Dana Corporation

Dennis W Shea

David C Kaminski

Loris J Charchian

John G Hardt

Albert A Hart

A limited slip differential axle assembly includes a plurality of pressure plate segments which are electromagnetically biased against friction discs of clutch packs secured to side gears of the differential. In a preferred form, the assembly is formed of a two-piece of 'split' differential case and includes an armature ring rigidly coupled to a pressure plate loading ring. Electromagnetic coupling forces are adjustably controlled by a vehicular operator to permit modulation of bias for given road conditions, wherein a limited slip differential control may be effective to bias a clutch pack to provide a variable friction drag between at least one of the side gears and the differential case. For this purpose, an energizing coil is secured rigidly to the differential carrier, while a magnet shell member is rigidly affixed to one part of the split differential case. The armature ring cooperates with the magnet shell to form an air gap, the armature ring being threadably and hence adjustably secured to the loading ring disposed between the two relatively moveable parts of the split differential case.

Modulating bias control for limited slip differential axle

An improved four wheel drive system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a first carrier assembly connected to a power generation system of the vehicle and adapted to transmit power to a first pair of drive wheels. A second carrier assembly having an input member and an output member connected to a second pair of drive wheels is also provided. The second carrier assembly is adapted to transmit power from the input member to the output member. A mechanism is provided for selectively connecting the first carrier assembly to the input member of the second carrier assembly for transmitting power thereto. A biasing structure is further provided for moving one of the input and output members relative to the other of the input and output members prior to connecting the first carrier assembly to the input member of the second carrier assembly. In a first embodiment, a rack and pinion arrangement is provided to rotate the input member relative to the output member, while a clutch is connected between the first carrier assembly and the input member. A vacuum control circuit and an electrical control circuit sense the movement of the input member and prevent the clutch from connecting the first carrier assembly to the input member until the input member has moved a predetermined amount. In a second embodiment, drive gears and biasing gears are selectively connected to the input member by first and second clutches, respectively. A hydraulic control circuit and an electrical control circuit are provided to prevent the first clutch from connecting the drive gear to the input member prior to the second clutch connecting the biasing gear to the input member.

Four wheel drive system including disengagement means

A non-differential drive axle which utilizes a pair of bi-directional overunning clutches. The axle includes a housing within which a gear support is rotatably journalled. An intermediate shaft is connected to a gear support and is rotatably journalled at one end in the housing. The axle includes a pair of output shafts, one of which can be connected to the gear support for conjoint rotation by one of the overrunning clutches. The other output shaft can be connected to the intermediate shaft for conjoint rotation by the other overrunning clutch.

Non-differential drive axle

An apparatus for positively engaging and releasing a roller clutch actuator in a two-way overrunning roller clutch system 10 includes an actuator ring 54 having a plurality of detents 58 for receiving a radially extending, reciprocably moveable plunger 60. In a preferred form, the roller clutch drive system includes an axle case 38 containing a complimentary pair of drive and driven rotary members. The drive member 46 includes an axially extending bore, and the driven member 48 has one end thereof disposed within the bore. The drive and driven members together define an axially extending annulus 51 which contains a plurality of axially oriented rollers 42 circumferentially contained therein by a cage 50. The cage maintains the rollers in uniformly spaced relationship, and includes a friction ring 52 preferably integral therewith. The actuator ring surrounds the friction ring in constant, resilient, frictional engagement therewith. A transversely extending cam member 70 moves transversely with respect to the plunger, the cam member including a cam surface 66 engageable with the plunger for selectively and reciprocably moving the plunger into and out of engagement with the detents.

Actuator for roller clutch drive system

A vehicle has a forward mounted primary gasoline engine operatively engaged with the front axle and its associated wheels. The vehicle also has a rear mounted second motor drivingly engaged with the rear axle which is normally a dead axle. The rear axle is selectively drivingly engageable with the rear wheels which can overrun the rear axle in both the forward and reverse directions. The second motor is preferably an electric motor operable in two directions but alternatively may be a hydraulic pump/motor. The second motor, which may be driven by the primary motor or from an independent power source such as a battery, is manually actuable by the vehicle operator and automatically disengageable upon reaching a predetermined speed.

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Toledo, OH, United States of America

Dennis W Shea