Axle differential assembly
AssigneeVisteon Global Technologies, Inc.
InventorsRichard Michael Krzesicki, Dennis Cook
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An axle differential assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a differential housing and a central shaft rotatably mounted within the differential housing. The central shaft has opposing first and second ends, includes a ring gear mounted thereon, and defines a central axis of the axle differential assembly. A pair clutch packs are mounted to each end of the central shaft. Each of the clutch packs is adapted to connect to an end of an axle half shaft and is adapted to selectively transfer rotational motion from the central shaft, across the clutch packs, and to the axle half shafts. A pair of actuators are adapte to exert an axial force onto the clutch packs.
Claims11
An axle differential assembly for an automotive vehicle comprising:
- a differential housing;
- a central shaft rotatably mounted within said differential housing having opposing first and second ends and including a ting gear mounted thereon, said central shaft defining a central axis of said axle differential assembly;
- a pair of clutch packs, one of said clutch packs mounted to each end of said central shaft, each of said clutch packs adapted to connect to an end of an axle half shaft and adapted to selectively transfer rotational motion from said central shaft, across said clutch packs, and to the axle half shafts;
- and
- a pair of actuators, each actuator adapted to exert an axial force onto one of said clutch packs, each of said actuators being actuated by an electric motor, each of said electric motors Including a stator and a rotor, and including a brake, such that said electric motors can be locked in position to maintain the position of said actuators, thereby maintaining axial force onto said clutch packs when no power is supplied to said electric motors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.