Speed sensitive limited slip differential
US5938555A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 25, 1998 |
| Grant date | Aug 17, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 25, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16H48/27
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A speed sensitive limited slip differential having a sealed, self contained clutch actuator which expands and retracts as required to frictionally seat a clutch element against a surface of the differential casing. The clutch actuator comprises a housing portion and a piston portion which define two fluid chambers and a gerotor pump assembly contained therein for transferring fluid between the two fluid chambers. The gerotor pump assembly is splined to an output element to transfer fluid between the two chambers when sufficient differential rotation between the output element and the casing exists. The transfer of fluid between the two chambers results in the axial expansion of the actuator housing and the actuator piston to provide an axial force on a side gear to thereby frictionally seat the clutch element against a surface of the differential casing. The sealed, self contained feature allows the present limited slip differential to operate in a simple, reliable manner.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.