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:
Jan. 07, 2003
Filed:
Sep. 28, 2000
Gary L. Sturm, Fort Wayne, IN (US);
Spicer Technology, Inc., Fort Wayne, IN (US);
Abstract
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.