Patent ID: 7938041

Claim:
A bi-directional overrunning clutched differential unit comprising: a differential housing; a pair of coaxial output shafts relatively rotatably supported by the differential housing; a pair of coaxial cylindrical hubs relatively unrotatably fitted on the respective output shafts, wherein an axially proximal end of one of the hubs is relatively rotatably fitted into an axially proximal end of the other of the hubs; a pair of first bearings disposed opposite to each other in the axial direction of the output shafts, and supported by the differential housing so as to journal the respective hubs; a cylindrical cage coaxially disposed around the hubs between the first bearings; a cylindrical clutch housing coaxially disposed around the cage between the first bearings; a pair of second bearings disposed opposite to each other in the axial direction of the output shafts, and supported by the differential housing so as to journal the clutch housing, wherein the pair of second bearings are diametrically larger than the first bearings, and are disposed between the first bearings in the axial direction of the output shafts so as to ensure a space between one of the first bearings and one of the second bearings; first and second groups of rollers held by the cage, wherein the rollers of the first group are aligned at regular intervals along the periphery of the cage and contact an outer peripheral surface of one of the hubs, and wherein the rollers of the second group are aligned at regular intervals along the periphery of the cage and contact an outer peripheral surface of the other of the hubs; cams formed on an inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing so as to be adapted to radially press each of the rollers against the respective hubs; and a friction mechanism disposed in the space so as to apply a frictional rotation resistance onto the cage.