US 6,293,889 B1 · Limited slip motor vehicle differential assembly

Abstract

Limited slip motor vehicle differential assemblies having a suitable high-shear strength, non-hardening, material which selectively resists slip or differentiation between the axle shafts and the differential housing, between the differential side gears and the differential housing, and/or between the differential side gears and the differential pinion gears when slip or differentiation occurs between two motor vehicle wheels mounted on the same axle. Such an arrangement provides some level of torque to each motor vehicle wheel at all times. The amount of resistance to slip or differentiation between the two motor vehicle wheels can be adjusted as desired by selecting an appropriate high-shear strength, non-hardening, material to provide the desired level of resistance to slip or differentiation between the two motor vehicle wheels in the motor vehicle differential assembly.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A limited slip motor vehicle differential assembly, comprising:

a differential housing adapted to rotate in response to rotational power received from an input shaft;
a first side gear positioned in said differential housing, said first side gear is rotationally fixed to a first output shaft;
a second side gear positioned in said differential housing, said second side gear is rotationally fixed to a second output shaft;
a pair of differential pinion gears positioned intermediate said first side gear and said second side gear to permit said first side gear to differentiate in relation to said second side gear;
and
a non-hardenable, high-shear strength, torque transmitting material positioned between said output axle shaft and said differential housing and said second output shaft and said differential housing to transmit a predetermined level of torque from rotation of said differential housing to said first output shaft and said second output shaft at all times.

3 more elements

A limited slip motor vehicle differential assembly, comprising:

a differential housing adapted to rotate in response to rotational power received from an input shaft;
a first side gear positioned in said differential housing, said first side gear is rotationally fixed to a first output shaft;
a second side gear positioned in said differential housing, said second side gear is rotationally fixed to a second output shaft;
a pair of differential pinion gears positioned intermediate said first side gear and said second side gear to permit said first side gear to differentiate in relation to said second side gear;
and
a non-hardenable, high-shear strength, torque transmitting material positioned between said first side gear and said differential housing and between said second side gear and said differential housing to transmit a predetermined level of torque from rotation of said differential housing to said first side gear and said second side gear at all times.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Limited slip motor vehicle differential assembly

Life of this patent

Limited slip motor vehicle differential assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19