Patent ID: 11885408
Assignee: DANA HEAVY VEHICLE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F  B  Y | IPC B  F

Claim 14:
15. A method for operation of an inter-axle differential (IAD), comprising:
locking a friction clutch in the IAD based on one or more vehicle operating conditions;
wherein the IAD comprises:
an electric motor driving a self-locking planetary gearset; and
a ball ramp actuator that is coupled the friction clutch;

wherein the IAD includes a first output and a second output that are configured to couple to a first axle and a second axle, respectively; and
wherein the locking the friction clutch includes:
energizing the electric motor until a plurality of plates frictionally engage to prevent speed differentiation between the first output and the second output; and
de-energizing the electric motor after the plurality of plates are frictionally engaged.