Patent ID: 7438661

Claim:
A differential gear mechanism comprising a gear case defining a gear chamber, a differential gear set disposed in said gear chamber, and including at least one input gear and a pair of output gears defining an axis of rotation; a lock-up clutch operable to retard differentiating action, and actuating means for actuating said lock-up clutch; said lock-up clutch being operable between an engaged condition, effective to retard relative rotation between said gear case and said output gears, and a disengaged condition; said actuating means including cam means operable to effect said engaged condition of said lock-up clutch, and retarding means operable to engage said cam means and retard rotation of one member of said cam means, said retarding means comprising a flyweight mechanism rotatable about an axis oriented generally parallel to said axis of rotation, at a speed generally representative of the extent of said differentiating action, and defining a stop surface moveable from a retracted position to an extended position in response to a predetermined extent of differentiating action; said actuating means further including a latch surface disposed to engage said stop surface when said stop surface is in said extended position; characterized by: (a) said latch surface forming a portion of a latch member movable between a locking position, wherein said latch surface is engageable with said stop surface and an unlocking position, wherein said stop surface is unable to engage said latch surface; (b) a lockout mechanism operably associated with said latch member and including a lockout member positionable, in response to an input signal, in a normal condition and a lockout condition; (c) in said normal condition, said lockout member permits said latch member to move freely between said locking position and said unlocking position; and (d) in said lockout condition, said lockout member prevents said latch member from moving into said locking position.