Patent ID: 6863634

Claim:
A tandem axle assembly, comprising: a first axle assembly having: a wheel differential; and, a pinion shaft drivingly coupled to said wheel differential; a second axle assembly having: a wheel differential; an inter-axle differential configured to divide power between said wheel differentials of said first and second axle assemblies; a power input shaft drivingly coupled to said inter-axle differential; an output shaft driven by said inter-axle differential; and, a power transmission shaft coupled to said power input shaft and a drive shaft assembly; and, an intermediate drive shaft assembly having: an output yoke driven by said output shaft; and, an input yoke drivingly coupled to said pinion shaft wherein one member of said power transmission shaft, said power input shaft, said output shaft, said output yoke, said input yoke, and said pinion shaft defines a bore and another member of said power transmission shaft, said power input shaft, said output shaft, said output yoke, said input yoke, and said pinion shaft extends into said bore, said one member axially movable relative to said another member.