Back to results
US 6,309,320 B1Granted
Direct housing mount of electromagnet
AssigneeAuburn Gear, Inc.
InventorsJames L. Forrest, Robert Leeper
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrically actuated limited slip axle assembly for transferring torque including a housing, a clutch, a casing and an electromagnet fixedly mounted to the housing. The casing is rotatably supported on bearings within the housing. The clutch is activated in response to energization of the electromagnet to transfer torque. In a first embodiment the electromagnet is coupled to a cup portion of the bearing, whereby the electromagnet is fixedly mounted to the housing via the bearing. In a second embodiment of the axle assembly includes a bearing spacer providing the fixed mount between the housing and the electromagnet.
Claims19
An electrically actuated limited slip axle assembly comprising:
- a pair of rotatable axles;
- a housing;
- a pair of bearings disposed in said housing;
- a differential assembly having a casing, a pinion gear, a pair of side gears, and a clutch, said casing rotatably supported on said bearings within said housing, said pinion gear rotatably supported in said casing, said side gears rotatably supported in said casing and meshingly engaged with said pinion gear, each of said side gears adapted to rotate with one of said axles, said clutch adapted to transfer torque between said casing and a said side gear;
- and
- an electromagnet fixedly secured to said housing, said electromagnet in operative proximity to said casing, said clutch activated in response to energization of said electromagnet.
3 more elements
An electrically actuated limited slip axle assembly comprising:
- a pair of rotatable axles;
- a housing;
- a pair of bearings disposed in said housing;
- a differential assembly having a casing, a pinion gear, a pair of side gears, and a clutch, said casing rotatably supported on said bearings within said housing, said pinion gear rotatably supported in said casing, said side gears rotatably supported in said casing and meshingly engaged with said pinion gear, each of said side gears adapted to rotate with one of said axles, said clutch adapted to transfer torque between said casing and a said side gear;
- and
- an electromagnet fixedly secured to said housing, said electromagnet in operative proximity to said casing, said clutch activated in response to energization of said electromagnet, wherein one of said bearings includes a cup having an axially extended portion coupled to said electromagnet.
3 more elements
An electrically actuated limited slip axle assembly comprising:
- a pair of rotatable axles;
- a housing;
- a pair of bearings disposed in said housing;
- a differential assembly having a casing, a pinion gear, a pair of side gears, and a clutch, said casing rotatably supported on said bearings within said housing, said pinion gear rotatably supported in said casing, said side gears rotatably supported in said casing and meshingly engaged with said pinion gear, each of said side gears adapted to rotate with one of said axles, said clutch adapted to transfer torque between said casing and a said side gear;
- an electromagnet fixedly secured to said housing, said electromagnet in operative proximity to said casing, said clutch activated in response to energization of said electromagnet;
- and
- a bearing spacer disposed between said housing and one of said bearings.
4 more elements
An electrically actuated limited slip axle assembly comprising:
- a pair of rotatable axles;
- a housing;
- a pair of bearings disposed in said housing;
- a differential assembly having a casing, a pinion gear, a pair of side gears, and a clutch, said casing rotatably supported on said bearings within said housing, said pinion gear rotatably supported in said casing, said side gears rotatably supported in said casing and meshingly engaged with said pinion gear, each of said side gears adapted to rotate with one of said axles, said clutch adapted to transfer torque between said casing and a said side gear;
- an electromagnet, said electromagnet located in operative proximity to said casing;
- and
- a mounting element fixedly mounting said electromagnet securely to said housing, whereby said clutch is activated in response to energization of said electromagnet.
4 more elements
An electrically actuated limited slip axle assembly comprising:
- a pair of rotatable axles;
- a housing;
- a differential assembly having a casing, a pinion gear, a pair of side gears, and a clutch, said casing rotatably supported within said housing, said pinion gear rotatably supported in said casing, said side gears rotatably supported in said casing and meshingly engaged with said pinion gear, each of said side gears adapted to rotate with one of said axles, said clutch adapted to transfer torque between said casing and a said side gear;
- and
- a bearing with a cup portion, a cone, and a plurality of rollers, said cup portion and said cone rotatable relative to each other, said cup portion connected to said housing, said cone connected to said casing;
- and
- an electromagnet connected to said cup portion of said bearing, said electromagnet in operative proximity to said casing, said clutch activated in response to said electromagnet being energized.
4 more elements
An electrically actuated limited slip axle assembly comprising:
- a pair of rotatable axles;
- a housing;
- a pair of bearings disposed in said housing;
- a differential assembly having a casing, a pinion gear, a pair of side gears, and a clutch, said casing rotatably supported on said bearings within said housing, said pinion gear rotatably supported in said casing, said side gears rotatably supported in said casing and meshingly engaged with said pinion gear, each of said side gears adapted to rotate with one of said axles, said clutch adapted to transfer torque between said casing and a said side gear;
- and
- a bearing spacer with a first and second portion, said first portion disposed between said housing and one of said bearings;
- and
- an electromagnet connected to said second portion of said bearing spacer, said electromagnet in operative proximity to said casing, said clutch activated in response to said electromagnet being energized.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.