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US 6,585,616 B1Granted
Magneto-rheological variable limited slip differential
AssigneeHonda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorNicholas Alan Robinson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A differential includes: a driving member; a first driven member; a second driven member; and a coupling between the driving member and each of the driven members, the coupling includes: an input member connected to one of the driving member, the first driven member and the second driven member; an output member connected to another one of the first driven member and the second driven member, wherein there is a first space between the output member and the input member; a magneto-rheological fluid located in the space; and at least one electromagnet proximate the space.
Claims20
A differential comprising:
- a driving member;
- a first driven member;
- a second driven member;
- and
- a coupling between the driving member and each of the driven members, the coupling comprising:
- a differential coupling to distribute torque from the driving member to the first driven member and the second driven member;
- and
- a variable coupling including:
- an input member connected to one of the driving member, the first driven member and the second driven member;
- an output member connected to another one of the first driven member and the second driven member, wherein there is a first space between the output member and the input member;
- a magneto-rheological fluid located in the first space;
- and
- at least one electromagnet proximate to the first space which activates the magneto-rheological fluid to limit the distribution of torque from the driving member to the first and second driven members.
10 more elements
A differential comprising:
- a driving member;
- a first driven member;
- a second driven member;
- and
- a coupling between the driving member and each of the driven members, the coupling including:
- an input member connected to one of the driving member, the first driven member and the second driven member;
- an output member connected to another one of the first driven member and the second driven member, wherein there is a first space between the output member and the input member;
- a magneto-rheological fluid located in the first space;
- and at least one electromagnet proximate to the first space;
- wherein the driving member includes a differential carrier;
- wherein the first and second driven members include first and second differential gears, respectively, mounted to the differential carrier;
- and
- wherein the coupling further includes:
- third and fourth differential gears mounted to the differential carrier, wherein the input member is connected to one of the driving member, the differential carrier and the first differential gear, and the output member is connected to another one of the first differential gear and the second differential gear.
11 more elements
A differential comprising:
- a driving member;
- a first driven member;
- a second driven member;
- and
- a coupling between the driving member and each of the driven members, the coupling including:
- an input member connected to one of the driving member, the first driven member and the second driven member;
- an output member connected to another one of the first driven member and the second driven member, wherein there is a first space between the output member and the input member;
- a magneto-rheological fluid located in the first space;
- at least one electromagnet proximate to the first space;
- and
- a second output member separated from the input member by a second space, wherein the magneto-rheological fluid is located in the first space and the second space;
- a second electromagnet proximate to the second space;
- wherein the input member is connected to the driving member, the output member is connected to the first driven member, and the second output member is connected to the second driven member.
10 more elements
A variable limited slip differential comprising:
- a driving member;
- a first driven member perpendicular to the driving member;
- a second driven member perpendicular to the driving member;
- a coupling between the driving member and each of the driven members, the coupling comprising:
- a differential coupling to distribute torque from the driving member to the first driven member and the second driven member;
- and
- a variable coupling parallel to the differential coupling, wherein the variable coupling comprises:
- an input member connected to one of the driving member, the first driven member and the second driven member;
- an output member connected to another one of the first driven member and the second driven member, wherein there is a first space between the output member and the input member;
- a magneto-rheological fluid located in the first space;
- and
- at least one electromagnet proximate to the first space which activates the magneto-rheological fluid to limit the distribution of torque from the driving member to the first and second driven members.
9 more elements
A differential comprising:
- a driving member including a differential carrier;
- a first driven member including a first differential gear mounted in the differential carrier;
- a second driven member including a second differential gear mounted in the differential carrier, the differential carrier, the first differential gear and the second differential gear cooperating to distribute torque from the driving member to the first driven member and the second driven member;
- and
- a coupling between the driving member and each of the driven members, the coupling including:
- an input member connected to one of the driving member, the first driven member and the second driven member;
- an output member connected to another one of the first driven member and the second driven member;
- a magneto-rheological fluid located between the output member and the input member;
- and
- at least one electromagnet proximate to the magneto-rheological fluid which activates the magneto-rheological fluid to limit the distribution of torque from the driving member to the first and second driven members.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.