Limited slip differential having shaft locking and clutch actuating means

Claim 2

A differential drive mechanism comprising, in combination: a rotatable housing having a plurality of openings therethrough; a pair of oppositely extending rotatable shafts extending through a pair of said openings, each of said shafts having an inner end within said housing with a circumferential groove near said inner end; a side gear axially movable on each of said shafts within said housing outward of said groove; clutch means between each of said side gears and said housing actuable by outward movement of said side gears; shaft locking and clutch actuating means comprising a pair of members between said side gears and spring means between said members biasing said members and side gears outward to actuate said clutch means, said members having aligned keyhole-like openings therethrough, said keyhole-like openings having larger portions adapted for insertion of said inner shaft ends therethrough with said members in a first position and smaller portions adapted for engagement of said circumferential grooves for retention of said shaft ends with said members in a second position, said members having mutually engaging arms with interlocking means to cause said members to move together between said first and second positions but allow biasing of said members away from one another by said spring means, one of said members having tab means projecting through another of said openings in said housing whereby said members can be moved between said first and second position; and means to lock said tab means on the outside of said housing to hold said members in said second position.

Claim 3

An axle shaft retention and clutch actuating device adapted for use in a limited slip differential drive mechanism having a rotatable housing with a plurality of openings therethrough, a pair of oppositely extending rotatable axle shafts extending through a pair of said openings, an axially movable side gear carried on each of said axle shafts within said rotatable housing for rotation with said axle shafts and clutch means between each of said side gears and said housing actuable by outward movement of said side gears, each of said axle shafts having a circumferential groove thereon between said side gears, said axle shaft retention and clutch actuation device comprising, in combination: a pair of members for placement between said side gears and spring means between said members biasing said members and side gears outward to actuate said clutch means, said members having aligned keyhole-like openings therethrough, said keyhole-like openings having larger portions adapted for insertion of said axle shafts therethrough with said members in a first position and smaller portions adapted for engagement of said circumferential grooves for retention of said axle shafts with said members in a second position, said members having arms projecting toward each other, said arms having interlocking means comprising at least one slot in an arm of one member and at least one tab in an arm of the other member, said tab adapted for insertion in said slot to cause said members to move together between said first and second positions but allow outward biasing of said members by said spring means, one of said members having another tab projecting through another of said openings in said housing whereby said members can be moved between said first and second position, said axle shaft retention and clutch actuating device further comprising means outside said housing for locking said tab to said housing with said members in said second position.

Claim 4

An axle shaft retention and clutch actuating device adapted for use in a limited slip differential drive mechanism having a rotatable housing with a plurality of openings therethrough, a pair of oppositely extending rotatable axle shafts extending through a pair of said openings, an axially movable side gear carried on each of said axle shafts within said rotatable housing for rotation with said axle shafts and clutch means between each of said side gears and said housing actuable by outward movement of said side gears, each of said axle shafts having a circumferential groove thereon between said side gears, said axle shaft retention and clutch actuation device comprising, in combination: a pair of members for placement between said side gears and spring means between said members biasing said members and side gears outward to actuate said clutch means, said members having aligned keyhole-like openings therethrough, said keyhole-like openings having larger portions adapted for insertion of said axle shafts therethrough with said members in a first position and smaller portions adapted for engagement of said circumferential grooves for retention of said axle shafts with said members in a second position, said members having arms projecting toward each other, said arms having interlocking means comprising at least one slot in an arm of one member and at least one tab in an arm of the other member, said tab adapted for insertion in said slot to cause said members to move together between said first and second positions but allow outward biasing of said members by said spring means, one of said members having another tab projecting through another of said openings in said housing whereby said members can be moved between said first and second position, said axle shaft retention and clutch actuating device further comprising means outside said housing for locking said tab to said housing with said members in said second position.