Control strategy for operating a locking differential

A drive train for a vehicle, the drive train comprising:

• a first locking differential having a first locking mechanism;
• and
• a control unit for controlling operation of the first locking differential, the control unit being responsive to selected vehicle characteristics to sua sponte activate the first locking mechanism of the first locking differential to cause the first locking differential to operate in a locked manner when the selected vehicle characteristics are within predefined first limits, wherein the predefined first limits includes:
• (i) slip of at least one wheel greater than or equal to 0.35 m/s and less than or equal to 2.00 m/s, and
• (ii) vehicle acceleration greater than or equal to 1.2 m/s2 and less than or equal to 20 m/s2,
• the control unit being further responsive to the selected vehicle characteristics to sua sponte inactivate the first locking mechanism of the first locking differential to cause the first locking differential to operate in an unlocked manner when the selected vehicle characteristics are not within predefined second limits, wherein the predefined second limits includes
• (i) slip of at least one wheel greater than or equal to 0.35 m/s and less than or equal to 2.00 m/s, and
• (ii) vehicle acceleration greater than or equal to 1.2 m/s2 and less than or equal to 20 m/s2.

A method for operating a locking differential in a vehicle, the method comprising:

• providing a locking differential having a locking mechanism;
• determining values for a set of preselected vehicle criteria that are associated with an operational state of the vehicle;
• controlling the locking mechanism to lock the locking differential if the values associated with the set of preselected vehicle criteria are within predefined first limits and the locking mechanism is unlocked;
• and
• controlling the locking mechanism to unlock the locking differential if the values associated with the set of preselected vehicle criteria are not within predefined second limits and the locking mechanism is locked;
• wherein the predefined first limits includes vehicle acceleration between 1.2 m/s2 and 20 m/s2, and wherein the predefined second limits includes vehicle acceleration between 1.2 m/s2 and 20 m/s2.