초록 ▼

A differential lock mechanism for use in a vehicle and having a cam mechanism that may be actuated by the vehicle user. The cam mechanism transfers rotational movement to linear movement along the axis of the vehicle axles to move an engagement mechanism into or out of engagement with an axle bevel

A differential lock mechanism for use in a vehicle and having a cam mechanism that may be actuated by the vehicle user. The cam mechanism transfers rotational movement to linear movement along the axis of the vehicle axles to move an engagement mechanism into or out of engagement with an axle bevel gear. The engagement mechanism is also engaged to and rotates with a differential carrier, and thus when it is in the engaged position, it locks the vehicle axles to rotate with the differential carrier.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A vehicle driving apparatus comprising:a pair of output axles mounted in an axle housing, each output axle having an axle bevel gear mounted on one end thereof;a differential housing mounted in the axle housing and rotatable with respect to the axle housing;at least two differential gears mounted

1. A vehicle driving apparatus comprising:a pair of output axles mounted in an axle housing, each output axle having an axle bevel gear mounted on one end thereof;a differential housing mounted in the axle housing and rotatable with respect to the axle housing;at least two differential gears mounted in the differential housing and rotating with respect to the axle bevel gears;an engagement mechanism engaged to and rotating with the differential housing, the engagement mechanism being movable in a direction along the axis of the output axles and having a first position where it is not engaged to either of the axle bevel gears and a second position where it is engaged to one of the axle bevel gears;a cam mechanism mounted in the axle housing where actuation of the cam mechanism causes the engagement mechanism to move from the first position to the second position, wherein the cam mechanism comprises a first stationary cam fixed with respect to the axle housing, a second cam which is rotatable with respect to the first cam and movable along the axis of the output axles, and an actuation member which is rotatable to cause rotation of the second cam with respect to the first cam. 2. A vehicle driving apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the differential gears are bevel gears. 3. A vehicle driving apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cam mechanism further comprises a load plate mounted between the second cam and the engagement mechanism. 4. A vehicle driving apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stationary cam is integrally formed with the axle housing. 5. A vehicle driving apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stationary cam is formed separate from the axle housing. 6. A vehicle driving apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the stationary cam comprises at least one tab formed therewith, and the axle housing comprises at least one opening formed therein to receive the tab to prevent the stationary cam from rotating with respect to the axle housing. 7. A vehicle driving apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the stationary cam comprises a plurality of tabs formed therewith, and the axle housing comprises a plurality of openings formed therein to receive the tabs to prevent the stationary cam from rotating with respect to the axle housing. 8. A vehicle driving apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the stationary cam is secured to the axle housing using a fastener. 9. A vehicle driving apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a gear dog. 10. A vehicle driving apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of engagement mechanisms mounted between the axle bevel gears. 11. A vehicle driving apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein the engagement mechanism comprise a plurality of gear dogs. 12. A vehicle driving apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a ring gear engaged to the axle housing. 13. A vehicle driving apparatus as set forth in claim 12, further comprising a plurality of planet reduction gears rotatably engaged to the ring gear. 14. A vehicle driving apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pins engaged to the differential housing, a ring gear engaged to the axle housing; and a plurality of planet reduction gears, where each of the planet reduction gears is mounted on one of the pins. 15. A vehicle driving apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a hydrostatic transmission mounted in the axle housing. 16. A vehicle driving apparatus set forth in claim 15, wherein the hydrostatic transmission comprises a center section mounted in the housing and a rotatable pump and rotatable motor mounted on the center section. 17. A differential for driving a pair of output axles and mounted in a housing, comprising:a differential input gear;a gear carrier driven by the differential input gear;at least one planet bevel gear mounted in and rotatably driven by the gear carrier;a first axle bevel gear mounted on the first of the output axes and driven by the planet bevel gear, the first axle bevel gear having a plurality of gear teeth formed on one side thereof;a second axle bevel gear mounted on the second of the output axles and driven by the planet bevel gear, the second axle bevel gear having a plurality of gear teeth formed on one side thereof;a slider mechanism mounted in and rotatably driven by the gear carrier, the slider mechanism having a first position where it is not engaged to either axle bevel gear and a second position where it is engaged to the gear teeth of one of the axle bevel gears; anda cam mechanic mounted in the housing and engaged to the slider mechanism to move the slider mechanism from the first position to the second position, wherein the cam mechanism comprises a first cam mounted in the housing so as not to rotate with respect thereto, a second cam rotatable with respect to the first cam and movable in an axial direction, and a plate mechanism engaged to the second cam so that movement of the second cam in the axial direction causes the plate mechanism to contact and move the slider mechanism in the axial direction with respect to the output axles. 18. A differential as set forth in claim 17, further comprising a spring mechanism engaged to the slider mechanism to bias the slider mechanism to the first position. 19. A differential for driving a pair of output axles and mounted in a housing, comprising:a differential input gear;a gear carrier driven by the differential input gear;at least one differential gear driven by the gear carrier;a first axle bevel gear mounted on the first of the output axles and a second axle bevel gear mounted on the second of the output axles;at least one engagement element engaged to and rotating with the gear carrier, the engagement element being movable in a direction along the axis of the output axles and having a first position where the engagement element is not engaged to either axle bevel gear and a second position where the engagement element is engaged to one of the bevel gears;a first cam mounted in the housing so as not to rotate with respect thereto;a second cam rotatable with respect to the first cam and movable in an axial direction;a plate mechanism engaged to the second cam, so that movement of the second cam in the axial direction causes the engagement element to move from the first position to the second position to cause both axle bevel gears to rotate with the engagement element. 20. A differential as set forth in claim 19, further comprising a pair of engagement elements. 21. A differential as set forth in claim 20, further comprising a spring mechanism engaged to the engagement elements to bias the engagement element to the first position. 22. A differential as set forth in claim 21, further comprising a guide mounted on and rotated with the gear carrier, where the spring mechanism comprises a plurality of coil springs secured to the guide. 23. A differential as set forth in claim 22, comprising a plurality of differential gears. 24. A vehicle driving apparatus comprising:an axle housing;a first and second output axles mounted coaxially in the axle housing;a first axle bevel gear mounted on one end of the first output axle and having a front side having a plurality of gear teeth and a back side opposite to the front side;a second axle bevel gear mounted on one end of the second output axle and having a front side having a plurality of gear teeth and a back side opposite to the front side, wherein the front side of the first axle bevel gear is mounted facing the font side of the second axle bevel gear;a differential housing mounted in the axle housing and rotatable with respect to the axle housing;at least two differential gears mounted in the differential housing and rotating with respect to the axle bevel gears;an engagement mechanism mounted along the axis of the first and second output axles and between the two axle bevel gears and engaged to and rotating with the differential housing, the engagement mechanism being movable in a direction along the axis of the first and second output axles and having a first position where it is not engaged to either of the axle bevel gears and a second position where it is engaged to the gear teeth of one of the axle bevel gears; anda cam mechanism mounted in the axle housing where actuation of the cam mechanism causes the engagement mechanism to move from the first position to the second position, wherein the cam mechanism comprises a first stationary cam fixed with respect to the axle housing; a second cam which is rotatable with respect to the first cam and is movable along the axis of the output axles; and an actuation member which is rotatable to cause rotation of the second cam with respect to the first cam. 25. A vehicle driving apparatus as set forth in claim 24, wherein the cam mechanism further comprises a load plate mounted between the second cam and the engagement mechanism. 26. A vehicle driving apparatus as set forth in claim 24, wherein the stationary cam is integrally formed with the axle housing. 27. A vehicle driving apparatus set forth in claim 24, wherein the stationary cam is formed separate from the axle housing. 28. A vehicle driving apparatus as set forth in claim 27, wherein stationary cam comprises at least one tab formed therewith, and the axle housing comprises at least one opening formed therein to receive the tab to prevent the stationary cam from rotating with respect to the axle housing. 29. A vehicle driving apparatus is set forth in claim 24, wherein the stationary cam is secured to the axle housing through a fastener. 30. A vehicle driving apparatus as set forth in claim 24, wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a plurality of gear dogs. 31. A vehicle driving apparatus as set forth in claim 24, further comprising a ring gear engaged to the axle housing and a plurality of planet reduction gears rotatably engaged to the ring gear. 32. A vehicle driving apparatus as set forth in claim 24, further comprising a plurality of pins engaged to the differential housing, a ring gear engaged to the axle housing, and a plurality of planet reduction gears, where each of the planet reduction gears is mounted on one of the pins. 33. A vehicle driving apparatus as set forth in claim 24, further comprising a hydrostatic transmission mounted in the axle housing. 34. A vehicle driving apparatus as set forth in claim 33, wherein the hydrostatic transmission comprises a center section mounted in the housing and a rotatable pump and rotatable motor mounted on the center section. 35. A differential as set forth in claim 24, further comprising a spring mechanism engaged to the engagement elements to bias the engagement element to the first position. 36. A differential as set forth in claim 35, further comprising a guide mounted on and rotated with the differential housing, where the spring mechanism comprises a plurality of coil sprigs secured to the guide.