Patent ID: 7399248

Claim:
A differential mechanism for transmitting power from an input to an output, comprising: a case including an outer shell enclosing a cavity, an inner shell spaced radially from the outer shell, and a wall interconnecting the outer shell and the inner shell and formed with a series of angularly spaced holes, each hole extending through the wall from a first side of the wall located within the cavity to a second side of the wall located exterior to the cavity; a side gear located in the cavity; a locking member formed with a surface located within the cavity that moves alternately into engagement with and disengagement from the side gear, and posts secured to the surface and engaging the wall for rotation therewith, each post extending through one of the holes to the exterior of the cavity and; a first actuator including an electromagnetic coil located outside the cavity, the first actuator contacting the locking member posts at the second side of the wall and moving the locking member toward and into engagement with the side gear in response to energizing the coil; and a second actuator located within the cavity and urging the locking member away from engagement with the side gear.