Abstract This disclosure relates to a differential gear mechanism utilizing two substantially indentical 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. The method includes the steps of placing a reference point at the same relative position of each transfer gear complex, placing the transfer gear complexes progressively in a circle in evenly spaced positions around, and with each worm wheel meshing with, the worm gear, and utilizing the reference points to index the partial rotation of each transfer gear complex about its axis relative to the next adjoining complex.
The method of assembling in a case, a half differential gear mechanism comprising a central worm traction gear surrounded by a plurality of identical unitary transfer gear complexes each having a reversible balancing spur gear at each end and a worm wheel intermediate said balancing spur gears, said balancing spur gears having the same number of teeth, said balancing spur gears and worm wheel being coaxial, each transfer gear complex being assembled in said case by means of a shaft for rotation with its axis parallel to a tangent to said worm gear and with its worm wheel meshing with said worm gear; said method including placing a reference point at the same relative position of each transfer gear complex; and then placing said transfer gear complexes progressively in a circle in evenly spaced positions around, and with each worm wheel meshing with, said worm gear; utilizing said reference points to index the partial rotation of each transfer gear complex about its axis relative to the next adjoining complex to equalize the load on said complex when in use.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
179 words
The method of assembling in a case, a half differential gear mechanism comprising a central worm traction gear surrounded by a plurality of identical unitary transfer gear complexes each having a reversible balancing spur gear at each end and a worm wheel intermediate said balancing spur gears, said balancing spur gears having the same number of teeth, said balancing spur gears and worm wheel being coaxial, each transfer gear complex being assembled in said case by means of a shaft for rotation with its axis parallel to a tangent to said worm gear and with its worm wheel meshing with said worm gear; said method including placing a reference point at the same relative position of each transfer gear complex; and then placing said transfer gear complexes progressively in a circle in evenly spaced positions around, and with each worm wheel meshing with, said worm gear; utilizing said reference points to index the partial rotation of each transfer gear complex about its axis relative to the next adjoining complex to equalize the load on said complex when in use.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method as defined in claim 1, including the steps of (1) dividing the number of helical teeth in said worm traction gear by the number of helical teeth in each worm wheel; (2) multiplying by 360; and (3) dividing by the number of said transfer gear complexes, thereby determining the degrees of rotation of each complex about its axis relative to the reference point of the next complex in said circle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method as defined in claim 2, including the step of (4) multiplying by the number of teeth in each balancing spur gear divided by 360; thereby determining the number of spur gear teeth for rotating each complex about its axis relative to the Reference point of the next complex in said circle.