Methods and systems are provided for operating a solenoid actuator to engage and/or disengage a torque transmission member of a vehicle transmission. In one example, a method may include increasing the holding force of the solenoid actuator. Additionally, the solenoid actuator may include a translatable structural element that creates a moment upon touching another structural element holding the translatable element in a locked position.

The present invention provides a disconnector apparatus including: a support ring provided in a differential casing and configured to support a pinion gear mounted therein; a clutch ring configured to be coupled to or decoupled from the support ring in the differential casing; an actuator including an armature provided at an outer side of the differential casing opposite to the clutch ring, the actuator being configured to couple the clutch ring and the support ring by pulling, with an electromagnetic force, the armature connected to the clutch ring by means of an application rod; and an elastic member coupled to a portion of the application rod in the differential casing and having one end in contact with the differential casing and the other end in contact with the clutch ring to elastically support the clutch ring.

A drivetrain component provides an electronically controlled, overrunning drivetrain disconnect, such as a differential with different operating modes. The drivetrain component includes a case and a ring gear connected to the case. A carrier is supported for movement relative to and independent of the case. The carrier includes a differential gear set. The differential gear set has a pinion shaft tied to the carrier, pinion gears mounted on the pinion shaft, differential gears engaging the pinion gears, and differential gear shafts connected to the differential gears. The drivetrain component including a first locking structure, the first locking structure coupling the case to the carrier for torque transmission from the case to the carrier in a first direction only, wherein the first locking structure does not inhibit carrier rotation in a second direction.

A differential with a clutch is provided with: a differential gear set; a dividable casing defining a chamber accommodating the clutch and the differential gear set; a first member of the casing formed in a unitary body and including an end wall having a window penetrating the end wall, a boss portion projecting axially outward from the end wall, a side wall around the axis and a flange extending radially outward for receiving the torque; a second member of the casing fixed with the side wall to close the chamber; an axially movable clutch member axially movable including a leg portion disposed in the window and transmitting the torque from the end wall to the differential gear set; and an actuator having an axially outward offset from the flange and including a plunger abutting on the leg portion and driven axially by the actuator to thrust the clutch member.

An electronically locking differential assembly constructed in accordance to the present disclosure includes a differential casing, a first and second side gear, a lock actuation assembly and a lock detect mechanism. The lock actuation mechanism selectively moves between a locked state where the side gears are fixed for concurrent rotation and an unlocked state where the side gears rotate relative to each other. The lock detect mechanism detects whether the lock actuation mechanism is in the locked, unlocked state, and an intermediate position between the locked and unlocked state; then provides feedback to the driver on the state of the lock actuation mechanism.

The present disclosure discloses a locking structure of a differential. The locking structure comprises a bi-stable electromagnetic clutch sleeved on an output axle shaft on one side of the differential. The bi-stable electromagnetic clutch comprises a movable locking disc and a fixed locking disc; the fixed locking disc is fixedly connected to a differential housing or integrated with differential housing, and the movable locking disc and the fixed locking disc have face teeth that can engage with each other. The movable locking disc is sleeved on the output axle shaft, the bi-stable electromagnetic clutch drives the movable locking disc to move axially after being energized, the output axle shaft and the differential housing are locked when the movable face teeth engaged with the fixed face teeth so that the output axle shaft on either side of the differential and the differential housing have a same rotational speed and output torque. The locking structure has the advantages of bi-stable or bi-state, controllability, and a long service life.

An electronic locking differential includes a lock ring and a coil that moves the lock ring to engage gears of the electronic locking differential, an energy storage capacitor that powers the coil during at least a portion of engagement of the lock ring with the gears, and a controller. The controller charges the energy storage capacitor to a first predefined voltage prior to the engagement.

An electronic locking differential that includes a movable electromagnet to selectively operate a dog clutch for locking a side gear to a carrier. The dog clutch includes a dog member having a plurality of legs that extend through leg apertures in the carrier. A cam mechanism is employed on the legs and the carrier to generate and apply a force to the dog member to maintain the dog member in an engaged position when torque is transmitted through the cam mechanism. The carrier is configured with an annular rib that surrounds a pocket. The annular rib has a frustoconical shape that matches that of a pole piece on the electromagnet. The electromagnet is received into the pocket when the electromagnet is operated and the dog member is in its engaged position.

An electronically actuated locking differential includes a gear case having opposite first and second ends, a differential gear set disposed in the gear case, a lock plate disposed at the gear case first end and configured to selectively engage the differential gear set, and an electronic actuator disposed at the gear case second end and coupled to the lock plate via at least one rod. The electronic actuator is operable between an unlocked first mode where the lock plate does not lockingly engage the differential gear set, and a locked second mode where the electronic actuator pulls the at least one rod to thereby pull the lock plate into locking engagement with the differential gear set to thereby lock a pair of axle shafts.

The present disclosure discloses a locking structure of a differential. The locking structure comprises a bi-stable electromagnetic clutch sleeved on an output axle shaft on one side of the differential. The bi-stable electromagnetic clutch comprises a movable locking disc and a fixed locking disc; the fixed locking disc is fixedly connected to a differential housing, and the movable locking disc and the fixed locking disc have face teeth that can engage with each other. The movable locking disc is sleeved on the output axle shaft, the bi-stable electromagnetic clutch drives the movable locking disc to move axially after being energized, the output axle shaft and the differential housing are locked when the movable face teeth engaged with the fixed face teeth so that the output axle shaft on either side of the differential and the differential housing have a same rotational speed and output torque.