Abstract This invention relates to a differential gear mechanism utilizing two substantially identical gear sets in a housing or cage adapted to be driven by a drive shaft. Each set has a central worm or traction gear, sometimes called a side gear, adapted to be keyed in one instance to one of the stub shafts leading to a rear wheel of an automotive vehicle. Each of these side gears is in mesh with a plurality of transfer gear complexes, each having located centrally thereof a worm wheel in mesh with the side gear and having a reversible balancing gear at each end of the worm wheel rigidly connected with the associated worm wheel and coaxial therewith. In use, the balancing gears in one set are in mesh with the balancing gears of the other set. The worm gear has an index point near its periphery, and each complex has an indicator at a fixed point thereon, the index point and indicators being used cooperatively, during assembly, to obtain proper meshing relationship of the gears.
In a differential mechanism, a differential gear case adapted to be driven by a source of power, two gear assemblies in said case, each assembly including a central worm traction gear, a set of transfer gear complexes operatively associated with said traction gear, each complex comprising centrally a worm wheel with a reversible balancing gear at each end thereof coaxial with and rotatable with the associated worm wheel, each said complex being rotatably journaled in said case, each of said complexes being mounted in said case with the axis parallel to a tangent to said worm gear and with its worm wheel in meshing engagement with its associated worm traction gear, each of said complexes having an indicator at a fixed point thereon, said worm gear having an index point near its periphery, and said transfer gear complexes being so assembled in said case that they correspond to the positions arrived at by rotating said worm gear to move said index point thereon progressively past said transfer gear complexes, when said index point reaches the same relative position relative to each of its associated worm wheels, then said indicator of each of said complexes in turn arrives at a predetermined radial position which is the same for each worm wheel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
In a differential mechanism, a differential gear case adapted to be driven by a source of power, two gear assemblies in said case, each assembly including a central worm traction gear, a set of transfer gear complexes operatively associated with said traction gear, each complex comprising centrally a worm wheel with a reversible balancing gear at each end thereof coaxial with and rotatable with the associated worm wheel, each said complex being rotatably journaled in said case, each of said complexes being mounted in said case with the axis parallel to a tangent to said worm gear and with its worm wheel in meshing engagement with its associated worm traction gear, each of said complexes having an indicator at a fixed point thereon, said worm gear having an index point near its periphery, and said transfer gear complexes being so assembled in said case that they correspond to the positions arrived at by rotating said worm gear to move said index point thereon progressively past said transfer gear complexes, when said index point reaches the same relative position relative to each of its associated worm wheels, then said indicator of each of said complexes in turn arrives at a predetermined radial position which is the same for each worm wheel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A differential gear mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein said reversible balancing gears are spur gears.