Abstract: Positive acting differentials of the type having toothed drivers and couplers which automatically connect the two axles together to provide optimum traction for the vehicle, yet releases one axle when the vehicle is proceeding around a curve without drive wheel slippage, whereby only a single axle is engaged through the drive system. In assemblies of the type wherein the axles are retained in the assembly by a C clip, at least one driver is slotted so as to provide space for the insertion of C clip during assembly. This allows selection of the driver and coupler thicknesses without being restricted by the possible positions of the C clip groove in the axles during assembly, and reduces wear in the driver and coupler teeth by eliminating asymmetry between the engaging drivers and couplers. Preferred and some alternate embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Positive acting differentials of the type having drivers driven in rotation by a pinion pin and couplers coupled to the axles of a vehicle, the drivers and couplers having facingly disposed teeth forced into engagement when the pinion pin is driving the respective driver or drivers by forcibly contacting the same at an angle. The teeth on the drivers or couplers or both in the present invention have a chamfer on the outer part of the teeth in comparison to the base region of the teeth, so that the facingly disposed teeth on the drivers and couplers are forced into engagement when the base regions of the teeth are engaging and the pinion pin is driving the respective driver or drivers by forcibly contacting the same at an angle, but the teeth on the drivers and couplers will only climb each other when the outer regions of the teeth are engaging and the pinion pin is driving the respective driver or drivers. A preferred and an alternate embodiment are disclosed.

Abstract: A positive acting differential which automatically connects the two axles together to provide optimum traction for the vehicle, yet releases one axle when the vehicle is proceeding around a curve without drive wheel slippage, whereby only a single axle is engaged through the drive system. The positive acting differential includes a ring structure which, for the disengaged wheel, will shift to a position preventing the driver and coupler teeth from engaging in the normal manner, thereby alleviating the noise and harsh operating characteristic known as "cycling" associated with locking types of differentials. The ring structure is located within a groove in the respective coupler and elastically retained against a frusto-conical surface to provide a desired frictional drag and positive axial location of the ring structure relative to the coupler. A preferred and an alternate embodiment are disclosed.

Abstract: A positive acting differential of the type having toothed drivers and couplers which automatically connect the two axles together to provide optimum traction for the vehicle, yet release one axle when the vehicle is proceeding around a curve without drive wheel slippage, whereby only a single axle is engaged through the drive system. In assemblies of the type wherein the axles are retained in the assembly by a C clip, at least one driver and one spacer are slotted so as to provide space for the insertion of C clip during assembly. This allows selection of the driver and coupler thicknesses without being restricted by the possible positions of the C clip groove in the axles during assembly, and reduces wear in the driver and coupler teeth by eliminating a source of asymmetry between the engaging drivers and couplers. Preferred and some alternate embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A positive acting differential which automatically connects the two axles together to provide optimum traction for the vehicle, yet releases one axle when the vehicle is proceeding around a curve without drive wheel slippage, whereby only a single axle is engaged through the drive system. The positive acting differential includes a ring structure which, for the disengaged wheel, will shift to a position preventing the driver and coupler teeth from engaging in the normal manner, thereby alleviating the noise and harsh operating characteristic known as "cycling" associated with locking types of differentials. A spacer with attached paddles supports multiple pinion pins. The paddles loosely couple the motion of the pinion pins to the ring structure. A preferred and an alternate embodiment are disclosed.

Abstract: Positive acting differentials of the type having toothed drivers and couplers which automatically connect the two axles together to provide optimum traction for the vehicle, yet releases one axle when the vehicle is proceeding around a curve without drive wheel slippage, whereby only a single axle is engaged through the drive system. In assemblies of the type wherein the axles are retained in the assembly by a C clip and a thrust slug, at least one driver and one spacer are slotted so as to provide space for the insertion of C clip during assembly, and a thrust slug is fitted within the spacers. This allows selection of the driver and coupler thicknesses without being restricted by the possible positions of the C clip groove in the axles during assembly, and reduces wear in the driver and coupler teeth by eliminating a source of possible cocking between the engaging drivers and couplers. Preferred and some alternate embodiments are disclosed.