Method of operating a vehicle differential
US5690002A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 6, 1996 |
| Grant date | Nov 25, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 6, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/19005
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An axle differential for the secondary driveline of a four-wheel drive vehicle includes individual modulatable axle clutches that may be commonly or individually activated to control torque delivery to the secondary drive wheels. The differential includes an input shaft driving a bevel gear set, the modulatable clutches and left and right output shafts. Each of the modulatable clutches include a disc pack clutch assembly having first and second interleaved pluralities of clutch plates, a ball ramp operator and an electromagnetic coil Which acts upon the ball ramp operator which applies compressive force to the interleaved clutch plates. An operating program for controlling left-right secondary wheel slip may be utilized with the differential.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.