The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 16, 1991
Filed:
Dec. 26, 1989
Ralph E Holmquist, Battle Creek, MI (US);
David A Janson, Plymouth, MI (US);
Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
An improved differential gear mechanism is disclosed of the type including a clutch pack (35) operable to limit differentiating action of a pair of side gears (23,25) relative to a differential case (11). The clutch pack (35) is engaged by a cam means (41) including a pair of cam members (23,43) having engaging cam surfaces (45,47). Initiation of engagement of the clutch pack (35) may occur in response to an external signal (83) by means of a pair of actuation members (53) which engage one of the cam members (43). The actuation members include terminal portions (57) which extend to the exterior of the gear case and engage a cam surface (77;101) of an actuating cam member (71;91). The actuating cam member has an outer peripheral retarding surface (79) which may be engaged by a plunger (85;113) of an electromagnetic actuator (81;107) in response to the external signal (83). Engagement of the retarding surface (79) by the plunger causes ramping of the terminal portions (57) on the cam surface, and resulting axial movement of the actuation members (53), thus initiating ramping of the cam (41) and engagement of the clutch pack (35), with relatively little axial force involved, and utilizing a differential structure which is modified only slightly from those now commercially available.