Patent ID: 6461267
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
A differential axle assembly disposed within a housing, said assembly comprising:a differential case driven by an input shaft and adapted to allow differential rotational speed between a pair of output shafts; a clutch device disposed between one of said pair of shafts and said differential case for selectively coupling said one of said output shafts to said differential case and thereby the other output shaft; and an electrically controlled actuator directly secured to said differential case, said electrically controlled actuator being connected to and controlling said clutch device to selectively couple said pair of output shafts, wherein said clutch device is a hydraulically actuated clutch disposed within said differential case and said electrically controlled actuator is an electro-magnetically controlled valve in communication with said hydraulically actuated clutch to selectively and controllably relieve pressure in said hydraulically actuated clutch.