Differential

Claim 1

A differential for receiving torque from a power source and delivering it to two separate coaxial output axles comprising a rotatable case driven by the power source, a pair of axially separated side gears disposed inside said case and mounted on the output axles respectively, for drive connection therewith, a plurality of pinion bevel gears disposed inside said case and in engagement with said side gears to provide a differential gearing, a spider extending transversely across the axis of the output axles and rotating with said case, said pinion bevel gears being mounted for free rotation on said spider, multiple friction disc clutch means operatively connected to said case and said side gears, said clutch means normally tending to be engaged for operation by the thrust of said side gears caused by said pinion bevel gears, cam means including cam faces formed on said spider and followers to cooperate with said cam faces respectively, said cam means translating variations of speed of rotation of said side gears compared with the speed of rotation of said case into pressure applied to said clutch means to further tighten same, transmitting means including a pair of spring retainers forming said cam followers and axially separated and disposed between said spider and said side gears respectively and a pair of collars engaging with said spring retainers at remoter positions on said spring retainers than said cam means from the axis of said axles, said transmitting means transmitting brake force derived from said clutch means to said cam means when said variations of speed occur, whereby said braking force is applied back to said cam means for translation into additional force to said clutch means.