Machine element or mechanism – Gearing – Nonplanetary gearing differential type
Patent
1994-12-22
1996-10-01
Marmor, Charles A.
Machine element or mechanism
Gearing
Nonplanetary gearing differential type
F16H 4814
Patent
active
055602681
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a differential mechanism particularly but not exclusively for use in motor vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Differential mechanisms commonly used on vehicles are of the sun and planet gear type and have a well known disadvantage that when one wheel is on a slippery surface such as mud or ice and the other wheel is on a firm surface capable of providing traction, the first wheel will simply spin as it receives all the available power transmitted to the differential.
Limited slip differential mechanisms have been proposed in an attempt to overcome this problem which restrict the extent to which one wheel can spin relative to the other but such differentials are more complex and, therefore, most costly to produce.
In European patent application EP-A-0326289 there is proposed an alternative differential mechanism comprising two output cam members rotatable about an axis, each said member having a single frustoconical cam surface thereon of undulating from comprising pairs of mutually inclined surfaces, and a plurality of cam followers having end surfaces engaging the cam surfaces of the output cam members, the arrangement being such that relative contra rotation of said output cam members causes the cam followers to slide axially, and an input member engaging the followers which are slidably supported by the input member and moving the followers circumferentially relative to the output cam members.
Such a differential will hereinafter be called a differential of the type referred to.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTIONS
It is an object of the present invention to provide a differential of the type referred to which mitigates the above problems.
According to the present invention there is provided a differential of the type referred to in which locking means is provided for locking any two of the said members against relative rotation.
Preferably the input member comprises an input housing and the output cam members are rotatably mounted within the housing, and conveniently the locking means operates between the induct member and at least one of the two output cam members.
In one arrangement the locking means is mounted on the input member for engagement with a cam follower to prevent axial movement of the cam follower. In another arrangement the locking means is operatively connected with an output cam member and is engageable with the input member.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Differential mechanisms in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a cross section through a differential mechanism in accordance with the invention taken through output cam members,
FIG. 2 is an end view of the differential of FIG. 1 shown partly broken away,
FIG. 3 is a development of cam surfaces with cam followers shown in positions there between,
FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic end view of a follower,
FIG. 5 is a view on arrow 'A' of FIG. 1 showing the locking means operating mechanism,
FIG. 6 is showing one means of operating the mechanism, and
FIG. 7 shows an alternative locking means which engages the external surface of the input housing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIGS. 1 to 3 the differential 10 is mounted in a partially oil filled surrounding casing 100 (see FIG. 6) by bearings 102 (shown in FIG. 7). The differential 10 comprises a housing 11 having a gear 12 on its external surface which receives drive from a pinion (not shown) in known manner. The gear 12 is drivably connected to end walls 13, 14 which may be formed integrally of the housing 11 or may be formed separately and held in the housing 11 by any suitable means such as screwing into the housing 11 and then locking in position, peening, welding and circumferentially spaced bolts.
Two output cam members 16, 17 have splines 15 at the centre thereof in use, to drive output shafts (not shown) extending through bores 18 in the end walls 13, 14. The bores 18 each have a helical oil feed groove 19 on the inner surfac
REFERENCES:
patent: 5062320 (1991-11-01), Parsons et al.
Automotive Products plc
Estremsky Sherry
Germain Lee A.
Marmor Charles A.
Milliken Paul E.
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