Patent ID: 6755763
Filing Date: 2004-06-29
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
A vehicle driveline assembly for an automotive vehicle comprising:a rear axle having a first axle half shaft and a second axle half shaft, each rotatable about a first axis; a differential assembly positioned between said first and second axle half-shafts, said differential assembly adapted to transfer torque to said first and second axle half shafts; an over-running clutch adapted to selectively lock said differential assembly thereby effectively rotationally locking said axle half shafts to one another, said differential having three modes of operation, an open mode, wherein the differential is kept un-locked, and relative rotation is allowed between said axle half shafts, a locked mode, wherein said differential is kept locked, thereby preventing relative rotation between said axle half shafts, and an automatic mode, wherein said differential is locked or un-locked based upon predetermined operating parameters; a selector switch adapted to allow an operator of the vehicle to selectively place said differential in one of said three modes of operation; an electronic control unit adapted to receive inputs from the vehicle and to compare the inputs to pre-determined operating parameters and to selectively engage or disengage said over-running clutch based upon the inputs.