Helical gear limited slip differential with washer clutch plates
AssigneeSchaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
InventorJordan Geiser
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A limited slip differential including a differential gear case, first and second side gears, and one or more washer clutch plates. During operation of the limited slip differential under differential output when the side gears are rotating relative to each other friction between the one or more washer clutch plates and adjacent structure occurs affecting the torque bias ratio of the limited slip differential. Various configurations of inboard and outboard washer clutch plates can be used to achieve different torque bias ratios in the forward and reverse directions.
Claims20
A limited slip differential comprising:
- a differential gear case;
- first and second side gears supported for rotation relative to the differential gear case;
- and
- a first washer clutch plate fixed to the first side gear for rotation therewith;
- wherein, during operation of the limited slip differential under differential output when the side gears are rotating relative to each other, the first washer clutch plate is forced against adjacent structure of the differential creating frictional drag.
A limited slip differential comprising:
- a differential gear case;
- first and second side gears supported for rotation relative to the differential gear case;
- a first washer clutch plate fixed to the first side gear;
- and
- a second washer clutch plate fixed to the differential gear case;
- wherein, during operation of the limited slip differential under differential output when the side gears are rotating relative to the differential gear case, the first washer clutch plate and the second washer clutch plate are forced together creating frictional drag.
A limited slip differential comprising:
- a differential gear case;
- first and second side gears supported for rotation relative to the differential gear case;
- a plurality of pinion gears meshed to radially outer sides of the side gears;
- two pairs of outboard washer clutch, each pair of outboard washer clutch plates on a respective axially outer side of a respective side gear and including a first washer clutch plated fixed to the respective side gear and a second washer clutch plate fixed to the differential gear housing;
- and
- two pairs of inboard washer clutch plates, each pair of inboard washer clutch plates including a first washer clutch plated fixed to a respective axially inner side of a respective side gear and a second washer clutch plate fixed to the differential gear housing;
- wherein the inboard washer clutch plates are forced together primarily during forward operation of the differential due to reaction torque forcing the side gears towards each other, and wherein the outboard clutch plates are forced together primarily during reverse operation of the differential due to reaction torque forcing the side gears away from each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.