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| Illustration 1 | g00729032 |
Differential (1) Pinion. (2) Differential lock clutch. (3) Side gear. (4) Differential case. (5) Spider shaft. | |
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 on an axle to turn at a slower rate than the other wheel on an axle. 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.
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. This is done so that the pinions do not turn on the spider shaft.
The bevel pinion turns the bevel gear in the axle. The bevel gear turns differential case (4). Differential case (4) turns spider shaft (5). Spider shaft (5) turns side gears (3) through pinions (1). Pinions (1) do not turn on the shaft. The side gears turn final drive sun gears. 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.
Operation during a Forward Turn or Operation during a Reverse Turn
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 bevel pinion turns the bevel gear in the axle. The bevel gear turns differential case (4). Differential case (4) turns spider shaft (5). Spider shaft (5) turns side gears (3) through pinions (1). One side gear requires more force than the other side gear in order to turn. This causes pinions (1) to turn around spider shaft (5). 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.
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.