US 12,240,321 B2
Disconnecting differential side gear mechanism
Dusan Milacic, Aurora (CA); Sean Steele, Aurora (CA); Myron Samila, Aurora (CA); Stephen Yang, Aurora (CA); and David Gelfand, Aurora (CA)
Assigned to Magna Powertrain, Inc., Aurora (CA)
Appl. No. 18/554,509
Filed by Magna Powertrain, Inc., Aurora (CA)
PCT Filed Apr. 13, 2022, PCT No. PCT/CA2022/050570
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 9, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/217355, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 20, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/175,831, filed on Apr. 16, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0198794 A1, Jun. 20, 2024
Int. Cl. B60K 23/08 (2006.01); B60K 17/02 (2006.01); B60K 17/16 (2006.01); F16D 27/118 (2006.01); F16H 48/08 (2006.01); F16H 48/38 (2012.01); F16H 48/40 (2012.01)
CPC B60K 23/08 (2013.01) [B60K 17/02 (2013.01); B60K 17/165 (2013.01); F16D 27/118 (2013.01); F16H 48/08 (2013.01); F16H 48/40 (2013.01); F16D 2500/1022 (2013.01); F16D 2500/10412 (2013.01); F16D 2500/10462 (2013.01); F16D 2500/1107 (2013.01); F16H 2048/405 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A differential assembly for a vehicle in the form of a disconnecting differential assembly comprising;
a differential case that rotates about a first axis;
a differential mechanism received in the differential case having a plurality of differential pinions and first and second side gears transmitting power between the differential case and the first and second side gears;
the first side gear rotationally fixed to a first axle shaft;
the second side gear with axially extending teeth;
an output hub with axially extending teeth which is rotationally fixed to a second axle shaft and axially shiftable relative to the second axle shaft toward and away from the second side gear;
a power operated disconnect mechanism operable in a disconnected mode to uncouple the output hub from the second side gear and in a connected mode to couple the output hub to the second side gear; and
a control system for controlling operation of the power operated disconnect mechanism;
wherein the second side gear is supported for rotation on the second axle shaft with a bearing element disposed radially therebetween, and wherein the bearing element radially aligns the output hub and the second side gear for improved connecting and disconnecting therebetween.