Patent ID: 8021258
Filing Date: 2011-09-20
Classification: B60B,B60Y,F16H

Abstract:
1. An axle assembly comprising: an axle housing having a carrier housing portion and an axle shaft housing portion, the axle shaft housing portion including a shaft passage that is arranged about a longitudinal passage axis; a differential assembly supported in the carrier housing for rotation about a rotational axis that is coincident with the longitudinal passage axis; an axle shaft received in the axle shaft housing portion and coupled to the differential assembly, the axle shaft including a cylindrical body portion having a first diameter; an annular disc mounted on the axle shaft and having a central aperture through which the cylindrical body portion is received, the central aperture having a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter; and a pair of change members in the shaft passage, the change members being axially spaced-apart along the longitudinal passage axis; wherein the annular disc is pivotable on the body portion between a first position, in which the annular disc is disposed at a first angle relative to a plane that extends perpendicular to the longitudinal passage axis, and a second position, in which the annular disc is disposed at a second angle relative to the plane that extends perpendicular to the longitudinal passage axis, the first and second angles extending from opposite sides of the plane; and wherein contact between the change members and the annular disc while the axle shaft rotates causes the annular disc to move between the first and second positions.