Differential with disconnect and locking mechanisms
AssigneeGKN Automotive AG
InventorPaul F. Reichert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drivetrain device includes a first housing, a second housing, differential gears coupled to the second housing, and a clutch. The clutch has a first member that is coupled to the second housing, a second member that is coupled to the first side gear, and a third member that is coupled to the first housing. The third member is movable relative to both the first member and the second member so that the clutch has a first position in which the third member is engaged with the second member but not the first member, the clutch has a second position in which the third member is not engaged with either the second member or the first member, and the clutch has a third position in which the third member is engaged with the first member but not the second member.
Claims20
A drivetrain device, comprising:
- a first housing arranged to be rotated by a vehicle motive power source;
- a second housing;
- differential gears coupled to the second housing, the differential gears including at least one pinion gear, a first side gear engaged with the pinion gear, and a second side gear engaged with the pinion gear;
- and
- a clutch having a first clutch member that is coupled to the second housing, a second clutch member that is coupled to the first side gear, and a third clutch member that is coupled to the first housing, wherein the third clutch member is movable relative to both the first clutch member and the second clutch member so that the clutch has a first position in which the third clutch member is engaged with the second clutch member but not the first clutch member, the clutch has a second position in which the third clutch member is not engaged with either the second clutch member or the first clutch member, and the clutch has a third position in which the third clutch member is engaged with the first clutch member but not the second clutch member.
A drivetrain device, comprising:
- an outer housing arranged to be rotated by a vehicle motive power source;
- an inner housing received at least partially in the outer housing and capable of rotation relative to the outer housing;
- differential gears coupled to the inner housing, the differential gears including at least one pinion gear, a first side gear engaged with the pinion gear, and a second side gear engaged with the pinion gear;
- and
- a clutch having a first clutch member that is coupled to the inner housing, a second clutch member that is coupled to the first side gear, and a third clutch member that is coupled to the outer housing and slidably movable relative to each of the outer housing, the first clutch member and the second clutch member, wherein the clutch has a first position in which the third clutch member is engaged with and co-rotates with the second clutch member, the clutch has a second position in which the third clutch member is not engaged with either the second clutch member or the first clutch member, and the clutch has a third position in which the third clutch member is engaged with and co-rotates with the first clutch member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.