Patent ID: 7258187

Claim:
A drive axle assembly for use in a motor vehicle having a powertrain and a first and second wheels, comprising: an input shaft driven by the powertrain; a first axleshaft driving the first wheel; a second axleshaft driving the second wheel; a drive case driven by said input shaft; a first drive unit operably disposed between said drive case and said first axleshaft, said first drive unit including a first planetary gearset and first and second mode clutches, said first planetary gearset including a first ring gear driven by said drive case, a first sun gear, a first carrier driving said first axleshaft, and a set of first planet gears meshed with said first sun gear and said first ring gear and which are rotatably supported from said first carrier, said first mode clutch is operable to selectively brake rotation of said first sun gear and said second mode clutch is operable to selectively couple said first sun gear for rotation with said drive case; a second drive unit operably disposed between said drive case and said second axleshaft, said second drive unit including a second planetary gearset and third and fourth mode clutches, said second planetary gearset including a second ring gear driven by said drive case, a second sun gear, a second carrier driving said second axleshaft, and a set of second planet gears meshed with said second sun gear and said second ring gear and which are rotatably supported from said second carrier, said third mode clutch is operable to selectively brake rotation of said second sun gear and said fourth mode clutch is operable to couple said second sun gear for rotation with said drive case; and a control system for controlling actuation of said mode clutches.