Vehicular Technologies, Inc.

Vehicle Technologies, Inc.

Mark V Tyson

Valentine Cucu

Peter A Dickey

John Hobart Zentmyer

Robert Andrew Gerrick

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.

Positive acting differential with slotted driver

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.

Positive acting differential having chamfered teeth

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.

Positive acting differential with angled coupler groove and mating

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.

Positive acting differential with multiple pinion pins

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.

Positive acting differential with slotted solid spacer

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.

Positive acting differential with slotted solid spacer and axle thrust

One embodiment of the present invention is a differential assembly which includes a two part pinion pin that allows the pinion pin to be removed for parts service and/or replacement without removing the differential case and ring gear from the differential housing. In differentials in which the ring gear interferes with the removal of the pinion pin, the two part pinion pin allows removal of the pinion pin in two pieces, each being rotated about its axis for insertion or removal to provide the best position for clearance with the ring gear. The two part pinion pin may be advantageously used with differentials of various kinds.

Two part pinion pin for a differential assembly

A differential assembly which has a split spacer assembly. The spacer assembly aligns a drive member with a coupler member. The coupler member may be attached to a drive wheel axle. The drive member may be coupled to a case which has an outer ring gear. The ring gear may be coupled to a drive shaft. The split spacer assembly includes a first spacer part that is attached to the coupler member and a second spacer part that is coupled to the drive member and the first spacer part. The split spacer provides clear access for machining the teeth on the coupler members with rotary cutters, and allows the design of thicker drive members for maximum structural integrity while allowing the positioning of the C clip retaining the axle as required by the particular preexisting differential.

Split spacer for a differential assembly

A quiet and smooth, positive acting, no-slip 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 quiet and smooth, positive acting, no-slip differential includes a movable member which, for the disengaged wheel, will shift to a position preventing the driver and coupler teeth from engaging in the normal manner, thereby eliminating the noise and harsh operating characteristic known as 'cycling' associated with locking types of differentials. This moveable member does not prevent all engagement, however, so that re-engagement of the driver and coupler will automatically occur to provide the desired differential locking when called upon to do so. A preferred and an alternate embodiment are disclosed.

Quiet and smooth, positive acting, no-slip differential

A locking differential is provided for selectably locking a first axle to a second axle. The locking differential utilizes a dog clutch assembly characterized by two interlocking clutch members positioned between the differential side gears on opposing sides of the differential pinion shaft. The interlocking clutch members have face splines thereon for engaging corresponding face splines formed on the side gears. An actuating mechanism can be selectably activated to force the two interlocking members into engagement with the side gears.

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Balboa Island, CA, United States of America

Mark V Tyson