Torque-coupling device for front-wheel-drive transaxle unit
US7390278B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 18, 2005 |
| Grant date | Jun 24, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 23, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16H2048/343
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A front-wheel-drive transaxle unit for a motor vehicle comprises a differential assembly having a differential mechanism disposed in a differential case and two opposite output shafts outwardly extending from the differential case and a torque-coupling device for selectively restricting differential rotation of the differential mechanism. The torque-coupling device includes a friction clutch assembly for selectively frictionally engaging and disengaging the differential case and one of the output shafts, and a selectively controllable clutch actuator assembly for selectively frictionally loading the friction clutch assembly. The clutch assembly includes at least one first member non-rotatably coupled to the differential case and at least one second member non-rotatably coupled to one of said output shafts. The torque-coupling device provides the differential assembly of the front-wheel-drive transaxle unit with both limited-slip and open differential capabilities.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.