Patent ID: 8348801

Claim:
A differential locking mechanism for a drive axle comprising: a differential including a differential gear assembly supported within a differential case; a pair of axle shafts driven by said differential gear assembly for rotation about an axis; a shift collar movable between an unlocked position where speed differentiation between said pair of axle shafts is permitted and a locked position wherein said shift collar directly engages said differential case such that said differential case, said shift collar, and said pair of axle shafts are fixed for rotation together; an electronic actuator responsive to an electronic signal to move said shift collar from said unlocked position to said locked position, wherein said electronic actuator includes a coil having mount portions to receive fasteners to directly attach said coil to a carrier housing; and a resilient member that returns said shift collar to said unlocked position, said resilient member surrounding an outer end portion of said shift collar.