Patent ID: 6962546

Claim:
A differential assembly having a limited slip differential capability, said differential assembly comprising: a differential casing; a pair of side gears oppositely situated in and rotatably supported by said differential casing; a pinion shaft arranged at right angle to an axis of said side gears and fixed to said differential casing at both ends thereof; a plurality of pinions rotatably mounted on said pinion shaft and adapted to mesh with said side gears; and a fluid coupling disposed between one of said side gears and said differential casing, wherein said fluid coupling comprising: a first impeller provided with a first set of vanes and operably connected to one of said side gears; a second impeller provided with a second set of vanes and operably connected to said differential casing so that said first set of vanes is facing said second set of vanes; and a viscous fluid disposed between said first set of vanes and said second set of vanes, and wherein said fluid is forced from the set of vanes exhibiting a higher speed to the set of vanes with a lower speed.