Releasable axle-to-wheel hub coupling for four-wheel drive vehicle - has partial vacuum-filled bellows externally pressurised to move wheel hub gear ring into engagement with axle gear

摘要

A vehicle with temporarily activated four-wheel drive has a coupling (1) engaging/disengaging an axle (3) w.r.t. a wheel hub (25). A vehicle body-mounted hollow spindle (5), through which the axle passes, supports the wheel hub. An axially sliding gear ring (55), fitted in the wheel hub end housing (21), slides to engage/disengage w.r.t. an axle gear (9). The gear ring is connected to a partial vacuum-filled bellows (83) which collapses against a spring force (95) when an external sealed chamber (71) is pressurised. ADVANTAGE - The coupling is unaffected by temp. or foreign particles.