Patent US4916973A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4916973A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Torque biased differential mechanism
Assignee: American Axle and Manufacturing Inc
•
Filing: 1988-05-20
•
Granted: 1990-04-17
•
Expires: 2008-05-20
Abstract
Abstract A four wheel drive vehicle has a torque biased inter-axle differential comprising a fluid coupling which is driven by a planetary gear set which multiplies the speed difference between the outputs of the differential.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter K. Fuelberth
- 👤 Andrew Fedor, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 17:33
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H48/00; F16H48/06; F16H48/10; B; B60; B60K; B60K17/00; B60K17/34; B60K17/344; B60K17/346; B60K17/3462; B60K17/3465; F16H48/38; F16H48/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A torque biased differential mechanism comprising: a first planetary gear differential, for splitting torque, having a planetary carrier input, a first outer ring gear output, and a second sun gear output; a hydrodynamic fluid coupling, for biasing the torque of the first and second outputs of first differential in response to the speed difference between the first and second outputs of the first differential, having a first rotor which is drivingly connected to the first outer ring gear output of the first differential and a second rotor; and a second planetary gear set, for multiplying the speed difference between the first and second outputs of the first differential, having a first outer ring gear input which is drivingly connected to the first outer ring gear output of the first differential, a second planetary carrier input which is drivingly connected to the second sun gear output of the first differential, and a sun gear output which is drivingly connected to the second rotor of the hydrodynamic fluid coupling.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
A torque biased differential mechanism comprising: a first planetary gear differential, for splitting torque, having a planetary carrier input, a first outer ring gear output, and a second sun gear output; a hydrodynamic fluid coupling, for biasing the torque of the first and second outputs of first differential in response to the speed difference between the first and second outputs of the first differential, having a first rotor which is drivingly connected to the first outer ring gear output of the first differential and a second rotor; and a second planetary gear set, for multiplying the speed difference between the first and second outputs of the first differential, having a first outer ring gear input which is drivingly connected to the first outer ring gear output of the first differential, a second planetary carrier input which is drivingly connected to the second sun gear output of the first differential, and a sun gear output which is drivingly connected to the second rotor of the hydrodynamic fluid coupling.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4008628A
Cited
US3915031A
Cited
US4272993A
Cited
EP0017098A1
Cited
US4373604A
Cited
US4493227A
Cited
US4574656A
Cited
SU1172759A1
Cited
US4712448A
Cited
US4691593A
Cited
WO1987006668A1
Cited
WO1987007348A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-04-16 | 1993-10-16 | 1994-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-16 | 1997-10-16 | 1998-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-16 | 2001-10-16 | 2002-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |