IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,945,899
Granted Patent B2
US 6,945,899 · App. 10/093,564 · Granted Sep 20, 2005

Axle module with axle shaft electronic management

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,945,899
App. No.
10/093,564
Granted
Sep 20, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

An axle module for use in an automotive vehicle. The axle module includes axle shaft electronic torque management. The axle module includes a housing having a differential carrier rotatably supported therein. The axle module also includes a differential gear set rotatably supported within the differential carrier. A clutch pack contacts the differential gear set and the differential carrier. The axle module also includes a shaft connected to the clutch pack wherein the shaft is axial moveable within the differential carrier and housing.

Claims (13)

1. An axle module for use in a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, said module including:

a housing;

a differential carrier rotatably supported in said housing;

a ring gear connected to said differential carrier;

a differential gear set rotatably supported within said differential carrier;

a stub shaft having a side gear pressure plate of said differential gear set integrated thereon;

a clutch pack arranged within said differential carrier, said clutch pack engaging said differential carrier and said side gear pressure plate;

a ramp unit contacting said stub shaft or a thrust ring on one side and contacting said housing or a bearing or an opposite side thereof; and

a drive motor controlling said ramp unit.

2. The module of claim 1 wherein said clutch pack having a plurality of friction plates, said friction plates connected to said differential carrier and said stub shaft in an alternating sequence.

3. The module of claim 2 wherein said ramp unit having a ball ramp expander mechanism, said ball ramp expander creates an axial force that acts on said stub shaft.

4. The module of claim 3 wherein said stub shaft is axially secured to said side gear pressure plate and transfers said axial force to said side gear pressure plate, said side gear pressure plate compresses said friction plates and transfers an input torque from said ring gear to said stub shaft.

5. The module of claim 4 wherein differential gear set having an open differential configuration.