Patent ID: 6454674
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
A torque transfer control system comprising:a toque supply source; a differential coupled to said torque supply source, wherein said differential has a drive pinion gear coupled to said torque supply source, a ring gear coupled to said drive pinion gear, a differential casing coupled to said ring gear, a differential pinion gear coupled to said differential casing, a pair of side gears coupled to said differential pinion gear, and a non-rotating differential housing; an output source coupled to said differental; and an activatable magnetorheological-based torque limiting device coupled to said differential, wherein said activatable magnetorheological-based torque limiting device comprises a pump having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a capillary tube coupled to said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet, an electrical coil coupled to a portion of said capillary tube, an electronic control unit coupled to said electrical coil, and a quantity of magnetorheological fluid contained within said capillary tube and said pump, wherein said activatable magnetorheological-based torque limiting device limits the transfer of torque from said torque supply source to said output sauce when activated.