Differential having externally mounted plenum

A differential gear mechanism comprising:

• a differential casing defining first and second output shaft openings that are co-axially aligned along an axis of rotation of the differential casing, the differential casing having a differential gear set configured to selectively rotate a first axle shaft received in the first output shaft opening and a second axle shaft received in the second output shaft opening;
• a piston slidably disposed in the differential casing and configured to actuate a clutch assembly;
• and
• an externally mounted plenum assembly comprising:
• a plenum assembly housing that defines an axle opening configured to receive one of the first and second axle shafts therethrough;
• a hydraulic coupling arranged on the plenum assembly housing at the axle opening;
• and
• a motor mounted on the plenum assembly housing and configured to pump hydraulic fluid from the externally mounted plenum assembly, through the hydraulic coupling and into the differential casing to act onto the piston.

A differential gear mechanism comprising:

• a differential casing defining first and second output shaft openings that are co-axially aligned along an axis of rotation of the differential casing;
• a piston slidably disposed in the differential casing and configured to actuate a clutch assembly;
• a first and a second side gear rotatably mounted within the differential casing, the first and second side gears being co-axially aligned along the axis of rotation of the differential casing, the first side gear defining a first shaft opening configured to provide a first torque transmitting connection with a first output shaft received within the first output shaft opening, the second side gear defining a second output shaft opening configured to provide a second torque transmitting connection with a second output shaft received within the second output shaft opening;
• a plurality of pinion gears mounted between the first and second side gears, the plurality of pinion gears intermeshing with the first and second side gears to form a torque transfer arrangement configured for transferring torque between the pinion gears and the first and second side gears to rotate the first and second side gears about the axis of rotation;
• and
• an externally mounted plenum assembly comprising:
• a plenum assembly housing that defines an axle opening configured to receive one of the first and second axle shafts therethrough;
• a hydraulic coupling arranged on the plenum assembly housing at the axle opening;
• and
• a motor mounted on the plenum assembly housing and configured to pump hydraulic fluid from the externally mounted plenum assembly, through the hydraulic coupling and into the differential casing to act onto the piston.