Differential mechanism

Claim 2

In a differential mechanism the combination comprising a hollow casing adapted to be rotated, a plurality of pinion gears rotatably and revolvably mounted in said casing, said casing having means defining a pair of openings, an output shaft received in each of said openings, a side gear affixed on the inner end of each of said shafts for limited axial movement with respect thereto, each of said gears being in mesh with said pinions and normally driven thereby at equal speed, said gears being normally relatively fixed with respect to said pinions and being relatively movable with respect thereto to afford differentiation, said casing having a pair of frusto-conical surfaces interiorly thereof adjacent each of said openings and spaced radially outwardly from the zone of meshing of said pinion gears and said side gears, a clutch drum interposed between each of said side gears and The adjacent opening, each of said drums having a peripheral frusto-conical surface adapted to engage an adjacent frusto-conical surface of said casing and spring means for exerting a constant resistive bias on said side gears, spring means including a Belleville washer received in registering annular recesses in each of said clutch drums and said side gears.

Claim 3

In a differential mechanism the combination comprising a hollow casing adapted to be rotated, a plurality of pinion gears rotatably and revolvably mounted in said casing, said casing having means defining a pair of openings, an output shaft received in each of said openings, a side gear affixed on the inner end of each of said shafts for limited axial movement with respect thereto, each of said gears being in mesh with said pinions and normally driven thereby at equal speed, said gears being normally relatively fixed with respect to said pinions and being relatively movable with respect thereto to afford differentiation, said casing having a pair of frusto-conical surfaces interiorly thereof adjacent each of said openings and spaced radially outwardly from the zone of meshing of said pinion gears and said side gears, a clutch drum interposed between each of said side gears and the adjacent opening, each of said drums having a peripheral frusto-conical surface adapted to engage an adjacent frusto-conical surface of said casing and spring means for exerting a constant resistive bias on said side gears, said spring means including a plurality of circumferentially spaced coil springs received in registering pockets in each of said clutch drums and said side gears.

Claim 4

In a differential mechanism the combination comprising a hollow casing adapted to be rotated, a plurality of pinion gears rotatably and revolvably mounted in said casing, said casing having means defining a pair of openings, an output shaft received in each of said openings, a side gear affixed on the inner end of each of said shafts for limited axial movement with respect thereto, each of said gears being in mesh with said pinions and normally driven thereby at equal speed, said gears being normally relatively fixed with respect to said pinions and being relatively movable with respect thereto to afford differentiation, said casing having a pair of frusto-conical surfaces interiorly thereof adjacent each of said openings and spaced radially outwardly from the zone of meshing of said pinion gears and said side gears, a clutch drum interposed between each of said side gears and the adjacent opening, each of said drums having a peripheral frusto-conical surface adapted to engage an adjacent frusto-conical surface of said casing and spring means for exerting a constant resistive bias on said side gears, said spring means including a plurality of circumferentially spaced coil springs received in registering pockets in each of said clutch drums and said side gears.

Claim 5

In a differential mechanism, the combination comprising a gear case having oppositely disposed frusto-conical surfaces formed therein; differential side gears mounted in said casing; compensating pinion gears carried by said gear case and located between said side gears and in meshing relationship therewith; clutch means rotatable with said side gears including a conical friction surface adapted to engage the respective frusto-conical surfaces in said casing to retard differentiation, said side gears and said clutch means being mounted for axially shiftable movement with respect to said casing; and resilient means interposed between said side gears and said clutch means to urge the conical friction surfaces on said clutch means into engagement with the frusto-conical surfaces on said casing, said side gears and said compensating pinion gears having positive pressure tooth characteristics so that an increase in torque input results in limited axial shifting of said side gears against said resilient means and clutch means to effect further engagement of said clutch means with said casing.

Claim 6

In a differential mechanism, the combination comprising a gear case having oppositely disposed frusto-conical surfaces formed therein; differential side gears mounted in said casing; compensating pinion gears carried by said gear case and located between said side gears and in meshing relationship therewith; clutch means rotatable with said side gears including a conical friction surface adapted to engage the respective frusto-conical surfaces in said casing to retard differentiation, said side gears and said clutch means being mounted for axially shiftable movement with respect to said casing; and resilient means interposed between said side gears and said clutch means to urge the conical friction surfaces on said clutch means into engagement with the frusto-conical surfaces on said casing, said side gears and said compensating pinion gears having positive pressure tooth characteristics so that an increase in torque input results in limited axial shifting of said side gears against said resilient means and clutch means to effect further engagement of said clutch means with said casing.

Claim 7

The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said side gears and said clutch means include recesses facing each other to provide a pocket for the reception of said resilient means.