Direct acting electronic locking differential

Abstract

An electronically actuated locking differential includes a gear case having opposite first and second ends, a differential gear set disposed in the gear case, a lock plate disposed at the gear case first end and configured to selectively engage the differential gear set, and an electronic actuator disposed at the gear case second end and coupled to the lock plate via at least one rod. The electronic actuator is operable between an unlocked first mode where the lock plate does not lockingly engage the differential gear set, and a locked second mode where the electronic actuator pulls the at least one rod to thereby pull the lock plate into locking engagement with the differential gear set to thereby lock a pair of axle shafts.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.