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:
Aug. 17, 1999
Filed:
Jul. 13, 1998
Jeffrey Lowell, Ventura, CA (US);
Asha Corporation, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Abstract
A limited slip differential gear mechanism, particularly for use with automotive vehicle axles, comprising differential side gears connected drivably to each of two driving axles for the vehicle. A pair of pressure plates splined to the carrier define a pair of opposed ramps. They are engaged by differential pinions carried by a pinion shaft. The pinions engage each of the two side gears. A friction clutch assembly is situated adjacent each side gear. The pressure plates transfer an axial component of the thrust force created on the ramp surfaces as torque is transmitted through the pinions and through each side gear to each of two axle shafts. Each friction clutch assembly includes friction disks carried by the side gears and by the carrier so that a bias torque is established as one axle shaft overspeeds the other. A hydrostatic pump has one pump member connected to the carrier and another connected to one of the axle shafts. The hydrostatic pump creates a differential speed-sensitive bias which complements the torque-sensitive bias developed by the ramps.