The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 16, 2000
Filed:
May. 14, 1999
Mark V Tyson, Balboa Island, CA (US);
Valentine Cucu, Long Beach, CA (US);
Peter A Dickey, Costa Mesa, CA (US);
Robert Andrew Gerrick, Santa Ana, CA (US);
Vehicular Technologies, Inc., Costa Mesa, CA (US);
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.