Patent ID: 8066607
Filing Date: 2011-11-29
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
1. A locking differential for driving a pair of output shafts comprising: a housing having a main body portion coupled to a removable end portion to define an interior chamber, the pair of output shafts extending in opposite directions from the interior chamber, the main body portion having a radial flange extending from a periphery of the main body portion; a pair of side gears positioned within the interior chamber, a first side gear concentrically coupled and rotationally fixed to one of the output shafts and a second side gear concentrically coupled and rotationally fixed to the oppositely extending output shaft; a pair of clutch gear members slideably coupled to the side gears, respectively, the pair of clutch gear members axially movable to maintain the locking differential in a disengaged state when the locking differential is in an overrunning condition defined when one output shaft overruns the oppositely extending output shaft by a predetermined amount; a two-piece split-center driver having a first driver located proximate the end portion of the housing and a second driver located proximate the radial flange extending from the main body portion of the housing; and a center cam member co-axially aligned with the side gears and clutch gear members, the center cam member operable with the pair of clutch gear members to disengage the side gears from the two-piece center driver when one of the output shafts is in the overrunning condition.