Patent ID: 6408973
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: B60K

Abstract:
A wheel end system for a vehicle including a clutch adapted to provide driving engagement/disengagement of a wheel to convert between driven and non-driven modes of wheel movement, said system comprising:a drive element adapted to be rotated by a differential assembly, said drive element comprising a drive axle extending from said differential assembly and supported within an axle tube by a bearing assembly at an output terminal end of said axle tube; a wheel end adapted to be driven by said drive element in said driven mode; a steerable joint interposed between said drive element and said wheel end to permit said wheel end to pivot with respect to said drive element; and a clutch member mounted outboard of said bearing assembly and inboard of said steerable joint between said drive element and said steerable joint, said clutch member movable between a first position where said drive element is coupled to an input member of said steerable joint to produce a driving connection therebetween whereby the wheel end is driven by powered rotation of the drive element and a second position in which no driving connection is produced permitting the wheel end to rotate freely of the drive element.