Patent ID: 8857294

Claim:
A bi-directional overrunning clutch differential for controlling torque transmission between a pinion input shaft and at least one output hub, the differential comprising a differential housing; the pinion input shaft having an end rotatably disposed within the differential housing; the at least one output hub, at least a portion of the output hub being rotatably disposed within the differential housing, the hub having an outer surface; a clutch disposed within the differential housing and adapted to control torque transmission between the input shaft and the at least one output hub, the clutch including: a clutch housing engaged with the end of the input shaft in the differential housing so as to permit transmission of rotational motion from the input shaft to the clutch housing, the clutch housing having an inner surface with a cam surface formed thereon, the end of the hub being located radially inward from the cam surface, and a roll cage located between the cam surface and the end of the hub, the roll cage having a plurality of slots formed in and spaced circumferentially about the roll cage, each slot having a roll located therein, the cage being rotatable relative to the clutch housing and the end of the hub, the roll cage having a first position where the roll cage is positioned relative to the clutch housing such that a plurality of the rolls are not engaged with at least one of either the inner surface of the clutch housing or the outer surface of the hub so that substantially no torque can transfer from the clutch housing to the hub through the rolls, and a second position where the roll cage is positioned relative to the clutch housing such that a plurality of the rolls are engaged with the inner surface of the clutch housing and the outer surface of the hub so as to permit torque transfer between the clutch housing and the hub; and an engagement control assembly including: a drag mechanism which engages the roll cage to shift the roll cage into its second position, the drag mechanism including an electronically controlled device for controllably rotating the roll cage relative to the clutch housing; a spring mounted to the clutch housing and engaging the roll cage for biasing the roll cage into its first position; and an adapter disposed about at least a portion of the roll cage and engaged with the roll cage through the drag mechanism such that as the drag mechanism rotates the roll cage, it rotates the adapter, and wherein one end of the spring is in biasing engagement with a portion of the adapter such that rotation of the roll cage and adapter stretches or compresses the spring such that the spring applies a biasing force against the adapter urging it to rotate in the opposite direction.