Dyneer Corporation

Tractech Inc.

Timothy R Edwards

Alvin A Choma

Anthony K Brown

John J Schoeberle

An interaxle differential includes a central drive member that continuously connects an input shaft with a first output shaft, a clutch disk normally connecting the central drive member with a second output shaft, a rotational velocity responsive device operable from a deactivated position to an activated position for disengaging the clutch disk when the second output shaft overruns the first output shaft by a given value, a fail safe device for biasing the velocity responsive device toward its deactivated position, a first device for displacing the velocity responsive device toward the activated position, and an override device for selectively disengaging the clutch disk. In a second embodiment, the rear clutch disk is operable by the operator to disconnect the interaxle differential from the first output shaft, thereby to avoid the trapping of torque within the interaxle differential when the vehicle is maneuvered downhill in a turn.

Interaxle differential

A differential is disclosed for driving the steering wheels of a multi-wheel-drive vehicle, including holdout rings for maintaining in a disengaged condition an output shaft that overruns an associated output shaft by a given amount. In order to decrease the turning radius of the vehicle, the lug portions on one holdout ring are angularly displaced relative to the lug portions on the other holdout ring, whereby the overrunning output shaft is maintained in a disengaged condition during a sharp turn that produces overrunning of the output shaft above a given value.

Differential with angularly offset holdout rings

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.

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Warren, MI, United States of America

Timothy R Edwards