Patent ID: 6942055

Claim:
A drive axle assembly for use in a motor vehicle to transfer drive torque from a powertrain to a pair of wheels, comprising: a housing defining a pump chamber, a gear chamber, and first and second clutch chambers; a pinion shaft adapted to receive drive torque from the powertrain and having a shaft segment extending through said pump chamber and a pinion gear disposed in said gear chamber; a drive assembly supported for rotation in said gear chamber and having a ring gear meshed with said pinion gear; a first output shaft supported for rotation relative to said housing and said drive assembly and adapted for connection to one of the wheels; a second output shaft supported for rotation relative to said housing and said drive assembly and adapted for connection to the other of the wheels; a first hydraulic coupling located within said first clutch chamber and including a first transfer clutch operably disposed between said drive assembly and said first output shaft, a first piston for engaging said transfer friction clutch in response to fluid pressure exerted thereon, and a first control valve for controlling the fluid pressure exerted on said first piston; a first seal mechanism for providing a fluid-tight seal between said first clutch chamber and said gear chamber; a second hydraulic coupling located within said second clutch chamber and including a second transfer clutch operably disposed between said drive assembly and said second output shaft, a second piston for engaging said second transfer clutch in response to fluid pressure exerted thereon, and a second control valve for controlling the fluid pressure exerted on said second piston; a second seal mechanism for providing a fluid-tight seal between said second clutch chamber and said gear chamber; a pump disposed in said pump chamber and driven by said pinion shaft for supplying pressurized fluid to said first and second control valves; and a traction control system including speed sensors for detecting the rotary speed of at least two of said pinion shaft and said first and second output shafts, a first temperature sensor for detecting the fluid temperature in said first clutch chamber, a second temperature sensor for detecting the fluid temperature in said second clutch chamber, and a control unit receiving signals from said speed sensors and said temperature sensors and generating control signals in response thereto, said control signals delivered to said first and second control valves to independently vary the fluid pressure exerted on said first and second pistons.