AXLE DRIVE AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY

摘要

A vehicle drive axle assembly utilizing a planetary gear drive (56) incorporating a brake pack (78) between the axle shaft sun gear (60) and the planet gear carrier (42) at the outboard end of the axle shaft (30) in an outboardly open cavity (76). A single cover plate (46) containing the brake actuating apparatus (98) is removably secured to the planet gear carrier (42) to provide access to the brake pack. Thus, no part of the planetary gear system (56) need be removed or disturbed in order to service the brake pack (78) and both sets of brake discs (80, 82) will rotate through the lubricating oil coolant during operation providing increased and uniform heat transfer.