Hydraulic control unit with differential connection

1. A hydraulic control unit (HCU) assembly for an electro-hydraulic limited slip differential system for a vehicle, the HCU assembly comprising:

a support bracket configured to couple to an underbody of the vehicle in a location remote from a live axle assembly of the vehicle; and

an HCU including a combined piston accumulator and reservoir assembly, a control valve assembly, and a motor and hydraulic pump assembly, the HCU coupled to the support bracket,

wherein the combined piston accumulator and reservoir assembly and the motor and hydraulic pump assembly are arranged end-to-end such that the HCU extends generally along a first longitudinal axis to provide a low profile end-to-end configuration to improve packaging and ground clearance.

2. The HCU assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to a cross-car axis of the vehicle.

3. The HCU assembly of claim 1 , wherein the combined piston accumulator and reservoir assembly extends along a second longitudinal axis, the control valve assembly extends along a third longitudinal axis, and the motor and hydraulic pump assembly extends along a fourth longitudinal axis,

wherein the second, third, and fourth axes are substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis.

4. The HCU assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support bracket comprises a base wall and a rear wall.

5. The HCU assembly of claim 4 , wherein the combined piston accumulator and reservoir assembly includes a housing having a protrusion extending outwardly therefrom, the protrusion disposed against the support bracket base wall and configured to receive a fastener to couple the housing to the support bracket.

6. The HCU assembly of claim 4 , wherein the support bracket includes a tab having an aperture, and wherein the combined piston accumulator and reservoir assembly includes a housing having a receiving aperture formed therein, the receiving aperture aligned with the tab aperture and configured to receive a fastener to couple the housing to the support bracket.

7. The HCU assembly of claim 6 , wherein the tab extends from the support bracket rear wall.

8. The HCU assembly of claim 6 , wherein the tab extends from the support bracket base wall.

9. The HCU assembly of claim 6 , further comprising an insert assembly disposed within the tab aperture and configured to dampen relative movement between the HCU and the support bracket, the insert assembly including an internal sleeve disposed radially within a grommet.

10. The HCU assembly of claim 1 , wherein the combined piston accumulator and reservoir assembly includes a first housing extending along a second longitudinal axis and having a first end and an opposite second end,

wherein the motor and hydraulic pump assembly includes a second housing extending along a third longitudinal axis and having a first end and an opposite second end, and

wherein the first housing first end is coupled to the second housing second end to provide the low profile end-to-end configuration.

11. The HCU assembly of claim 1 , wherein the combined piston accumulator and reservoir assembly comprises:

a housing defining an accumulator/reservoir chamber;

a piston slidingly disposed within the accumulator/reservoir chamber.

12. The HCU assembly of claim 11 , wherein the combined piston accumulator and reservoir further comprises:

a first biasing member; and

a support rod disposed within the first biasing member to facilitate structural integrity and prevent bending of the first biasing member.

13. The HCU assembly of claim 12 , wherein the combined piston accumulator and reservoir further comprises a second biasing member, wherein the support rod is disposed within the second biasing member.

14. The HCU assembly of claim 11 , wherein the combined piston accumulator and reservoir further comprises a vent/fill passage formed through the housing and fluidly coupled to the accumulator/reservoir chamber.

15. The HCU assembly of claim 1 , wherein the motor and hydraulic pump assembly comprises:

a housing;

a motor disposed within the housing; and

one of a piston pump and a gerotor gear assembly disposed within the housing.

16. A hydraulic control unit (HCU) assembly for an electro-hydraulic limited slip differential system for a vehicle, the HCU assembly comprising:

a support bracket configured to couple to an underbody of the vehicle in a location remote from a live axle assembly of the vehicle; and

an HCU including a combined piston accumulator and reservoir assembly, a control valve assembly, and a motor and hydraulic pump assembly, the HCU coupled to the support bracket,

wherein the support bracket comprises a base wall and a rear wall,

wherein the base wall includes an indentation formed therein and configured to provide clearance to a portion of the HCU.

17. The HCU assembly of claim 16 , wherein the indentation includes a drain aperture configured to drain fluid accumulating in the indentation.

18. A hydraulic control unit (HCU) assembly for an electro-hydraulic limited slip differential system for a vehicle, the HCU assembly comprising:

a support bracket configured to couple to an underbody of the vehicle in a location remote from a live axle assembly of the vehicle; and

an HCU including a combined piston accumulator and reservoir assembly, a control valve assembly, and a motor and hydraulic pump assembly, the HCU coupled to the support bracket,

wherein the support bracket comprises a base wall and a rear wall,

wherein the rear wall includes a first surface and an opposite second surface, wherein the rear wall defines a first connecting tab and a second connecting tab each configured to abut against a portion of the underbody to couple the support bracket to the vehicle.

19. The HCU assembly of claim 18 , further comprising a third connecting tab configured to couple to the HCU, and a fourth connecting tab configured to couple to the portion of the vehicle underbody.

20. The HCU assembly of claim 19 , wherein the third connecting tab extends outwardly from the first surface, and the fourth connecting tab extends outwardly from the second surface.