Abstract: A quick connect coupling for connecting a threaded push-rod to a clevis of a brake actuating lever, the coupling comprises the combination of a collar having an internal bore threaded for engagement with the push rod, a head at one end of the collar and a recess forming a shoulder spaced from the head, latching means carried by the clevis and biased into a first position extending internally of a bore provided to the clevis and latch displacing means carried by the collar adjacent to the shoulder. During assembly the latch displacing means serves to displace the latching means upon axial insertion of the collar into the bore and the latching means returns to its first position and engages the shoulder provided to the collar to prevent withdrawal of the collar from the clevis bore.

Abstract: A two speed planetary drive axle assembly comprises a differential carrier fixed over and extending within a drive axle housing. The carrier mounts a differential case connected by a pinion and ring gear to the engine driven propeller shaft. The case contains a differential mechanism connected between two drive axle shafts and constitutes a carrier for planet gears constantly meshed with an internal ring gear rigid with the differential case. The sun gear is in the form of a sleeve concentric with one of the drive axle shafts and selectively movable between two axially spaced operative positions within the axle housing. A fixed abutment is provided to limit axial movement of the sun gear in the direction of the differential mechanism to prevent the sun gear from contacting the differential mechanism. Additional abutment means limit movement of the sun gear in the other direction. The sun gear sleeve is thus positively stopped by the operating mechanism at each of the axially spaced operative positions.

Abstract: An axle assembly comprising a differential having a housing, an input drive pinion rotatably mounted in the housing and in driving meshing engagement with a drive gear rotatably mounted in the housing, the drive gear carrying a differential spider having rotatably thereon four differential pinions, a differential casing attached to the drive gear enclosing the differential spider and the differential pinions, a differential side gear also enclosed within the differential casing and in meshing engagement with the differential pinions, the internal bore of which is splined to accept an axle shaft through an opening in the differential casing, a cylindrical piston surrounding the axle shaft and splined thereto, the differential casing having a splined extension thereon to receive a comparably splined portion on the piston, biasing means biasing the piston along the longitudinal axis of the axle shaft to disengage the piston from the differential casing at their mating splined areas, a cylindrical cylinder surrou