Friction reduction in a differential assembly
US4890511A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 22, 1987 |
| Grant date | Jan 2, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 22, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16H48/29
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A differential gear assembly for vehicles is provided between a pair of drive axles (12), (14) are received in bores (10) formed in the sides of a differential housing (4), and wherein axially aligned worm or side gears (18, 18') are coupled to each axle end for meshing engagement with torque transfer gears (20) within said housing. A non-rotatable washer element (30) is inserted between confronting end faces of the side gears (18, 18') to reduce the sliding velocity between the washer and each side gear to one-half of the relative sliding velocity between the side gears, thereby reducing and/or controlling friction between the side gears and reducing differences in bias ratios associated with opposite directions of differentiation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.