Patent ID: 7000707
Filing Date: 2006-02-21
Classification: A01B

Abstract:
1. A differential device comprising: a power-transmitting member mounted to undergo rotation in forward and reverse directions, the power-transmitting member having left and right meshing claws formed on respective left and right surfaces thereof and having an interior space; left and right driven shafts each having an end portion disposed in the interior space of the power-transmitting member, the left and right driven shafts being rotatable relative to each other about a rotational centerline of the power-transmitting member, and the power-transmitting member being movable in an axial direction of the left and right driven shafts; left and right driven members mounted on the respective left and right driven shafts so as to sandwich therebetween the left and right surfaces of the power-transmitting member and being axially movable along the left and right driven shafts over a predetermined distance toward and away from the left and right surfaces of the power-transmitting member, the left and right driven members having respective left and right meshing claws formed on respective surfaces, thereof disposed opposite to the left and right surfaces of the power-transmitting member for meshing engagement with the respective left and right meshing claws of said power-transmitting member so that driving power is transmitted from the power-transmitting member to the left and right driven shafts by rotation of the power-transmitting member, the left and right driven members being normally resiliently urged toward the surfaces of the power-transmitting member, the left and right meshing claws of the power-transmitting member and the left and right meshing claws of the driven members being arranged to meshingly engage/disengage with/from each other so that during forward rotation of power-transmitting member, either the meshing engagement between the left meshing claws of the power-transmitting member and the left driven member or the meshing engagement between the right meshing claws of the power-transmitting member and the right driven member is cancelled when a difference between loads acting on the meshing engagement between the left meshing claws and acting on the meshing engagement between the right meshing claws exceeds a predetermined reference value, and so that during reverse rotation of the power-transmitting member, both the meshing engagement between the left meshing claws and the meshing engagement between the right meshing claws are constantly maintained; and a claw control mechanism for compulsorily maintaining the meshing engagement between the left meshing claws and the meshing engagement between the right meshing claws of the power-transmitting member and the left and right driven members by restricting retreat of either or both of the left and right driven members from the respective left and right surfaces of the power-transmitting member; wherein each of the left and right meshing claws of the power-transmitting member and the left and right driven members has an abutting surface extending generally parallel to the rotational centerline of the power-transmitting member so as to allow the meshing engagement between the left meshing claws and the meshing engagement between the right meshing claws to be constantly maintained during the reverse rotation of the power-transmitting member, and has an inclined surface extending from the abutting surface and inclined along the direction of rotation of the power-transmitting member relative to the abutting surfaces of other meshing claws with which the meshing claw is to be meshed during the forward rotation of the power-transmitting member; wherein when the power-transmitting member rotates to transmit driving power to the left and right driven members through engagement between left and right meshing claws of the power-transmitting member and the left and right driven members, leftward and rightward components forces acting on the inclined surfaces of the left and right meshing claws displace the driven members in an axial outward direction away from the power-transmitting member to define therebetween a space for allowing axial movement of the power-transmitting member within the space; and wherein a difference between speeds of rotation of the left and right driven shafts or a difference in loads acting on the left and right driven shafts occurs when an external force is applied to either of the left and right driven shafts.