Differential apparatus with speed and torque sensitive differential limiting forces

A differential apparatus interposed between a first shaft and a second shaft, the apparatus comprising:

• a differential casing;
• a first side gear rotatably arranged within said differential casing and connected to the first shaft;
• a second side gear arranged adjacent to said first side gear in parallel to said first side gear and connected to the second shaft, said second side gear having a diameter equal to that of said first side gear;
• at least one short pinion gear rotatably supported in said differential casing and disposed radially outward of said first and second side gears;
• at least one long pinion gear rotatably supported in said differential casing in parallel to said short pinion gear, said long pinion gear being arranged so as to mesh with said short pinion gear at least adjacent to one end of one of said first and second side gears, said first and second side gears being geared to each other through said short and long pinion gears so as to be rotated differentially relative to each other, when said short and long pinion gears are driven by said differential casing;
• a working chamber formed between a cylindrical member connected to the first shaft and a hub connected to the second shaft;
• and
• coupling means interposed between said first shaft and said second shaft, for limiting a relative rotation of said first and second shafts by a working fluid filling said working chamber when said cylindrical member is relatively rotated with respect to said hub.

A differential apparatus interposed between a first shaft and a second shaft, the apparatus comprising:

• a differential casing;
• a first side gear rotatably arranged within said differential casing and connected to the first shaft;
• a second side gear rotatably arranged within said differential casing in parallel to said first side gear and connected to the second shaft;
• at least one short pinion gear rotatably supported in said differential casing and around said first and second side gears;
• at least one long pinion gear rotatably supported in said differential casing in parallel to and in mesh with said short pinion gear and radially outward of said first and second side gears;
• said first and second side gears being geared to each other through said short and long pinion gears so as to be rotated differentially relative to each other, when said short and long pinion gears are driven by said differential casing;
• a working chamber formed between a cylindrical member having a first hub spline-coupled to said first shaft and a second hub spline-coupled to said second side gear, said second hub extending between said first hub and said first side gear;
• and
• a plurality of resistance plates engaged with the cylindrical member in juxtapositional relationship with respect to each other;
• a plurality of resistance plates engaged with the second hub in juxtapositional relationship with respect to each other alternately between the first resistance plates engaged with the cylindrical member;
• and
• a working fluid filling said working chamber.