Gkn Automotive Ag

Johnson Controls Gmbh

Helmut Mildt

James Abraham

John R Botterill

Gerald Kuhn

A differential unit comprises a differential carrier (12) supported in a housing (1) for rotation; output elements (16, 17) differentially rotatable relative to the carrier and connected to respective output shafts, differential gears connecting the output elements, and a friction assembly comprising a number of plates (22) rotationally fast with one element of the differential interleaved with a number of plates (24) rotationally fast with another element of the differential, the friction plates being axially loadable into frictional engagement with one another to restrict the differential rotation of the output elements. The friction plates are loadable by an actuating mechanism comprising an abutment ring (54) fixed in the housing and an actuating ring (28) movable angularly and axially relative thereto, with cam surfaces provided by circumferentially extending variable depth grooves (47, 48) in the rings with balls (49) therebetween engaging the grooves. The cam grooves are arranged so that on angular movement of the actuating ring initially the rate of change of axial position thereof is high and then becomes lower with further angular movement.

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Cologne, Germany

Helmut Mildt