Abstract: In an axle assembly, a differential gear device includes a ring gear and a differential cage. The ring gear has a gear portion formed on a first side surface thereof, which first side surface faces the input shaft and is positioned along the axis of the driving axles, for being operatively connected with the input shaft, and forms an axle hole through which an inner end of one of the right and left driving axles relatively rotatably passes. The differential cage is relatively non-rotatably connected with the ring gear via a second side surface of the ring gear, which second side surface faces away from the input shaft and is positioned along the axis of the driving axles. The differential case also forms therein an axle hole through which an inner end of the residual one of the right and left driving axles relatively rotatably passes, so that the inner ends of the right and left driving axles face to each other.

Abstract: A sliding surface is formed on an inner periphery of a drum member secured to a rear output shaft of a differential limiting device. There is provided a cam member between a projection and the sliding surface. The cam member has a friction surface slidable on the sliding surface and a V-shaped groove engageable with the projection. When a relative rotation occurs between the drum member and the carrier, the position where the projection is engaged with the V-shaped groove deviates so as to press the cam member toward the sliding surface. As a result, due to a frictional resistance of the friction surface against the sliding surface, first a differential limiting occurs between the drum member and the carrier and then a differential is locked up by a wedge effect of a corner edge of the cam member.

Abstract: A final reduction gear unit comprises a small diameter pinion gear 10, a large diameter ring gear 20 which meshes with the small diameter ring gear 10, a housing for accommodating the two gears, first bearings 26a, 26b for rotatably supporting the large diameter ring gear and second bearings 15a, 15b for rotatably supporting the small diameter pinion gear. Moreover, a gutter member 30 is provided within the housing for receiving the part of lubricating oil thrown up and splash supplied toward the second bearings by the rotation of the large diameter ring gear, and a lubricating oil supply path 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b is formed within the housing which links up with the first bearings at one end and with the gutter member at the other end thereof.

Abstract: A single drive mechanism for simultaneously driving plungers of a plurality of metal molds in each of the sections by employing an output cost-efficient electric motor as a mechanism for driving the plungers. The novel plunger drive mechanism makes it possible to correctly and efficiently mold the articles without causing defect even when the glass material is fed in varying amounts into the metal molds. In molding a glass material thrown into the metal molds by moving the plungers forward, a mechanism moves the plungers forward with a predetermined torque and then backward. The mechanism includes a drive motor, a main gear, planetary bevel gears, a first driven wheel member, a second driven wheel member, a first drive pinion, a second drive pinion, a first main drive member, and a second main drive member.

Abstract: A differential mechanism and output shaft connecting structure wherein an output shaft is tightly assembled to a side gear for preventing an oil seal for sealing a gap between a transmission housing and for preventing an output shaft from becoming damaged while the output shaft is being inserted into the side gear. The apparatus for connecting the differential mechanism and the output shaft includes a side gear of the differential mechanism, an output shaft designed to be splined to the side gear, and a connecting unit which serves to assemble the side gear and the output shaft by bringing one end of the output shaft into contact with the rotating shaft of a pinion gear when the output shaft is inserted into the side gear.

Abstract: A drive assembly for vehicular use, particularly for use with electric vehicles, includes a primary rotatable housing having an internally mounted hub which is rotatable responsive to rotation of the primary housing with the primary housing being mounted to a vehicular frame. A spider gear assembly is mounted to the hub with a pair of wheel supporting axles mounted at the spider gear assembly in an opposing disposition with each axle being rotatable at independent velocities responsive to rotation of the primary housing.

Abstract: A vehicular driving force distribution apparatus includes a first helical sun gear to which an input torque is applied, a first helical pinion meshing with the first sun gear, a second helical pinion rotating integrally with the first pinion, a second helical sun gear from which an output torque is outputted in mesh with the second pinion, a carrier from which another output torque is outputted. And an initial torque generating apparatus comprises a multiple disc clutch and provides between the second sun gear and the carrier for generating an initial torque as a differential limiting torque in between so as to secure a required driving force even on a very slippery road.

Abstract: The invention provides a hydromechanical system for limiting differential speed between first and second rotating members of a vehicle drivetrain subassembly. The hydromechanical system comprises a casing disposed within a housing of the subassembly which is rotatably coupled to the first rotating member of the drivetrain subassembly. Hydraulic fluid is supplied from a sump within the drivetrain subassembly housing to a reversible hydraulic pump disposed within the casing, wherein the reversible hydraulic pump pumps hydraulic fluid in response to relative rotation between the first and second rotating members. A piston assembly is disposed within the casing which includes a guide member, an actuating member and a chamber disposed therebetween, wherein the chamber receives the pumped hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: A transaxle assembly includes an output shaft which drives a differential assembly. The differential assembly includes a first gear comprised of a spur gear which is adapted to be driven by the output shaft, a sun gear movable with the first gear, a non-movable ring gear, a plurality of planet gears adapted to be drivingly connected to the ring gear and to be driven by the sun gear orbitally thereabout, a planet gear carrier for rotatably supporting the plurality of planet gears and movable therewith, and a differential carried by the planet gear carrier. The differential is adapted to drive an axle on which two wheels are mounted.

Abstract: A differential assembly for a transfer case or other motor vehicle application comprehends a pair of side gears which flank a centrally disposed spider driven by an input member and having a plurality of spokes or shafts and bevel pinion gears disposed thereon. An annular member retains the bevel gears on the spider. In a first embodiment, the annular member is retained on the spider by cooperating elongate slots in the member which receive the shafts of the spider and a snap ring which extends about the circumference of the annular member. In an alternate embodiment, the pinion gears include projecting spherical surfaces which are complementary to and seat within spherical recesses on the inner surface of the annular member.

Abstract: A transfer case for a four-wheel drive vehicle having a planetary gear assembly which integrates a gear reduction unit and an interaxle differential into a common arrangement. A clutch apparatus is operably associated with the planetary gear assembly and can be selectively shifted on-the-fly for establishing a full-time four-wheel high-range drive mode, a neutral non-driven mode, and a full-time four-wheel low-range drive mode.

Abstract: An automatic locking differential of the type having C-clip retainers adapted for mounting in peripheral grooves contained in the adjacent ends of the output shafts includes an annular center driver gear, a center cam member arranged concentrically within the center driver gear, and at least one resilient preload member for biasing a pair of side gears into engagement with an internal annular shoulder on the center cam member, thereby to dampen the rotational play between the center cam and the center driver member. A pair of preload resilient members may be provided at the remote ends of the side gears for axially biasing the side gears together toward engagement with the internal diameter on the center cam member.

Abstract: A power transfer system is disclosed for a four-wheel drive vehicle operable for permitting a vehicle operator to select between various full-time and part-time four-wheel drive modes. The power transfer system includes a transfer case equipped with a dual-planetary gear reduction unit and a synchronized range shift mechanism operable for permitting the vehicle operator to shift on-the-fly for establishing full-time and part-time high-range and low-range four-wheel drive modes. The transfer case is also equipped with an electronically-controlled slip limiting/torque-biasing arrangement including an interaxle differential and a transfer clutch operable for controlling the magnitude of speed differentiation and torque biasing across the interaxle differential.

Abstract: An electric drive for a vehicle includes a motor housing; bearing plates closing opposite ends of the housing; roller bearings held in the bearing plates; an electric motor accommodated in the motor housing and including an axially hollow rotor shaft affixed to a rotor and journalling in the roller bearings; a gear housing adjoining the motor housing; a gearing accommodated in the gear housing; a gear coupling the rotor shaft with an input of the gearing; and a first output shaft coupled to an output of the gearing. The first output shaft extends through an end wall of the gear housing and passes axially through the rotor shaft and through the bearing plates. The first output shaft has an end situated externally of the motor housing. The electric drive further has a second output shaft coupled to an output of the gearing. The second output shaft extends through an end wall of the gear housing and has an end situated externally of the gear housing.

Abstract: An improved differential mechanism of the holdout ring type, characterized by the provision of a pair of annular thrust blocks engaged by sets of Belleville disc-spring washers which bias a pair of side gears axially outwardly apart against a pair of annular thrust washers, respectively, non-rotatably supported by the differential housing. By loading the side gears in the axial direction, the side gear radial freedom of movement is restricted, whereby the differential chatter and noise level during operation are significantly reduced.

Abstract: A torque distributing mechanism includes a first and a second planetary gear mechanism. Among pairs of planetary carriers, ring gears and sun gears in these planetary gear mechanisms, one of the pairs are coupled to two output elements of a differential; another pair are relatively non-rotatably connected to each other, and one of the components of the remaining pair is fixed, while the other is connected to a driving source. Thus, it is possible to reduce the diametrical dimension and weight of the torque distributing mechanism and to improve the degree of freedom in design.

Abstract: A torque distributing mechanism includes a first and a second planetary gear mechanism. Among pairs of planetary carriers, ring gears and sun gears in these planetary gear mechanisms, one of the pairs are coupled to two output elements of a differential; another pair are relatively non-rotatably connected to each other, and one of the components of the remaining pair is fixed, while the other is connected to a driving source. Thus, it is possible to reduce the diametrical dimension and weight of the torque distributing mechanism and to improve the degree of freedom in design.

Abstract: There is disclosed a planet gear apparatus having a gear structure wherein a sun gear attached to an input shaft is a conical involute external gear, one of two adjacent ring gears differing slightly in inside diameter and number of teeth is a stationary ring gear fixed to the planet gear apparatus, the other of the two ring gears is a rotary ring gear rotating about an rotational axis of the input shaft, and a plurality of planetary gears are cylindrical involute spur gears. A rotational axis of each planetary gear is inclined at an angle to the rotational axis of the input shaft, and each planetary gear is meshed between the sun gear, on the one hand, and the two ring gears, on the other, while rotating about its own axis and revolving around the sun gear.

Abstract: A vehicle axle assembly includes a pair of output shafts having a first rotational axis, an input shaft having a second rotational axis oriented at an angle which is not perpendicular to the first rotational axis of the pair of output shafts, and an intermediate shaft having a third rotational axis oriented at an angle which is perpendicular to the first rotational axis of the pair of output shafts. The input shaft includes a first gear of a first gear set disposed between a pair of tapered roller bearings. A pinion nut attached thereto exerts a clamp force, which is prevented from affecting a preloading force on the tapered roller bearings by a shoulder formed on the input shaft. The intermediate shaft includes a second gear of the first gear set, wherein the first gear set forms an angled connection between the input shaft and the intermediate shaft for achieving a first reduction.

Abstract: A differential assembly for a vehicle comprises four pinions mounted on respective identical carrier pins mounted at 90.degree. intervals in a carrier member. The pins are screwed into correspondingly screwed sockets tightened to a predetermined torque and locked in position by respective locking pins which engage undercuts formed in respective pins. Catastrophic failure due to single pin failure is thereby avoided.

Abstract: A ring gear (50) is provided with a plurality of substantially evenly circumferentially spaced posts (10) that extend radially inwardly and are adapted to carry rotary differential pinion gears (12) whose teeth are adapted to meshingly engage the teeth of side gears (18) and (18') respectively secured to the ends of axially aligned spaced-apart axle shafts (20) and (20') to provide a motor vehicle differential gear assembly (100) that enables ring gear (50) to float relative axle shafts (20) and (20') in the space therebetween.

Abstract: A differential mechanism is provided with two output shafts 202 and 204 coaxially arranged and extending to wheels 203 and 205 of a vehicle. The differential is provided with a pair of connected discs 221, 209, the disc 209 being rotated about the common axis of the shafts 204, 202 by a drive shaft 206 and a pinion. An intermediate shaft 211 is eccentrically positioned between the two discs 209, 221 and is formed with a circumferentially extending spiral tooth 241. The tooth 241 engages a driving gear 217 fixed to the shaft 202 at one end-portion and the other end-portion of the member 240 provides a member in mesh with the second member 216 fixed to the shaft 204. The teeth of the members 216 and 240 are shaped and positioned so that drive between them is inefficient but they will translate over one another if the member 216 is rotated in the same direction and at the same speed as the member 240.

Abstract: A differential gear assembly has a multi-pinion system with a unitary spider to enable assembly of the differential gear by an automated process.