Patent ID: 7410042
Filing Date: 2008-08-12
Classification: F04B,F16D,F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A pump assembly and differential clutch assembly combination, the pump assembly adapted to pressurize a hydraulic fluid for supply to an overrunning clutch in the differential clutch assembly, the differential assembly comprising: a differential housing; an input shaft extending out of the housing and having a rotational axis; at least one output shaft extending out of the housing; an overrunning clutch located within the housing and selectively engaged with the input shaft and the at least one output shaft, the overrunning clutch for transferring torque between the input shaft and the at least one output shaft, the overrunning clutch including a hydraulically controlled backdriving assembly; and a hydraulically actuatable mechanism for supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to the backdriving assembly for selective engagement of the overrunning clutch with the at least one output shaft; and the pump assembly comprising: a pump housing defining an interior and mounted to the differential housing, the pump housing includes a port for permitting pressurized fluid to channel out of the pump housing; a fluid passage extending between the port and the hydraulically actuatable mechanism for channeling pressurized fluid to the hydraulically actuatable mechanism; a cylinder rod slidingly received within the interior of the pump housing for pressurizing a hydraulic fluid, the rod having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the input shaft; an annular cam member disposed about the input shaft and adapted for selective engagement with the input shaft such that the input shaft is capable of independent rotation relative to the cam member when the cam member is not engaged to the input shaft, and the cam member and input shaft rotate together when the cam member is engaged with the input shaft, the cam member including a cam surface adapted to drivingly slide the cylinder rod within the pump housing upon relative movement of the cam member with respect to the pump housing; a rotation coupler engaged with the shaft such that the rotation coupler rotates with the shaft, the rotation coupler adapted for selective engagement with the cam member such that upon engagement rotation of the shaft results in relative movement between the cam member and the pump housing to slide the cylinder rod with respect to the pump housing and pressurize a hydraulic; and a coil adapted to generate an electromagnetic field upon activation, the coil mounted near the rotation coupler, wherein the selective engagement between the rotation coupler and the cam member is provided by activation of the coil so as to generate an electromagnetic field to cause the cam member and the rotation coupler to be drawn into contact with each other.