Torque limiting differential
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorsSuraj Gopal, Pradeep Yuvraj Chavan, Patrick John McMillan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A selectively lockable differential, comprising a plurality of torque sensitive pins, an outer housing, a first side gear comprising first gear teeth, a second side gear comprising second gear teeth, a pinion shaft, two pinion gears rotationally coupled to the pinion shaft, each pinion gear comprising pinion gear teeth coupled to the first gear teeth and the second gear teeth, and a collar comprising collar teeth for selectively engaging the gear lugs of the first side gear, the torque sensitive pins operatively coupling the collar to the outer housing.
Claims22
A selectively lockable differential, comprising:
- an outer housing;
- a first side gear comprising first gear teeth and gear lugs;
- a second side gear comprising second gear teeth;
- a pinion shaft;
- two pinion gears rotationally coupled to the pinion shaft, each pinion gear comprising pinion gear teeth coupled to the first gear teeth and the second gear teeth;
- a collar comprising collar teeth for selectively engaging the gear lugs of the first side gear;
- and
- a plurality of torque sensitive pins operatively coupled through the outer housing and configured to shear when torque to the first side gear exceeds a predetermined value.
A selectively lockable differential, comprising:
- an outer housing;
- a first side gear comprising first gear teeth and exterior gear lugs;
- a second side gear comprising second gear teeth;
- a pinion shaft;
- two pinion gears rotationally coupled to the pinion shaft, each pinion gear comprising pinion gear teeth coupled to the first gear teeth and to the second gear teeth;
- a collar comprising interior collar teeth for selectively moving towards and away from the first gear teeth and towards and away from the gear lugs, the collar configured to selectively engage the gear lugs of the first side gear;
- and
- a plurality of torque sensitive pins operatively coupled through the outer housing, operatively coupled to the collar, and configured to shear when torque to the first side gear exceeds a predetermined value.
A selectively lockable differential, comprising:
- an outer housing;
- a first side gear comprising first gear teeth and exterior gear lugs;
- a second side gear comprising second gear teeth;
- a pinion shaft;
- two pinion gears rotationally coupled to the pinion shaft, each pinion gear comprising pinion gear teeth coupled to the first gear teeth and to the second gear teeth;
- a collar comprising interior collar teeth for selectively engaging the gear lugs of the first side gear;
- a collar housing in the outer housing, the collar housing surrounding the collar;
- and
- a plurality of torque sensitive pins coupling the outer housing to the collar housing,
- wherein the torque sensitive pins are configured to shear when a torque load on the torque sensitive pins exceeds a predetermined value, and, when the torque sensitive pins shear, the collar housing is rotatable in the outer housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.