Wheel end disconnect assembly and vehicle having a wheel end disconnect assembly

• Main Authors: Hermann, Steven Adam, Bird, Norman Jerry
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 11.07.2023
• Subjects: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS INVEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OFTRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GASEXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS, IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL

A wheel end disconnect assembly includes a housing, a shift ring, a shift fork and an actuator. The shift ring is supported for axial translation relative to the housing between a connected position in which the shift ring couples an input member to a wheel hub for rotation therewith and a disconnected position in which the input member and the wheel hub are rotatable relative to each other. The shift fork includes a first arm portion, a second arm portion, and an input portion extending from a junction of the first and second arm portions. The shift fork is pivotably coupled to the housing at the junction of the first and second arm portions. The actuator is configured to move the input portion to pivot the first and second arm portions such that the first and second arm portions translate the shift ring between the connected and disconnected positions.