Abstract: A compact planetary differential gear set includes first (130A) and second (130B) sun gears, a first set (200A) and a second set (200B) of planet gears (220), and a carrier (160) with a ring gear (190). Enmeshing gear pairs (210) are formed from one planet gear from each set. The first and second planet gear sets enmesh the first and second sun gears, respectively. The ring gear does not extend into an annular region containing the planet gears thereby allowing four or more gear pairs to compactly fit into the annular region. The carrier is a weldment and substantially encloses the sun gears and the planet gears permanently. The differential requires no fasteners or post-weld machining and may have a higher capacity, lower cost, smaller size, lower part number count, and/or lower amounts of material compared with conventional differentials. The differential is suited for motor vehicle applications.

Abstract: A limited slip differential assembly includes a planetary gear assembly, a differential case, a differential gear assembly and a hydraulic clutch assembly. The differential case is coupled for rotation with a portion of the planetary gear assembly. The differential gear assembly is arranged within the differential case and includes a first side gear and a second side gear for coupling with first and second drive wheels of a vehicle, respectively. The hydraulic clutch assembly includes a clutch pack and a clutch actuator. Pressurized hydraulic fluid from a transmission pump is selectively provided to the clutch pack to actuate the clutch pack between an open configuration, in which the side gears rotate independently, and a fully closed configuration, in which the side gears rotate together such that the first and second drive wheels rotate at a same speed.

Abstract: An electronically triggered locking differential includes a differential case, at least one pinion gear and a pair of side gears. A clutch pack is disposed between one of the side gears and the differential case and retards relative rotation between the differential case and the side gear. A cam member is disposed adjacent the clutch pack so that the clutch pack engages when the cam member ramps up. An engagement shaft has one end engaged with the cam member and an opposite end extending through the differential case and engaged with a sprocket. A magnetic coil and flux conductor magnetically couple the sprocket to the differential case when the coil is energized. This coupling retards rotation of the engagement shaft and the cam member relative to the gear case, initiating engagement of the clutch pack to lock the differential.

Abstract: A cam member for a vehicle differential includes a cam surface made of a high-durability alloy and a clutch surface made of a high-density magnetic alloy. The cam surface and the clutch surface can either be formed into a single component or as separate components that are mechanically coupled together. In one aspect, both the high-durability alloy and the high-density magnetic alloy are powdered metal alloys. As a result, the cam member has different surfaces with optimized characteristics that would ordinarily be difficult to incorporate into a single component.

Abstract: An electronically triggered locking differential includes a differential case, at least one pinion gear and a pair of side gears. A clutch pack is disposed between one of the side gears and the differential case and retards relative rotation between the differential case and the side gear. A cam member is disposed adjacent the clutch pack so that the clutch pack engages when the cam member ramps up. An engagement shaft has one end engaged with the cam member and an opposite end extending through the differential case and engaged with a sprocket. A magnetic coil and flux conductor magnetically couple the sprocket to the differential case when the coil is energized. This coupling retards rotation of the engagement shaft and the cam member relative to the gear case, initiating engagement of the clutch pack to lock the differential.