Patent ID: 7591355

Claim:
A disconnect for use between an engine and a differential, the disconnect comprising: (a) an input shaft; (b) a pinion shaft; (c) an electromagnet positioned around the input shaft; (d) an armature plate positioned around the input shaft and moveable, by the electromagnet, between an engaged position and a disengaged position; (e) a converter mechanism for changing relative rotational movement to axial movement, the converter mechanism comprising: (i) a first member operatively connected to the input shaft, wherein the first member rotates at a same speed as the input shaft; and (ii) a second member operatively connected to the pinion shaft and rotating at a same speed as the pinion shaft, wherein a differential rotation between the speed of the input shaft and the pinion shaft results in axial movement of the second member; (f) a biasing member, biasing the armature plate to the disengaged position, (g) a locking member for locking the armature plate to the first member, when in the disengaged position; (h) the second member operatively connected to the armature plate, wherein the armature plate and second member rotate at a same speed, wherein the converter is prevented from self energizing.