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| Illustration 1 | g00322063 |
Components of the Standard Differential (1) Left sun gear and shaft. (2) Differential ring gear. (3) Pinion gear. (4) Right side gear. (5) Right sun gear and shaft. (6) Left side gear. (7) Pinions. (8) Spider. (9) Differential case. | |
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. For example, this occurs during a turn. 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.
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. This is done so that the pinions do not turn on the spider. The pinion gear (3) turns the differential ring gear (2). The differential ring gear (2) is bolted to the differential case (9). The differential case (9) turns the spider (8). The spider (8) turns the right side gear (4) and the left side gear (6) through the pinions (7). The pinions (7) do not turn on the spider (8). The side gears turn the left sun gear (1) and the right sun gear (5). The same amount of torque is sent through the final drives to each wheel. This provides the same effect as having both drive wheels on the same axle shaft.
When the machine is in a turn, the inside wheel is more resistant than the outside wheel to turn. 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 pinion gear (3) turns the differential ring gear (2). The differential ring gear (2) is bolted to the differential case (9). The differential case (9) turns the spider (8). The spider (8) turns the right side gear (4) and the left side gear (6) through the pinions (7). One side gear requires more force than the other side gear in order to turn. This causes pinions (7) to turn around the spider (8). As the pinions turn, the pinions move around the side gears. This allows 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.
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.