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| Illustration 1 | g01195862 |
Typical Illustration (1) Bevel pinion (2) Bevel gear (3) Ring gear (4) Planetary gear (5) Carrier (6) Axle shaft (7) Spider (8) Differential case (9) Pinion (10) Side gear (11) Brake piston (12) Brake disc (13) Reaction plate (14) Sun gear | |
A differential divides the power that is sent to the wheels or a differential causes a balance of the power that is sent to the wheels. A differential allows one wheel to turn at a slower rate than the other wheel on an axle, during a turn for example. During a turn, the differential allows the inside wheel to rotate at a slower rate in relation to the outside wheel. The differential still sends the same amount of torque to each wheel.
Straight Forward or Straight Reverse Operation
When the machine moves in a straight direction with the same amount of traction under each drive wheel, the same amount of torque on each axle holds the pinions. When the machine moves in a straight direction, the pinions do not turn on the spider.
Bevel pinion (1) turns bevel gear (2). Bevel gear (2) turns case (8). Case (8) turns spider (7). Spider (7) drives side gears (10) and pinions (9) together. Pinions (9) do not turn on the spider. Side gears (10) turn at the same speed as bevel gear (2) and case (8). Side gears (10) turn final drive sun gears (14). The same amount of torque is sent through the final drives to each wheel.
The equal torque provides the same effect as having both drive wheels on the same axle shaft.
Operation during a Forward Turn or Operation during a Reverse Turn
When the machine is in a turn, the outside wheel turns faster than the inside wheel.
Bevel pinion (1) turns bevel gear (2). Bevel gear (2) turns case (8). Case (8) turns spider (7). Spider (7) drives side gears (10) and pinions (9) together. Side gears (10) turn final drive sun gears (14). Because the outside wheel turns faster than the inside wheel, the outside side gear (10) turns pinions (9) on spider (7). As the pinions turn, the pinions move around the side gears, allowing the outside wheel to turn faster than the inside wheel.
The same amount of torque is sent through the final drives to both the inside wheels and to the outside wheels. This torque is only equal to the amount of torque that is necessary to turn the outside wheel.
Loss of Traction (Wheel Slippage)
When one wheel has more traction than the other wheel, the operation of the differential is identical to the operation of the differential during a turn. The same amount of torque is sent to both wheels. This torque is only equal to the amount of torque that is necessary to turn the wheel with the least resistance.