US5232416A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and device for the variation of locking rates
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-08-29
•
Granted: 1993-08-03
•
Expires: 2011-08-29
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for the varying locking rates of a differential gear system has a driven differential cage (1) with two coaxial axle shaft gears (9, 10) retained in cylindrical cavities (7, 8) within the cage. The gears (9, 10) are coupled to each other via groups of compensating gears (11, 12) positioned parallel thereto. Engagement of various compensating gear pairs (11, 12) with both axle shaft gears (9, 10) is sequentially rendered either effective or ineffective, in order to generate a variable, resultant radial and/or tangential force to be applied to the axle shaft gear (9, 10). The force generates a variable frictional force in the support bearings (7, 8) of the axle shaft gears.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Amborn
- 👤 Klaus Greulich
- 👤 Wolfgang Hildebrandt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:13
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H48/00; F16H48/20; F16H48/28; F16H48/285
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
A method of varying the locking rate of a differential gear comprising: providing a differential gear with a cage having two coaxial axle shaft gears retained in cylindrical cavities in said cage, and a plurality of pairs of compensating gears positioned in said cage with their axes parallel to axes of said axle shaft gears, each of said pairs of compensating gears comprising gears which mesh with each other and with a respective axle shaft gear coupling said axle shaft gears with one another; providing a torque differential between said pair of axle shaft gears; engaging or disengaging into and out of force reactive contact the gears of at least a pair of said plurality of pairs of said compensating gears with one another independently of the gears of other pairs of said plurality of pairs of said compensating gears; providing a radial or tangential force on said axle shaft gears from the engagement of said plurality of pairs of said compensating gears; and varying the radial or tangential force on said axle shaft gears by axially moving at least one gear of said at least a pair of said compensating gears to engage or disengage the gears of said at least a pair of said compensating gears independently of the gears of said other pairs to provide variable backlash and variable locking of the differential.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
226 words
A method of varying the locking rate of a differential gear comprising: providing a differential gear with a cage having two coaxial axle shaft gears retained in cylindrical cavities in said cage, and a plurality of pairs of compensating gears positioned in said cage with their axes parallel to axes of said axle shaft gears, each of said pairs of compensating gears comprising gears which mesh with each other and with a respective axle shaft gear coupling said axle shaft gears with one another; providing a torque differential between said pair of axle shaft gears; engaging or disengaging into and out of force reactive contact the gears of at least a pair of said plurality of pairs of said compensating gears with one another independently of the gears of other pairs of said plurality of pairs of said compensating gears; providing a radial or tangential force on said axle shaft gears from the engagement of said plurality of pairs of said compensating gears; and varying the radial or tangential force on said axle shaft gears by axially moving at least one gear of said at least a pair of said compensating gears to engage or disengage the gears of said at least a pair of said compensating gears independently of the gears of said other pairs to provide variable backlash and variable locking of the differential.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing axial shifting of one of said compensating gears of a gear pair and a desired backlash between a meshing compensating gear pair for controlling engagement of said gear pair with said axle shaft gears.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein said axial shift includes biasing one compensating gear of each of said gear pair with a desired preload, such that a biasing force control acts on gear tooth forces generating axial thrust.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein said preload of each gear pair is different.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein providing different degrees of backlash between said compensating gear pairs such that a biasing force providing axial shift on each of said gear pairs is uniform to oppose gear tooth forces generating axial thrust.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein further comprising providing an externally mounted means for controlling engagement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
193 words
A differential gear comprising: a differential cage having a pair of coaxial cylindrical cavities, and a plurality of cavities positioned parallel with said pair of coaxial cylindrical cavities; a pair of axle shaft gears positioned in said pair of coaxial cylindrical cavities; a plurality of pairs of compensating gears positioned in said plurality of parallel cavities; at least one of said pairs of compensating gears having a compensating gear with two tooth areas of different pitch, one tooth area meshed with one axle shaft gear and the other tooth area meshed with the other compensating gear of said at least one of said pairs which is meshed with the other axle shaft gear; and means for variably axially supporting at least one compensating gear of said at least one of said pairs of compensating gears, said axial supporting means providing a force on said at least one of said pairs of compensating gears such that these may be independently engaged or disengaged to force reactive contact in response to each force providing a variable radial or tangential force on said axle shaft gears to provide variable backlash and variable locking of the differential.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
193 words
A differential gear comprising: a differential cage having a pair of coaxial cylindrical cavities, and a plurality of cavities positioned parallel with said pair of coaxial cylindrical cavities; a pair of axle shaft gears positioned in said pair of coaxial cylindrical cavities; a plurality of pairs of compensating gears positioned in said plurality of parallel cavities; at least one of said pairs of compensating gears having a compensating gear with two tooth areas of different pitch, one tooth area meshed with one axle shaft gear and the other tooth area meshed with the other compensating gear of said at least one of said pairs which is meshed with the other axle shaft gear; and means for variably axially supporting at least one compensating gear of said at least one of said pairs of compensating gears, said axial supporting means providing a force on said at least one of said pairs of compensating gears such that these may be independently engaged or disengaged to force reactive contact in response to each force providing a variable radial or tangential force on said axle shaft gears to provide variable backlash and variable locking of the differential.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The gear system according to claim 7, wherein said axial support means for each of said compensating gears is arranged in planes that are axially spaced and arranged perpendicular to the axis of said compensating gears, where the axial positions of these axial support means are independently variable.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The gear system according to claim 7, further comprising means for at least partially varying the axial positions of the axial support means for each of said compensating gears by externally controlled shifting of the support surfaces for these compensating gears.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The gear system according to claim 7, wherein said axial support means include springs at one end of each of said compensating gear pairs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The gear system according to claim 7, wherein said axial support means includes springs for the various groups of meshed compensating gears which have uniform spring rates and wherein face-side support surfaces of said compensating gears are axially unequally spaced relative to each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The gear system according to claim 7 wherein said axial support means includes springs for the various groups of meshed compensating gears which have different spring rates.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The gear system according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the springs is preloaded.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The gear system according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the springs is preloaded.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The gear system according to claim 7, wherein axial positions of said axial support means for each of said compensating gears can be at least partially varied by externally controlled shifting means of the face-side support surfaces of said compensating gears.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1268429A
Cited
US2900846A
Cited
US3375736A
Cited
US3473414A
Cited
JPS5997346A
Cited
JPS62246282A
Cited
DE3731668A1
Cited
EP0356401A2
Cited
US5055096A
Cited
US5083987A
Cited
US5071395A
Cited
US5108353A
Cited
US5098356A
Cited
US5122101A
Cited
US5169370A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-08-02 | 1997-02-01 | 1997-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-02 | 2001-02-01 | 2001-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-02 | 2005-02-01 | 2005-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |