Abstract: A gearless locking differential includes clutch housings containing V-shaped slots that cooperate with a cross pin to disconnect from the differential drive shaft an overrunning driven shaft, characterized in that the wall surfaces that define the V-slots extend parallel with the axis of rotation of the differential housing, and the cross pin has tapered convergent end portions. The frictions packs that releasably connect the side gears to the clutch members include annular friction plates that are arranged between pairs of reaction plates and include polygonal internal surfaces that slidably and non-rotatably engage a corresponding polygonal circumferential surface on the associated side gear. The locking lug and locking slot that cooperate to provided limited angular relative displacement between the clutch housings each have parallel side walls. As a consequence of the invention, the machining and finishing of the components of the differential are achieved in a simplified cost-effective manner.

Abstract: A differential for racing cars that travel in a given direction around a closed circular or oval track, including an overrunning clutch arrangement for disengaging from the drive train of the differential an outside wheel shaft that overruns the inside wheel shaft during a turn by a given amount, and a locking device for continuously locking the inside wheel shaft to the differential drive train. Preferably, the locking device comprises a locking gear that is non-rotatably splined to the inside wheel shaft and that has pinion teeth that are in continuous engagement with the central drive member of the differential.

Abstract: A locking differential includes a pair of annular coaxially-arranged axially-spaced clutch members having adjacent faces that contain cam groove that receive a driving cross pin, cooperating locking lugs and grooves being provided on the adjacent faces of the clutch members for preventing relative rotation therebetween. The cross pin extends diametrically across a supporting sleeve that is non-rotatably mounted concentrically within the central chamber of the cylindrical housing of the differential, thereby permitting the differential to be retrofit into various differential casings.

Abstract: A locking differential includes a pair of annular coaxially-arranged axially-spaced clutch members having adjacent faces that contain cam groove that receive a driving cross pin, cooperating locking lugs and grooves being provided on the adjacent faces of the clutch members for preventing relative rotation therebetween. The cross pin extends diametrically across a supporting sleeve that is non-rotatably mounted concentrically within the central chamber of the cylindrical housing of the differential, thereby permitting the differential to be retrofit into various differential casings.

Abstract: A locking differential includes a pair of opposed collinearly arranged annular clutch members the adjacent faces of which contain corresponding pairs of V-shaped drive grooves for receiving a cylindrical drive pin that is connected with the differential casing, the planar faces of the drive grooves being arranged at an obtuse angle of about 120°. Preferably, in order to obtain line-to-line contact with the drive pin, each of the four planar drive faces of a clutch member has an angle of convergence of about 3.017° relative to the diametrically arranged lines of juncture of the associated pairs of planar drive faces. The clutch members are normally biased apart by helical springs the end portions of which are received in pockets contained in the opposed faces of the clutch members, respectively.

Abstract: A fully-locking torque-responsive differential includes an annular coupling device arranged concentrically between an axially-extending hub portion on one side gear and the wall surface of the carrier bore in which the side gear is rotatably mounted. An axially-displaceable trigger pin is operable externally of the differential housing in which the carrier is rotatably mounted between first and second positions in which the coupling device is unlocked and locked, respectively. The trigger pin may be operated either automatically or manually by the vehicle operator, use being made of an electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic or cable-operated linear shifting member that extends through a sealed opening contained in the differential housing.

Abstract: An improved electric clutch for driving refrigeration compressors and the like includes an annular ferromagnetic annular armature that is connected with a drive shaft via the outer peripheral portion of an annular resilient disk the inner peripheral portion of which is connected with a rotor that in turn is connected with the drive shaft. The armature is normally biased in the direction of the rotor toward an inactive de-energized position in spaced relation relative to an annular driven member that is connected with the driven shaft. A stationary electromagnetic coil is mounted on the opposite side of the driven member from the armature, so that when the coil is energized, the armature is attracted toward an active energized position in frictional engagement with the driven member, thereby to cause the driven shaft to be driven by the drive shaft.

Abstract: A differential mechanism of the holdout ring type is characterized by improved annular clutch plates with trapezoidally configured cam teeth for mating with the center cam teeth of the center cam. Each clutch plate has inner cam and outer clutch teeth extending from a planar surface thereof with a gap between the inner and outer teeth receiving a holdout ring. The inner cam teeth have a base wider than the top portion thereof so that there is surface to surface contact with the center cam teeth. This reduces torque in the clutch cam teeth and provides smoother operation and a longer service life to the differential.

Abstract: A helical gear differential includes lubrication passages for circulating lubricating oil to the helical pinion counter bores and the side gear counter bores, thereby to increase the operating life of, and to reduce the operating noise level of, the differential. Openings contained in one of the housing and cover sections introduces lubricating oil into the ends of the associated pinion bores to lubricate the ends of the adjacent pinions, and the oil flows through the housing openings to lubricate the remote ends of the pinions. The adjacent ends of the other pinions are lubricated via second housing openings contained in the walls of housing relieved portions. An improved retaining means including a plate and a split snap ring serve to retain the cross pin spacer member within a transverse bore contained in the housing body section.

Abstract: A locking differential including a pair of clutch members, a pair of associated annular side gears, a drive rod extending between the clutch members, and a pair of spacers arranged between the side gears and drive rod is characterized by a locking pin, disc, E-clip, spring assembly which urges the clutch members outwardly apart toward engaged positions with the side gears. The face of each clutch member contains at least one pin bore for receiving a locking pin and at least one oversized spring bore for receiving a spring. The outer periphery of each clutch member contains a pin access opening communicating with each pin bore. During assembly, a tool can be inserted into the pin access opening to displace the locking pin contained therein, whereby the E-clip may he installed on a locking pin circumferential groove and the associated spring is maintained in compression, thereby to urge the clutch members axially outwardly apart.

Abstract: A locking differential includes a plurality of spring biasing assemblies each consisting solely of a helical spring having a spring cap member mounted on one end thereof for isolating the spring from the associated locking pin that extends at one end within the oversized spring bore. The spring cap member has a disc portion the outer diameter of which is at least as great as the outer diameter of the helical spring, and a central plug portion that extends within the spring, whereby the spring bears at one end solely against the cap disc portion and is isolated thereby from the locking pin. The diameter of the cap disc portion is also less than the width of a radially extending access opening that communicates with the oversized spring bore contained in a clutch member, thereby to permit introduction of the spring with the cap mounted thereon into the spring bore via the spring access opening.

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 torque-proportioning differential of the helical pinion type includes a housing having a body section to one end of which is removably connected a cover section, the one body section end being machined to define a central longitudinal bore and a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal pinion cavities each having a pair of cavity portions in longitudinal communication with each other and with the central bore, respectively. The pinion cavity portions are of equal depth, thereby to receive corresponding longitudinally offset helical pinions, respectively, each provided with a hub extension that extends longitudinally of the associated pinion bore for engagement with a corresponding end thrust surface on the housing body section or the housing cover section, respectively.

Abstract: A gear differential is disclosed for supplying driving torque from an input shaft to a pair of aligned axially spaced output shafts, including a carrier housing driven by the input shaft and having a center section and a pair of end cover sections, a pair of side gears journalled in opposite ends of the center section for splined connection with the output shafts, respectively, and pairs of differential helical pinions having threads of opposite hands, respectively, the helical pinions of each pair being mounted with a running fit in longitudinal bores contained in opposite ends of the center section for threaded engagement with the side gears, respectively, the adjacent ends of the helical pinions being in overlapping enmeshing threaded engagement, characterized by the provision of a spacer cross pin member having a cylindrical shank portion extending transversely between, and for contiguous engagement by, the adjacent ends of the output shafts.

Abstract: The improved differential apparatus includes an annular center cam member having an internal radially-inwardly directed alignment shoulder the opposite end surfaces of which are engaged by the adjacent ends of the side gears, respectively, which side gears include external annular flanges the remote surfaces of which abut the differential housing end walls, respectively, thereby to accurately position the center cam member relative to the annular center driver member, whereby the use of a snap ring for centering the center cam member relative to the center driving member is avoided. In the illustrated embodiment, the use of conventional holdout rings is avoided, thereby reducing the complexity and cost of the apparatus.

Abstract: A torque-proportioning differential of the helical pinion type includes a housing having a body section to one end of which is removably connected a cover section, the one body section end being machined to define a central longitudinal bore and a plurality of circumferentially spaced pairs of longitudinal pinion cavities in longitudinal communication with each other and with the central bore, respectively. The pinion cavities of each pair are of unequal depth, thereby to receive corresponding longitudinally offset helical pinions, respectively. In order to maintain the pinion of the cavity of greater depth adjacent the bottom wall of the cavity, a hub extension is provided on the other end of that pinion which extends the length of the pinion for engagement at its free end with a thrust surface carried by the housing cover section.

Abstract: A differential mechanism is disclosed including a pair of holdout rings each of which is angularly displaceable to an operable position for maintaining in a disengaged condition an associated overrunning or underrunning clutch member, characterized by the arrangement of the center cam member concentrically within the center driving member, together with the provision of a rotation limiting stop for limiting the extent of rotation of the holdout ring relative to the central driving member when the holdout ring is rotated from an inoperative condition toward an operative condition. In one embodiment, the stop comprises the side wall of a through slot (2e) contained in the inner periphery of the center driving member (2), which stop is engaged by the lateral surface (30e) of an axial projection (30c) of reduced width on the associated holdout ring lug (30b).

Abstract: An improved differential mechanism of the holdout ring type is disclosed, characterized in that the annular holdout rings are mounted concentrically between the driven clutch members and the associated side gears, respectively, and the device for biasing the driven clutch members toward engagement with the driving spider member arranged therebetween includes a pair of compression springs mounted concentrically between the holdout rings and the side gears.

Abstract: An improved differential mechanism of the holdout ring type is disclosed, characterized in that the annular holdout rings are mounted concentrically between the driven clutch members and the associated side gears, respectively, and the springs biasing the driven clutch members toward engagement with the driving spider member arranged therebetween includes a pair of compression springs mounted concentrically between the holdout rings and the side gears, each spring reacting at opposite ends between the associated side gear and annular spring retainer member, respectively. Furthermore, the driven clutch members are each provided with only one set of uniform teeth which cooperate both with driving teeth on the spider member and overrunning clutch-disengaging teeth on the center cam member. Consequently, a compact durable positive differential mechanism is provided that is of relatively simple, inexpensive construction requiring a minimum number of parts.

Abstract: A differential apparatus is disclosed of the type including pairs of helical differential pinions for transmitting torque from a rotatably driven differential carrier housing to a pair of side gears splined to a pair output shafts, respectively, characterized by the provision of a collapsible and expansible wedge block spacer assembly for maintaining the output shafts in spaced relation and for reacting to axially inwardly directed thrust forces. During assembly of the differential apparatus, the spacer block is introduced, when in a collapsed condition, into the housing via a transverse access opening, to a position between the output shafts, whereupon the wedge block assembly is axially expanded into supporting engagement with the adjacent ends of the output shafts. The housing includes three sections, a pair of end cover sections being arranged on opposite sides of a center section of contoured configuration.