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US 2008/0188341 A1Published application
Cycloid limited slip differential and method
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsHsu-Chiang Miao, Chi-Kuan Kao
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AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsHsu-Chiang Miao, Chi-Kuan Kao
Estimating the term…
A differential is provided comprising a rotatable differential housing, first and second output members, a first cycloid disk having an epitrochoid groove, a second cycloid disk having a hypotrochoid groove, a coupling disk connected having a plurality of holes each containing a sphere, wherein the spheres are engageable with the grooves for transferring torque between the cycloid disks. A method is also provided for distributing torque in a vehicle having two axles including at least one drive axle, including attaching one axle to a cycloid disk having a continuous epitrochoid groove, attaching another axle to a cycloid disk having a continuous hypotrochoid groove, attaching a rotatable housing to a center coupling disk having a plurality of holes, and positioning a torque transfer sphere that is engageable with the grooves in each of the holes, wherein the spheres are configured for distributing torque along the drive axles.
A differential comprising:
A differential comprising a center coupling disk operatively attached to a rotatable housing and disposed between first and second cycloid disks, wherein said cycloid disks each have a continuous cycloid groove and are operatively attachable to different output shafts, and wherein the differential is configured to selectively distribute torque from said center coupling disk to said different output shafts through a plurality of spheres that are engageable with said cycloid grooves.
A method of distributing torque in a vehicle having a pair of axles, the method including operatively attaching one axle to a rotatable first cycloid disk having a surface with a continuous cycloid groove, operatively attaching another axle to a rotatable second cycloid disk having a surface with a continuous cycloid groove, and driveably attaching a rotatable housing to a rotatable center coupling disk having a plurality of holes each positioning a rotatable sphere therein, wherein the spheres are configured to engage with the grooves so that torque may be distributed between the cycloid disks as the spheres are rotated within the grooves when the cycloid disks rotate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.