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US 6,958,030 B2Granted
Electromagnetic locking differential assembly
AssigneeAmerican Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorRobert J. DeGowske
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A differential assembly includes a case, a pair of pinion gears, a pair of side gears and an electrically operable coupling including an electromagnet. The coupling selectively drivingly interconnects one of the side gears and the case. The electromagnet of the coupling is axially moveable within the case to selectively place the differential assembly in an open or a locked condition.
Claims20
A differential system comprising:
- a case defining an interior cavity, said case having a bore communicating with said interior cavity;
- a pair of pinion gears positioned within said interior cavity and rotatably coupled to said case;
- first and second side gears positioned within said interior cavity in meshing engagement with said pinion gears and rotatably coupled to said case;
- and
- an electromagnetic actuator having a coil moveable within said bore between an engaged position and a disengaged position, said case being drivingly coupled to said first side gear when said coil is in said engaged position.
2 more elements
A differential system comprising:
- a rotatable case defining an interior cavity;
- a pair of pinion gears rotatably supported in said interior cavity;
- a pair of side gears rotatably supported in said interior cavity, wherein each of said pinion gears drivingly engages each of said side gears;
- and
- an electrically operable coupling including a moveable electromagnet, said coupling operable for selectively interconnecting one of said side gears to said case in response to movement of said electromagnet.
2 more elements
A differential system comprising:
- a housing defining a chamber and a pair of aligned apertures;
- a pair of output shafts having end segments extending through said aligned apertures in said housing and positioned in said chamber;
- a gearset operable to transfer rotary power from said housing to said output shafts while permitting speed differentiation therebetween, said gearset being retained in said chamber and including first and second side gears drivingly engaged with said end segments of said output shafts;
- an electrically operable coupling including an actuating ring fixed to an electromagnet, said actuating ring and said electromagnet being axially moveable between a first position where said actuating ring drivingly interconnects said housing and said first side gear and a second position where said actuating ring is clear of said first side gear.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.