Patent ID: 6422369
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: B60K

Abstract:
A wheel end assembly for converting a vehicle between four-wheel and two-wheel drive comprising:a wheel hub having an outboard end and an inboard end, said wheel hub configured to support a vehicle wheel at the outboard end and having an intermediate exterior portion whereat the wheel hub is supported on a vehicle frame, said intermediate portion having an outboard shoulder, a support bearing having its outboard end abutted against the shoulder, and a securement member in abutted engagement with the inboard end of the support bearing for securing the bearing to the wheel hub, and the support bearing supporting the wheel hub rotatively on the vehicle frame; an opening formed in the inboard end of the wheel hub and defining an inner wall, an axle portion extended into the opening and rotatively supported by the inner wall and as supported by the inner wall defining an annular space between the axle and the wheel hub at the inboard end of the wheel hub, said inner wall of the wheel hub at said annular space configured to have splines, and an adjacent exterior wall of the axle configured to have splines, and a clutch ring having exterior and interior splines and slidably mounted within said annular space and movable between a first position of splined engagement with the splines of one only of said axle and wheel hub and into a second position of splined engagement with the splines of both said axle and wheel hub, and an actuator moving the clutch ring between the two positions of engagement.