Patent ID: 7666116

Claim:
A differential-lock control apparatus, comprising: an engine speed sensor, a differential-lock activation control, a differential lock, and a control unit arranged for communication with the engine speed sensor, the differential-lock activation control, and the differential lock, the control unit adapted to: monitor output of the engine speed sensor for an engine speed signal and output of the differential-lock activation control for an activate-differential-lock request signal, determine from the engine speed signal if an actual engine speed is at least a threshold engine speed in response to receipt of the activate-differential-lock request signal, allow for reduction of the actual engine speed to a desired engine speed if the actual engine speed is at least the threshold engine speed in response to receipt of the activate-differential-lock request signal, and subsequently output an activate-differential-lock control signal to the differential lock so as to command activation of the differential lock, wherein the control unit is adapted to output a desired-engine-speed control signal commanding reduction of the actual engine speed to the desired engine speed, the control unit is adapted to output the desired-engine-speed control signal for a predetermined period of time and adapted to output the activate-differential-lock control signal upon elapse of the predetermined period of time, and the control unit is adapted to determine the duration of the predetermined period of time based on the actual engine speed at the time of actuation of the differential-lock activation control by an operator.