Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Ralph E Denning

Alexander Goloff

A rotating drive wheel which drives a pair of output shafts. The driving of each of the output shafts proceeds via a mechanical transmission which delivers rotary motion from the drive wheel to the output shafts. A drive ratio delivered by each of the transmissions can be selectively varied.

Transmission-differential combination

A differential (10) having differential gears (56,58) connecting a pair of axles (44,46) includes a pair of opposed cam rings (66,68) mounted for rotation with one of the axles. One cam ring (66) is adapted to lock the axles (44,46) relative to the differential housing (12) when no differential rotation exists between the axles (44,46) and is movable when differential rotation does exist by the interaction between the cam rings (66,68) to an inoperative position to unlock the axles from the housing. A lockout ring (70) maintains the cam rings (66,68) in disengaged relation during differential rotation.

Unlocking differential

In a friction type transmission two substantially rigid members are in frictional engagement at respective contact portions to provide a longitudinally extending contact zone therebetween. In some such transmissions the relative velocities of the members at a first end of the contact zone are different than at a second end thereof. This creates slippage problems. To solve these problems a plurality of generally parallel plates are aligned in a pack and are arranged whereby an edge of the aligned plates forms the aforementioned contact portion of at least one of the inelastic members. Slippage is thereby prevented.

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Washington, IL, United States of America

Ralph E Denning