Differential mechanism

Claim 2

A limited slip differential mechanism comprising: a differential casing adapted to receive an input torque for transmission to a pair of coaxially aligned relatively rotatable output shafts, differential gearing within said casing for transmitting said torque from said casing to the output shafts, differentiation retarding means including at least one removable insert connected to said casing for rotation therewith and including a conical surface, at least one conically shaped clutch member adapted for attachment to the output shafts, said conical surface of said insert frictionally engaging said conically shaped clutch member, resilient means urging said conical surface of said insert into said frictional engagement with a predetermined force, and means responsive to torque applied to the mechanism to decrease said predetermined force proportionally with increasing input torque.

Claim 3

A limited slip differential mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said differentiation retarding means includes a pair of said inserts connected to said casing for rotation therewith, each one of which includes a conical surface and a pair of conically shaped clutch members each one of which is adapted for attachment to one of the output shafts, said biasing means urging each said insert into frictional engagement with one of said conical clutch members.

Claim 4

A limited slip differential mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein said differential gearing includes a pair of crossed pinion pins connected to said casing for rotation therewith, a pair of side gears each one of which is adapted to be connected to one of the output shafts, and a plurality of pinion gears supported by said pinion pins in mesh with said side gears, and wherein said means responsive to torque applied to said mechanism to decrease said predetermined force of said differentiation retarding means proportionally with increasing input torque includes camming means operable between said mechanism casing and said pinion pins to apply a force on said inserts against the force of said biasing means.

Claim 5

A limited slip differential mechanism as claimed in claim 3 wherein said camming means includes at least two pairs of camming apertures formed in said mechanism casing, each one of said apertures including a pair of cam surfaces forming a V-shaped notch, the disposition of said cam surfaces of said camming apertures of one of said pairs being opposite to the disposition of said cam surfaces of said camming apertures of the other pair thereof, and wherein said crossed pinion pins each include opposite end portions having cam follower surfaces formed in a complementary V-shape which engage said V-shaped notches defined by said cam surfaces of said pairs of camming apertures, application of input torque to said casing causing said cam follower surfaces to impart an axial force on said pinion pins, the opposite disposition of said notches defined by said cam surfaces causing the axial force on one of said pins to be in one direction and the other thereof to be in the other direction, each one of said pinion pins contacting at least one of said inserts in a manner such that said pinion pin imparts corresponding axial forces on said insert acting in opposition to the force of said biasing means.

Claim 6

A limited slip differential mechanism comprising a differential casing containing differential gearing adapted to receive an input torque for transmission to a pair of coaxially aligned and relatively rotatable output shafts, said differential gearing including a pair of side gears fast on the output shaft and pinion gears rotatably mounted in said casing on cross pins, a removable insert having a conical surface and being adapted to move axially of and to rotate with said casing, said insert being in contact with said cross pins, conically shaped clutch members fast with said output shafts, spring type washers resiliently urging said insert axially into clutching engagement with said clutch members with a predetermined force for retarding differential action, means responsive to torque applied to the casing to apply a force on said insert in opposition to said predetermined force, said last mentioned means comprising cam surfaces on said casing acting on said cross pins when torque is applied thereto.

Claim 7

A limited slip differential mechanism comprising a differential casing containing differential gearing adapted to receive an input torque for transmission to a pair of coaxially aligned and relatively rotatable output shafts, said differential gearing including a pair of side gears fast on the output shaft and pinion gears rotatably mounted in said casing on cross pins, a removable insert having a conical surface and being adapted to move axially of and to rotate with said casing, said insert being in contact with said cross pins, conically shaped clutch members fast with said output shafts, spring type washers resiliently urging said insert axially into clutching engagement with said clutch members with a predetermined force for retarding differential action, means responsive to torque applied to the casing to apply a force on said insert in opposition to said predetermined force, said last mentioned means comprising cam surfaces on said casing acting on said cross pins when torque is applied thereto.