Patent ID: 6557660
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: B60K,F16C,F16D

Abstract:
An assembly for connecting and disconnecting each of a pair of front steerable wheels of a vehicle from front wheel axles comprising:a rotatable wheel hub for receiving a front wheel; a steering knuckle forming a part of a vehicle chassis and having a circumferential opening there through; a bell form forming a part of a constant velocity universal joint provided on an outboard end of a front wheel axle; a spindle portion provided on said wheel hub and extended axially inwardly through the circumferential opening of said steering knuckle, and a first bearing between said spindle portion and said knuckle for rotatably mounting said spindle and wheel hub to said knuckle; said bell form configured to have a cylindrical surface adjacent a portion of one of said spindle portion and said knuckle, and a second bearing between said cylindrical surface of said bell form and said one of said spindle portion and said knuckle, and said bell form having an outboard collar portion, an inboard end portion of said spindle portion adjacent said outboard collar portion, and a clutch ring slidably engaged with one of said inboard end portion of said spindle portion and said outboard collar portion, and slidably engageable with the other of said inboard end portion and said outboard collar portion; and an actuator connected to said clutch ring that selectively axially moves the clutch ring into slidable engagement and out of slidable engagement with said other of said inboard end portion and said outboard collar portion.