Patent ID: 6286391
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
A locking differential having a rotatable differential carrier rotatable around an axis, with a pair of spaced-apart side gears contained within the differential carrier and rotatable relative to one another, and having a differential component which co-operates with the side gears by means of alternately-engaging toothings and which is non-rotatably coupled to the differential carrier so as to rotate therewith, wherein:(1) said spaced-apart side gears each comprise end toothings which face one another; and(2) said differential component comprises a differential disc with two faces, each face comprising end toothings, the end toothings on one of said faces cooperating with the end toothings on one of said side gears, and the end toothings on the other of said faces cooperating with the end toothings on the other of said side gears, with the number of teeth of each pair of inter-engaging end toothings differing by one tooth and with the ratio of the number of teeth of both pairs of inter-engaging end toothings being unequal; and(3) said differential disc is moveable in wobbly manner between said side gears so that, by means of diametrically-opposed portions of the two end toothings of the differential disc, said differential disc engages said end toothings of both of said side gears,(4) wherein said differential disc comprises peripherally-disposed driving elements, and said differential carrier comprises off-center longitudinal guiding means, said driving elements and said longitudinal guiding means engaging one another so as to non-rotatably couple each to the other,(5) and wherein circumferentially-distributed, radially-extending journals, with rolling members disposed on said journals, are secured to said differential disc as driving elements and engage corresponding circumferentially-distributed longitudinal guiding in said differential carrier.