US3703108A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Differential
Assignee: TH Licensing Inc
•
Filing: 1971-04-12
•
Granted: 1972-11-21
•
Expires: 1991-04-12
Abstract
Abstract A torque proportioning differential is disclosed for use in a vehicle which enables distribution of torque to each drive wheel to match traction conditions at each wheel so that maximum available tractive effort to drive the vehicle is obtained. This is accomplished by the use of bevel gears for the pinions and side gears of either the straight, Zerol (Registered Trademark) or spiral type. These gears are formed so that the face cone apex does not coincide with the generated pitch cone apex. This construction produces a tooth contact between the pinions and side gears which travels from one end of the teeth to the other through each tooth mesh cycle. This contact condition accomplishes the torque proportioning. Also shown is modification of the face angles of the pinions and side gears to increase capacity of the device and to strengthen the ends of the teeth of the gears. This modification produces compound face structures a portion of which is defined by a cone having an apex which coincides with the generated pitch cone apex and another portion which is defined by a cone having an apex which does not coincide with the generated pitch cone apex. The disclosure also relates to the construction of the bevel gears.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas M Mccaw
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:21
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H55/00; F16H55/02; F16H55/08; F16H55/0846; F16H48/00; F16H48/06; F16H48/08; F16H2048/082; F16H2048/087; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19949; Y10T74/19958
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A differential including in combination a housing, first and second side gears having bevel teeth and being rotatively mounted in said housing, a pinion gear having bevel teeth and being rotatively mounted in said housing and having said bevel teeth thereof in meshing engagement with said bevel teeth of said first and second side gears, the center of the differential being the intersection of the axes of said side and pinion gears, each of said side and pinion gears having a face cone and a generated pitch cone, the face cone of at least one of said side and pinion gears intersecting its respective axis at a face cone apex, the generated pitch cone of said at least one of said side and pinion gears intersecting its respective axis at a generated pitch cone apex, said face cone apex and said generated pitch cone apex being spaced from each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A differential including in combination a housing, first and second side gears having bevel teeth and being rotatively mounted in said housing, a pinion gear having bevel teeth and being rotatively mounted in said housing and having said bevel teeth thereof in meshing engagement with said bevel teeth of said first and second side gears, the center of the differential being the intersection of the axes of said side and pinion gears, each of said side and pinion gears having a face cone and a generated pitch cone, the face cone of at least one of said side and pinion gears intersecting its respective axis at a face cone apex, the generated pitch cone of said at least one of said side and pinion gears intersecting its respective axis at a generated pitch cone apex, said face cone apex and said generated pitch cone apex being spaced from each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
150 words
A differential including in combination a housing, first and second side gears having bevel teeth and being rotatively mounted in said housing, a pinion gear having bevel teeth and being rotatively mounted in said housing and having said bevel teeth thereof in meshing engagement with said bevel teeth of said first and second side gears, the center of the differential being the intersection of the axes of said side and pinion gears, each of said side and pinion gears having a face cone and a generated pitch cone, the face cone of at least one of said side and pinion gears intersecting its respective axis at a face cone apex, the generated pitch cone of said at least one of said side and pinion gears intersecting its respective axis at a generated pitch cone apex, said face cone apex and said generated pitch cone apex being spaced from each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
150 words
A differential including in combination a housing, first and second side gears having bevel teeth and being rotatively mounted in said housing, a pinion gear having bevel teeth and being rotatively mounted in said housing and having said bevel teeth thereof in meshing engagement with said bevel teeth of said first and second side gears, the center of the differential being the intersection of the axes of said side and pinion gears, each of said side and pinion gears having a face cone and a generated pitch cone, the face cone of at least one of said side and pinion gears intersecting its respective axis at a face cone apex, the generated pitch cone of said at least one of said side and pinion gears intersecting its respective axis at a generated pitch cone apex, said face cone apex and said generated pitch cone apex being spaced from each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
A differential as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one of said side and pinion gears having a theoretical pitch cone which has an apex which intersects said center of the differential, said generated pitch cone apex of said at least one of said side and pinion gears also intersecting said center of the differential.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A differential as claimed in claim 2, wherein said generated pitch cone apex intersects said axis at a position on the other side of said center of the differential from said at least one of said side and pinion gears.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A differential as claimed in claim 2, wherein said generated pitch cone apex intersects said axis at a position on the same side of said center of the differential as said at least one of said side and pinion gears.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A differential as claimed in claim 1, wherein all said teeth are straight bevel teeth.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A differential as claimed in claim 1, wherein all said teeth are spiral bevel teeth.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A differential as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are two pinions each with an odd number of teeth and an even number of teeth in each side gear divisible by 2 or 4.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A differential as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are four pinions each with an odd number of teeth and an even number of teeth in each said side gear divisible by 4.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A differential as claimed in claim 1, wherein clutch plate means act between said housing and one of said side and pinion gears to restrain differential action.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
165 words
A difFerential including in combination a housing, first and second side gears having bevel teeth and being rotatively mounted in said housing, a pinion gear having bevel teeth and being rotatively mounted in said housing and having said bevel teeth thereof in meshing engagement with said bevel teeth of said first and second side gears, the center of the differential being the intersection of the axes of said side and pinion gears, each of said side and pinion gears having a face cone and a generated pitch cone, the face cone of said side and pinion gears intersecting its respective axis at a face cone apex, the generated pitch cone of said side and pinion gears intersecting its respective axis at a generated pitch cone apex, said face cone apex and said generated pitch cone apex of said pinion gear being spaced from each other, said face cone apex and said generated pitch cone apex of each respective side gear being spaced from each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
165 words
A difFerential including in combination a housing, first and second side gears having bevel teeth and being rotatively mounted in said housing, a pinion gear having bevel teeth and being rotatively mounted in said housing and having said bevel teeth thereof in meshing engagement with said bevel teeth of said first and second side gears, the center of the differential being the intersection of the axes of said side and pinion gears, each of said side and pinion gears having a face cone and a generated pitch cone, the face cone of said side and pinion gears intersecting its respective axis at a face cone apex, the generated pitch cone of said side and pinion gears intersecting its respective axis at a generated pitch cone apex, said face cone apex and said generated pitch cone apex of said pinion gear being spaced from each other, said face cone apex and said generated pitch cone apex of each respective side gear being spaced from each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
A differential as claimed in claim 10, wherein said side and pinion gears each have a theoretical pitch cone which has an apex which intersects said center of the differential, said generated pitch cone apex of said side and pinion gears also intersecting said center of the differential.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
187 words
A differential including in combination a housing, first and second side gears having bevel teeth and being rotatively mounted in said housing, a pinion gear having bevel teeth and being rotatively mounted in said housing and having said bevel teeth thereof in meshing engagement with said bevel teeth of said first and second side gears, the center of the differential being the intersection of the axes of said side and pinion gears, at least one of said side and pinion gears having its face structure modified into first and second portions, each of said first and second portions having a face cone and a generated pitch cone, the face cones of said first and second portions of said one of said side and pinion gears intersecting its axis at first and second face cone apexes, the generated pitch cones of said first and second portions of said one of said side and pinion gears intersecting its axis at first and second generated pitch cone apexes, said first and second generated pitch cone apexes and said first face cone apex being spaced from said second face cone apex.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
187 words
A differential including in combination a housing, first and second side gears having bevel teeth and being rotatively mounted in said housing, a pinion gear having bevel teeth and being rotatively mounted in said housing and having said bevel teeth thereof in meshing engagement with said bevel teeth of said first and second side gears, the center of the differential being the intersection of the axes of said side and pinion gears, at least one of said side and pinion gears having its face structure modified into first and second portions, each of said first and second portions having a face cone and a generated pitch cone, the face cones of said first and second portions of said one of said side and pinion gears intersecting its axis at first and second face cone apexes, the generated pitch cones of said first and second portions of said one of said side and pinion gears intersecting its axis at first and second generated pitch cone apexes, said first and second generated pitch cone apexes and said first face cone apex being spaced from said second face cone apex.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
A differential as claimed in claim 12, wherein said at least one of said side and pinion gears has a theoretical pitch cone which has an apex which intersects said center of the differential, said first and second generated pitch cone apexes and said first face cone apex also intersecting said center of the differential.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A differential as claimed in claim 13, wherein said generated pitch cone apexes intersect said axis at a position on the other side of said differential from said at least one of said side and pinion gears.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
A differential as claimed in claim 13, wherein said generated pitch cone apexes intersect said axis at a position on the same side of said center of the differential as said at least one of said side and pinion gears.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A differential as claimed in claim 12, wherein all said teeth are straight bevel teeth.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
A differential as claimed in claim 12, wherein all said teeth are spiral bevel teeth.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
A differential as claimed in claim 12, wherein there are two pinions each with an odd number of teeth and an even number of teeth in each said side gear divisible by 2 or 4.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
A differential as claimed in claim 12, wherein there are four pinions each with an odd number of teeth and an even number of teeth in each said side gear divisible by 4.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
A differential as claimed in claim 12, wherein clutch plate means act between said housing and one of said side pinion gears to restrain differential action.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
187 words
A differential including in combination a housing, first and second side gears having bevel teeth and being rotatively mounted in said housing, a pinion gear having bevel teeth and being rotatively mounted in said housinG and having said bevel teeth thereof in meshing engagement with said bevel teeth of said first and second side gears, the center of the differential being the intersection of the axes of said side and pinion gears, each said side and pinion gears having its face structure modified into first and second portions, each of said first and second portions having a face cone and a generated pitch cone, the face cones of said first and second portions of said side and pinion gears intersecting its respective axis at first and second face cone apexes, the generated pitch cones of said first and second portions of said side and pinion gears intersecting its respective axis at first and second generated pitch cone apexes, said first and second generated pitch cone apexes and said first face cone apex being spaced from said second face cone apex of both said side and pinion gears.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
187 words
A differential including in combination a housing, first and second side gears having bevel teeth and being rotatively mounted in said housing, a pinion gear having bevel teeth and being rotatively mounted in said housinG and having said bevel teeth thereof in meshing engagement with said bevel teeth of said first and second side gears, the center of the differential being the intersection of the axes of said side and pinion gears, each said side and pinion gears having its face structure modified into first and second portions, each of said first and second portions having a face cone and a generated pitch cone, the face cones of said first and second portions of said side and pinion gears intersecting its respective axis at first and second face cone apexes, the generated pitch cones of said first and second portions of said side and pinion gears intersecting its respective axis at first and second generated pitch cone apexes, said first and second generated pitch cone apexes and said first face cone apex being spaced from said second face cone apex of both said side and pinion gears.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
58 words
A differential as claimed in claim 21, wherein each said side and pinion gears has a theoretical pitch cone which has an apex which intersects said center of the differential, said first and second generated pitch cone apexes and said first face cone apex of both said side and pinion gears also intersecting said center of the differential.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
188 words
A differential including in combination a housing, first and second side gears having bevel teeth and being rotatively mounted in said housing, a pinion gear having bevel teeth and being rotatively mounted in said housing and having said bevel teeth thereof in meshing engagement with said bevel teeth of said first and second side gears, the center of the differential being the intersection of the axes of said side and pinion gears, the gear teeth of each of said side and pinion gears being modified, said pinion gear teeth having an addendum taper which increases from the end of the teeth closest to the center of the differential to approximately the middle of the teeth which pinion gear teeth addendum taper then changes to the end of the teeth furthest from the center of the differential, said meshing said gear teeth having an addendum taper which increases from the end of the teeth closest to the center of the differential to approximately the middle of the teeth which side gear teeth addendum taper then changes to the end of the teeth furthest from the center of the differential.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
188 words
A differential including in combination a housing, first and second side gears having bevel teeth and being rotatively mounted in said housing, a pinion gear having bevel teeth and being rotatively mounted in said housing and having said bevel teeth thereof in meshing engagement with said bevel teeth of said first and second side gears, the center of the differential being the intersection of the axes of said side and pinion gears, the gear teeth of each of said side and pinion gears being modified, said pinion gear teeth having an addendum taper which increases from the end of the teeth closest to the center of the differential to approximately the middle of the teeth which pinion gear teeth addendum taper then changes to the end of the teeth furthest from the center of the differential, said meshing said gear teeth having an addendum taper which increases from the end of the teeth closest to the center of the differential to approximately the middle of the teeth which side gear teeth addendum taper then changes to the end of the teeth furthest from the center of the differential.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
67 words
A differential as claimed in claim 23 wherein said pinion gear teeth addendum taper decreases from approximately the middle of the teeth to the end of the teeth furthest from the center of the differential and said side gear teeth addendum taper increases at a lesser rate from approximately the middle of the teeth to the end of the teeth furthest from the center of the differential.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
A differential as claimed in claim 23, wherein all said teeth are straight bevel teeth.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
A differential as claimed in claim 23, wherein all said teeth are spiral bevel teeth.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
35 words
A differential as claimed in claim 23, wherein there are two pinions each with an odd number of teeth and an even number of teeth in each said side gear divisible by 2 or 4.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
33 words
A differential as claimed in claim 23, wherein there are four pinions each with an odd number of teeth and an even number of teeth in each said side gear divisible by 4.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
27 words
A differential as claimed in claim 23, wherein clutch plate means act between said housing and one of said side and pinion gears to restrain differential action.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
66 words
A bevel gear having a toe portion and a heel portion, a plurality of circumferentially spaced gear teeth extending from said toe portion to said heel portion, each of said teeth having an addendum taper which increases from said toe portion to approximately the middle of the teeth and which addendum taper then changes from said approximately the middle of the teeth to said heel portion.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
66 words
A bevel gear having a toe portion and a heel portion, a plurality of circumferentially spaced gear teeth extending from said toe portion to said heel portion, each of said teeth having an addendum taper which increases from said toe portion to approximately the middle of the teeth and which addendum taper then changes from said approximately the middle of the teeth to said heel portion.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
25 words
A bevel gear as claimed in claim 30, wherein said addendum taper decreases from said approximately the middle of the teeth to said heel portion.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
29 words
A bevel gear as claimed in claim 30, wherein sAid addendum taper increases from said approximately the middle of the teeth at a lesser rate to said heel portion.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
156 words
The combination of first and second bevel gears, each said first and second bevel gears having a toe portion and a heel portion, each said first and second bevel gears having a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth extending from a respective toe portion to a respective heel portion, said teeth on said first and second bevel gears being rotatively intermeshed, said teeth of each of said first and second bevel gears being modified, each said first bevel gear teeth having an addendum taper which increases from said toe portion of said first bevel gear to approximately the middle of the teeth which first bevel gear teeth addendum taper then changes to said heel portion, each said meshing second bevel gear teeth having an addendum taper which increases from said toe portion of said second bevel gear to approximately the middle of the teeth which second bevel gear teeth addendum taper then changes to said heel portion.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
156 words
The combination of first and second bevel gears, each said first and second bevel gears having a toe portion and a heel portion, each said first and second bevel gears having a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth extending from a respective toe portion to a respective heel portion, said teeth on said first and second bevel gears being rotatively intermeshed, said teeth of each of said first and second bevel gears being modified, each said first bevel gear teeth having an addendum taper which increases from said toe portion of said first bevel gear to approximately the middle of the teeth which first bevel gear teeth addendum taper then changes to said heel portion, each said meshing second bevel gear teeth having an addendum taper which increases from said toe portion of said second bevel gear to approximately the middle of the teeth which second bevel gear teeth addendum taper then changes to said heel portion.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination as claimed in claim 33, wherein said first bevel gear teeth addendum taper decreases from approximately said middle of the teeth to said heel portion and said second bevel gear teeth addendum taper increases at a lesser rate from approximately said middle of the teeth to said heel portion.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-11-21 | 1976-05-22 | 1976-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-21 | 1980-05-22 | 1980-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-21 | 1984-05-22 | 1984-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |