clutch actuator mounted to said trunnion for axially moving said clutch collar between a first position in which said clutch collar drivingly engages said side gear and a second position in which said clutch collar is disengaged from said side gear.   
   
   
       19 . The drive axle assembly as defined in  claim 18 , further comprising an elastomeric O-ring mounted about said output shaft so as to be compressed between said shaft retention collar and said output shaft in order to restrain relative rotation between said shaft retention collar and said output shaft. 
   
   
       20 . The drive axle assembly as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said elastomeric O-ring is disposed in an annular groove formed in said output shaft. 
   
   
       21 . The drive axle assembly as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said first shaft retention collar is non-rotatably mounted about said first output shaft. 
   
   
       22 . The drive axle assembly as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said drive axle assembly is an independent axle assembly.