Patent ID: 6991572

Claim:
A drive axle assembly ( 10 ), comprising: a carrier ( 24 ); a differential case ( 22 ) rotatably disposed in said carrier ( 24 ); a pair of axle shafts ( 14 , 16 ) disposed within said differential case ( 22 ) and rotatable relative to each other about an axis (A); a drive hub ( 78 ) disposed about one of said axle shafts ( 14 , 16 ); a plurality of friction discs ( 74 , 76 ) adjacent one another in an alternating relationship defining a running clearance therebetween and disposed within and alternatively connected to said differential case ( 22 ) and said drive hub ( 78 ); a plate ( 102 ) defining a plurality of levers ( 104 ) each extending radially relative to said axis (A) between a radially inward end ( 114 ) to a radially outward end ( 116 ) and engaging said friction discs ( 74 , 76 ) and integrally interconnected by links ( 105 ) adjacent radially outward ends ( 116 ); an actuator assembly ( 84 ) disposed about one of said axle shafts ( 14 , 16 ) for engaging said levers ( 104 ) to force said levers ( 104 ) into engagement with said friction discs ( 74 , 76 ) for forcing said friction discs ( 74 , 76 ) into engagement with one another for transmitting torque between one of said axle shafts ( 14 , 16 ) and said differential case ( 22 ); and said radially inward end ( 114 ) engaging said actuator assembly ( 84 ) and said radially outward end ( 116 ) engaging said differential case ( 22 ) having a disc engaging portion ( 118 ) between said radially inward ( 114 ) and outward ( 116 ) ends for engaging said friction discs ( 74 , 76 ) between said radially inward ( 114 ) and outward ( 116 ) ends thereof for amplifying a thrust force applied by said actuator assembly ( 84 ) by pivoting about the engagement of said radially outward end ( 116 ) with said differential case ( 22 ) in response to axial movement of said radially inward end ( 114 ) by said actuator assembly ( 84 ).