Electronically triggered locking differential

An electronically triggered locking differential comprising:

• a differential case defining an axis of rotation and a gear chamber;
• at least one pinion gear acting as an input gear and first and second side gears acting as output gears, the pinion gear and first and second side gears disposed in the gear chamber, wherein at least one of the first and second side gears has a first cam surface;
• a clutch pack operable between an engaged condition to retard rotation between the differential case and the first and second side gears and a disengaged condition;
• a cam member having a second cam surface, wherein the cam member is axially movable in response to a relative rotation between the first and second cam surfaces to engage the clutch pack;
• an engagement shaft having a first end directly engaged with the cam member and a second end that extends through the differential case, wherein a spur gear is disposed on the second end, and wherein rotation of at least one of said first and second side gears relative to the differential case causes rotation of the engagement shaft along a shaft axis;
• a magnetic coil operable between a de-energized condition and an energized condition, wherein the magnetic coil generates magnetic flux when in the energized condition;
• a bearing race supporting the magnetic coil;
• a flux conductor disposed on the differential case;
• a sprocket coupled to the spur gear and disposed between the differential case and the flux collector, wherein the sprocket rotates about the axis of rotation of the differential case, wherein when the magnetic coil is in the energized condition, magnetic drag slows rotation of the sprocket relative to the differential case and thereby retards rotation of the engagement shaft about the shaft axis,
• wherein retarding rotation of the engagement shaft retards rotation of the cam member relative to the side gear, causing the first and second cam surfaces to rotate relative to each other, resulting in axial movement of the cam member to engage the clutch pack and lock the differential.

An electronically triggered locking differential comprising:

• a differential case defining an axis of rotation and a gear chamber;
• at least one pinion gear acting as an input gear and first and second side gears acting as output gears for rotation with respective axle shafts, the pinion gear and first and second side gears disposed in the gear chamber, wherein at least one of the first and second side gears has a first cam surface;
• a clutch pack operable between an engaged condition to retard rotation between the differential case and the first and second side gears and a disengaged condition;
• a cam member having a second cam surface, wherein the cam member is axially movable in response to a relative rotation between the first and second cam surfaces to engage the clutch pack;
• an engagement shaft having a first end engaged with the cam member and a second end that extends through the differential case, wherein a spur gear is disposed on the second end, and wherein rotation of at least one of said first and second side gears relative to the differential case causes rotation of the engagement shaft along a shaft axis;
• a magnetic coil operable between a de-energized condition and an energized condition, wherein the magnetic coil generates magnetic flux when in the energized condition;
• a bearing race supporting the magnetic coil;
• a flux conductor disposed on the differential case;
• a sprocket coupled to the spur gear and disposed between the differential case and the flux collector, wherein the sprocket rotates about the axis of rotation of the differential case, wherein when the magnetic coil is in the energized condition, magnetic drag slows rotation of the sprocket relative to the differential case and thereby retards rotation of the engagement shaft about the shaft axis,
• wherein retarding rotation of the engagement shaft retards rotation of the cam member relative to the side gear, causing the first and second cam surfaces to rotate relative to each other, resulting in axial movement of the cam member to engage the clutch pack and lock the differential.