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:
Jun. 29, 2004
Filed:
Feb. 25, 2003
Shiro Goto, Plymouth, MI (US);
Koichi Okada, Shizuoka, JP;
NTN Corporation, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A vehicle driveline assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a differential assembly adapted to transfer torque proportionally between first and second axle half-shafts. An over-running clutch is adapted to selectively lock the differential assembly thereby effectively rotationally locking the axle half shafts to one another. The differential has three modes of operation; an open mode, wherein the differential is kept un-locked; a locked mode, wherein the differential is kept locked; and an automatic mode, wherein the differential is locked or un-locked based upon predetermined operating parameters. A selector switch allows an operator to selectively place the differential in one of the three modes. An electronic control unit receives inputs from the vehicle, compares the inputs to pre-determined operating parameters, and selectively engages or disengages the over-running clutch when the differential is in the automatic mode.