Patent ID: 6398686
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
A differential assembly, comprising:a differential carrier; a differential case rotatably supported in said carrier and defining an axis of rotation; two opposite output shafts extending from said carrier and rotatable about said axis relative to said differential case; two side gears arranged coaxially and rotatable relative to said differential case, and non-rotatably coupled to their respective output shafts; differential gears rotatably supported by said differential case and drivingly engaging said side gears to allow differential rotation thereof; a thrust collar arranged coaxially to one of said side gears, said thrust collar being rotatable relative to said differential case, and axially slidably and non-rotatably coupled to one of said output shafts so as to allow axial movement along said shaft; a friction clutch assembly including a number of alternating inner friction plates non-rotatably coupled to said thrust collar, and outer friction plates non-rotatably coupled to said differential case; said friction clutch assembly adapted to be axially loadable by said thrust collar to cause a frictional restriction of said differential rotation of said side gears; and a selectively controllable actuator assembly adapted for axially displacing said thrust collar in order to load said friction assembly.