Patent ID: 6261202
Filing Date: 2001-07-17
Classification: F16D,F16H

Abstract:
A limited slip differential comprising:a pair of axles rotatable about a first axis;a casing rotatable about said first axis;at least one planet gear rotatable about an axis perpendicular to said first axis, said at least one planet gear revolving about said first axis;a pair of side gears intermeshed with said at least one planet gear, each of said side gears rotatably fixed relative to one of said axles at all times during operation of the differential; anda clutch element disposed between the one of said axles to which said one side gear is rotatable fixed and said casing, said clutch element adapted to rotate with said at least one axle, said clutch element comprising a plurality of clutch engagement surfaces lying on a frusto-conical surface defined by a right circular cone having a vertex and a circular base, each of said clutch engagement surfaces bounded by at least one lateral edge, each of said clutch engagement surfaces completely contained within a surface of a right conic sector defined by two lines extending from said vertex to said circular base, said sector extending through an angle in the range of 0.degree. to 180.degree. about said base, said clutch element operable to frictionally engage said one axle and said casing;wherein the total surface area of said clutch engagement surfaces is in a range of 5% to 15% of the total surface area of said frusto-conical surface.