Electronic differential lock assembly
First Claim
1. A differential locking mechanism for a drive axle comprising:
- a differential including a differential gear assembly supported within a differential case;
a pair of axle shafts driven by said differential gear assembly for rotation about an axis;
a shift collar movable between an unlocked position where speed differentiation between said pair of axle shafts is permitted and a locked position wherein said shift collar directly engages said differential case such that said differential case, said shift collar, and said pair of axle shafts are fixed for rotation together;
an electronic actuator responsive to an electronic signal to move said shift collar from said unlocked position to said locked position, wherein said electronic actuator includes a coil having mount portions to receive fasteners to directly attach said coil to a carrier housing; and
a resilient member that returns said shift collar to said unlocked position, said resilient member surrounding an outer end portion of said shift collar.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic differential lock assembly includes a shift collar that is movable in response to an electronic signal from an unlocked position where axle shaft speed differentiation under predetermined conditions is permitted to a locked position where a pair of axle shafts are fixed for rotation together. Speed differentiation is provided by a differential that includes a differential gear assembly supported within a differential case. A coil surrounds the shift collar and is selectively energized to move the shift collar from the unlocked position to the locked position. The shift collar is splined to one of the axle shafts and is selectively splined to the differential case to lock the axle shafts together. The electronic differential lock assembly includes a return spring that automatically disengages the shift collar from the differential case once the coil is no longer energized.
6 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A differential locking mechanism for a drive axle comprising:
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a differential including a differential gear assembly supported within a differential case; a pair of axle shafts driven by said differential gear assembly for rotation about an axis; a shift collar movable between an unlocked position where speed differentiation between said pair of axle shafts is permitted and a locked position wherein said shift collar directly engages said differential case such that said differential case, said shift collar, and said pair of axle shafts are fixed for rotation together; an electronic actuator responsive to an electronic signal to move said shift collar from said unlocked position to said locked position, wherein said electronic actuator includes a coil having mount portions to receive fasteners to directly attach said coil to a carrier housing; and a resilient member that returns said shift collar to said unlocked position, said resilient member surrounding an outer end portion of said shift collar. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A drive axle assembly with a locking differential comprising:
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a driving input defining a longitudinal axis; a carrier including a pinion gear driven by said driving input and a ring gear in meshing engagement with said pinion gear; a differential including a differential gear assembly supported by a differential case wherein said ring gear is attached to said differential case to drive said differential gear assembly; a pair of axle shafts driven by said differential gear assembly for rotation about a lateral axis, said lateral axis being transverse to said longitudinal axis; an axle housing for substantially enclosing said carrier and said pair of axle shafts; and a locking mechanism including a shift collar and an electronic actuator for controlling movement of said shift collar wherein said shift collar is movable between an unlocked position where speed differentiation between said pair of axle shafts is permitted and a locked position wherein said shift collar is moved into locking engagement with said differential case in response to an electronic signal such that said differential case, said shift collar, and said pair of axle shafts are fixed for rotation together about said lateral axis, and wherein said locking mechanism includes a resilient member that returns said shift collar to said unlocked position, said resilient member surrounding said shift collar and reacting between said electronic actuator and said shift collar, and wherein said electronic actuator comprises a coil surrounding said shift collar wherein said electronic signal powers said coil to move said shift collar, and wherein said coil includes mount portions to receive fasteners to directly secure said coil to said axle housing. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification