Patent ID: 7278945

Claim:
A differential for use in and all-terrain vehicle or a utility vehicle having a motor, the differential comprising: (a) a differential housing having a first, carrier section and a second, cover section; (b) first and second side gears, the first side gear adapted and configured to receive a first shaft for driving a first wheel and the second side gear adapted and configured to receive a second shaft for driving a second wheel; (c) at least one set of differential gears, each set comprising: (i) a first differential gear positioned to engage the first side gear and rotatably mounted; and (ii) a second differential gear positioned to engage the second side gear and rotatably mounted, the first differential gear also engaging the second differential gear; and (d) a driven member rotatably mounted in the housing, the driven member adapted and configured to be driven by the motor; (e) a clutch pack having a set of friction plates and a set of reaction plates; (f) one of the sets of friction plates and reaction plates operatively connected to the driven member and the other of the sets of friction plates and reaction plates operatively connected to one of the first and second side gears; (g) a ball ramp positioned between the housing and the clutch pack, and (h) a DC motor operatively connected to the ball ramp, wherein actuation of the DC motor rotates the ball ramp resulting in linear movement of the ball ramp and compression of the clutch pack, thereby coupling the driven member to the one of the first and second side gears.