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A selectively locked differential has a locked configuration in which both side gears are independently locked to the differential casing so that torque is not transmitted through the pinion gears. The locking of the side gears is accomplished by generally cylindrical, ring-shaped structures with ca

A selectively locked differential has a locked configuration in which both side gears are independently locked to the differential casing so that torque is not transmitted through the pinion gears. The locking of the side gears is accomplished by generally cylindrical, ring-shaped structures with castellations on one axial end surface of each structure. These castellations selectively interfit with rotatably fixed castellations of secondary structures fixed to the differential casing, such that the ring-shaped structures define a mechanically interconnected, zero-slip arrangement with respect to the rotationally fixed secondary structures when the differential is in the locked configuration.

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1. A differential comprising: a differential casing defining a longitudinal axis, a first set of rotatably fixed castellations and a second set of rotatably fixed castellations affixed to said differential casing;a first side gear and a second side gear each rotatable with respect to said differenti

1. A differential comprising: a differential casing defining a longitudinal axis, a first set of rotatably fixed castellations and a second set of rotatably fixed castellations affixed to said differential casing;a first side gear and a second side gear each rotatable with respect to said differential casing about the longitudinal axis, said first side gear and said second side gear each adapted to be rotatably fixed to a half shaft;at least one pinion gear intermeshingly engaged with said first side gear and said second side gear, said pinion gear rotatable about a pinion gear axis when said first side gear rotates at a rotational speed different from said second side gear;a first clutch plate rotatably fixed to said first side gear and having an end surface with a first set of rotatable castellations formed thereon, said first clutch plate axially moveable within said differential casing between an engaged position and a disengaged position, said first set of rotatable castellations interfitted with said first set of rotatably fixed castellations of said differential casing when said first clutch plate is in said engaged position,said first set of rotatable castellations spaced from said first set of rotatably fixed castellations of said differential casing when said first clutch plate is in said disengaged position,whereby said first side gear is selectively rotatably fixed to said differential casing via said first clutch plate; anda second clutch plate rotatably fixed to said second side gear and having an end surface with a second set of rotatable castellations formed thereon, said second clutch plate axially moveable within said differential casing between an engaged position and a disengaged position, said second set of rotatable castellations interfitted with said second set of rotatably fixed castellations of said differential casing when said second clutch plate is in said engaged position,said second set of rotatable castellations spaced from said second set of rotatably fixed castellations of said differential casing when said second clutch plate is in said disengaged position,whereby said second side gear is selectively rotatably fixed to said differential casing via said second clutch plate,whereby the differential has a locked condition in which each of said side gears is independently locked to the differential casing and torque is not transmitted through said pinion gear. 2. The differential of claim 1, further comprising a pinion housing rotatably affixed to said differential casing, said at least one pinion gear is rotatably mounted to said pinion housing, said pinion housing having an end surface with said first set of rotatably fixed castellations formed thereon. 3. The differential of claim 2, wherein said pinion housing comprises a substantially cylindrical shell having said at least one pinion gear mounted within said substantially cylindrical shell by a pinion gear axle, said pinion gear axle extending through said pinion housing and into said differential casing to rotatably fix said pinion housing to said differential casing. 4. The differential of claim 2, further comprising a differential end plate rotatably fixed to said differential casing, said differential end plate having an end surface with said second set of rotatably fixed castellations formed thereon. 5. The differential of claim 4, wherein said first and second sets of rotatably fixed castellations protrude from said end surfaces of said pinion housing and said differential end plate, respectively, along a common axial direction. 6. The differential of claim 4, further comprising an actuator urging said first clutch plate into its engaged position, said first clutch plate acting on said second clutch plate to urge said second clutch plate into its engaged position, whereby said rotatable castellations are urged toward said rotatably fixed castellations by actuation of said actuator. 7. The differential of claim 6, further comprising at least one lock pin passing through a wall of said pinion housing, an axial end of said at least one lock pin protruding outwardly from said end surface of said pinion housing between neighboring pairs of said first set of rotatably fixed castellations, such that interfitting of said first set of rotatable castellations into said first set of rotatably fixed castellations urges said at least one lock pin away from said end surface of said pinion gear and into contact with said second clutch plate. 8. The differential of claim 6, wherein said differential casing includes at least one actuation aperture formed in an end surface thereof, said actuator mounted to said differential casing adjacent said end surface and comprising at least one actuation pin protruding through said at least one actuation aperture, said at least one actuation pin selectively bearing against said first clutch plate to axially displace said first clutch plate from its disengaged position toward its engaged position. 9. The differential of claim 1, further comprising a ring gear affixed to said differential casing, said ring gear adapted to transmit power from a drive shaft to said differential casing. 10. The differential of claim 1, wherein said first and second sets of rotatably fixed castellations and said first and second sets of rotatable castellations all define respective lateral castellation walls having a draft angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of up to 5 degrees. 11. The differential of claim 1, wherein said first and second sets of rotatably fixed castellations comprise a plurality of pins, and said first and second sets of rotatable castellations flank and define a plurality of recesses sized and positioned to received said plurality of pins. 12. A differential comprising: a differential casing having a hollow cavity formed therein, said hollow cavity defining a longitudinal axis;a first side gear and a second side gear each rotatable with respect to said differential casing about the longitudinal axis, said first side gear and said second side gear each adapted to be rotatably fixed to a half shaft;a pinion housing rotatably affixed to said differential casing and having an end surface with a first set of rotatably fixed castellations formed thereon;at least one pinion gear intermeshingly engaged with said first side gear and said second side gear, said pinion gear rotatably mounted to said pinion housing;a differential end plate rotatably fixed to said differential casing, said differential end plate having an end surface with a second set of rotatably fixed castellations formed thereon;a first clutch plate rotatably fixed to said first side gear and having an end surface with a first set of rotatable castellations formed thereon, said first clutch plate axially moveable along a first direction from a disengaged position in which said first set of rotatable castellations are spaced from said first set of rotatably fixed castellations of said pinion housing, toward an engaged position in which said first set of rotatable castellations are intermeshingly engaged with said first set of rotatably fixed castellations; anda second clutch plate rotatably fixed to said second side gear and having an end surface with a second set of rotatable castellations formed thereon, said second clutch plate axially moveable along the first direction from a disengaged position in which said second set of rotatable castellations are spaced from said second set of rotatably fixed castellations of said differential end plate, toward an engaged position in which said second set of rotatable castellations are intermeshingly engaged with said second set of rotatably fixed castellations. 13. The differential of claim 12, wherein said first side gear, said second side gear, said pinion housing, said at least one pinion gear, said first clutch plate and said second clutch plate all disposed in said hollow cavity of said differential casing, said differential further comprising: an actuator having at least one actuation pin actuatable to a locked configuration in which said actuation pin advances in said first direction to protrude into said hollow cavity of said differential casing and simultaneously urge said first clutch plate and said second clutch plate in said first direction toward their respective engaged positions,said actuation pin actuatable to an unlocked configuration in which said actuation pin withdraws from said hollow cavity to simultaneously allow said first clutch plate and said second clutch plate to move opposite said first direction and toward their respective disengaged positions. 14. The differential of claim 13, wherein said first and second sets of rotatably fixed castellations and said first and second sets of rotatable castellations all define respective lateral castellation walls having a draft angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of up to 5 degrees. 15. The differential of claim 13, wherein said first and second sets of rotatably fixed castellations comprise a plurality of pins extending outwardly from respective end surfaces of said pinion housing and said differential end plate, and said and said first and second sets of rotatable castellations flank and define a plurality of recesses formed in respective end surfaces of said first clutch plate and said second clutch plate, said plurality of recesses respectively sized and positioned to received said plurality of pins. 16. A differential comprising: a differential casing having a hollow cavity formed therein, said hollow cavity defining a longitudinal axis, a first set of rotatably fixed castellations and a second set of rotatably fixed castellations affixed to said differential casing within said hollow cavity;a first side gear and a second side gear each disposed in said hollow cavity and rotatable with respect to said differential casing about the longitudinal axis, said first side gear and said second side gear each adapted to be rotatably fixed to a half shaft;at least one pinion gear disposed in said hollow cavity and intermeshingly engaged with said first side gear and said second side gear;a first clutch plate disposed in said hollow cavity and rotatably fixed to said first side gear and having an end surface with a first set of rotatable castellations formed thereon, said first clutch plate axially moveable from a disengaged position in which said first set of rotatable castellations are spaced from said first set of rotatably fixed castellations, toward an engaged position in which said first set of rotatable castellations are intermeshingly engaged with said first set of rotatably fixed castellations;a second clutch plate disposed in said hollow cavity and rotatably fixed to said second side gear and having an end surface with a second set of rotatable castellations formed thereon, said second clutch plate axially moveable from a disengaged position in which said second set of rotatable castellations are spaced from said second set of rotatably fixed castellations, toward an engaged position in which said second set of rotatable castellations are intermeshingly engaged with said second set of rotatably fixed castellations; andan actuator having at least one actuation pin actuatable to a locked configuration in which said actuation pin advances into said hollow cavity of said differential casing to simultaneously urges said first clutch plate and said second clutch plate toward their respective engaged positions. 17. The differential of claim 16, wherein said actuator comprises an actuator body disposed outside said hollow cavity of said differential casing. 18. The differential of claim 16, wherein said actuation pin is actuatable to an unlocked configuration in which said actuation pin withdraws from said hollow cavity to simultaneously allow said first clutch plate and said second clutch plate to move toward their respective disengaged positions. 19. The differential of claim 16, further comprising a pinion housing disposed in said hollow cavity and rotatably affixed to said differential casing, said pinion housing and having an end surface with said first set of rotatably fixed castellations formed thereon. 20. The differential of claim 16, further comprising a differential end plate enclosing an open end of said hollow cavity, said differential end plate rotatably fixed to said differential casing, said differential end plate having an end surface with said second set of rotatably fixed castellations formed thereon.