Patent ID: 11958353
Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  F | IPC B  F

Claim 7:
8. A vehicle, comprising:
a frame;
a motor connected to the frame;
a rear drivetrain connected to the frame;
a front drivetrain connected to the frame, the front drivetrain comprising a front differential selectably configurable in one of (i) a disengaged mode for rear-wheel drive operation of the vehicle, (ii) an engaged and unlocked mode, and (iii) an engaged and locked mode, the vehicle being operable in all-wheel drive when the front differential is engaged;
a transmission adapted for:
directing power from the motor to the rear drivetrain, and
when the front differential is engaged, directing power from the motor to the front drivetrain;

a controller operatively connected to the front differential; and
a differential lock switch operatively connected to the front differential and to the controller, the differential lock switch being adapted for:
providing a disengaging command to the front differential for placing the front differential in the disengaged mode,
providing an engaging command to the front differential for placing the front differential in the engaged and unlocked mode,
providing a locking command to the controller, the controller selectively causing the front differential to change from the engaged and unlocked mode to the engaged and locked mode when receiving the locking command, and
providing an unlocking command to the controller, the controller causing the front differential to change from the engaged and locked mode to the engaged and unlocked mode when receiving the unlocking command,

the differential lock switch having:
a first position,
a second position, and
a third position,

the second position being intermediate the first and third positions, the differential lock switch being biased to return to the second position when released from the third position; and
the differential lock switch being adapted for:
providing the disengaging command when in the first position,
providing the engaging command when moving from the first position to the second position,
providing the locking command when placed in the third position while the front differential is in the engaged and unlocked mode, and
providing the unlocking command when placed in the third position while the front differential is in the engaged and locked mode.