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| Illustration 1 | g03642227 |
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Typical rear axle (1) Rear axle (2) Piston motor (3) Transfer gear group | |
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| Illustration 2 | g06139179 |
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(6) Planetary gear set
(7) Ring gear (8) Reaction hub (9) Sun gear (11) Splined shaft (12) Side gear (13) Pinions (14) Pinion shaft (15) Bevel gear (16) Carrier | |
The piston motor (2) is connected to transfer gear group (3). The transfer gear group (3) is connected to the splines on pinion shaft (14). Power from the transfer gear group drives the pinion in rear axle (1).
The power from transfer gear group (3) turns the bevel pinion (14) in rear axle (1). The power enters the axle through the bevel pinion. The bevel pinion turns bevel gear (15) which is fastened to the differential case.
Power is transferred through the differential by pinions (13) and side gears (12) to splined shaft (11). The shaft transfers power to sun gear (9) in the final drives. The main components of the final drives are carrier (16), planetary gear set (6), ring gear (7), and sun gear (9). Each final drive has the same components. The final drives cause the last speed reduction and the torque increase in the drive train.
Three planetary gear sets are mounted in the carrier. The axle shaft fits into the internal splines of the carrier.
As the sun gear is driven by the differential, the planetary gears are forced to revolve around the inside ring of the ring gear. The movement of the planetary gears around the ring gear causes the planetary carrier and the wheel hub to rotate. This transfers power to the rim and the tire which bolts to the flange on the axle shaft.
A differential divides the power that is transferred to the wheels or causes a balance of the power that is sent to the wheels. During a turn, a differential allows one wheel to turn at a slower rate than the other wheel on an axle. 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
Straight machine travel with the same amount of traction under each drive wheel, has the same amount of torque on each axle holding the pinions.
Operation during a Forward Turn or Operation during a Reverse Turn
When the machine turns, the inside wheel is more resistant to turning. This resistance causes different torques on the opposite sides of the differential. The outside wheel turns more easily than the inside wheel. The outside wheel begins to turn faster than the inside wheel.
The same amount of torque is transferred 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)
If one wheel loses traction, the pinion gears of the wheel that is maintaining traction will begin to rotate slowly around the side gear. The slipping wheel increases speed until the maximum wheel speed is obtained, or the remaining drag is equal to the torque on the opposite side. The maximum amount of torque transmitted to the tire not slipping is equal to the torque on the tire that is slipping.
When one wheel has more traction than the other wheel, differential operation is identical to differential operation 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.
Differential Lock (if equipped)
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| Illustration 3 | g03009879 |
Push button (22) and hold the button to lock the differentials. Release the button to unlock the differentials. The differential lock will activate if the machine speed is less than