초록 ▼

Frictional effects at different gear mounting surfaces within a differential are varied to control bias ratio. The gearing arrangement includes side gears respectively coupled to axle ends and element gears which transfer and divide torque between the side gears. Coefficients of friction at end face

Frictional effects at different gear mounting surfaces within a differential are varied to control bias ratio. The gearing arrangement includes side gears respectively coupled to axle ends and element gears which transfer and divide torque between the side gears. Coefficients of friction at end faces of the element gears are varied between different element gears to control overall bias ratio while minimizing the effect of changes in overall bias ratio on an inherent bias ratio imbalance between opposite directions of differentiation. Helical gear portions are formed at the ends of the element gears to better balance thrust forces acting on different element gears.

대표청구항 ▼

A differential assembly comprising: a housing that is rotatable in opposite directions by forward and reverse driving torque; means formed in said housing for receiving a pair of axle ends; a pair of side gears mounted within said housing for rotation with the axle ends about a common axis of rotati

A differential assembly comprising: a housing that is rotatable in opposite directions by forward and reverse driving torque; means formed in said housing for receiving a pair of axle ends; a pair of side gears mounted within said housing for rotation with the axle ends about a common axis of rotation and having respective teeth oriented to helix angles in a same general direction with respect to the common axis of side gear rotation; pairs of element gears rotatively mounted in said housing about respective axes of rotation that are crossed and nonintersecting with respect to the common axis of side gear rotation; a first element gear of each of said pairs of element gears meshing with one of said side gears, a second element gear of each of said pairs of element gears meshing with the other of said side gears, and said first and second element gears of each pair meshing with each other; said first element gears including end faces defining, together with associated mounting surfaces in said housing, first frictional interfaces, said second element gears including end faces defining, together with associated mounting surfaces in said housing, second frictional interfaces, and said first and second frictional interfaces providing for resisting respective rotations of said first and second element gears in response to torque being transmitted by said first and second element gears; a first means cooperating with said first element gear end faces modifying the frictional resistance of said first frictional interfaces and a second means cooperating with said second element gear end faces modifying the frictional resistance of said second frictional interfaces; and said first and second frictional interfaces exhibiting different coefficients of friction.