Non-differential drive axle

Claim 1

A drive axle for a vehicle, said vehicle having a set of wheels spaced along a first axis of rotation of said wheels, said drive axle comprising: a housing adapted to extend generally along said first axis between said two wheels, said housing first and second axially spaced ends, a gear support rotatably journalled in said housing adjacent said first end of said housing, an intermediate shaft drivingly connected to said gear support and rotatably journalled in said housing adjacent said second end of said housing, a first output shaft rotatably journalled in said first end of said housing and said gear support, a second output shaft rotatably journalled in said second end of said housing and said intermediate shaft, a first bi-directional overrunning clutch positioned adjacent said first end of said housing and operable to connect said first output shaft with said gear support for conjoint rotation, said first overruning clutch including a first non-circular surface on said gear support, a first drum connected to said first output shaft and overlying said first non-circular surface, and a first plurality of rollers disposed between said first drum and said first non-circular surface actuatable to connect said first drum and said first non-circular surface for conjoint rotation, and a second bi-directional overrunning clutch positioned adjacent said second end of said housing and operable to connect said second output shaft with said intermediate shaft for conjoint rotation, said second overrunning clutch including a second non-circular surface on said intermediate shaft, a second drum connected to said second output shaft and overlying said second non-circular surface, and a second plurality of rollers disposed between said second drum and said second non-circular surface actuatable to connect said second drum and said second non-circular surface for conjoint rotation.