ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 30 -- United States Patent no. 12,429,097, issued on Sept. 30, was assigned to Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG (Herzogenaurach, Germany).
"Axle disconnect clutch" was invented by Brian Lee (Charlotte, N.C.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An axle disconnect clutch includes an axle shaft, a tulip for a constant velocity joint, and a sliding sleeve. The sliding sleeve includes a first inner spline and a first outer spline, radially aligned with the first inner spline. One of the axle shaft or the tulip includes a second inner spline, and the other one includes a second outer spline. The sliding sleeve is axially slidable along a one of the first inner spline or the firs...