Active differential
AssigneeMeritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC
InventorMichael E. Johnson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A differential apparatus for controlling the wheel speed of a vehicle includes a primary driving input, and first and second output shafts. The differential apparatus also includes a first planetary gear system in driving engagement with the first output shaft for rotating the first output shaft, and a second planetary gear system in driving engagement with the second output shaft for rotating the second output shaft. At least one auxiliary input mechanism selectively drives the first and second planetary gear systems for rotation in opposite directions to effect different rotational speeds to the first and second output shafts, thereby controlling the wheel speed of the vehicle.
Claims19
A differential apparatus for controlling the wheel speed of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- a primary driving input;
- first and second output shafts;
- a first planetary gear system in driving engagement with said first output shaft for rotating said first output shaft;
- a second planetary gear system in driving engagement with said second output shaft for rotating said second output shaft;
- at least one auxiliary input mechanism in selective driving engagement with said first and second planetary gear systems;
- and
- a controller receiving sensed vehicle information and sending a command to said auxiliary input mechanism in response thereto for rotating said planetary gear system differently relative to one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.