Direct power reversing drive axle

The present invention provides a drive axle assembly and a method of operating the same. The drive axle assembly (15) comprises: a drive shaft (6) configured to rotate with a driving torque; a first clutch pack assembly (11, 20, 40) comprising a first forward clutch arrangement (26) and a first reverse clutch arrangement (28); a second clutch pack assembly (13, 25) comprising a second forward clutch arrangement (27) and a second reverse clutch arrangement (29); a first drive wheel assembly connected to the first clutch pack assembly (11, 20, 40), wherein the first forward clutch arrangement (26) is configured to selectively provide at least a portion of the driving torque of the drive shaft (6) to the first drive wheel (1) for rotation in a first rotation direction, and the first reverse clutch arrangement (28) is configured to selectively provide at least a portion of the driving torque of the drive shaft (6) to the first drive wheel (1) for rotation in a second rotation direction; and a second drive wheel assembly connected to the second clutch pack assembly (13, 25), wherein the second forward clutch arrangement (28) is configured to selectively provide at least a portion of the driving torque of the drive shaft (6) to the second drive wheel (3) for rotation in the first rotation direction, and the second reverse clutch arrangement (29) is configured to selectively provide at least a portion of the driving torque of the drive shaft (6) to the second drive wheel (3) for rotation in the second rotation direction.