Patent ID: 8146458
Filing Date: 2012-04-03
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A locking differential for automotive vehicle comprising: a housing and a differential mechanism supported in said housing, said differential mechanism including a pair of clutch members disposed in spaced axial relationship with respect to one another and operatively supported for rotation with said housing; a pair of side gears operatively adapted for rotation with a corresponding pair of axle half shafts, and a pair of clutch mechanisms operatively disposed between each corresponding pair of clutch members and said side gears; said pair of clutch members being axially moveable within said housing to engage a respective clutch mechanism to couple the axle half shafts together in the event of a predetermined amount of differential movement between the axle half shafts; each of said pair of clutch members presenting an inwardly directed face, each face including a groove disposed in facing relationship with respect to the other, and a cross pin received in said grooves and operatively connected for rotation with said housing; each of said grooves including a pair of working surfaces extending laterally relative to the other, each of said working surfaces defining a screw involute surface such that said cross pin contacts said working surfaces along a line extending in the direction of the cross pin in the event of differential rotation of an axle half shaft relative to said housing.