Magnetically responsive limited slip differential

摘要

A differential system includes a case (40), a pair of pinion gears (42), a pair of side gears (45,46) and an electrically operable coupling (49) including a magnetically responsive fluid (57). The coupling (49) selectively drivingly interconnects one of the side gears (45) and the case (40). In one instance, the present invention includes a rotor (50) having a plurality of outwardly extending blades (76) positioned in communication with a magneto-rheological fluid (57). An electromagnet (108) is selectively actuated to change the viscosity of the magneto-rheological fluid (57). In this manner, the differential may function as an "open" differential, a "locked" differential or a differential accommodating a limited-slip condition.