Vehicle differential including pump with variable-engagement clutch
First Claim
1. A vehicle differential assembly comprising:
- a differential driven by an input and adapted to allow differing rotational speed between a pair of outputs, the differential including a gear assembly connected to the outputs and one or more hydraulically-actuated clutches for selectively and variably coupling the outputs;
a hydraulic pump adapted to generate hydraulic fluid pressure for engagement of the one or more hydraulically-actuated clutches;
a variable-engagement clutch operatively connected to the input and the hydraulic pump such that the input selectively drives the hydraulic pump during engagement of the variable-engagement clutch to provide hydraulic fluid pressure to the one or more hydraulically-actuated clutches; and
a valve operatively connected to the hydraulic pump and the one or more hydraulically-actuated clutches to selectively or variably provide fluid pressure from the hydraulic pump to the one or more hydraulically-actuated clutches.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle differential assembly is provided that includes a differential adapted to allow differing rotational speed between a pair of outputs. The differential includes a gear assembly connected to the outputs and one or more hydraulically-actuated clutches for selectively and variably coupling the outputs. A hydraulic pump is adapted to generate hydraulic fluid pressure for engagement of the hydraulically-actuated clutches. A variable-engagement clutch is operatively connected to the input and the hydraulic pump such that the input selectively drives the hydraulic pump during engagement of the clutch to provide hydraulic fluid pressure to the hydraulically-actuated clutches. A valve operatively connected to the hydraulic pump and the hydraulically-actuated clutches selectively and variably provides fluid pressure from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulically-actuated clutches.
59 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A vehicle differential assembly comprising:
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a differential driven by an input and adapted to allow differing rotational speed between a pair of outputs, the differential including a gear assembly connected to the outputs and one or more hydraulically-actuated clutches for selectively and variably coupling the outputs; a hydraulic pump adapted to generate hydraulic fluid pressure for engagement of the one or more hydraulically-actuated clutches; a variable-engagement clutch operatively connected to the input and the hydraulic pump such that the input selectively drives the hydraulic pump during engagement of the variable-engagement clutch to provide hydraulic fluid pressure to the one or more hydraulically-actuated clutches; and a valve operatively connected to the hydraulic pump and the one or more hydraulically-actuated clutches to selectively or variably provide fluid pressure from the hydraulic pump to the one or more hydraulically-actuated clutches. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification