Friction clutch differential axle
AssigneeHonda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorYuichi Wasada
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A friction clutch in a rear axle assembly to provide differential operation. The friction clutch has variable capacity responsive to the torque loading on the axle. A helical spline coupling is positioned between the clutch and one of the axle shafts to cause compression of the clutch under high torque running. The spline coupling is located between the driving axle shaft and the clutch housing. A clutch spring extends between the clutch housing and the clutch plates and disks such that advancement of the clutch housing further compresses the plates and disks for increased torque capability.
Claims18
An axle having a friction clutch differential comprising
- a first axle shaft extending to receive a wheel;
- a coaxial second axle shaft extending to receive a wheel;
- a clutch between said axle shafts including a clutch housing rotatably driven with said first shaft and having axially extending guides, clutch disks rotatably driven with said second shaft, clutch plates rotatably driven with said axially extending guides, a clutch spring in said clutch housing, and a helical spline coupling between said clutch and one of said axle shafts.
An axle having a friction clutch differential comprising
- a first axle shaft extending to receive a wheel;
- a coaxial second axle shaft extending to receive a wheel;
- a clutch housing rotatably driven with said first shaft and having axially extending guides;
- an axial stop on said second shaft;
- a clutch hub on said second shaft;
- clutch disks rotatably driven with said clutch hub;
- clutch plates rotatably driven with said axially extending guides, said disks and plates being axially movable in said clutch;
- a clutch spring in said clutch housing biased against said clutch plate and clutch disks;
- and
- a helical spline coupling between said clutch housing and said first shaft.
A clutch for differential drive of an axle having a first shaft and a coaxial second shaft, each shaft extending to receive a wheel, comprising
- a clutch housing rotatably driven with the first shaft and including axially extending guides;
- a clutch hub rotatably driven with the second shaft;
- clutch plates rotatably driven with said axially extending guides;
- clutch disks rotatably driven with said axial stop and clutch hub;
- a clutch spring in said clutch housing compressing said clutch disks and said clutch plates;
- and
- a helical spline coupling between the first shaft and said clutch housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.