Other

Dana Corporation

Spicer Technology Inc.

Gary Lee Sturm

An electronically controlled locking differential assembly including a friction clutch assembly provided within a differential case for selectively restricting differential action. The friction clutch assembly is actuated by a selectively controllable actuator including an electrical motor externally mounted to an axle housing, a reduction gearing and a drive screw adapted to axially displace a pusher block when the drive motor is actuated. The pusher block is integrally secured to a clutch actuating sleeve adapted to slide within a differential case trunnion coaxially to the side gear. The actuating sleeve is provided to apply a clutch loading force to an actuator plate. When the drive motor is actuated by a signal from a control unit, the rotary motion of the drive screw is transmitted to the actuator plate via the pusher block and the actuating sleeve, thereby actuating the friction clutch assembly and locking the differential.

Externally actuated locking differential assembly

A modular pressure relief valve assembly for a hydraulically actuated clutch pack or limited slip device in a limited slip differential or torque coupling device. The modular assembly is removably disposed in the differential case and is connected to a passageway leading to a limited slip device within the differential case to establish fluid communication there between.

Modular pressure relief valve for differential assembly

A roll-formed tone wheel is provided in a speed sensing differential axle mechanism. The tone wheel is formed by passing an elongated strip of material through a roll-forming die. The elongated strip is cut into lengths, then these lengths are formed into individual rings forming the tone wheel. The tone wheel is provided on one of a ring gear flange or a axle assembly and the tone wheel teeth are disposed for relative rotation with respect to a stationary electronic pickup element secured rigidly in spaced relation with respect to the tone wheel teeth. In a preferred embodiment, the tone wheel is provided with locking tabs to secure the tone wheel with respect to the differential case.

Differential axle speed sensing mechanism

A connection for preventing relative movement between coupled members in a clamped joint. In particular, ring gear/differential housing members are connected across a roughened surface finish providing protrusions and allow positive load transfer without slippage. Different methods are proposed to achieve the roughening, or surface modification, of the backside of the ring gear surface, and this design provides increased frictional coefficients without adversely affecting performance of the differential assembly. The simplicity and low cost of this connection makes it particularly useful for a wide variety of these bolted assemblies.

Roughened ring gear bearing surface

A control system for actuating various types of clutches includes a first piston which contacts a clutch disc associated with a first shaft. The first piston forces the first shaft clutch disc into a corresponding clutch disc associated with a second shaft. A second piston is received within a fluid chamber, and is reciprocated by a motor to force fluid outwardly of the fluid chamber and against the first piston. In this way, the position of the second piston controls the force of the first piston against the clutch disc of the first shaft. An electronic control for the second piston motor accurately controls the position of the second piston to control the force of the first piston on the clutch discs. The first and second pistons, the ball screw motor, the fluid chambers and the fluid paths are all received in a casing for the shafts. In this way, the size of the clutch is reduced over prior art assemblies which typically required a separate pump removed from the casing.

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Fort Wayne, IN, United States of America

Gary Lee Sturm