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US 2001/0010180 A1Published application
Torque-sensing locking differential with reduced parts
OwnerTheodor Gassmanninventor
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OwnerTheodor Gassmanninventor
Estimating the term…
A locking differential in which the two side gears comprise end toothings facing one another, and the differential component is a differential disc with end toothings on both faces, with the end toothings on each face co-operating with one of the side gears' end toothings. The number of teeth of each pair of inter-engaging end toothings differs by one, and the ratio of the number of teeth of both pairs of toothings is unequal. The differential disc is mounted to wobble between the side gears so that, by means of diametrically-opposed portions of its two sets of end toothings, it engages the associated sets of end toothings of the side gears. In a first embodiment, the desired ratios of the numbers of teeth exist if the differential disc is provided with end toothings with identical numbers of teeth (z=n), and one side gear comprises a set of end toothings having one tooth fewer (z=n−1) and the other side gear having one tooth more (z=n+1). It is thus possible to achieve an unequal distribution of torque between the two side gears. In a second embodiment, the desired ratios of the numbers of teeth are achieved by having both side gears provided with end toothings with identical numbers of teeth (z=n), and the differential disc is provided with end toothings with one tooth fewer (z=n−1) on one side and one tooth more (z=n+1) on the other side. By using side gears provided with end toothings with identical numbers of teeth, the number of different parts required for the locking differential is reduced.
A locking differential having a rotatable differential carrier rotatable around an axis, with a pair of spaced-apart side gears contained within the differential carrier and rotatable relative to one another, and having a differential component which co-operates with the side gears by means of alternately-engaging toothings and which is non-rotatably coupled to the differential carrier so as to rotate therewith, wherein:
A locking differential having a rotatable differential carrier rotatable around an axis, with a pair of spaced-apart side gears contained within the differential carrier and rotatable relative to one another, and having a differential component which cooperates with said side gears by means of alternately-engaging toothings and which is non-rotatably coupled to a driveshaft so as to rotate therewith, said driveshaft extending into the differential carrier, wherein:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.