Torque proportioning differential
AssigneeCaterpillar Tractor Co.
InventorRobert O. Chambers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A torque proportioning differential (10/110) is disclosed for a wheeled vehicle or the like which has a driven carrier (18/112), first and second output members (68,72/138,140), first and second radially outer gears (44,48/122,124), first and second radially inner gears (56,58/126,128), a gear mechanism (26,28/116,118) rotatably mounted on the carrier for cross connecting the outer and inner gears, and first and second coupling devices (78,80/130,134,142,144) for delivering more than 50% and less than 100% of the input torque to the slower output member, with the coupling devices being connected to the output members and at least one of each of the outer and inner gears. Positive drive of each output member is achieved in each direction of rotation of the carrier without a significant degree of energy dissipation.
Claims40
In a torque proportioning differential (10/110) having a driven carrier (18/112) rotatable about a central axis (16/114) and first and second output members (68,72/138,140) extending along the axis (16/114), the improvement comprising:
- first and second radially outer gears (44,48/122,124);
- first and second radially inner gears (56,58/126,128);
- gear means (26,28/116,118) for cross connecting the outer and inner gears (44,48,56,58/122,124,126,128), the gear means (26,28/116,118) being rotatably connected to the carrier (18/112);
- and
- disengageable coupling means (78,80/130,134,142,144) for delivering a preselected ratio more than 50% and less than 100% of the total torque to the first output member (68/138) in response to a relative speed increase of the second output member (72/140) with the remaining torque being delivered thereto, the coupling means (78,80/130,134,142,144) being connected to the output members (68,72/138,140) and at least one of each of the outer gears (44,48/122,124) and the inner gears (56,58/126,128).
In a torque proportioning differential (10) having a driven carrier (18) rotatable about a central axis (16) and left and right output members (68,72) extending along the axis (16), the improvement comprising:
- left and right ring gears (44,68);
- left and right sun gears (56,58);
- left and right compound planet gear sets (26,28) cross connected between the ring gears (44,48) and the sun gears (56,58), the planet gear sets (26,28) being rotatably mounted on the carrier (18);
- and
- left and right sleeve coupling means (78,80) for connecting the respective ring gear (44,48) and sun gear (56,58) to the respective output member (68,72) and being disengageable for delivering a preselected ratio more than 50% and less than 100% of the total input torque to the slower rotating output member (68,72).
In a torque proportioning differential (110) having a driven carrier (112) rotatable about a central axis (114) and left and right output members (138,140) extending along the axis (114), the improvement comprising:
- left and right outer bevel gears (122,124);
- left and right inner bevel gears (126,128);
- a plurality of sets of interconnected radially outer and inner pinion gears (116,118) cross connecting the outer and inner bevel gears (122,124,126,128) and being rotatably mounted on the carrier (112);
- and
- left and right coupling means (130,134,142,144) for connecting the respective outer and inner bevel gear (122,124,126,128) to the respective output member (138,140) and being disengageable for delivering a preselected ratio more than 50% and less than 100% of the total input torque to the slower rotating output member (138,140).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.