Patent ID: 6949047
Filing Date: 2005-09-27
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
1. Differential gears comprising: a differential case that is turned by drive force from an engine about left and right wheel axles; a pair of left and right pressure rings deployed inside the differential case so as to freely move in the direction of the wheel axles but be incapable of relative turning; a pinion shaft deployed perpendicularly to the wheel axles with the ends thereof held between said two pressure rings; at least one pair of pinion gears deployed so as to turn freely on said pinion shaft; a pair of left and right side gears, deployed at the ends of said left and right wheel axles, respectively, so as to be incapable of relative turning, and so as to sandwich the pinion gears and mesh with the pinion gears on both sides thereof; a set of left and right clutch means that are deployed on both sides of said pair of pressure rings in the direction of the wheel axles, and are capable of limiting differential motion of the left and right wheel axles by limiting relative turning between the differential case and the side gears, the outer diameters of clutch plates per set being different between the left and right clutch means; urging means for urging said pair of pressure rings in a direction such that clearance between the pressure rings narrows; and actuation means for actuating the pressure rings against urging force of the urging means, in a direction such that clearance between the pair of pressure rings increases, in accordance with increases in relative turning torque between the pinion shaft and the differential case during differential motion, and activating the clutch means.